World Series or bust

National league west leaders, the Los Angeles Dodgers are having a magical season thus far. So special in fact that this team seems to have a real shot at breaking the all-time regular season wins record of 116, shared by the 1906 Chicago cubs and the 2001 Seattle Mariners. The Dodgers are currently sitting at a record of 91-40 with 31 games left in the 2017 season.

It has been a surprising year for the NL West to say the least. The normally formidable Giants are an astonishing 40 games back from first place and are eliminated from division contention. The Arizona Diamondback and Colorado Rockies have made impressive rebound seasons, firmly holding the National League Wild Card spots after finishing below .500 last year. As for the San Diego Padres, well they’re the same old Padres

If you didn’t know I am a die-hard bleed blue Dodger fan. Now that’s out of the way we can get back to appreciating this amazing season this team is having. 

This Los Angeles Dodgers team has already impressed us so much this year and we haven’t even reached October yet. For starters they completed the best 50 game stretch in baseball since 1912 going an amazing 43-7 in that span. During that run, they managed to hit an astronomical 96 homeruns.

Although this team has a serious shot at making history in the win column it is important to remember that it is World Series or bust for this team. The Dodgers franchise hasn’t won a title since 1988. The Rival S.F Giants have won 3 in this current decade. Their mini dynasty has come to the dismay of me and all the other Dodger fans living in enemy territory.

The Dodgers organization is led by President of Baseball Operations Andrew Freidman and General Manager Farhan Zaidi who seem determined to make this the year all the suffering Dodger fans have been hoping for. They refuse to rest on this so far amazing team and did the unthinkable by adding Yu Darvish, arguably the best pitcher in the American League at the trade deadline. This addition proves that it’s not just the fan base that is all in this season. It would be irresponsible of me to not mention Los Angeles super hero and Lakers hall of famer Magic Johnson, part owner, as an important part of this franchises success.

This extremely talented and well-put together group of ball players is stacked from top to bottom. They have a league leading earned runs allowed led by future hall of famer Clayton Kershaw and CY Young award candidate Alex Wood. The team also is in the top six of the National League in all major offensive categories including home runs, batting average and runs batted in.

Th season success hasn’t come over night for the franchise. The Dodgers have prided themselves on homegrown talent refusing to buy the most expensive free agent on the market each winter.

They have one of the deepest farm systems in all of baseball and are looking to have their third season in a row where the rookie of the year comes from their roster. With steady veteran play from the likes of Justin Turner, Chase Utley, and Clayton Kershaw to go along with the youth of Corey Seager, Yasiel Puig, and rookie of the year hopeful Cody Bellinger, the sky is the limit for this team.

As the wins keep coming and the playoffs grow close every Dodger fan and Dodger hater knows its win or bust. This team and franchise is too good to have not been in a World Series in 29 years. As fall approaches so does meaningful baseball games and in October is where legends are made.

Every Dodger fan alike would love to see a record breaking season with a World Series cherry on top but I’ll take the ring  Although I haven’t waited as long as Cub fans did to  finally bring home a championship, I can honestly say as someone who lives and dies with the success and failures of his team, it’s time.