Dodgers: MLB Analyst Compares LA Chemistry to ’98-’01 Yankees Dynasty

The Los Angeles Dodgers enter the 2021 season as the odds-on favorite to win a second consecutive World Series. Baseball isn’t played on paper, but the Dodgers lineup and rotation figure to among the league’s best. However, there’s one crucial advantage the Dodgers have that doesn’t show up in any counting stat or sabermetric…

Chemistry.

ESPN’s Buster Olney, who was joined by AM 570’s David Vassegh, remarked about how strong he believes the Dodgers clubhouse culture is during Monday’s episode of the Baseball Tonight Podcast by comparing the Dodgers to a legendary baseball dynasty.

“The culture in that clubhouse has become a strength. I remember when I covered the Yankee teams from 1998 to 2001. There were times when maybe they weren’t playing as well. Maybe they were kind of beaten up older guys, but their clubhouse culture, their confidence, became a strength through difficult situations.”

Last year’s 60-game regular season was a gravy train for the Dodgers. They romped their way to 43 wins. The leadership of players like Turner, Kershaw, and Betts will be needed more than ever during the normal 162-game format. Olney had no doubts that the great chemistry will continue to give the Dodgers an edge.

“My sense is that gradually, there’s been such buy-in from the players and what the front office, Dave Roberts, are trying to do. That now that culture has become really dangerous for them.”

These Dodgers have a long way to go before they can be mentioned alongside the last great baseball dynasty. We’re talking three peat and four straight World Series appearances long. Nonetheless, the fact that the reporter who was in that Yankee clubhouse daily sees the same in these Dodgers speaks volumes.

Baseball analysts and stat heads can debate who has the best rotation, lineup, or bullpen.

There’s little doubt who has the best clubhouse chemistry in all of baseball. 

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