Dodgers: Dave Roberts, Trea Turner Share Thoughts on Disappointing Road Trip
A week ago, the Dodgers completed a sweep of the Atlanta Braves to move into a tie for the division lead. However, since departing Los Angeles for a 7-game road trip things haven’t worked out so well. The team dropped 2 of 3 to the Giants and then split their 4-game series with the Cardinals.
The 3-4 road trip has now dropped the ball club to 2.5 games back of the Giants in the NL West. Dave Roberts seemed to switch up the top of the lineup in hopes of getting better production yet that didn’t pan out at all. Roberts expressed his disappointment in their recent play.
“It started off great. Unfortunately, we couldn’t finish it. Looking at where we’re at, very disappointing. The only thing we can do now is turn the page and get ready for the Padres. That’s the only alternative.”
One player who has still managed to get on base and come through when needed has been Trea Turner. During the road trip, Turner hit .310 with 4 runs scored and 3 RBI. Still, that hasn’t been enough to carry the team when they’ve needed it most. While Roberts was certainly appalled by the team’s performance, Trea still seemed optimistic.
“Depends how you look at it. For me, 2 and a half games is not very much. A lot of things can happen in the last 20 games. I don’t try and watch the scoreboard or pay attention to that stuff. You try and control what’s in front of you and today it was this game.”
A big part of their recent struggles has been their inability to produce runs when needed. That’s actually been an issue for them all season as they are 21-23 in 1 run games this season. Those kind of results are unacceptable, especially when playing teams that are over .500.
With the Padres coming to town this weekend, the Dodgers cannot afford to have the bats go cold once again. Any more loss of ground that this point of the season could cost them their 9th straight NL West crown as well as throw them into an unwanted playoff scenario.
NEXT: Clayton Kershaw Talks Looming Free Agency, Where His Mind is At
As you note, this has been going on all year long. There is really no sense of urgency and that is complicated by the mistaken impression that the Giants are going to finally up and lose 10 of 12 at some point and give away the division. Time is running out on that happening. TTurn is right that things could change in the last couple of weeks but it’s looking more like the Ds need to be prepping Scherzer for the play in game and hope the offense decides to pay a visit that day against Snell.
And yet, we will still see Bellinger in the lineup and McKinney on the bench or like today, in the lineup. Roberts had a pathetic lineup from slots 5 thru 9 and for Roberts to think that would help is part of that insanity definition. 1 run on 4 hits and they think the division can be had? Enough said. But we most likely will face Padres and Snell in that WC game and the end of this season will probably take place.
Why were JT and Will Smith on the bench two hitters who actually have power JT knows where to place his hits he does not go up there looking for a home run everytime. I predicted would that Bells comes up with bases jammed and hits a week fly ball for the 3rd out Why is he still there .I would put him 9th and take my chances. .Barnes is hitting better than Cody as is Mckinney and Beatty who is all but a footnote it seems .
When we all know we’re scratching for runs why are Smith and Seager not starting! I kinda get Roberts’ “day off” thing, but those are two bats we need that Barnes, Souza and McKinney (all of whom are plummeting to Bellinger levels, who BTW is hitting the same as Gonsolin!!!) cannot replace. Note I didnt mention Taylor who is enroute a top 5 MLB finish in strikeouts. We’re by no means out of this but every game is becoming critical. During dark days Tommy would always say, “you gotta believe!” I do, but…
Bellinger, Souza and McKinney in the outfield today may have been the weakest hitting outfield in the history of baseball. They produced the expected result, with a combined 0 for 9 with 4 Ks. DR is working hard to come up with new and creative ways to give the division to the Giants.
You haven’t noticed? Dave Roberts has already come up with his strategy to give the division to the Giants months ago and its working really well. So, he’s no longer trying to come with new and creative ways to lose the title, he already has a working model and he’s sticking with it.
I can’t tell you how disgusted I am with this manager. My grandmother could do a better job of managing the Dodgers and SHE’S DEAD!
I know the theory here is, rest up for the Padres series so that you can put a dent into their wild card chances. But still, that lineup was garbage today, and at this point, down 2.5 games to a white hot Giants team that has exceeded any reasonable expectations, you have to put your head down and grind and not try and play sabermetric baseball that analyzes things based on long game strategies. You have to play more aggressively, and take some high probably of success chances when you’re looking at a 20 game season. You can’t give games away, and you have to play your best players and then cross the next bridge when you get there. The Dodgers at this point in the season are outsmarting themselves right out of a division title.
Have any of you guys looked at the Pads upcoming schedule? Reds will be the WC team…
Kirk, if the Reds are that 2nd wild card that is the ONLY chance for Dodgers to advance to the NLDS. And even then with this offense and Bellinger and Roberts, the Reds could certainly end the Dodgers season as well. We know what will happen if the Padres and Snell get that 2nd wild card spot. I don’t believe I’ve ever been so disappointed with this team as I am now but In fairness, it’s Roberts and Bellinger that disappoints me most of all.
Approach issues. Cause = talent is there, so it has to be the coaching. Change the approach/ the philosophy. Stop swinging out of your shoes and make some contact. JTurn is in a slump, so he slugs 2 x homers one night and is on the bench the next day. Pure idiocy. Even though our guys are the second best team in the game right now, we’re almost unwatchable offensively. We have put ourselves in the position that we have to win every game because the Giants rarely lose. I say we start thinking hard about winning a wildcard game and then we take another shot at SF at their place. Better than sitting at home. Hats off to SF and Farhan. In order to beat the Dodgers they have to be really good, and really good they are.
Bellinger is 0 for September.
BENCH
THIS
BUM
Amen
Or ship him out to OKC for the remainder of this season! He DOES NOT deserve to be put anywhere on this post season roster. Oh and BTW, from the way the offense has catered in the last month or so, it will be a quick October exit and the players can be held responsible but in a HUGE way Roberts is or will be equally to blame.
In the post game interview today, reporter Bill Plunkett asked Roberts if the Dodgers’ lack of offense should have been predictable considering who he had batting #5 through #9 in the order. Roberts answered by saying that Baseball is an unpredictable game and that previously similar lineups had worked. That’s all he could say about it…
Previous line ups worked before……Against the Pirates and D-bags maybe….Playoff teams above 500? Exactly why his record against good teams is bad…..He’s a Blind Bat, and this is dangerous. He will sabotage the team in sake of a Favorite player. He deserves to lose like he does, but the Team and the fans don’t deserve it……He doesn’t seem to care. He must think Mckinnley is magicly going to turn into Joc, and Souza and the rest of the Experiment will tun into kike’. He’s delusional…
I know the theory here is, rest up for the Padres series so that you can put a dent into their wild card chances. But still, that lineup was garbage today, and at this point, down 2.5 games to a white hot Giants team that has exceeded any reasonable expectations, you have to put your head down and grind and not try and play sabermetric baseball that analyzes things based on long game strategies. You have to play more aggressively, and take some high probably of success chances when you’re looking at a 20 game season. You can’t give games away, and you have to play your best players and then cross the next bridge when you get there. The Dodgers at this point in the season are outsmarting themselves right out of a division title.
I need help! Anyone here please please try to figure why this ‘so called manager would put Bellinger in the 5th spot today? I still can’t belive Roberts is that clueless Anyone with any baseball sense that hitters 5 thru 9 today were not going to produce anything, let alone any timely hits. And Robert’s response to a question asked about his lineup today is complete nonsense.
Breaking news! Roberts is ,hinting for Matt Beaty to be called back up. Stayed tuned…
I would like to think ALL of us here actually may have woke the sleeping Giant fan Base!!!! Maybe some authors and media are finally starting to grow a pair and do their jobs…
Another writer made a great point as far as having to play in the wild card game and that is it doesn’t matter if you have the best pitching in the game, it takes only that one game for the opponent to out score you and your season is over.
With the amount of variance in baseball, a 5 game series is even too short. But with 1 game, literally anything can happen.
And the Dodgers don’t want to face Blake Snell in a 1 game playoff for their season.
It’s best then if the Reds can pass them for that 2nd wild card. But even then, with way this offense has been inept for a few weeks now, playing the Reds will be no lock at all. As it is, even with great pitching, it’s that one game where the other team out scores you and your season is over. That’s why winning the division was or is so crucial.
to be fair, nobody wants to see buehler or scherzer in a one-game playoff either. and roberts won’t be starting souza, mckinney, and maybe barnes. and if AJ is healthy, bellinger will be on the bench.
BTW, it’s pretty amazing how people have just completely SHAT on bellinger, like he’s somehow MEANING to struggle so badly, like he hasn’t tried to fix things. if anything he’s trying TOO HARD. he’s in his head, and it ALL stems from the injuries. he remade his swing before last year, a mistake…improved in the postseason…but last offseason had surgery instead of doing his normal strength training regimen. not enough time in therapy before the season started, not enough work on his hitting, so OF COURSE he struggles. then, when it looks like he’s turning a corner, he fractures the leg. can’t rely on the shoulder, can’t rely on his legs, i knew he would struggle. maybe not THIS badly, but i KNEW he’d have a tough time this year…i’ve had an eye toward next season. most guys coming off surgery on a shoulder or knee have one bad year, THEN they look more like themselves. same will be true of CB, next year. they should’ve sent him to AZ last month to work on his strength and swing, until whenever things started looking up. even if it’s not till next year.
Unacceptable for the payroll LAD has.
Never heen impressed with Dave Roberts when team has issues, first it was analytics, no gut feel as a manager.
Last season was an anomaly… had it been a full-season, LAD probably does not win WS, but figures it would occur last season…asterik.
LAD winning all these dicision is titles, but fall short in playoffs.
We fans must face reality, LAD is finding every way to muck this season up and give division to Giants.
Maybe if Cody didn’t almost come out of his shoes every time he swings he would have a better chance of actually making contact and Taylor has started doing that too much recently also. Cody is looking very pathetic and should only be used for late inning defense when we have a lead. And Taylor has hit one of his strikeout streaks at a very bad time.
If you’re not scoring it’s time to try something different, at least on those days when solid contact is not being made. I know a lot of people hate to hear this and disagree, but I think a little small ball may be in order. Get some guys on, advance them whatever way you can, score a few runs. Love that Trea Turner can steal and hit. Not everyone on the team is as slow as Justin Turner and Albert out of the box or on the bases. Surprise the other team for a change! Take some chances. And quit resting your best players with so few games left. At this rate they’ll get plenty of rest come October