For a five-year period between 2010 and 2014, MLB belonged to the San Francisco Giants.
They won three World Series titles, in 2010, 2012, and 2014, including division titles in the first two seasons.
Then, the Los Angeles Dodgers took over and started dominating the division.
The franchise spent lots of resources to upgrade every department, from scouting to player development.
The results are evident: LA has won nine of the last 10 NL West titles.
The @Dodgers have won 9 of the last 10 NL West titles.
Will their reign continue in 2023? pic.twitter.com/Zl8LdyzY15
— MLB (@MLB) February 4, 2023
That run has delivered “only” one World Series victory, in 2020, but that’s perfect proof of how difficult it is to win in the postseason.
Putting together a dominant regular season squad is also very, very hard, and the Dodgers have done it routinely.
However, the San Diego Padres eliminated them in the last postseason and improved in the offseason.
They represent a real threat to the Dodgers’ division dominance in the last decade, and it’s fair to wonder if LA has what it takes to win the NL West again in 2023.
Even the Giants made some interesting signings, and the Arizona Diamondbacks have one of the best farm systems in baseball.
The Dodgers lost Trea Turner, Justin Turner, Tyler Anderson, and other important players from the 2022 team that won 111 games.
They do have an impressive staff available to improve and optimize their resources and players.
That, and the core of Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, Gavin Lux, Will Smith, Clayton Kershaw, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, and Julio Urias still make them the slight favorites over an impressive Padres team.
NEXT: MLB Insider Discusses How Mookie Betts Will Be Used In WBC
