Dodgers: Something Different Needs To Be Done With Edwin Ríos
Has anyone seen the Dodgers’ offense? Anyone at all? Alright, to be fair they have been scoring some (keyword some) runs over their past 8 games prior to Wednesday’s action, but nowhere near the rate they were to start the season.
The offense has looked absolutely flat and has been horrendous when it come to leaving men on base. I don’t even want to get into the numbers for the sake of everyone’s sanity, but they’ve left 72 players on base over those last 8 games. I’m sure it’s obvious but no team should expect to win while leaving that many on. Having a strong bullpen to help keep the game close would help, but the team doesn’t even have that luxury right now.
While there have been some bright spots in that lineup, they can’t carry the whole offense, especially someone like Edwin Ríos wasting at bats every time he comes to the plate. Don’t get me wrong he was a solid player as late as last season, but this season is a different story.
Through 20 games so far, Ríos is sporting a lackluster .093 batting average at the plate with 15 strikeouts. He’s looked lost at the plate and struggles to put the ball in play. He’s even missing hittable pitches right down Broadway. To put just how bad he’s been into perspective take a look at his numbers in past seasons.
2019 (47 at-bats)
- .277/.393/.617
- 4 HR, 8 RBI
- 21 Ks, 9 BB
2020 (76 at-bats)
- .250/.301/.645
- 8 HR, 17 RBI
- 18 Ks, 4 BB
2021 (43 at-bats)
- .093/.235/.163
- 1 HR, 1 RBI
- 15 Ks, 6 BB
Although he did strikeout more in almost he same number of at-bats in 2019, he made up for it by providing some offensive output. The same can’t be said this year as he has just 4 hits and has been without one since April 13th against Colorado. The 27-year old corner infielder will never hit for a high average and may always have some swing and miss to his game, yet what he’s unable to do right now needs to be addressed.
Final Thoughts
The Dodgers need to do something about his lack of production. Maybe sending Ríos down to the alternate site to reset could do him some good, so far it looks like it worked for Matt Beaty. Dave Roberts can’t keep plugging him into the lineup like this, especially when the team has other capable players such as Beaty and Sheldon Neuse who could fill in where needed.
NEXT: Zach McKinstry Still a Ways Away from Returning to Lineup
Still surprised Rios hasn’t been sent down & Ruiz brought up. Not sure what the deal is, maybe injury or off field issues. A switch hitter off the bench would be very valuable.
One reason could be the stubborness often displayed by Roberts. As this page says, I also have to ask when enough is enough with Rios!.
Rios and Lux both look lame. Rios had some bright moments last year. Lux has never had any as far as I’m concerned, and actually deteriorated both offensively and defensively. McKinistry did a great job until he got hurt. Beaty deserves shots. Rios needs to go down and find his swing. Lux seems like a lost cause. He’s been given every opportunity and has failed every time. I’d trade him at midseason for whatever bullpen guy is available.
I sort of agree with you. Rios needs to be sent down asap. Lux on the other hand, I think he clearly isn’t ready for the big leagues and should be sent down for most of the season. Give him another chance when he shows he’s confident and ready. If that doesn’t work…trade him. I just hope he isn’t a bust.
Couldn’t have said it any better. Might add that Rios seems a bit lazy and Lux is completely lost and not ready for prime time and may never be.
Ruiz can’t be brought up because without a DH there is nowhere to play him, except for pinch hitting. It seems that the lack of the DH is hurting the Dodgers quite a bit right now
RIGHT ON!! And nobody can or will convince me that the offense is as good this year without the DH. And so far that is exactly the case.
You could very easily have said the same in this article about Lux….Dodgers need 2 players that can hit for average and avoid striking out. I’d trade both of these guys for any formidable high leverage pitcher. And Trade Price for his world series ring back..
You couldn’t get squat for Rios in a trade right now. Much less a high leverage pitcher.
If we traded a guy every time he’s struggling or hasn’t proven himself it doesn’t always work out. Remember 2 years ago the Lindor for Seager and May trade, some Dodgers fans and sports casters were for the trade.
Add Raley to the list of those who appear lost at the plate and who strikes out more than one-third of the time. The strikeouts by Rios and Raley in particular with none or one out and a man on third is particularly frustrating
I’ll give you one more – Sheldon Neuse so far struck out 9 times over 19 plate appearances, that’s almost 50%. All these “I think I can do it all” minor leaguers like Raley, Neuse, Lux, McKinstry really have no business being on the current roster. Dodgers skid started when Roberts put these hacks in the lineup. Friedmand traded Cody Thomas for Sheldon Neuse, this trade will come back to haunt the Dodgers. Cody Thomas can hit. As for Rios – forget about it, DFA.
We are only 24 games into the season and are in first place still, patience is our virtue,
Rios is probably the worst example but the Dodgers have clearly gone back to the pre-2020 attitude of “barrels” versus “in play.” It has been even more clear in the extra inning games. Guy on second, move him over, he scores on a fly ball. Instead we get guy on second, strike out, grounder moves him to third with two outs and he doesn’t score on the fly ball that is out three. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Guys,
We have been talking about Rios, Lux and Raley for awhile but Roberts is not going to do anything at all.
At least teach them to bunt the ball to the left side, guys!!!! If you can’t hit, bunt the ball, move the guys on the bases!!!! Do something to get some confidence because it seems that your manager and the hitting coaches are NOT DOING THEIR JOBS!!!! HOW PITFULL!!!!!
Roberts may not do anything yet with those 3 players but eventually they won’t be in the lineup because as Roberts said a while ago, in effect it’s the players that fill out the lineups based on their performance. A perfect example was with Joc when he was here. He was a bust against LHP and thus why he sat against LHP. So my guess is that Rios, Lux and Raley may simply play their way out of the lineup. WSS.
RIOS ISNOT A BIG LEAGUE PLAYER . TRADE LUX FOR ANYONE, HE IS NOT A DODGER.
MUNCEY IS LEAVEING MEN ON BASE ALMOST EVERY TIME AT BAT. DR WILL NEVER DO ANYTHING W/ HIM. WHERE DO YOU PUT A GUY THAT CANOT HIT ? HE IS PAYED WAY TO MUCH MONEY DR IS STILL ONE OF THE WOREST MANGERS IN THE MAJORS. LUX IS A LOST CAUSE, TRADE HIM FOR WAT YOU CAN GET
RAYLY IS NOT OUR PLAYER. I GAVE UP THE OTHER NIGHT ,IT WAS SO UGLY, TURNED THE TV OFF AND WENT TO SLEEP. AT LEAST DR DID NOT BRING JANSO IN . DR HAS A SERIOUS
PLORBLEM WITH JANSON & MUNCY, CAN NOT OR WILL NOT MANGE THEM RIGHT. DR HEADE IS AS HARD AS STONE ,HE REFUSES TO LEARN.
I’m so glad you are just a writer and not a baseball coach. Your understanding of baseball is about as good as your understanding of rocket science. I truly hope that you don’t claim to be a Dodger fan.
ditto!
Muncy seems to be looking for walks and leaving very hittable pitches alone.Not a#4 or #5 hitter!
I don’t know the answer, but I hope they get it right.
Poor Edwin, he looks lost at the plate. Send him down to the alternate site or a minor league club and scare him. His confidence is very low and his bat is slow.
Rios must have something on Roberts. They send Raley down who is hitting 150 points above Rios. Ruiz should be called up in his place. Now where is the Dodger hitting coach? Betts, Seager, Muncy all step up to the plate now as if they are already in a hole 0-2. No confidence, bad habits. Pitiful.
back to the minor leagues real sucks Kiki Hernandez plays way better even Alex Verdugo please a lot better