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The Los Angeles Dodgers began the season on an incredible roll despite the detrimental news that Manny Ramirez took steroids and served a 50-game suspension to begin the season. In fact, the Dodgers went 34-16 during that stretch. The Dodgers continued to roll while Ramirez struggled to find his swing. Eventually the team fell into a lull, but woke up in time as the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies began to mount a serious threat in the NL West.

The 2009 MLB season ended with the Dodgers atop the division standings at 95-67, three games ahead of the Rockies. The team had the best record in the National League and went on to play the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round of the postseason. The Dodgers prevailed with a three-game sweep before seeing their year come to an end in five games to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS.

The team played great baseball on the field and at the plate. The Dodgers drove the fourth most runs in the NL and allowed the fewest. This dominating club helped return the Dodgers to the national headlines and renew interest in visiting Dodger Stadium. In fact the team reached the playoffs for the fifth time in seven seasons. So this is actually a little mini-dynasty.

With Manny struggling, players like Matt Kemp, Juan Pierre, Andre Ethier, Orlando Hudson, James Loney, and Casey Blake led the team in a group effort. Ethier led the team in home runs with 31 and RBI with 106, Pierre led the team in hitting at .308, and Kemp led the team in steals with 34. Ramirez eventually found his swing and the team picked up left handed first baseman Jim Thome from the White Sox late in the season to bolster the roster.

The starting rotation featured Clayton Kershaw (8-8, 2.79 ERA), Randy Wolf (11-7, 3.23 ERA), and Chad Billingsley (12-11, 4.03). Hiroki Kurado battled injuries all season long, managing to pitch 20 games. The additions of Vincente Padilla and Jon Garland helped what seemed like a thin pitching staff. Jonathan Broxton held down the closers role with 36 saves and a 2.61 ERA. The Dodgers were a little thin in the bullpen though, robbing starters of some well-earned victories and putting a scare into the fans at Dodger Stadium.

The 2010 season schedule should provide much of the same excitement, if the team can pick through the end of year additions and create an even better baseball team. Dodgers tickets will certainly go quickly as a full year with Manny is better than just two-thirds a season.