Dodgers News: Chris Taylor Says NLDS Was Dodgers ‘Worst Baseball’ of the Season
Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but the Dodgers have been eliminated in the NLDS by a divisional opponent. No this isn’t 2022, but rather the second consecutive year in which it has happened. The difference this time around is that the Dodgers were swept out of the postseason.
It was a frustrating three games for the Dodgers, and they couldn’t get out of their own way. Utility man Chris Taylor spoke about the NLDS series after the game, and what went wrong for LA.
“We just didn’t play well. It’s as simple as that,” Taylor said of the back-to-back postseason failures. “I don’t think there’s a magic answer. It’s not like, ‘Oh, if we did this, we would’ve (won).’ At the end of the day, they played better than we did. When you get to this late in the season, usually the hot team wins. They’re feeling good right now. They’re playing their best baseball they’ve played all year, I think. And we were probably playing our worst baseball we’ve played all year.”
The entire offense went to sleep after a record-setting year. It was a strange situation, but it also seems oddly familiar to anyone who has followed this team closely.
While Taylor is correct in saying that the team decided to play their worst stretch of baseball during these three games, it has become almost a yearly tradition by LA at this point. The same thing happened last season against the San Diego Padres, and other years, as well.
Something clearly isn’t working in how the Dodgers prepare for the postseason, and it is maddening for fans. The Dodgers have underperformed year after year, and it has been very frustrating to watch. They have the regular season success, but when the bright lights come on in October, this team folds.
There is no rhyme or reason for it, but it has become a pattern now at this point. So, the hope is that this offseason the organization really takes things to heart, and makes some sort of change.
Something needs to be different heading into next season because enough is enough. This team is far too talented for this to keep happening, and hopefully, this is the last time they have an early playoff exit for a while.
Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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Chris Taylor is right. I think however the Dodgers have two much time off between the first week of the playoffs and their first game. It has been shown that a good team can get flat with too much time off. Just an observation.
Hell, it was the “worst baseball” of the decade.
Been a Dodger fan for 73 yrs. Years when they wre the Brooklyn Dodgers and big rivals were the NY Yankees. Through the years I have never been so disappointed as the last two. My feelings after the 2022 season was should have replaced Robert before the 2023 season. They way he selects players for the post season is poor at best. And then, the starting players is inconsistent with during the season. Hope the Dodger management brings in a new Manager. Robert cannot perform for the post season.
I have always disliked people who act as if they had nothing to do with the disaster that’s facing them for another winter. This team has nothing but losers on it. Break this team up. Ironic that the players they’ve pass on the last two years Seager, Trea Turner, and Justin Turner are all clutch hitters for their clubs. Please, brake and break this team apart. They’re never going to win.
As a Giants Fan I don’t feel much sadness for the ‘Blue Meanies’ fail in post season but I admit it’s sour grapes on my part. I took LOTS of ribbing from Dodgers fans all season long.
I WAS, indeed impressed with LA during their run to win the National League West.
It’s a bitter pill to swallow if you’re a Dodgers fan.
I look forward to a more competitive 2024…
The problem is Dave Roberts. He’s the common denominator over the past 8 years. He has routinely mismanaged the pitching staff, from leaving tired or ineffective ones in too long, to removing effective pitchers due to pitch count. His obsession with LH-RH matchups is crazy and rarely pans out. And when things go wrong, he blames the players and throws them under the bus.
I think there Dodgers need to make an effort to bring in Dusty Baker to Manage. He would be the best fit. He is a players Manager that would be good for the organization.