Despite a bumpier-than-expected path, the Los Angeles Dodgers might still repeat as World Series champions, becoming the first team to do so since the New York Yankees of the late 1990s. If that comes to pass, few would be surprised. At the same time, based on what we've seen since Opening Day, few would be surprised, also, if they fall.

Thus the Dodgers' season can't yet be labeled a success or a failure. If the Dodgers win another title, that's an obvious success. Failure is a little harder to define, but consider that L.A. is one of five teams on pace to finish more than 10 games under their preseason baseline forecast. They're also leading the tough National League West. Success or failure?

The answer is complicated. Baseball is the most quantifiable and projectable of the major

See Full Page