I think a light bulb went off for Dave Roberts. A reporter actually asked a question other than…”what are the emotions you are feeling right now?” Heavy hitting standard question that fits every situation.
Reporter:
“I think one thing that served you guys well, you have a lot of guys that are even keeled. I know Mookie on the elimination day was like it’s another type of game type thing. But in October, do you kind of need to have that NFL Sunday type of mindset? Would something like that help?”
Roberts:
“I think there’s some truth to that. As a manager, you never want to say that somebody wants it more than you because I think that speaks to the preparation part of it, the mental part of it.
But I will say that you look at that dugout versus our dugout, there was more intensity there. And so not asking guys to be outside of who they are. But that sense of the ultimate sense of urgency each pitch, I think that we’re going to make sure that that’s noted, because I do think the retrospect, the postmortem, kind of looking at it, I sensed it. I sensed it. So that part of it, I think that I’ve got to certainly take ownership of for sure.”
Question:
“Was that a need this winter to maybe go out find that type of guy?”
Roberts:
“I think that’s more — not necessarily, I think the personnel was there. I think it’s more of bringing that message to light and that’s my job.”
The reporter called out Mookie by name. Cody Bellinger, Gavin Lux, CT3, Austin Barnes, Will Smith, Trea Turner, Freddie Freeman, Tyler Anderson. Prior years…Corey Seager. Need I keep going. The team is made up from these types of personalities. Stoic, non-plussed, and yes even keeled. They appear to take the sport of baseball as a business and not a game. For the grind of a 162 game season, that probably works. Don’t get too up or too down. But in a “short series” win or go home “crap-shoot”, I think there needs to be more of a sense of urgency.
Max Muncy has an attitude. We saw it against the White Sox. We saw it against Madison Bumgarner. But the other times we saw it from him was when he is striking out. Not much incentive there. Unfortunately the other attitudes on the roster were not the stars. Brusdar Graterol, Alex Vesia, Hanser Alberto.
This LAD team does not have a Manny Machado, Tim Anderson, Francisco Lindor, Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, Trent Grisham, Jurickson Profar, Jose Altuve, Juan Soto, a younger Madison Bumgarner, and Alex Rodriguez. Yes, even Carlos Correa. Someone who can take all of the s*** with a smile, and put the team on his back.
Attitudes Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson dominated the 2001 WS. Madison Bumgarner in 2014. The 2004 Red Sox team was full of those types. Early 70’s A’s. 1988 Kirk Gibson.
Gone are the fiery managers. There is no Tommy Lasorda going after the Philly Phanatic or giving Kurt Bevacqua speeches. There is no Walter Alston inviting anyone on a bus to meet him outside. This game has been turned over to computer geeks. Players sit in the dugout and look at their last ABs on their I-Pad. Where are the Chase Utley’s who study the pitcher to pick up his pitcher tells. Where are the jokesters…Jerry Reuss and Jay Johnstone?
When asked if there are plans to get that player in the Winter, I will repeat what Doc said:
“I think that’s more — not necessarily, I think the personnel was there. I think it’s more of bringing that message to light and that’s my job.”
I don’t remember Bob Melvin being the leader bringing the attitude to the surface. Does anyone think that Manny Machado or Jurickson Profar, or Trent Grisham need a manager to tell them to play with a sense of urgency or a chip on their shoulder?
It is the players. It does not have to be a dugout full of attitudes. It really only needs to be one or two that are comfortable with bringing the ‘tude. Who has the wide shoulders to carry the team?
I do not know who those players are. But the Dodgers are missing that “Guy”. Dansby Swanson? He would be a current Dodger clone.
Rodon has fire. Pay the money and add a top arm to the rotation. Roll with Urias, Rodon, Kershaw, Gonsolin, May, Pepiot. Play the young bats.
Middle-tier talents like Bassit, Benitendi & Drury are probably getting greedy right now and holding out for more money from teams who missed out on the bigger names. Out of those names, only Drury holds any real appeal to me, but mostly because of his versatility and [theoretical] lower cost. MLBTR had him at 2y/$18; I’ll predict 2y/$24m if we sign him.
Totally agree with your main point here, Jeff.
Badger, they don’t need a cheerleader, because Doc is quite capable of filling that role. They need someone to stir up some passion.
Passion is the key, in my opinion, and they totally play without that most of the time.
Might as well re-name the team the Los Angeles Robots.
I have no idea who that player might be, but I hope they find him sooner than later. And I think it would be beneficial if that person was a position player rather than a pitcher, someone who plays every day.
First and foremost, you need a roster with talent, but a lot of teams have talent. In a short series (or a group of short series) you need someone to stir things up and have your guys rise above their normal level of talent. That’s what we seem to be missing and what I saw in the Padres dugout during the playoffs last season.
Yes, the playoffs are still a crapshoot, but passion is just one more advantage, if you have it.
I think this has been in the air for a while. When Machado was traded for, it was reported that Friedman wanted “more of an edge” in the clubhouse.
It’s interesting, to me at least.
Can’t believe we have to suffer through another Croatia game.
Regarding free agency and the financial trends we’re seeing in the current market, I think Friedman is hamstrung a bit because his preferred course of action [shorter term/higher AAV] is not happening that much right now with deals. In some ways, the only thing that matters is the one-year hit, which is why Nimmo for roughly $20m per was a pretty savvy use of resources, considering he’s a productive and complete everyday player at a prime position. The fact that it’s an eight-year deal doesn’t matter as much because where will you be in eight years? Exactly, nobody knows.
Also, there is some truth to the “stars and scrubs” label put on Friedman’s moves. The fact that we were rumored to be in on Verlander suggests he’s willing to pay a large number as long as it doesn’t extend far into the future. That is reserved for superstars like Betts or Freeman [which latter, btw, was a hell of a deal for us].
Ironically, the two impact players that are the best fits for us at this point have opposing ideal contracts: Rodon would be best on a short, high AAV deal while Swanson would be better to extend in time to lower the AAV. Rodon for three years or Swanson for seven are signings that make sense in the current environment.
I’m purposely ignoring Senga because that is purely a scouting matter. We simply don’t know how our brain-trust values his skillset. My guess would he’d be a long-term deal with a lower AAV.
Who are the quality prospects most expendable in our system?
I am making this prediction based on a gut feeling. The Dodgers are not going to make it to the playoffs this year. I think and believe with their commitment to a youth movement, management and ownership is fine with that. They are not close to being the best team in the NL anymore. They are not even the best team in their own division.
Kevin Kiermaier has signed with the Blue Jays. Looks like Jason Heyward has an inside track to be LAD CF. He was not acquired to be a MiLB player. The Dodgers said they wanted to acquire a LH hitting OF who can play CF. Jason Heyward.
Well do not have to worry about them signing Kiermaier. He re-signed with the Rays.
Question for the rules experts.
Let’s say the arbitrator says Bauer can play this year. He has an opt out for 2023.
How long does he have to say yes or no to that part of his contract?
this article is a blast:
https://www.insider.com/mlb-used-two-balls-again-this-year-and-evidence-points-to-a-third-2022-12