Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Describes How Emmet Sheehan Could Prove Valuable in Playoffs
Rookie Emmet Sheehan has shown flashes of brilliance since making his major league debut earlier this season and could play a vital role during the postseason for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The right-hander earned the praise of manager Dave Roberts who addressed the 23-year-old's possibility of making the playoff roster this October.
“He’s right there in the conversation. He does something different in the sense of, I think in the organization he’s probably got one of the first or second, one of the top fastballs in our organization and on this team. It’s just something different. He gets righties and lefties out. He’s unique. To be able to run him out there any time we want, he’s doing his part and kind of handling himself in big spots and big innings against good opponents and so, yeah, he’s right there at the top of the conversation.”
Via SportsNet LA
At this point, the team seems set on utilizing Sheehan in a bulk relief role over that of a traditional starter, which actually plays up well for the young hurler who has posted a much better ERA out of the bullpen, albeit in a small sample size.
“You’ve got to cover innings somehow,” Roberts added. “We don’t have those traditional three or four starters that are going to go 110 pitches in a postseason game. So to have multiple guys that can do that, as far as take down 45, 60 pitches, is huge.”
It is refreshing to see Roberts’ appreciation for a rookie who might fill an important but unsung role during the postseason.
At times this season, Sheehan has been dominant for the Dodgers, but at other times, he has struggled. But he's shown enough to find his way onto the thinned-out postseason roster for Los Angeles.
