Los Angeles Dodgers All-Time Team

All-Time teams 2.0 will come to a close in California. Let's go to glamorous Los Angeles for a look at the Dodgers roster.

Dodger Stadium became the Dodgers' permanent home in 1962. This is their 62nd season at Chavez Ravine (2020 inclusive). Only Fenway Park has hosted more World Series games among still standing stadia.

From 1954 to 1996 the Dodgers had two managers: Tommy Lasorda and his predecessor Walter Alston, who managed the iconic 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers and earned three more titles in L.A.

Here's his all-time starting lineup.

If you're not familiar with #2 hitter Babe Herman, check out my 100 Greatest Non-Hall of Famers list. He played just six full seasons with the club but his averages were exceptional.

	Dodgers stats	WAR	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
	*Babe Herman	23.3	0.339	0.396	0.557	0.953	144
	*Carl Furillo	34.6	0.299	0.355	0.458	0.813	112
	Dixie Walker	34.9	0.311	0.386	0.441	0.827	129

Dixie Walker would be a nice bat off the bench, if the Dodgers can fit him in.

No such luck. Furillo and Matt Kemp are essential Dodgers. Same for Steve Garvey.

Davey Lopes will have a much harder time keeping his spot.

	Dodgers stats	WAR	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
	*Davey Lopes	32.3	0.262	0.349	0.380	0.729	105
	Dolph Camilli	29.7	0.270	0.392	0.497	0.889	143
	Justin Turner	33.8	0.296	0.375	0.490	0.865	133

Dolph Camilli's production over a half-dozen Dodger seasons is very impressive, but the first base roadblocks are a bit tougher than Herman had in right field. Current Red Sox DH Justin Turner makes the team over the speedy Lopes.

The Dodgers' calling card - especially in L.A. - has been their tremendous starting pitching.

Alston's rotation is unchanged. After several rosters with subpar starting pitching, it's nice to see a squad with a clear top-five. Nap Rucker, Orel Hershiser, and Fernando Valenzuela would headline the Dodgers' 'B' rotation. Don Newcombe won a Cy Young, an MVP award, and Rookie of the Year honors with the Dodgers and his career WAR total for the team ranks 20th among pitchers. 

Meanwhile, L.A.'s relief corps has one spot up for grabs. Can Clem Labine hold it down?

	Dodgers stats	SV	ERA	ERA+	K/BB	WHIP	games
	*Clem Labine	81	3.63	113	1.39	1.317	425
	Jay Howell	85	2.07	170	2.83	1.086	236
	Pedro Baez	3	3.03	132	3.08	1.096	355
	Tom Niedenfuer	64	2.76	128	2.41	1.181	310

He cannot. Pedro Baez earns the middle reliever role. As I've mentioned, it's tough for pre-expansion relievers to keep up with today's flamethrowers. Initially I graded guys like Labine on a curve(no pun intended) but I've been more strict with the stats in 2.0.

Looking ahead... Brusdar Graterol could certainly compete for a relief role on this roster. John Roseboro may have to watch out for Will Smith in a couple years. And there's always another high-ceiling starting pitcher in the pipeline.

TL; DR: Two changes from the original roster. Lopes and Labine out. Turner and Baez in.


Come back tomorrow for the penultimate All-Time team*, the San Diego Padres. 

*among existing franchises

Thanks for reading!



 

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