We discuss the current state of the Los Angeles Dodgers based on the following seven criteria: managers, coaches, pitching, hitters, speed, injuries, and future odds. They score highly in all these categories; watch out when Matt Kemp returns from injury.

Managers -

Ned Colletti, the Dodgers GM said recently that the new ownership gives him a bit more flexibility to make trades and explore other avenues which were closed when previous owner Frank McCourt was struggling to stay afloat. At the very top of his wish list would be for the trainer's room to become much quieter as L.A. has been riddled with injured players.

The spate of injuries the Dodgers have suffered this season has not hampered manager Don Mattingly's ability to field a competitive team. Los Angeles currently leads the major leagues with a 39-22 record and Mattingly, the former Yankee great, has to take a decent share of the credit. 

Coaches -

Batting coach Dave Hansen has done a fine job with the Dodgers hitters this season.  They are currently ranked 9th in runs scored, amassing 268 runs thus far. But the pitching has been even better and that is a testament to the hard work of Dodgers' pitching coach Rick Honeycutt. So far the pitching staff has responded to Honeycutt's methods as evidenced by the third lowest runs against, allowing only 217 plated against them.

Naturally, they are complemented by bench coach Trey Hillman, bullpen coaches Ken Howell and Rob Flippo as well as former big leaguers Tim Wallach (third base coach), Davey Lopes (first base coach), Steve Yeager (catching coach), and finally the venerable Manny Mota, who is in his 33rd consecutive year in a coaching capacity with the Dodgers. 

Pitching -

Clayton KershawClayton Kershaw and Chris Capuano are a lethal one-two punch for Los Angeles this season. They have a combined record of 13-5 and both are sporting ERA's in the twos. Even veteran Ted Lily was helping the Dodgers cause mightily with a 5-1 record until he was sidelined towards the end of May with a shoulder injury. 

It appears that Kenley Jansen will get the opportunity to save all the games himself now that Javy Guerra has been sidelined with knee surgery for the foreseeable future. Jansen is a 24 year old reliever with an arsenal of nasty pitches at his disposal. He currently has nine saves under his belt and the way he is pitching, there will be plenty more in his future. 

Hitters -

It is not often that a team counts on their catcher to move runners along, but AJ Ellis is precisely that guy, hitting at a .306 clip. Ellis has plenty of company in LA's hit parade with 36 year old Jerry Hairston Jr. banging in with a .356 average followed within a whisker by the currently shelved Matt Kemp (.355) and even old veteran Bobby Abreu who the Dodgers signed after his release from the Angels in early May is chipping in with a .326 average after 32 games with the Dodgers. 

But nobody is knocking in runs like the talented Andre Ethier, who has been responsible for driving in 48 runs this season.  Ethier picked up four more when he smashed a grand slam against the Mariners on Sunday, June 10th and will continue to be a force, barring injury, throughout the season. 

Speed -

Dee Gordon is leading the National League in steals with 16 so far this season. That's good news for the Dodgers, whose only other consistent base thief is Tony Gwynn, Jr. After those two, there are only a smattering of players who have any thefts under their collective belts.  The Dodgers are ranked 19th in all of Major League Baseball with 0.64  steals per game.

Matt Kemp will certainly add to that stolen base total when he gets off the shelf and back on the field. Kemp has 146 steals during his six year career and, at the age of 27, he's got plenty more in him. 

Major Injuries -

Any time a team loses a player of Matt Kemp's caliber, it's a blow not only to the offense but to the team morale as well.  However, LA has demonstrated their resiliency and are currently 7-4 since Kemp was sidelined with a strained left hamstring. Due to the nature of the injury, LA management may advise a more cautious approach with an injury that tends to linger like a hamstring.

Ted Lily was notching the victories with relative ease until shoulder inflammation proved too debilitating for him to continue his successful campaign. A recent MRI showed there is no serious damage, and Lily could be throwing again very shortly for the Dodgers. Factor in Javy Guerra's knee surgery, which should keep him from taking the hill for 4-6 weeks, and the injuries are mounting early for the league leaders. 

Future Odds & Predictions -

The Dodgers are currently 10-1 to win the World Series if you plunk a wager down with Bovada. It seems a bit strange that the team currently blazing a trail of victories is listed as double digit entrants, but the season is still fairly young and Matt Kemp's hamstring could certainly give MLB bettors cause for pause. 

LA is currently five games ahead of San Francisco and 8 ½ in front of the middling Arizona Diamondbacks. Looking forward, the Dodgers have enough bang in their bats to claim the NL West. They have the pitching to boot as Kershaw and Capuano lead a solid group of starters. Once Javy Guerra returns, they will either platoon him with Kenley Jansen as they did before his injury or he will be a premier 8th inning set up man.

Los Angeles ranks 3rd in the majors with a +51 run differential.  That stat tells a full tale as it encompasses both pitching and hitting. If the Dodgers can make a few key moves before the trade deadline and Matt Kemp returns to the club relatively soon and in good health then you may very well be looking at the NL West division winners and if the pitching holds up, a pennant or World Series title could be very much in the offing.