Dodgers: Joc Pederson Reacts Incorrectly to Home Run
It was the top of the 9th inning in an eventual Dodgers 6-3 victory. Joc Pederson was at the dish and took a big swing — as he usually does — at a 95mph fastball. The rest is a classic Joc moment.
Joc Pederson thought he flew out.
Joc Pederson actually homered. pic.twitter.com/ZGpaqTMprn
— Chavez Ravine Fiends (@RavineFiends) September 25, 2019
The bat drops, his head turns in disgust, and then the slow realization that the ball is carrying creeps in. Dodger beat writer Ken Gurnick said it best.
Joc Pederson dropped his bat in disgust when he popped up. Then it went over the fence for a home run.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) September 25, 2019
In a season where the most home runs have been hit in MLB history – don’t worry, the ball’s not juiced *wink wink* — Joc Pederson reaped the benefits of a pop fly home run at one of the toughest ball parks for home runs in the league.
While home runs are fun, team reactions can be even better. Sheepish grins filled the Dodger dugout on Joc’s pop home run. Celebrations were timid at best, but rookie Gavin Lux got his veteran teammate with the “syke” of the season.
Joc Pederson sheepishly gets a cheap pop-fly homer.
In the dugout, Gavin Lux goes fake high five. ?
Gutsy move by the rookie. ? #dodgers pic.twitter.com/mjTazayF0l
— Dom Bonvissuto (@dombonvissuto) September 25, 2019
Pederson has a career high 33 home runs in 144 games. All 33 homers have come off right handed pitching, which puts him in 3rd place in the NL vs RHP, trailing only Pete Alonso of the Mets and Eugenio Suarez of the Reds.
If Joc really concentrates , not that he doesn’t fully, I really can’t say, my opinion is when I seem him really locked in he is one of a kind, He hits with power and is a real menace to the opposition, I feel that if used properly in the playoffs He will do much damage, his adrenaline will be so pumped that there may be a new Mr.October. “THE BEST TO YOU ALL”
This guy has been maligned , criticized; and basically been nothing but trade bait in the minds of most fans since the second half of his rookie year. And yet he continues to crush righties. We need to recognize that he is a legitimate force for us. We would not be the same without him.
Great comment from Wayne. All you Joc-haters, shut up.
2020 is Joc’s final year before he hits FA. It will be interesting to see what happens with Joc during this coming off season. For what it’s worth, if I were Joc, I would spend a lot of time during this off season to somehow figure out how to hit LHP better, like Bellinger had done this year. It may not matter however if Dodgers decide either to deal him or keep him only for hitting against RHP. WSS.