The Dodgers’ player payroll is the highest in baseball, but so is their front-office payroll. They have six current or former general managers in their baseball operations department — as well as team president Stan Kasten, the former general manager of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. Maddon noted that the Dodgers’ depth enables them to field a particular lineup based on which players best hit a high fastball, should an opposing pitcher specialize in that pitch. And, in the hours before each game, the Dodgers’ brain trust maps out the game in advance, and not just which players the team would use to counter a pitching change. I think that’s healthy.”That atmosphere has pervaded the clubhouse too, and the Dodgers cherish players who are receptive to information.

Source: Los Angeles Times October 19, 2017 02:26 UTC