Dodgers: Taking a Patient Approach to Joey Gallo’s Mechanical Issues
The Dodgers trading for Joey Gallo at the trade deadline was a head-scratcher for some people. Gallo, a former All-Star with the Rangers, had been terrible in his year with the Yankees, and it seemed odd for the Dodgers to take on such a massive project in the middle of the season.
On the other hand, one of the luxuries of having an insurmountable division lead and a lineup full of All-Stars is you can afford to take on such a project without worrying much about the on-field results.
As Bill Plunkett writes in the Orange County Register, that’s the approach the Dodgers are taking.
“From the first day I got here, they said it wasn’t about immediate results. It’s about the process and getting back to the player I know I can be,” Gallo said.
According to manager Dave Roberts, the Dodgers believe Gallo’s issues are mostly mechanical.
“I think Joey has a great approach,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Gallo joined the team at the trade deadline. “He understands which part of the zone he’s really good at. But the way his body is working, it doesn’t allow the mechanics to work the way they should be. I think in this particular case, it’s largely mechanical.”
It’s way too early to tell, but the Dodgers might have started to see some results. Gallo has two home runs and three opposite-field hits, although one homer and one oppo single came off position players. In addition, Gallo isn’t playing every day, so the results might take longer to show up. That’s why Roberts and the Dodgers are taking a patient approach.
“We’re still getting there with Joey,” Roberts said. “I don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves. I think right now we’re just trying to give him some leash and some runway to get some confidence.”
In the end, if the Dodgers can unleash the power hitter who hit 103 home runs from 2017-19 in Texas, he could be a huge boon to their postseason depth. If not, his spot will probably be filled by Edwin Rios, who is finishing up a rehab stint in Oklahoma City and then will probably stay there until the Dodgers know what they have in Gallo.
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