Dodgers Way
FanSided

Dodgers: Three Biggest Disappointments of the First Half

By Hector Ponce

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 14: Logan Forsythe #11, Cody Bellinger #35, Corey Seager #5 and Chase Utley #26 wait with starting pitcher Rich Hill #44 of the Los Angeles Dodgers for a review of a call on a three run home run by Deven Marrero #10 of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fourth inning of the game at Dodger Stadium on April 14, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 14: Logan Forsythe #11, Cody Bellinger #35, Corey Seager #5 and Chase Utley #26 wait with starting pitcher Rich Hill #44 of the Los Angeles Dodgers for a review of a call on a three run home run by Deven Marrero #10 of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fourth inning of the game at Dodger Stadium on April 14, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
Dodgers
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 10: Manager Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on prior to a game against the Oakland Athletics e at Dodger Stadium on April 10, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Dave Roberts mishandling of games

Forsythe has been unplayable, but somehow in the middle of his awful slump, Roberts has managed to give him significant playing time all the while hitting him near the middle of the lineup. That is not the only questionable decision Roberts has made.

Roberts is the ultimate motivator, he gets the absolute best out of his players and is always positive. That is what suits him so well to be the manager of the Dodgers. The problem is he can sometimes mishandle a ball game and make some head-scratching decisions. The good thing is that is something that can be learned, unlike his leadership.

The most notable mishandlings have come with the bullpen. To be fair to Roberts, the bullpen hasn’t exactly been lights out anyway, but Roberts has been no help. Roberts always plays the hot hand in the bullpen in high leverage situations. He does this until they eventually fizz out usually do to fatigue.

The fatigue part is largely due to Roberts. Doc has been the type of manager to over-manage.  He has a tendency to pull his starters from a game a bit too early. Which is a problem when you don’t have many reliable pieces in the bullpen. Trotting a starter out for another inning after throwing 85 pitches is not a big deal but it is when Roberts allows it to happen because that is rare for a Dodger starter.

Another big issue has been his lineups. Forsythe batting 5th is a joke, one that shouldn’t be happening anymore with Machado in town. He has drawn out some very good lineups but he will follow it up the next day with a suspect line up. I understand testing lineups but some of them have been very bad. Hopefully, Roberts will fix these minor issues as the season progresses.

Home/LA Dodgers News