Author: Claire Diggins
With a record of 80-82, it is clear that the Dodgers are no longer the team they used to be. The Dodgers have played in 18 World Series – more than any other National League team – and have won six. But this week, the team was officially eliminated from playoff contention, leaving many fans wondering, “What happened to the Dodgers?”
Many attribute the team’s recent poor performances to the owners’, Jamie and Frank McCourt’s, divorce. The couple’s divorce has been widely covered by the press, and its outcome could actually determine the fate of the Dodgers. Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon, who is overseeing the case, may order the sale of the team, according to Southern California Public Radio KPCC.
Apparently the post-nuptial agreement contradicts itself, stating both that the team belongs solely to Frank McCourt and that the team doesn’t belong to him at all. If the court does order the sale of the team, unanswered questions will abound. Who will be the new owners? How will they manage the team? There are several unknowns for the Dodgers right now.
With his time tied up in court all day, many fans speculate McCourt placed the team on the back burner, financially and mentally. “Los Angeles isn’t spending enough time or money on the Dodgers compared to the Lakers, for instance,” Alex Bennet (junior) said. “Of course they aren’t doing well.”
But the divorce is not the only factor affecting the team’s performance this season. Longtime manager and hall of fame coach Joe Torre – who led the Yankees to four World Series titles in five years – announced he was leaving the Dodgers on Sept.17. The announcement came as a shock to the entire baseball community. Torre, who was with the Dodgers for three years, cited the reason for his resignation as the team needing a younger voice, and named hitting coach Don Mattingly his successor.
Additionally, outfielder Matt Kemp, one of the Dodgers’ star players, has a history of tension with General Manager Ned Coletti, according to a FanHouse article by Josh Alper. This contention suggests that Kemp’s exit from the team is imminent. Despite the presence of star athletes like Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley, many on the roster are still aging, injured and under-performing.
On top of all this, other teams in the National League West division are comprised of stronger and younger players, making the entire division more competitive. Rising stars Clayton Richard, Cory Luebke and Matt Latos all pitch in San Diego’s rotation, giving the Padres an edge in the competition. The Giants’ pitching staff with Barry Zito, Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum and Jonathan Sanchez is nearly untouchable, and the Rockies always seem to go undefeated.
Although the team has a lot going against it right now, Dodgers fans have not lost their enthusiasm. The energy of the crowd in the team’s game against the San Diego Padres was palpable. The Dodgers didn’t win, and it was a shame (7-0), but the crowd never lost its positive energy. “The games are still a festive atmosphere even though the Dodgers have been eliminated from play-off contention. It’s always a good time when you come out to the park,” Dodgers’ fan and Ohio State University graduate Tony Kennedy ’07 said.
Despite fans’ enthusiasm, the Dodgers have many strikes against them. These include a lack of funding, the McCourts’ pending divorce and an older roster that is often injured, positioned in a young, highly-competitive division. Still, Dodgers fans retain their loyalty. In the words of Riva DiGiacomo (senior), “I still have faith in and support the team, I just wish the owners and managers did.”
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