There’s a lot to stay up for concerning the Dodgers’ lineup this season. The potential is difficult to even quantify, and the historic prospects are a researcher’s dream to parse by. With their season set to start in Seoul, South Korea, now could be the proper time to dive into the context.
This can be a workforce with the reigning and two-time unanimous American League MVP in Shohei Ohtani, the 2020 NL MVP in Freddie Freeman and the 2018 AL MVP in Mookie Betts. And don’t let the years of Freeman and Betts’ MVPs idiot you; they’re nonetheless of their prime and completed within the high three for MVP final 12 months.
Right here’s a have a look at 5 methods the Dodgers’ high three can and can be historic in 2024.
2023 MVP finishesAs famous above, all three completed within the high three for MVP of their leagues final season. It’s not usually that three such gamers are teammates the next season. In truth, we’ve not seen a workforce start a season with three gamers who every completed within the high three in MVP voting within the earlier season because the 2004 Yankees.
The Yankees traded for reigning AL MVP Alex Rodriguez coming into ‘04 and signed free agent Gary Sheffield, who had completed third within the NL. Jorge Posada had completed third as a member of the Yankees.
In complete, the 2024 Dodgers would be the fifth workforce to start a season with three gamers who completed high three in MVP voting within the prior 12 months, in response to the Elias Sports activities Bureau. The opposite three situations had been the 1967 Orioles (Frank Robinson AL MVP, Brooks Robinson second, Boog Powell third), 1960 White Sox (Nellie Fox, Luis Aparicio, Early Wynn) and 1942 Dodgers (Dolph Camilli, Pete Reiser, Whitlow Wyatt). However not like these Dodgers or the ‘04 Yankees, these weren’t partially acquired trios, however reasonably had been teammates once they completed top-three as effectively.
MVPs batting 1-2-3One piece of offseason intrigue after the Dodgers signed Ohtani was the query of which order he and Freeman would bat after Betts. When all three performed in a Cactus League recreation for the primary time on Feb. 27, we discovered that it might be Betts-Ohtani-Freeman.
When that order occurs for the primary time on Opening Day, the Dodgers would be the first workforce to have a beginning lineup with no less than three former MVPs batting sequentially (one by 9) because the 1996 Crimson Sox with Mo Vaughn, Jose Canseco and Kevin Mitchell, in response to Elias.
They would be the first to have former MVPs within the high three spots, particularly, because the 1983 Phillies with Joe Morgan, Pete Rose and Mike Schmidt, in 10 video games that season. The one different situations of all-former-MVP high threes had been the Reds on Might 13, 1978, with Rose, Morgan and George Foster and on Might 5, 1976, with Rose, Morgan and Johnny Bench.
Which means the Dodgers would be the first workforce to make the most of an MVP high three for his or her on a regular basis lineup.
High 5 in WAR as teammates? tangible manufacturing, Betts (second), Freeman (third) and Ohtani (fifth) all ranked high 5 in MLB in position-player WAR, per FanGraphs, in 2023. In the event that they accomplish that once more as teammates, it might be historic.
Solely three groups since 1900 have had three of the highest 5 in MLB in position-player WAR in a season: 1948 Cleveland, the 1942 Yankees and 1904 Cleveland. When it final occurred in ‘48, there have been simply 16 MLB groups, making this a barely simpler feat to drag off.
That 12 months, Lou Boudreau was second in WAR amongst place gamers, whereas Joe Gordon and Ken Keltner tied for fifth. In 1942, Gordon, then a Yankee, was second, with Charlie Keller third and Joe DiMaggio fifth. And in 1904, Cleveland’s Nap Lajoie was second, Elmer Flick fourth and Invoice Bradley tied for fifth.
160 OPS+ every as teammates?Right here’s one other stat price maintaining a tally of. Ohtani (184), Betts (163) and Freeman (161) every had no less than a 160 OPS+ in 2023, which means they had been all no less than 60% higher offensively than MLB common. In the event that they every attain that mark as teammates, it, too, can be historic.
Solely two AL/NL groups since 1900 have had three certified gamers with no less than a 160 OPS+ in a season: the 1963 Giants, with Willie Mays (175 OPS+), Orlando Cepeda (165) and Willie McCovey (161), and the 1929 Yankees, with Babe Ruth (193), Lou Gehrig (166) and Tony Lazzeri (160).
MVP possibilitiesPretty a lot each NL MVP prediction checklist has Betts, Freeman and Ohtani among the many favorites. There are a number of angles to contemplate for context, if any of the three had been to win.
Just one participant has gained MVP in each leagues: Frank Robinson (1961 Reds, 1966 Orioles). If Betts or Ohtani had been to win, they might be part of that checklist.
However past that, solely 5 gamers have gained an MVP Award with two franchises because the BBWAA started voting on the award in 1931: Robinson, Barry Bonds (Pirates, Giants), Rodriguez (Rangers, Yankees), Jimmie Foxx (Athletics, Crimson Sox) and Bryce Harper (Nationals, Phillies). Any one of many three would be part of with a win.
And what if all three are high MVP contenders, as anticipated? We’ve coated teammates to complete first and second for MVP, however to be first, second and third is even rarer. The one groups to have gamers accomplish that had been the 1966 Orioles, 1959 White Sox and 1941 Dodgers famous above.
Will the 2024 Dodgers be part of them? Solely time will inform, and will probably be a pleasure to look at play out.
