Dodgers: Craig Kimbrel Still Thinks He Will Figure Things Out
Craig Kimbrel has 20 saves this year, but all 20 have come with a multi-run lead. Tuesday night was the fourth time Kimbrel has entered the game with a one-run lead, and it was the fourth time he has blown that one-run lead for the Dodgers.
This time, there was a bunt single and a bloop single, but a case could be made that the walk between the two hits was the key play, putting the winning run into scoring position.
After the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts continued to insist that there are no plans for a change at closer.
Dave Roberts on what he saw from Craig Kimbrel's outing and Chris Taylor's overall performance. pic.twitter.com/V3gIYQkXxv
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) August 17, 2022
When asked if he was considering a change, Roberts said, “No, no, no, I thought Craig threw the ball just fine tonight. [Kimbrel’s ongoing struggles] is just some of the noise I have to drown out and see how the ball is coming out, see the execution. The command was considerably better tonight. … Yeah, the result is not what any of us wanted, but I’m not gonna just go by results alone if I believe that the stuff is good, the process is good.”
Kimbrel was clearly frustrated with his outing, too.
“It's tremendously frustrating… I just feel like I've been battling, not necessarily the other team, but myself. … I just haven’t put it all together." Craig Kimbrel on his blown save. pic.twitter.com/70OyQSCvII
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) August 17, 2022
“It’s frustrating. It’s tremendously frustrating. This whole year, really, I’ve felt like I’ve been battling. Not necessarily the other team, but myself. … I just haven’t been able to put it all together. Not to say I won’t, because I definitely will. It’s coming. But I just think in the last 40-something innings, it’s been very frustrating. It’s time for me to turn it around, and I’m going to. Just come in every day, taking the ball and going out there and eventually it’s going to turn.”
Time is running short, though. The Dodgers have 47 games left in the regular season, which realistically means about 15 more chances for Kimbrel to turn that corner. If not, we’re likely to see a different face on the mound in save situations in October.
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Dodgers: Fans React to Craig Kimbrel’s Latest Poor Showing
A closer with an era of 5? Bet teams are clamoring for that trade.
Sounds like time to consider some changes…to manager?
Let him “figure things out” in the minors where he can’t do anymore harm.
I really hope that he can figure things out.
But you’ve given up on Belli?
For the 97th time, he is not going to figure out anything. He is 4 for 4 in blowing 1 run games this year. If he is our closer in the playoffs this year then you can kiss the world series goodbye. We should have tried to get an actual closer at the trade deadline and we didn’t. It most certainly come back to bite us.
Still got Phillips and Treinen on the way back…all is not lost.
Even Price would be better.