Dodgers’ Struggles Brought Flashbacks of 2023 NLDS, Says Miguel Rojas
The Los Angeles Dodgers have looked like a broken team through their last 10 games, losing six of them. The only time they appeared to be clicking one through nine was for the three-game sweep of the Mets in New York.
They snapped their five-game losing streak on Wednesday with a doubleheader sweep and scored 10 runs for the first time since May 14 in the nightcap. However, the offensive outburst was backloaded. They scored six runs in the eighth inning.
Everything appeared to be on the upswing until the team returned home and dropped a 4-1 decision to the Colorado Rockies on Friday. The inconsistent offense reminds veteran infielder Miguel Rojas of last year’s playoff disappointment in the National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“It’s good to see. We all know the expectations of this offense. We all know we have the opportunity to win every single day,” said Rojas, who had four of the Dodgers’ 16 hits on Wednesday night. “But … we can’t really rely on Shohei’s homer, Freddie’s homer, Mookie being on a tear. We have to find a way to do it with small ball, too, the small ways of playing the game. On defense. Running the bases. That bunt by CT the other day to tie the game was really important.
For most of this season, the top of the lineup has done the most damage. On Wednesday, the bottom third combined for 10 hits.
“We can be a complete team. And then we got a little bit of flashbacks of the series last year in the playoffs when we couldn’t hit (during the losing streak), and we felt like we didn’t have a chance. So we got to find a way to have a chance, even when we don’t have the homers and we don’t have the Big Three at the top of the lineup. We have to find a way to continue to do that every single day.”
At some point, the Dodgers need to put it all together because when they do, that will be a nightmare offense for any opponent.
Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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Newsflash: Hey Miguel – You know it, the fans see it, but somehow you need to convince Dave Roberts of this. You potentially have the time to correct this now. The problem is, Roberts lacks the ability to tweak and adjust to the realities of his team’s either hitting or pitching struggles. In a 162 game schedule, okay, hopefully it gets worked out. In a best of 3 play in series, a best of 5 NLDS, or a best of 7 NLCS or WS, there is no time to adjust. If he can’t figure it out in 162 games, how in the world can he figure it out in a do or die series when playing like this for 3 years in a row in the playoffs has led to them being ousted by teams that finished 18 games, 22, and 16 games behind them in the standings. It’s why their current playoff losing streak sits at 6 losses in a row. It’s why dating back to the 2021 NLCS loss to ATL, they are 3 -10 in their last 13 playoff games, 2 – 8 in their last 10. I don’t recall any 10 regular season game stretches that bad in the last 5 seasons. If Roberts isn’t the guy to fix it, a change is warranted – especially with this lineup.
So, Miguel seems to know it, the fans see it, but somehow Dave Roberts needs to be convinced of this. The team potentially has the time to correct this now. The problem is, Roberts lacks the ability to tweak and adjust to the realities of his team’s either hitting or pitching struggles. In a 162 game schedule, okay, hopefully it gets worked out. In a best of 3 play in series, a best of 5 NLDS, or a best of 7 NLCS or WS, there is no time to adjust. If he can’t figure it out in 162 games, how in the world can he figure it out in a do or die series when playing like this for 3 years in a row in the playoffs has led to them being ousted by teams that finished 18 games, 22, and 16 games behind them in the standings. It’s why their current playoff losing streak sits at 6 losses in a row. It’s why dating back to the 2021 NLCS loss to ATL, they are 3 -10 in their last 13 playoff games, 2 – 8 in their last 10. I don’t recall any 10 regular season game stretches that bad in the last 5 seasons. If Roberts isn’t the guy to fix it, a change is warranted – especially with this lineup.