Max Muncy Senses More Focus From Dodgers Entering 2024 Season
After committing more than $1.2 billion to new contracts over the winter, the Dodgers enter the 2024 season with even bigger targets on their backs. The franchise is used to being the hunted after sustained success over the years. Now, the pressure to perform comes with more money than any team in baseball history.
Early postseason exits have become a familiar ending for the Dodgers. There has been plenty of blame to spread around. Stars Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman failed to show up in the team’s postseason series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, going 1-for-21 in the three games. The Dodgers’ three starting pitchers — Clayton Kershaw, Bobby Miller and Lance Lynn — combined to throw 4.2 innings and allow 16 runs.
Coming into this year, it seems Los Angeles has some unfinished business to attend to. Infielder Max Muncy said he senses more focus from this squad given their new reality.
“I don’t know if it was the shortened spring training or what, but everyone just feels like we’re on a mission this year. There was a whole lot more focus on preparing ourselves. This spring was the most I’ve seen everybody go out and get their work in. … It was fun. It was good. Everyone was getting on everyone.”
— Max Muncy via the Los Angeles Times
The Dodgers know they are facing a World Series-or-bust expectation going forward, but it’s been no different each of the last few seasons. This time, they have something to prove with the rest of the league looking at them as villains.
Nobody wants to see this team win other than the guys in the clubhouse and it’s been reflected already. St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas has taken a shot at L.A., saying he hopes his team “sticks” it to the Dodgers for playing “checkbook baseball” over the offseason.
Quotes like this aiming at Los Angeles likely aren’t going to stop, unless the team gives them a reason to. Winning will be the only way to quiet the doubters and haters, and the Dodgers have the talent to make it happen.
Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
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