Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Won’t ‘Jump Ship’ on Chris Taylor Despite Slow Start
Los Angeles Dodgers utility player Chris Taylor is 1-for-35 to start this season with 18 strikeouts, but manager Dave Roberts isn’t ready to bench him yet.
“I’m certainly not gonna jump ship based on 35 plate appearances given his track record,” Roberts said on Friday.
Roberts isn’t wrong. Taylor does have a good track record. His standout seasons were in 2017 and 2021 when he launched 20-plus home runs and drove in 70-plus RBIs. However, almost a month into the 2024 season, he doesn’t look like the same batter.
Body language is an underlying issue with Taylor. When he walks up to the plate, his facial expression is worrisome and he looks defeated before his at-bat is even over.
What changed with Taylor from spring training to now?
“I think he was in a better place mechanically,” Roberts said. “He was covering a lot of pitches as I recall and right now, he’s not. I think for him, it’s just getting into compete mode… He drove in a run the other night on a sac fly which was good. That’s what I see.”
Taylor is in the starting lineup on Friday against the New York Mets batting ninth and playing left field. It won’t be an easy test for the struggling Dodger who will face Sean Manaea (1-1, 4.30 ERA). The Mets starter has 18 strikeouts in three starts and 14.2 innings pitched. He has a lively fastball that has consistently gotten swings and misses throughout his career.
Taylor is 4-for-16 against Manaea in his career with one home run, one double and seven strikeouts.
On the mound for the Dodgers is Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1-1, 4.50 ERA) who is looking to avenge his last outing against the San Diego Padres on April 12 when he allowed three earned runs on seven hits including two home runs.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. PT.
Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, rumors, interviews, livestreams, and more!
Let’s be honest! Taylor #3, has been having a rough start since 2023. When will the front office recognize you can’t make a 225 average hitter into a 300+ phenomenon that’s 30 years old. He just doesn’t possess the tools. Nice guy, great hustle, good team spirit, yada, yada… Time to move past CT3 and #22’s personal catcher #15 too! Bring up the young studs and give them the opportunity to shine!
If we fixed before, we can fix it again!
You can’t fix stupid. Taylor seems to think he is Hank Aaron. Until he gets it thru his head that he is not a HR hitter and cuts down his swing, he will continue to stink.