The Los Angeles Dodgers are in the midst of a tight division race with the San Diego Padres just two games behind.
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It’s a point in the season where every game matters and every win counts. With that being said, manager Dave Roberts is hoping the entire Dodgers lineup will elevate their performance down the stretch.
Michael Conforto has had few bright spots in his first season with the Dodgers, but Roberts has continued to stick with the outfielder day in and day out. The Dodgers skipper hopes this helps Conforto become a consistent contributor to helping the ballclub win.
“We’re not going to chase an .800 OPS, but I think that we can get better each day to help us win championships, so I’m clearly giving him runway,” Roberts said of Conforto. “For us, he’s just got to take good at-bats. I want him to be able to get hits, drive in runs.”
Conforto is hitting .190 with nine home runs, 25 runs batted in, and an OPS of .636 this season. The 32-year-old’s numbers are uncharacteristic as he’s never averaged lower than .220 throughout his 10-year career in MLB. Additionally, his lowest OPS is .718 from the 2023 season, an indication Conforto’s season-long slump is unusual.
While it is perhaps too late this season to salvage Conforto’s individual numbers, he can still make an impact by taking good at-bats. The Dodgers will need the outfielder to do just that as LA hopes to become repeat World Series champions, but will first need to take the division.
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Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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7 Responses
Why not bring up Hope or DePaula? Both are supposed to be untouchable, give them a shot.
Yes, agree!
Agreed, why such a long runway for Conforto? He’s been given too long a lease to really be effective. That said, hope they cut him loose after yrs over. Agree with comment on Hope, DePaula or why not Ryan Ward? Ward’s mashing all season.
It seems to me that Dave Roberts, already, is starting to realize that the Dodgers are not playing up to capabilities. About time! If the Dodgers lose the division, or a playoff spot by one game, look back at that fiasco this past Sunday. That game was a team effort in futility! Conforto even paying, Ohtani attempting to steal third with two outs, Will Smith, who has been in his first slump of the season, swinging at a 3-0 count with the bases loaded. There are more examples but Dodger fans know what they are. It’s about time (even past time) for Roberts to step up and “blow off some steam”. Much of it should be pointed at himself. Don’t you wish that Tommy Lasorda was around to “address” the team? That would be interesting …………
You are right and the trouble is, with such a small lead over the MADRES, now is no time to be sitting people, except Confortowho has not earned the right to stay full time in left with a batting average of LESS THAN THE MENDOZA LINE. I’d rather see him sit and Teoscar play left field if Mookie is going back to right. Conforto is slow and grounds into to too many double plays. He also strikes out too much. He’s had all year. Are the Dodgers all about rewarding mediocrity or winning championships? Nos is the time to prove it!
What is so spectacular about Conforto that he is still in the lineup. I see continuous strikeouts and poor fielding.
Conforto is not the best to produce with players on base. Act now before it becomes a nightmare
Blue
Roberts is a bonehead. A front office sycophant.