Dodgers: Roberts Updates on Justin Turner Out of the Lineup, Plan with Pollock
It’s easy to feel a little uneasy whenever a supposedly healthy Justin Turner isn’t penciled into the three hold of the Dodgers’ lineup. Thankfully, Dave Roberts said it’s nothing to be too worried about.
No Justin Turner, not even at DH.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) September 18, 2020
Here’s the full word from Doc:
JT’s out of the lineup today. He’ll be back — I haven’t decided on what role tomorrow — it’s probably gonna be DH. So he’ll DH tomorrow.
Turner has started exclusively at the DH spot since coming off the injured list with a hamstring issue. For Friday night, the plan opted to give A.J. Pollock the start at DH. Pollock, who came out of Wednesday’s contest early, is nursing a hamstring issue of his own. But he’s another guy that Roberts feels good about for this weekend.
AJ is DHing today and he’ll be in left field tomorrow night.
The two right-handed batters have been key contributors on the field and at the plate for Los Angeles this season, when healthy. The Dodgers are 25-10 with Turner in the starting lineup, and 33-13 with Pollock in action.
While winning this series in Colorado is nice, it’s not paramount to the success of the boys in blue. LA already has a playoff spot secured and at worst would finish second in the NL West, which, under the new postseason seeding really wouldn’t make much of a difference. Instead the real key for the Dodgers in October is staying healthy now. So, with JT, he sits.
NEXT: Dave Roberts Stresses the Need for Julio Urías to Pitch Well From the Start
The Dodgers hit a short lull prior to winning the last 4 in a row. They are getting hot at the right time. Smith is hitting over 300. And Barnes is over 270. The Dodgers are suddenly well above average at the catcher position. Bellinger is looking better. Everybody is hitting at least above average although the Colorado factor has been in play in the last games. May’s foot seems good. Buehlers blister situation still needs to be tested. Betts and Seager are putting up MVP caliber numbers. Pollack looks like the comeback player of the year. Taylor is hitting 276 and pushing Pollack for comeback player. Gonsolin and May have exceeded expectations and look like veteran aces. And there’s nothing Betts can’t do (except play 2nd base). This is the year to finally seal the deal. The only potential weakness is the closer. But there are plenty of guys who can do it, not named Jansen.
The closers bother me, but they always do. Glad to see Belli coming around. Don’t stop, win the division! MLB has quieted down on the Padres. Glad to see us win that series!
as Belli gives up on the ‘tweaks’ he put in, he will do better.
Get off the plate more.
Widen stance
Load (bend knees to get on balls of feet when pitcher winds up)
Quit stepping in the bucket.
These four things are all in the set up. No change to the swing,,, that big magnificent powerful swing.
The only closing that Jansen should do is closing the door behind him- making sure it doesn’t him on his way out.
He scares me every time he is called on. Never a 123 inning.Always makes you sweat.Just don’t trust him any longer.