By Jon Weisman
If 1988 was the best of times for Dodger fans, you’d still have to be Mr. Roboto to view every season since then as the same. So maybe I’ve got too much time on my hands, but come sail away as we rank every Dodger season since 1988, Babe.
Click the image above to enlarge, or read on …
1) 1988 (94-67, .584, won division by seven games, won World Series)
Top player: Kirk Gibson
Top pitcher: Orel Hershiser
In a nutshell: There were marbles, and the Dodgers won all of them.
2) 2009 (95-67, .586, won division by three games, lost NLCS in five games)
Top player: Matt Kemp
Top pitcher: Randy Wolf
In a nutshell: In first place from April 15 on, even with Manny Ramirez’s suspension, this team really could have gone all the way.
3) 2013 (92-70, .568, won division by 11 games, lost NLCS in six games)
Top player: Hanley Ramirez
Top pitcher: Clayton Kershaw
In a nutshell: Arrival of Puig, Ramirez and remarkable 42-8 streak propels team from last place to its longest playoff run since ’88.
Adrian Beltre (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)
4) 2004 (93-69, .574, won division by two games, lost NLDS in four games)
Top player: Adrian Beltre
Top pitcher: Odalis Perez
In a nutshell: Beltre’s 48 homers, Steve Finley’s grand slam and Lima Time for the Dodgers’ first playoff win in 16 years.
5) 2008 (84-78 .519, won division by two games, lost NLCS in five games)
Top player: Andre Ethier
Top pitcher: Chad Billingsley
In a nutshell: Fewest wins for Dodger playoff team in non-strike year, but Mannywood and James Loney’s NLDS grand slam offered glimpse of WS.
6) 2014 (94-68, .580, won division by six games, lost NLDS in four games)
Top player: Yasiel Puig
Top pitcher: Clayton Kershaw
In a nutshell: Kershaw’s peak no-hitter/MVP/Cy Young season only made first-round playoff exit that much more shocking.
7) 2015 (92-70, .568, won division by eight games, lost NLDS in five games)
Top player: Adrian Gonzalez
Top pitcher: Zack Greinke
In a nutshell: Grinding it out in first place nearly the whole year, Dodgers suffer first one-run defeat ever in an playoff elimination game.
J.D. Drew (Nick Laham/Getty Images)
8) 2006 (88-74, .543, tied for first in division, qualified as wild card, lost NLDS in three games)
Top player: J.D. Drew
Top pitcher: Derek Lowe
In a nutshell: In the year of the 4+1 game, finished regular season on seven-game winning streak before sweep by Mets.
9) 1995 (78-66, .542, won division by one game, lost NLDS in three games)
Top player: Mike Piazza
Top pitcher: Hideo Nomo
In a nutshell: Strike ends, and Nomonia and first playoff game in seven years excite Dodger Stadium.
10) 1993 (81-81, .500, fourth place, 23 games behind)
Top player: Mike Piazza
Top pitcher: Tom Candiotti
In a nutshell: Rookie of the Year Piazza homers twice vs. Giants in finale, gives Dodgers happiest ending since 1988 and hope for future.
11) 1996 (90-72, .556, second place, 1 game behind, lost NLDS in three games)
Top player: Mike Piazza
Top pitcher: Hideo Nomo
In a nutshell: Similar collection of stars to 1995, but a more sour taste. Dodgers lose final seven games, including NLDS.
12) 1991 (93-69, .574, second place, one game behind)
Top player: Brett Butler
Top pitcher: Mike Morgan
In a nutshell: Braves leapfrogged Dodgers, who led by one game with four to play but lost three straight.
13) 2002 (92-70, .568, third place, six games behind)
Top player: Shawn Green
Top pitcher: Odalis Perez
In a nutshell: New closer Eric Gagne is the big surprise on the best third-place team in Dodger history.
14) 2003 (85-77, .525, second place, 15 1/2 games behind)
Top player: Shawn Green
Top pitcher: Eric Gagne
In a nutshell: Had Dodgers’ best bullpen in a generation, strong starting pitching and middle-infield defense, but could not score.
15) 1997 (88-74, .543, second place, two games behind)
Top player: Mike Piazza
Top pitcher: Ismael Valdez
In a nutshell: A contender that suffered the franchise’s most bitter loss of the ’90s: in 12 innings to Giants on September 18.
16) 2001 (86-76, .531, third place, six games behind)
Top player: Shawn Green
Top pitcher: Chan Ho Park
In a nutshell: Green sets franchise record of 49 homers, but Dodgers watch indignantly as nouveau riche Diamondbacks win Series.
17) 2012 (86-76, .531, second place, eight games behind)
Top player: A.J. Ellis
Top pitcher: Clayton Kershaw
In a nutshell: New ownership and a massive trade can’t save Dodgers from Giants winning again.
Eddie Murray
18) 1990 (86-76, .531, second place, five games behind)
Top player: Eddie Murray
Top pitcher: Ramon Martinez
In a nutshell: Respectable finish after trailing by 13 1/2 games. Murray bats .330, Martinez wins 20.
19) 2011 (82-79, .509, third place, 11 1/2 games behind)
Top player: Matt Kemp
Top pitcher: Clayton Kershaw
In a nutshell: Kershaw wins first Cy Young, Kemp nearly wins MVP, but a double-digit deficit in year dominated by McCourt proceedings.
20) 2000 (86-76, .531, second place, 11 games behind)
Top player: Gary Sheffield
Top pitcher: Kevin Brown
In a nutshell: Under the current playoff system, Brown would have been starting in a wild-card game.
21) 2007 (82-80, .506, fourth place, eight games behind)
Top player: Russell Martin
Top pitcher: Brad Penny
In a nutshell: A tense year whose most memorable moment might be media gossip about placement of a clubhouse trash can.
22) 2010 (80-82, .494, fourth place, 12 games behind)
Top player: Rafael Furcal
Top pitcher: Clayton Kershaw
In a nutshell: At age 22, Kershaw ascends as staff ace of a team that lost 36 of its final 62 games.
23) 1989 (77-83, .481, fourth place, 14 games behind)
Top player: Willie Randolph
Top pitcher: Orel Hershiser
In a nutshell: A huge tumble from 1988 as Gibson can’t stay healthy.
Brett Butler
24) 1992 (63-99, .389, sixth place, 35 games behind)
Top player: Brett Butler
Top pitcher: Tom Candiotti
In a nutshell: Worst Dodger season since 1905, but memorable in its awfulness. No year that gave us Pedro Astacio can be all bad.
25) 1999 (77-85, .475, third place, 23 games behind)
Top player: Gary Sheffield
Top pitcher: Kevin Brown
In a nutshell: Under new sheriff, team is under .500 from mid-June until end of rough season.
Gary Sheffield
26) 2005 (71-91, .438, fourth place, 11 games behind)
Top player: Jeff Kent
Top pitcher: Derek Lowe
In a nutshell: Started 12-2, finished 59-89 and said farewell to manager and general manager — in that order.
27) 1998 (83-79, .512, third place, 15 games behind)
Top player: Gary Sheffield
Top pitcher: Chan Ho Park
In a nutshell: A trade that yielded a fantastic hitter but also seemed to kill all the joy at Dodger Stadium.
28) 1994 (58-56, .509, first place, 3 1/2 games ahead)
Top player: Mike Piazza
Top pitcher: Kevin Gross
In a nutshell: Strike takes baseball away entirely, denies Dodgers chance to face future World Series champion Expos.
Don Bright
I would have 2013 higher than 2009 because of the one more win in the NLCS. And Furcal was better than Drew in 2006, hell Kent was better than Drew as well.
Sal Garcia
Ned Colletti Career w/ Dodgers
In the nine seasons from the start of Colletti’s career as general manager through 2014, the Dodgers had a 783–674 (.537) record—the third-best record in the National League. Only the Cardinals (.542) and Phillies (.538) were better. Among NL West teams, the Dodgers’ record during that stretch was 40 games better than second-best San Francisco Giants. (via Wikipedia).
Sal Garcia
Since 1988 Dodgers have only developed a handful of their players. A lot of those teams were put together via free agents and trades
oldbrooklynfan
1992, I’ll never forget almost praying the Dodgers wouldn’t lose 100 games. Naturally following the season right down to the very bitter end. And was happy we made it.