Dave Roberts Amits Dodgers Weren't All-In on Winning on Thursday and the Mookie Betts Move Proves It
The Dodgers started things off nicely last night in St. Louis, getting off to a 2-0 lead early in the game. By the end of the 4th inning they were down 9-2. Dave Roberts decided that was enough of a deficit to put the team into punt and survive mode.
“It was 9-3 and knowing where we’re at, the way they were swinging the bats … if we could kind of save some innings, some legs in this stretch I felt that was smart,” Roberts said.
Mookie Betts was removed from the game heading into the 5th. reliever Andre Jackson was ridden until the wheels fell off. Oh, and the team came back to within one run thanks to a Freddie Freeman grand slam and Max Muncy homer.
Ultimately it didn't matter as the bullpen completely imploded in the 8th inning, allowing 7 runs and putting the game firmly out of reach.
“Yeah, it was (a decision prompted by the state of the Dodgers’ bullpen),” Roberts said. “[Jackson] was throwing the baseball well. He gave us everything he had. I tried to get him through that fourth inning. Playing from behind all night, I didn’t want to use any of the leverage guys and we had a few guys that were down as well.”
Roberts probably made the right call at the time in sitting Mookie Betts. The Dodgers are entering a grueling east coast stretch where they face the Cardinals, Braves in Atlanta, the Rays in Tampa Bay and then will fly home to immediately welcome the Nationals in LA without the benefit of a travel day off.
You'd like to see your team stay invested in the game as long as possible, but there are times when looking at the bigger picture is the correct play. Four more innings from Mookie wasn't likely going to be the difference maker in this game. But at the same time, would four more innings have completely ruined his season?
All in all, just a reason to complain about an ugly loss amid a suddenly dire point in the Dodgers' season. They're in the midst of 13 consecutive games and 22 in 23 days. They lost Dustin May for at least one month but possibly longer. Noah Syndergaard has pitched just 5 innings over the last few weeks. They might lose Clayton Kershaw for a few days on bereavement. And Julio Urias continued his hot then cold season.
