Dodgers Fans: Celebrate Team’s Success Before Postseason Anxiety

The postseason’s here again, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are right back where they always seem to land — October baseball, another NL West crown, and, honestly, a playoff berth that feels almost routine. That’s 13 straight if you’re counting. Meanwhile, Dodgers fans are buzzing about another shot at a title, but across town, the Los Angeles Angels are just wrapping up another year of letdowns. It’s wild how different these two teams’ stories are. Veteran closer Kenley Jansen has a lot to say about what it takes to make it to October — the grind, the heartbreak, and those rare, sweet moments of triumph.

The Dodgers’ Unrivaled Consistency

The Dodgers have become modern baseball royalty by making the playoffs 13 years in a row. They missed the division title only in 2021, even though they won a ridiculous 106 games that season.

Depth and Leadership as Pillars of Success

Kenley Jansen, who used to shut the door for L.A., has seen it all. He remembers when the franchise teetered on bankruptcy’s edge, only to transform into the model of consistency. Jansen points to deep rosters and steady ownership as the real reasons for the Dodgers’ turnaround.

Star Power Fuels the Championship Chase

This Dodgers team isn’t just deep; it’s stacked with stars. Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman headline a roster built for both regular season wins and October survival.

They’re chasing something rare — baseball’s first back-to-back World Series titles in 25 years. That’s a tall order, but this group seems built for it.

The Odds Are Against Them — On Paper

Despite all that, the analytics crowd isn’t convinced. Baseball Prospectus gives the Dodgers just a 9.6% chance at the trophy this year, which feels low for a team this good.

Still, Dodger fans now expect nothing less than a championship. Funny how quickly the bar can move when you’re used to winning.

The Angels’ Ongoing Struggles

While the Dodgers keep stacking playoff runs, the Los Angeles Angels are stuck in a rut. They just finished last again, making it a full decade without a postseason appearance.

The gap between these two teams? It’s almost hard to believe.

Kenley Jansen’s Present and the Angels’ Choices

Jansen, now in Halo red, has put up a 2.64 ERA and saved 28 games. He’s still got it, even if the team around him is struggling.

The Angels kept him at the trade deadline, maybe hoping his veteran presence could steady a shaky bullpen. Hard to say if that’ll pay off.

Lessons From Jansen’s Perspective

Jansen knows how tough it is to reach the playoffs. He’s lived through the lean years and the glory days.

His message to Dodger fans? Don’t take this for granted. Sustained success is rare in baseball, and it might not last forever.

What It Means for Fans

For Angels fans, even a so-so season would feel like progress. For Dodgers fans, only a parade will do.

That gap in expectations? It says everything about where these two franchises stand right now.

A Tale of Two Teams, One City

In a shared market, the Dodgers and Angels live in completely different worlds. The Dodgers have become the blueprint for consistent winning.

The Angels, on the other hand, seem stuck in a cycle of hope and disappointment.

Los Angeles baseball fans get to watch two wildly different stories play out. The Dodgers chase not just glory, but something bigger—a real legacy.

The Angels are still looking for their way back to relevance. And somewhere in all this, Kenley Jansen’s career arc quietly reminds us how fast things can change in Major League Baseball.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Commentary: Dodgers fans should take a moment to appreciate team’s success before anxiety returns