"We've been a lot steadier club as far as limiting outs, and that's part of what we preach and talk about," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "You need to get 27. Let's not give them 30 or 31."
Usually, the Dodgers didn't. They yielded 42 unearned runs, compared to 63 last year. They led the Majors with a .988 fielding percentage, a statistic that only partially conveys quality since it doesn't incorporate elements such as range. It did, however, reflect consistency. If a defense's backbone traditionally consists of its up-the-middle personnel -- catcher, second base, shortstop and center field -- then the Dodgers' spine was a strong one.