Dodgers: Justin Turner Admits Players are Feeling Tired Through the Dog Days of Summer

Given his age and playing experience, Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner has been what is considered an ironman for the Dodgers since joining the club. 

The 36-year-old has played 13 years in the show, eight of which have been with Los Angeles, so it’s safe to say that he knows a thing or two about the arduous, extensive fight called a 162-game season.

But after a 2020 campaign that was condensed as a result of COVID-19 last year, the 2021 National League All Star conceded that guys in the clubhouse are much more fatigued than they typically would be during a conventional regular season. 

“There has been some conversations and I think guys are feeling a little bit more tired than they would in a normal season after the 60-game last year,” Turner said during an interview with David Vassegh on iHeartRadio. 

The Dodgers are just a few days removed from what is referred to as the “Dog days of September” and Turner believes that this year is the “first time in a long time” that the team has experienced this degree of strain. 

“Your first couple of years up in the big leagues, you’re playing an extra month, you really feel that and have to learn how to manage that stuff and then you kind of get used to it,” Turner said.  “But then you have the 60-game season last year which was obviously with the snap of your fingers, it was over. Getting back to the full 162, and you’re feeling August again. 

The Dodgers fell one game out of first place after losing in extras to the San Francisco Giants on Friday but will look to give themselves a much needed boost in game two of a three game set, with the help of Turner of course.

He’s currently batting .281 with 21 dingers and 71 RBI’s entering Saturday evening’s division matchup.