Los Angeles Dodgers: 5 Reasons Dodgers Will Win NL West in 2012

2011 was a mediocre season for the Los Angeles Dodgers. They started off terribly but came up strong to finish the year 82-79.

Dodgers fans got to watch an exciting finish as center fielder Matt Kemp chased the MVP award and left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw pursued the Cy Young award.

The 2012 season should be even more exciting as an improved Dodgers team will make a push towards a return to the playoffs.

Let's take a look at why the Dodgers will win another NL West division title in 2012.

5. Off-Field Excitement

In 2011, the perfect storm occurred and it led Dodger fans to boycott games at Dodger Stadium.

Owner Frank McCourt raised prices yet again and the fans didn't want to fund his divorce any more. 

San Francisco Giants fan Brian Stow was brutally beaten on Opening Day at Dodger Stadium.

And the Dodgers just weren't very good or exciting for the better part of the season.

But 2012 will be different. Frank McCourt has agreed to sell the team, security is better at the stadium, ticket prices have been lowered and the team is better.

There will be a new life and excitement around the Dodgers and fans will be quick to jump on it and make Dodger Stadium a great place to play yet again.

4. Young Guns Emerge

In 2011, the Dodgers got some exciting play from shortstop Dee Gordon (pictured). While his defense left something to be desired, he was always a major threat on the basepaths when he got on.

Jerry Sands played well when he got called up for the second time of the season as he looked more comfortable at the plate.

In 2012, both will be more experienced and accustomed to the level of play in the major leagues. Also, highly touted catching prospect Tim Federowicz will likely be starting for the Dodgers by midseason. 

All three of those young players should have very solid seasons in 2012.

3. Solid End to 2011

2011 was a season of two distinct halves for the Dodgers.

Before the All-Star break, they went 41-51 for a .446 win percentage. But after the break, the Dodgers went 40-28, good enough for a .588 win percentage—the division champion Arizona Diamondbacks had a .584 win percentage on the season.

The Dodgers had an exciting finish to 2011 and that should carry over to 2012 with the help of lefty Clayton Kershaw and center fielder Matt Kemp (pictured).

2. Matt Kemp

The Dodgers' MVP, center fielder Matt Kemp, just got more incentive to have a monster 2012 season.

He got beaten by Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun in the race for NL MVP in a very questionable call.

Is a player who made the playoffs more deserving of one who was a home run shy of the 40-40 club and still in contention for the Triple Crown with only days left in the season? Kemp certainly doesn't think so.

Next season, he will be out there to prove that he is the real MVP by chasing the Triple Crown, 40-40 and by getting the Dodgers into the playoffs.

1. Clayton Kershaw

Unlike his teammate, Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw did come home with some major hardware, his first Cy Young at the age of 23.

Kershaw was strong the entire season and never showed any signs of slowing down as he led the league in ERA, wins and strikeouts—the pitcher's Triple Crown.

There is no reason to believe that Kershaw won't be just as dominant next season as he will try to lead the team back to the playoffs for the first time since 2009.

With more experience on this young Dodger squad, and two huge names leading the charge, the Dodgers will ride the wave of excitement that comes with new ownership all the way to the 2012 MLB Playoffs.