Dodgers: Dave Roberts Believes His Team Is Playing Their Best Baseball
This time in years past the Dodgers have coasted into the playoffs. Every year besides the 2018 season saw the Dodgers with the luxury of being able to rest guys and get healthy just before a long post season run. However, this year has been completely different baseball season.
Los Angeles has been playing catch up with the Giants for a majority of the season. With just 3 games left to play, every game holds a lot of weight. There’s still a chance to win or tie for the division, yet they’ll be in the postseason regardless of the outcome. With that being said, they’ll face a St. Louis Cardinals team that recently put together a 17-game win streak and could be called the hottest team in baseball right now. Still, the Dodgers seem to be firing on all cylinders at just the right time.
Manager Dave Roberts recently mentioned that this may be the best he’s seen them play all year.
“We’re having a lot of fun. We’re certainly winning, but I think a lot of it is that we’re playing good baseball. I think this is collectively the best baseball we’ve played. pitching, catching the baseball, the at bats, and just the team offense. For me that’s what’s most exciting. When you have guys playing better certainly they feel better about themselves. Finishing out a season and going through the postseason, it’s a bout who’s playing their best baseball. The trend that we’re on right now I think is reflecting kind of the joy guys are having.”
Come October, it’s all about momentum. The hotter a team is, the more likely they are to perform better and come out on top. One pitch, one at bat, one diving catch can be all it takes to shift that momentum from one side to another.
For the Dodgers, their spectacular comeback against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night was definitely a momentum saver. The Dodgers were 7-3 in their last 10 games before that night which isn’t terrible baseball, but the win kept them within 2 games back of the Giants and led to a sweep of a division rival. Now with a formidable opponent in the Milwaukee Brewers left on the schedule, the Dodgers have all the moment to continue their winning ways into the postseason.
Gee Doc, maybe the reason the team is playing so well is because you aren’t benching 2, 3 or 4 of the hotter hitters in the same game to “rest” them. That might even have been a big part of why we’re not going to win the division!
If Gehrig,Ripken andGarvey had played for Roberts their consecutive game streaks would have ended at 6
Yes, isn’t it amazing that you can win in “come from behind games” when you don’t rest your best players!
Another great win last night. Kersh got in trouble and we picked him up. That’s what champions do. Trea Turner, amazing game! Beatty, nice bomb, I bet that one felt good! Like I said earlier, when we play as a team and everyone finds a way to contribute, there is no stopping us.
Again…who cares what Roberts thinks? Let’s hear it for Matt Beaty rah! for socking it to ’em…yeah! I’d have to say it for him cause Matt is just to reserved to, but here ya go…..”in your face Dave!”……….and you stuck McDuffus in there for how long? Too long. Chapeau Matt Beaty!
Bayside, that’s Roberts for ya.
Dave Roberts should be fired. His management skills are seriously lacking. He seems more concerned about being liked than respected.
So, the guy who is paid well to make sure the team is playing its best,
says the team is ‘playing its best’ ?
You don’t say!?
FYI, the Giants are just 6 inning away from ending the Dodger’s division title run this year. They are leading Padres 1 to 0 and are obviously in no urgency to win either today or tomorrow because this way they assure that Dodgers are left to play that one and done game, which is or appears to be a priority for them now.
its not a one and done game. One of the 2 teams playing will continue so it is wrong to call it that. Do or die game is more correct. And the Dodgers at home with Max on the hill will not be beat
Many refer to it as one and done because it’s only a 1 game round that determines 1 team advancing and the other team seeing their season being over.
I agree with doc – you can see it in the players the last few weeks – they have all been playing for each other and finding ways to win. Losing Kersh is going to hurt as we lose Julio in a hybrid bull pen role. But we still can get there with arguably 3 Cy Young Candidates (Max, Walker and Julio) leading the way. Plenty of rest for them too, so we should be good to go. Thanks cards for flying out west; please do not enjoy your short say!