The Los Angeles Dodgers have had many moments this season where the outfield has lacked appropriate production both offensively and defensively.
Specifically, Michael Conforto’s .103 batting average during his first 119 games as a Dodger, along with an Outs Above Average ranking in just the seventh percentile across MLB have greatly hampered the left field position.
Manager Dave Roberts spoke about how he isn’t afraid to shake things up in the lineup, regardless of who is underperforming.
Roberts also spoke on the outfielder opposite from Conforto, Teoscar Hernández, and his recent struggles that led to his benching on Sunday. Hernández struggles similarly on defense, with his Outs Above Average grading in only the second percentile, and batting .211 through the month of August.
“He’s an everyday guy, but I do think that where we’re at, you’ve got to perform, too, to warrant being out there every single day, regardless, right?” Roberts said.
When asked if this extends to everybody, the skipper wasted no words in his response.
“Yeah, it does,” said Roberts.
Now, threatening to bench key players is one thing, but publicly holding the defending champions of the baseball world accountable ahead of the final month of the regular season is not the same as that. Roberts clarified that the liability being carried by the entire team should be viewed as a positive.
“I think that’s a good thing,” Roberts said. “No one is going to be exempt. No one. I just think that we’ve got to play the best players and that’s just the way it should be, right?”
The sentiment stays the same, but it appears that his MVPs are going to be safe, barring any major changes.
“Obviously Shohei (Ohtani) is going to be playing. Mookie (Betts) is going to be playing,” Roberts said. “But the point being is, we’ve got to ramp it up and we’ve got to be better. If some other guys deserve more opportunities, then they’re going to get them. That’s just the way it should be.”
Conforto has struggled for quite some time, but his .167 batting average across his last 25 games sounds like it might be leading to the final straw in Roberts’ eyes.
