This year the word “win” has become a regularly used word in Los Angeles. The 2017 Dodgers have actually done so much winning that when they lose it almost feels foreign. As of August 17, the team has already won 85 games with roughly a month and an half of baseball yet to play. So, with so much time and already so many wins, Dodger fans can reasonably start to discuss the possibility of having their team break the single-season all-time wins record of 116 games co-held by the 1906 Chicago Cubs and the 2001 Seattle Mariners. But cool as it may sound to have your favorite team be immortalized forever in the record books, breaking the record may not be so important in the long run.

Wins in a season are very important. It is an obvious fact but still one worth noting. Wins are what will drive a team straight into the playoffs or make them miss it entirely. Wins will also once again determine home field advantage throughout the entire playoffs, as opposed to having the winning league of the Mid-Summer Classic determining who gets home field advantage in the far more important Fall Classic. But once those things are accomplished with certainty, wins more or less lose their importance.

As of now, the Dodgers lead their division by 18.5 games and currently have a magic number in the 20’s. Basically what this means is the team is rapidly approaching their fifth straight division title and will quite easily get home field advantage for the playoffs in its entirety. So, with a clinch party looming, the Dodgers must begin to consider whether the wins record is truly something even worth pursuing.

Yasiel Puig‘s dramatic walk-off two run double in the bottom of the ninth inning on Wednesday night before a sold out Dodger Stadium crowd gave the Dodgers their MLB-best 85th win of the season.
(Photo credit – Jill Weisleder)

Last year the Dodgers set the all-time record for the most players to hit the DL in one season. This year the team has seen a large amount of people hit the shelf as well. So, with the team being fairly injury prone, management and coaching may want to consider giving their starters and key relievers some extra rest come September. This year the Dodgers are looking at what could be a pretty laid-back month that is usually meant for a final playoff push. So, with the backups and minor leaguers probably logging most of the innings this September, wins will not happen at the same pace they are now, and it is definitely worth it.

On Tuesday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts gave his remarks on the record-breaking situation – it just doesn’t matter. When asked about the importance of day-to-day wins and how well this team is doing in terms of record, Roberts made his point quite clear.

“We will definitely celebrate this win tonight just like we celebrate wins every night, but tomorrow is a new day and we will just refocus again,” said the Dodger skipper

In the words of the manager himself, the team just plays on a day-to-day basis and has a new focus every day, with every member of his team focused on winning the day and not concern themselves with the season total. It is also clear that tying or setting a new season wins record is not the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal is to win the World Series.

“There hasn’t really been much talk of breaking the record in the clubhouse,” said Dodgers long reliever Ross Stripling, who picked up the win in Wednesday night’s exciting come-from-behind walk-off win over the Chicago White Sox. “I think the priority is [Thursday’s] day off over a playing for records.”

The message is clear. The record is just a number – albeit a very respectable one – for a team marching their way towards a World Series berth. And even though the 2017 Dodgers appear to be unstoppable to this point, a wins record will not be important if it means preserving and preparing the team for what really matter – the playoffs.