Dodgers News: Don Mattingly Discusses Playoff Roster Decisions
Earlier today, we gave our predictions about who we thought would make the Dodgers postseason roster as the regular season comes to a close this weekend.
Manager Don Mattingly will have several tough decisions as he’ll have to sit one of Andre Ethier, Carl Crawford, Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig everyday. Meanwhile, with a somewhat deep bench, a veteran infielder like Nick Punto, Skip Schumaker or Jerry Hairston Jr. will be left off the roster.
Talking to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times, Mattingly accepts players won’t be happy, but winning has to trump it all:
I think everybody knows what’s at stake, Mattingly said. And I think you’re hoping that no matter who the choice is that day, that everybody’s in for the win. You hope that it’s not about them at this point.
Other candidates to be left off the roster include Brandon League, Chris Withrow and the aforementioned Hairston as he’s really struggled in the second half.
Since the All-Star break, Hairston is hitting a measly .150 as Michael Young could be the one to get the roster spot over him. A lot of the decision, according to Mattingly, depend on who the Dodgers would play and at the moment they’d start in St. Louis against the Cardinals.
With their seeding still up in the air, Mattingly could use the final six games as an audition for playoff roster spots as some players won’t be too happy.
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In case you missed it, hear what Arizona senator John McCain had to say about the Dodgers pool party.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d27HTKzMdi0
Don’t get me wrong I like Sen McCain he served our country well but stick to your politics and I hope you enjoy watching our Dodgers go all the way to the World Series and then win it!!!!!! That would really piss you off, right Sen McCain. Maybe we will take a special trip to Phoenix and jump in your pool to celebrate!!!!!
McCain jumping in is way out of line, but with those pool antics the Dodgers took a step in the wrong direction towards acting like champions.
As long as Kershaw and Grienke are healthy and ready to go 1-2 the Dodgers have the best chance of running the table.