The Los Angeles Dodgers just put together one of the best seasons in the history of MLB.
No, it’s not hyperbole: they really did have a top-five season all-time.
They just finished with the fourth-best mark in the history of American and National League play, with 111 wins and just 51 losses.
Only the 1906 Chicago Cubs, the 2001 Seattle Mariners, and the 1998 New York Yankees have more victories in a single season.
However, their domination goes well beyond the win-loss record.
Run differential also tells a lot about a team’s success or failure in a given season, perhaps even more than wins and losses.
A team that wins three one-run games but losses two by a combined 17 runs is not a very good squad despite being 3-2, for example.
The 2022 Dodgers have the fourth-largest run differential in the history of the sport, at +334.
The 2022 @Dodgers had an all-time season. 👀 pic.twitter.com/b8gcxtIJ8i
— MLB (@MLB) October 5, 2022
A Well-Oiled, Dominating Machine
If you see the ranking, the three teams in front of them and the one below them are from at least 80 years ago: it was the live ball era (except for the 1902 Pirates), between 1920 and 1940, where some of the biggest stars slugged and produced perhaps more runs than ever.
Those were the days in which Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Joe DiMaggio, Hank Greenberg, and other impressive sluggers completely ruled the league.
Things are supposed to be closer and more competitive now, but go tell the Dodgers about that.
They are an incredibly run baseball team, the one that is closest to perfection.
If baseball was predictable, one would say they are a lock to win the World Series, but it isn’t, so anything can happen.
The regular season, however, clearly belonged to LA.
NEXT: Dodgers Manager Updates Joey Gallo's Postseason Status