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Los Angeles Dodgers
Overall: 59
Title track: T39
Ownership: 47
Coaching: 91
Players: 72
Fan relations: 92
Affordability: 74
Stadium experience: 44
Bang for the buck: 42
Change from last year: +2
Just a glance at the Dodgers' roster makes clear what's exciting -- and expensive -- about this team. A compelling mix of young talent headlined by outfielder Yasiel Puig and shortstop Corey Seager and veterans such as first baseman Adrian Gonzalez makes for a mean starting lineup, while the rotation is bolstered by Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke (who are earning $53 million combined this season). But all that talent hasn't yet paid off in the postseason, which may be why the Dodgers just barely place in the top half of these rankings. Of course, nothing would change that faster than a deep run into the playoffs this year.
What's good
Dodger Stadium, with its mid-century charms and glorious sunsets, remains a delightful, if expensive -- (its $6 soda is the most expensive in baseball) -- Southern California experience (44th overall). Meanwhile, viewers at home get to enjoy Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully, 87 -- who made many fans' years by announcing he'll return for a 66th season behind the microphone. With president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman running the team, the Dodgers look poised to continue their efforts to build from within with exciting young talent -- plus, you know, those two guys in the rotation who could finish first and second in Cy Young voting this year.
What's bad
It's no surprise that the Dodgers' worst showing comes in fan relations (No. 92), as the majority of Southern California households are blacked out from watching games. That's sapped the electricity around the team, even at Dodger Stadium. Of course, the owners are still getting paid installments from the 25-year, $8.35 billion contract they signed with Time Warner Cable, and all that TV money is helping fuel talent acquisition. But even the beloved Scully can't keep the Dodgers from ranking second worst in all of sports in "making it enjoyable for me to watch games when I don't attend in person."
What's new
One thing Dodgers fans don't have to worry about is stingy owners. The Guggenheim group has taken salary inflation to a new level by pushing the team's payroll to close to $300 million, paying heavy luxury tax penalties and, at times, paying other teams' players after completing trades. The fans are on board, ranking the owners first in baseball and second in all of sports in "willing to pay to attract quality players and coaches." But despite those big contracts, the Dodgers' owners fell 20 places from last year -- the faithful are still waiting on all that money to pay off with a championship.
Next: Cleveland Indians | Full rankings