Dodgers Rumors: Three concerns the fans should recognize
By Evan Lovett
Final thoughts
Though the Dodgers appear to be the best team that Major League baseball fans have seen in a generation, there are a few weaknesses. The long relief, center field and playoff ghosts are all potential pratfalls that could appear in the postseason.
Dave Roberts’ prolific use of the bullpen has proven to be a keen strategy thus far, but a repeat of 2016 – where the relievers were dragging from over usage – is a very real threat at this point, and needs to be addressed. With the new acquisitions, it will be interesting to see how and where Roberts uses Cingrani and Watson, and what roles they absorb as the calendar turns.
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Can Avilan, Baez, Morrow, Stripling and Fields hold up? Will the starters pitch deeper into games? Or will Roberts continue to play matchups and use relievers as often as possible? The strength and health of the bullpen will be paramount in the postseason.
The center field situation is not dire, but it is a definite weakness with Pederson continuing his subpar play. Ideally, Pederson will start hitting again and make the postseason roster. If not, Taylor and Hernandez are both capable but are best left in their natural slots – Taylor in left field and Hernandez as the utility man off the bench.
The adage that ‘defense up the middle’ is the core of your ball club is true. The Dodgers need to lock down center field soon because the spotlight burns brightest during postseason, and any weakness will be magnified.
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Lastly, the ghosts of the postseason have spooked the Dodgers for 29 years. Clayton Kershaw has unfortunately been the victim more often than not, but a new season starts October 3rd. This Dodgers has steamrolled through the league this season, and if they want the postseason to be more of the same, they need to address these three weaknesses. The World Series is within reach. It’s up to the Dodgers to ensure that there are no holes to exploit if they want to capture the flag.