Dodgers NLCS Quick Hits: Manny Machado’s Lack of Hustle

The Dodgers are heading back to Los Angeles all knotted up at one game a piece.  Here are the latest news and notes on the Dodgers.

Manny Machado has slugged three home runs for the Dodgers this postseason but Machado’s hustle has been missing.  In Game two yesterday, Machado had two ground outs in which he didn’t even jog to first, it was more of a slow walk.  In the fourth inning, Machado grounded out to deep shortstop (almost left field) and Orlando Arcia double clutched and still beat Machado by a good margin.

The other time in the game that Manny showed poor hustle was in the eighth inning when he grounded into a double play.  Machado once again slowly “jogged” down the line, almost walking by the time the first base picture came up on the telecast.  Cody Bellinger was benched for lack of hustle in San Francisco earlier this season after he slipped running out of the batter’s box and didn’t make it to third base despite hitting the ball to triple’s alley at AT&T Park.

Dave Roberts needs to pull Machado aside and let him know that his lack of hustle will not be tolerated.  The Dodgers are fighting for the NL pennant and if that isn’t enough to get Manny Machado to hustle down the first base line then what will?

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• Austin Barnes filled in for Yasmani Grandal yesterday and he had one of the biggest at-bats of the series so far.  Barnes came up to the plate with the Dodgers down 3-1 and the bases loaded.  Barnes worked out a six pitch walk and laid off a perfect 3-2 pitch by Jeremy Jeffress that most hitters would have swung and missed at.
• Chris Taylor went 2-4 yesterday and he is quietly putting together a very strong postseason.  Taylor now has a .556 average in the NLCS and the Dodgers have utilized his versatility playing him in center field, left field, and at second base.
• The Dodger bullpen was very good once again on Saturday as they pitched 4 2/3 innings allowing just one hit and one run which came off a home run against Alex Wood.  While the Brewers pen has gotten all the attention, the Dodger pen has been better.

• The Dodgers offense has been able to get to the Milwaukee bullpen as they have hit .333 against the Brewer pen and eight of the nine runs the Dodgers have scored this series, have come against the Brewers’ bullpen.