This is not the end for the Dodgers only the start!
By Jamaal Artis
Despite having the highest payroll in the major leagues, the Dodgers have been mediocre all season and in a terrible division stand at .500.
There are Dodgers fans who are upset with the state of mind team on the field has.
It doesn’t seem like things will get any better, unless some changes are made in personnel.
That is unlikely as the front office is loathe to spend any money or part ways with prized prospects; in order to improve the team, let alone gear it up for a deep playoff run.
The Dodgers continue to play unattractive baseball that lacks speed, brains or heart.
I know what you are thinking didn’t they just gut out a 17 inning marathon against the San Diego Padres, don’t they still have the best pitcher in baseball, and don’t they still have spending power to make the changes.
A big yes to all those questions except that kind of thinking has deep flaws.
The aforementioned 17 inning game against the Padres sums up the season so far.
Blown save in the 8th inning, big innings given up by a Dodgers starter, bad decision making, and a lack of patience at the plate.
The Dodgers pitcher Kenta Maeda was cruising for four innings in the game, until an errant ball clipped the umpire in the fifth inning causing a 15 minute delay.
Like a toddler taken off of his routine, Maeda promptly had a pitching meltdown, and gave up four runs putting the team in a 4-0 hole.
Somehow the Dodgers slowly crawled back up to an eighth inning lead.
Then the bullpen gave up the lead as closer Kenley Jansen uncharacteristically blew a save for the second time in the series.
The Dodgers had chances to win way before the 17th inning when Yasiel Puig found himself on second with no outs in the top of the ninth inning and AJ Ellis at the plate.
Ellis squared around to bunt and actually succeeded (very un-Dodgers like), except Puig didn’t run to third and was left stranded.
A mental mistake that piles onto the narrative that Puig’s mental mistakes are enough to end the relationship between player and team.
The Dodgers afternoon was further infuriating as they could not score despite having the bases loaded with no outs in the 14th inning.
They had a runner in scoring position in the 15th and 16th innings and mercifully Puig atoned for his mistake as he drove in two runs in a four run 17th inning that effectively ended the game.
By depleting their bullpen and having to play the following night this put pressure on the lone Dodgers brightspot this season their ace Clayton Kershaw.
Thankfully Kershaw came through pitching a complete game two hit shutout of the Cincinnati Reds.
Again the Dodgers hitting was so inept the only run scored was on a double play. The win pushed the Dodgers record to 9-1 when Kershaw pitches and 14-22 when he doesn’t.
As such a great a season Kershaw is having how long can he go carrying this team all year. Eventually the other starters will have to step up and the bullpen will have to be able to hold leads.
Something needs to change for the Dodgers attitude as they just brought in Dave Roberts to change the culture of the locker room and by all evidenced it has.
This team likes each other despite Sunday’s miscue and Puig’s conduct has been exemplary.
There is a positive attitude when it comes to playing the game. Despite this winning baseball is not being translated to the field.
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So is this it for the Dodgers are the fans really going to have to tolerate .500 baseball, if that’s the case time for some changes or other fans may just stay home.