Dodgers: Top Three Disappointments of the First Half of the Season

DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 27: Kike Hernandez #14 of the Los Angeles Dodgers circles the bases after hitting a 3 RBI home run in the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on June 27, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 27: Kike Hernandez #14 of the Los Angeles Dodgers circles the bases after hitting a 3 RBI home run in the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on June 27, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 20: Austin Barnes #15 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a two run home run in the fourth inning while facing Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on June 20, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

Austin Barnes’ lack of productivity 

The Dodgers came into the first half of the season with hopes that Austin Barnes could provide some kind of offensive production until one of Will Smith or Keibert Ruiz were ready for the big leagues.  Barnes had a good month of May posting a .273/.385/.432 slash line but that is sandwiched between a subpar April and June.

Will Smith came up and in under thirty at-bats provided several impact offensive moments including a walk-off home run.  The Dodgers continue to start Barnes but he continues to dig himself into a deeper hole at the plate.  It won’t be much longer til the Dodgers see that they need to give Will Smith a longer look and he should provide more offensive firepower than Barnes.  Austin is one of the big disappointments of the first half.