The Dodgers won 8-0 (4/28), shutting down the Reds, who have already taken 2 out of 3 games from them. However, the lopsided win is not what’s important right now. What’s important are the ongoing struggles of the Dodgers bullpen. Now, I’m not saying this out of concern or uneasiness. Are you kidding me? Give me a break, I’m delighted at this turn of events. I’m bringing this up out of hope and a rising sense of excitement because the weakness in the Dodgers bullpen is a great formula for total collapse come October, where there’s a lot more on the line. I sure as heck don’t want to see another appearance in the World Series by the Dodgers. These struggles were on display in the game against the Padres that took place on April 25th in which the Dodgers had a 7-1 lead through 7 innings until things started rolling down hill. On May 1, the Dodgers’ bullpen blew three saves IN THE SAME GAME, eventually losing in the 11th to the Brewers.
Before this week, however, the bullpen had been improving. Problem is, now the bats are ice-cold, and the losses are piling up. The Dodgers have dropped 12 of their last 16 games. Their W-L record for the season is now 16-11, which still seems pretty good, right? Well, considering that they began the season 13-2, it’s clear that things are headed in the wrong direction. As a result, the Dodgers have conceded first place in the NL West to the Giants, and the Padres are gaining on them. So far this season, the Dodgers have met their newly-minted rivals from San Diego five times and lost four. Doesn’t sound like much of a rivalry so far.
Other than Justin Turner, who currently leads the team with 20 RBIs, the Dodgers’ offense has hit a dead end. Betts extended his on-base streak to 21 games, but his OPS is still barely hovering around league average. Max Muncy is taking walks at a historic pace so far this season, but only recorded two hits since April 17. The rest of the offense is nowhere to be found. All of this does not match up with such a “dangerous team” the baseball world has been emphasizing all throughout this past offseason and this season so far. Also, let’s not forget that the Dodgers have the highest payroll in the league. The product that I’m seeing on the field does not make me think that this team has the highest payroll. How about you guys stop playing
blame games and start to play like an actual baseball team?
In the bottom of the 10th inning of a tie game against the Padres at Petco Park on April 17, Dodgers reliever Dennis Santana hit Jorge Mateo to put runners on first and third with one out. Any fan who understands the game (this would exclude about 95% of Dodger fans) knows that it is to the pitcher’s advantage to put a runner on first in this situation, as this sets up a potential double play that will get his team out of the inning unscathed. After this transparent beaning (which was unnecessary, as an intentional work would have served the same purpose, but without risking serious injury to the batter) Santana and Mateo jawed at each other as Mateo headed to first base. Players from both teams rushed in, out of the dugouts and bullpens, but before any punches were thrown, things calmed down. Why is Santana so salty? Perhaps his abominable 4.66 ERA might go some way in explaining his mood.
In this, and in other ways, Dodger players aren’t exactly responding to this adversity with class. Trevor Bauer, after giving up a costly home run to Fernando Tatis Jr. accused Tatis of peeking behind him to steal the catcher’s sign. In my opinion this isn’t the kind of stand-up accountability that a high-paid superstar should show. He’s setting a bad example for his teammates by deflecting blame and whining. Bauer, who maintains an active presence on social media, tweeted at Tatis, telling him to “ask daddy nicely” if he wanted to know what pitch was coming. Tatis responded immediately with a photo of himself holding a baby with Bauer’s face photoshopped onto it. The tweet read, “tranquilo hijo” which translated to “take it easy, my son” in Spanish. I would say that that tweet was the second time that Tatis lit Bauer up in less than 24 hours.
Hilariously, when Bauer isn’t crying and making excuses, he is gloating. So far this season there haven’t been many opportunities to do so, but Bauer is doing it any chance he can get. Exhibit A: After the Dodgers beat the Brewers by the lopsided score of 16-4 on May 2, Bauer tweeted, “We’re we scared? The brewers? Hahahahahahahaha.” Oh, tough talk (and poor grammar), Trevor. Too bad that the next day the Dodgers dropped both halves of a doubleheader to the Chicago Cubs. Karma’s a bitch, Bauer. In the first game: Dodgers “ace” Kershaw had the shortest outing of his career: he lasted only one inning before being yanked, throwing 39 pitches and surrendering four runs. The D-bags ended up 7-1. Of course a Dodgers loss wouldn’t be complete without a bullpen collapse, and the second game of the twin bill provided the relievers with a shining opportunity to choke. The Dodgers took a 3-1 lead in the top of the 8th on a Justin Turner home run but in the bottom half of the frame, reliever Mitch White came into the game and allowed a game tying HR. The “Boys in Blue” ended up losing 4-3.
He’s also setting a bad example for his manager. Dave Roberts was ejected from the game on 4/30, a loss to the Brewers, after arguing with umpire Angel Hernandez. What led to his ejection was a strike call that Roberts thought was a check swing. In a post-game interview he then called for ‘accountability’ from Hernandez. I would like to point out two absurdities, if I may. First off, Roberts explained that he was in ‘the third base dugout, so I (didn’t) have a great angle but it was pretty clear to me. That C.T. didn’t go around.” Excuse me?? You literally just said that you didn’t have a good vantage point from which to view the play so anything that you say following that admission is worthless, based ON YOUR OWN WORDS. Secondly, you are asking for “accountability” from an umpire? What, exactly, would that look like? Should Hernandez apologize for a call that he believes he got correct?? Instead, how about calling for accountability from the starting pitcher who just signed a 3-year, 102 million-dollar contract. How about Bauer saying ‘I made a bad pitch at an inopportune time’ rather than accusing Tatis of being a cheater? (Let’s pretend for a moment that Bauer has the word ‘inopportune’ in his vocabulary). Roberts now has bigger things to worry about than umpires making bad calls: he is getting ripped apart by Dodger fans on social media who are calling for his ouster. After Sunday’s (5/2) 16-4 win over the Brewers, fans were suddenly cocky again, bragging about how they were going to repeat.. Now, we’re back to “fire Roberts” and other insults directed at him.
This classless behavior is contagious, as you can see, and now it’s even spread to the fans. On Wednesday, April 28th, after a loss to the Cincinnati Reds, Dodgers fans got into a violent brawl in the parking lot behind the stands. This time, Dodger Stadium security was the victim of blame. Before blaming the security, how about blaming the clueless Dodgers fans who made the choice to fight with their fellow Dodgers fans? What’s going on with the actual team is a story itself but the Dodgers fans constantly showing off their ignorance and lack of knowledge is another funny topic. Occasions like the one that took place on Wednesday can be seen as more ammunition for us to further mock and embarrass the disgraceful and unappreciative Dodgers fan base.
I will finish by sharing a sampling of some “Twitter greatest hits” from the past week, courtesy of these poor fans who like to claim that they ‘bleed Dodger blue’, but who, in reality, just cry baby blue tears:
- “Being a Dodgers fan is frustrating as fuck”
- “Being a Dodgers fan is tough right now”
- “Nobody suffers more pain than Dodgers fans. Oh my goodness what a BRUTAL 3 weeks”
- “Is there some sort of merit badge for sticking through every tough game/inning?”
- “It’s so fucking frustrating being a Dodger fan”
- The Dodgers had loads of injuries in 2018 and still went to the WS. keep crying.
- Response: Who? Seager? Cool you added Machado
- Yep. And he sucked for us. And it seems like he carried it to San Diego.
- “If your whole personality is criticizing the dodgers when they play like shit then we are probably friends because it’s fucking atrocious”.
- “The Astros are little bitches.”
- “I’m not gonna waste my time watching this fucking bullshit. They need to get better players”.
- “I will not accept anything less than 10 runs scored by the Dodgers”.
- “I’m just sayin’ Verdugo is having an all star year in Boston. Why can’t you bring him back?”
- “I’ve officially given up on this team. See you next year.”
