Here are five things to know about the Dodgers as the Mets open the 2024 NLCS in Los Angeles.
1. Ah, memories
Jacob deGrom and Zack Greinke were the starters in Game 5 of the 2015 NLDS, which the Mets won. Bartolo Colon waited in the bullpen. Chase Utley, who played the Queens villain in the sliding action early in the series, pinch-hit.
Since then, the roster has changed, with Quique Hernandez becoming the only player remaining on the NLCS roster. Clayton Kershaw, who started two games in the series, was suspended. This will be the fourth postseason matchup between the Dodgers and Mets.
2. The price they didn't pay
Between Shohei Ohtani ($700 million, most of it deferred), Yoshinobu Yamamoto ($325 million), and Tyler Glasnow ($136.5 million post-trade extension), the Dodgers' offseason spending totals $1 billion. It surged beyond the dollar.
The Mets, who operated with MLB's highest personnel costs again this year, did not make a formal offer to Ohtani, pursued Yamamoto, and implemented a different philosophy in free agency.
3. Tasting test
The sample size was small, just six games. However, three Dodgers who appeared in at least five regular season games against the Mets posted an OPS of 1 or higher: Will Smith (1.186, 3 home runs, 5 RBIs), Ohtani (1.143, 2 home runs, 6 RBIs); Freddie Freeman (1.134, 3 home runs, 6 RBIs).
And Los Angeles' pitching staff, now an understaffed group with the worst scores of the final four teams in HR/9 (1.64) and K/9 (6.55), is the worst of these six. We conceded 20 goals in the match.
4. Coaching Tips
J.D. Martinez's relationship with Dodgers hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc extends beyond the 2023 season. The 2023 season was Martinez's only season in LA and featured the two modifying his swing.
Van Scoyoc, along with Craig Wallenbrock, also helped overhaul Martinez's swing after the 2013 season. This sparked his career and created a version of Martinez who became a key addition to the Mets (16 home runs, 69 RBIs, .725 OPS, etc.) as part of his hitting coaching for other Mets. ).
5. Circle of life
Dodgers bullpen coach Josh Byrd served as Aaron Boone's bench coach during his first two years as Yankees manager. Then, returning to Los Angeles in 2020, Boone promoted infield coach Carlos Mendoza to fill the vacancy and one day become the Mets' manager.
