Dodgers: Justin Turner Talks About One Frustrating Part of Last Season
Earlier this week, Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner joined John Hartung and SportsNet LA to discuss the upcoming season.
.@redturn2 chats with @LAJohnHartung about the #Dodgers remaining hungry heading into the 2020 season.
Full Interview: https://t.co/vajGPPgLgp pic.twitter.com/4EVpF5MBXu
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) January 22, 2020
While JT — like all of us — is chomping at the bit to get this new season underway, he also took some time to discuss a focal point of his for the coming season.
The strikeouts were up a little bit last year. [We] dug into some numbers and had some conversations with some our hitting guys and [President of Baseball Operations] Andrew Friedman.
That’s something that I take a lot of pride in and I know your partner in crime — Nomar — it kind of rubs him the wrong way to see all the strikeouts in the game, and I’m very similar. If I had to pinpoint one thing, seeing those strikeout numbers go up last year was a little frustrating for me.
Turner struck out 88 times in 2019, his most since the 2016 season (107). Oddly enough, in both seasons he smacked 27 home runs, which is his single-season high.
[adace-ad id=”118954″]The 35 year-old is entering his seventh season with Los Angeles. Moreover, with players like David Freese and Rich Hill retired, the 2020 campaign will afford Turner the opportunity to become the de facto grizzled veteran in the Dodgers clubhouse.
Hopefully the season is kind to the vet who is entering the final year of his contract.
NEXT: JT Celebrates “Justin Turner Day” in the Most JT Way
I remember when Justin was released by the Mets. A fan on one of these blogs said we should sign him. We were looking for infield backup. I looked up his stats, it was like yeah he is OK. How wrong I was! He has been the heart of our team. Thanks for your hard work, Justin !
Smart gritty players that can hit for average and power are stars in baseball JT doesn’t get the credit he deserves for being a leader and an outstanding baseball paler. . Justin is also a better defender than he gets credit for. JT would have won a Gold Glove earlier in his career if Arenado was not around.
I am almost 69 and been a Dodger and baseball fan since I was a kid. JT is one of my favorite Dodgers and I also am a big fan of Muncy/ I like guys that have had a tough time coming up and stuck with it and become outstanding players. It is a lot like life. we all get challenged and fail it is the person that gets up and still have fight in them that win in the long term and I have a lot of respect for.
Unlike the Dodger haters I am a big supporter of the Front Office’s business plan and believe the Dodgers will be a better team in the next several years than previously because of the amazing talent that arrived last year and is coming up in Grey, Downs, Peters and others. Why should they spend money when they can develop world class talent from their amazing Farm Teams?
When did Rich Hill retire?
He didn’t. He signed with the Twins, who will shatter the record for home runs they set last year. Rich Hill could very well win a world series before the Dodgers do.