Dodgers Focused on Winning 9th Straight Division Title, Says Will Smith
The Dodgers opened the second half of the season with a 56-35 record and just 2 games behind the San Francisco Giants for first place in the powerhouse National League west. The San Diego Padres sat 4 games behind LA.
Each team won on Friday night, as has been the case often over the last few weeks. But for the Dodgers, the focus is on controlling what they can control. Catcher Will Smith echoed that sentiment last night after LA’s 10-4 win over the Rockies.
“Right now, it’s win the division. It’s going to be a close, tight race I feel like for the rest of the year. There’s a couple other good teams in our division that we’re going to have to compete with. It’s just going to take each and every game showing up, doing what we do and winning a bunch of ballgames.”
For the Dodgers, the real focus is probably a little ahead on the calendar, even if the players tell you otherwise. Starting Monday, the Dodgers and Giants will go head to head 7 times in 11 days. The division leading Giants first visit Dodger Stadium for four starting Monday. The hope for Dave Roberts and the boys in blue is that they’ll be getting a few more weapons back.
Barring a setback, right-hander Jimmy Nelson is set to return to the bullpen in that series. There’s also the possibility of getting shortstop Corey Seager back for the first time in more than two months. On top of that, left-hander reliever Victor Gonzalez — who tossed a scoreless inning of relief with Single-A Rancho on Friday — may also rejoin the team during this homestand.
NEXT: Josiah Gray Starting Next Week is ‘On the Table’
Looks like the 4 days off did some good for a few of the guys to reboot and refocus on they’re game. The past 2 games w/ Colorado have been a welcome site of timely hitting, good D, and solid performance by the SP and the BP. Great to see certain individuals using more top hand than the launch swing. Mookie, Pollock, Muncy, and even JT and CT3 been having success. This series is a good warmup to the upcoming series w/ the Giants. However, Belli, Lux, and Barnes must get off their vacation and seriously refocus!
True about those 3 ya mentioned Notice how we may now only see Lux in starting lineup against RHP. There’s a reason Will Smith gets most of the starts at catcher. Offense. Barnes can take his walks but he’s pitched
to somewhat different this year hitting in front of the pitcher. Last year he batted 9th hitting in front of Betts, the leadoff hitter.
No, it doesn’t matter w/ Barnes hitting in front of Betts or a pitcher. He is not having a good idea on what the pitcher’s attack on him. If the pitcher is pitching around him he is too passive to just take, even when he has a centercut pitch. He then falls behind the count and end up chasing or taking the pitcher’s pitch on the edges. He has to understand as the 8th batter, he needs to get on base @ all cost to have the pitcher bunt you over or turn over the line-up….. even to take the HBP. Currently he is guessing and not confident resulting in missing barrels and pop-ups.
Same goes for Lux when batting 8th. The no. 8 hitter needs to also set the table for the top of the order to start big innings.