Andrew Friedman Doesn’t Think Cody Bellinger Would Have Figured it Out with Dodgers
Cody Bellinger has enjoyed somewhat of a career revitalization in Chicago this season. Before being placed on the injured list with a left knee contusion, Bellinger was slashing .271/.337/.493 with seven home runs, nine doubles and 20 RBIs.
At one point, Bellinger seemed all the way back at the plate. However, he cooled down in May, before ultimately being placed on the IL after making an incredible catch in center field.
Still, Bellinger has looked better this year than he did at any point over the last three seasons with the Dodgers. That’s why, it was no surprise when the team non-tendered him this offseason.
Despite the non-tender, there were no hard feelings between the two sides. The Dodgers felt that Bellinger needed a change of scenery, and I’m sure he agreed.
Last week, Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman joined the MLB Network for an interview, where he was asked about Bellinger’s turnaround this season.
He made it clear that the Dodgers tried everything they could, and that Bellinger likely just needed to be somewhere else to figure things out again.
“Sometimes the change of scenery thing is real,” Friedman said. “Our hitting coaches are really good. And Cody really cares about being good. So I don’t think [his fall off in LA] is something where you can point a finger at either side, it was just where the success that our hitting guys and Cody had together, the subsequent things that happened and trying to get it back on track just wasn’t working here.”
Despite a lot of roster turnover from last season, the @Dodgers hold the NL's best record through a quarter of the 2023 campaign.
— MLB Now (@MLBNow) May 17, 2023
President of Baseball Ops Andrew Friedman recaps some offseason decisions, mixing young talent with experienced vets and more! #MLBNow pic.twitter.com/d3jNtXruxH
Despite Cody not being in LA any longer, Friedman is still rooting for him to succeed.
“He is a guy that is really easy to root for,” Friedman said. “He’s got a lot of friends in our clubhouse, in our front office. We’re a big fan of Cody and we hope he continues to perform the way he is and excited for him but this year, I’m not sure it would have happened here… but it’s a difficult question to answer — we’ll never really know. But it’s been fun watching the success he’s had.”
Bellinger gave so much to the organization, and was one of the best young players they’ve ever had. In his first four years in Los Angeles, he won a Rookie of the Year Award, an MVP Award and a World Series championship.
The fall off was definitely tough to see, but Bellinger will forever be remembered as a fan-favorite in Los Angeles, and it’s great to see him getting his career back on track this season. At just 27 years old, he should still have a lot left in the tank.
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It was a huge mistake to give up on Cody the way the Dodgers did. It was good for Cody because it got him away from Dave Robert’s. Robert’s was bad for Cody, heck he’s bad for the Dodgers period. I hate that he gets the credit for the success of a very very talented Dodger team. But that’s another story. In my opinion Belli would of been just fine in LA if he stayed. He just needed to get healthy again. Everybody seems to forget that he had shoulder surgery prior to the last two seasons with us. It’s not uncommon for it to take two years to recover from that type of surgery, especially when it comes to bat speed. Prior to his surgery nobody wanted to throw a fastball to cody. But after his surgery he couldn’t catch up to the fastball, because he wasn’t fully recovered yet. But he is now and he will only get better as the season goes. He’ll be in MVP form in no time. I would love to see the Dodgers go after him as a free agent at this years end. There is not an outfield in baseball that could match Mookie, Belli and Outman. That would definitely be the best all around outfield in the MLB. But if we do bring belli back, let’s get rid of Robert’s first. The man can’t even make a lineup, let alone manage the pitching. It’s like he is managing for the other team. Example nobody was happier then the Padres when Robert’s pulled Anderson last year and that’s a fact.
No other explanation other than coaching. Any other explanation is ridiculous! You have an allstar/ROY that forgets how to bat?!?!
Dodgers made the right choice. After over 2 years of trying everything and paying Top Dollar it was time for Belly to see a new view . Belly is on the DL unfortunately but it’s All Thumbs Up to see Belly out there in Center again . Chicago is a Home-Run hitters park and the chance for Bellenger to get back on track .
i was here for a whole year saying he needed to get healthy, that maybe the doyers should have shut him down in order for him to get right physically. now? even if he’s not back to MVP form, he’s one hell of a lot better than when he was rushed back post-surgery here. add in COVID to keep him from in-person rehab and training while recovering? i said it to anyone who listened (almost nobody): give him a couple years post-op, or ONE if he was just shut down that first year after surgery. instead, he felt that pressure to come back the year after surgery, when his strength and stability in the joint COULD NOT POSSIBLY have been 100% (or even 80%). sorry, baseball is a game where minute numbers make a HUGE difference. that strength and stability in the joint? destroyed his swing.
i really wish i couldn’t be here saying “i told you so” while he’s doing it ELSEWHERE.