On May 5, after dropping both halves of a double-header to the Cubs the previous day, the Dodgers lost the final game of the three-game set, 6-5. As disappointing as it was to get swept by the Cubs, the fashion in which they got beat in the third game made it especially painful. Why did they lose? If you’ve been following the Blue recently, you could probably guess why: the bullpen. LA had three chances to close out the game but the bullpen blew each save opportunity, finally succumbing to a walk-off double in the bottom of the 11th.
After a day off on Thursday, the ballclub traveled to Anaheim to face the Angels. I’m sure that both the Dodgers players and fans felt like this matchup would be just the thing to snap them out of their skid. After all, the Angels had lost 11 of their last 15 games heading into the series. Well, the Dodgers were wrong. The quickly-becoming-infamous Dodgers’ bullpen gave up 5 runs and the Dodgers were defeated by a score of 9-2.
The Dodgers, at the time losers of 14 of their last 18, put up an offensive clinic in the 4th and 5th inning in Saturday night’s game, to the delight of the Dodgers fans in attendance in Anaheim. This must have felt like nirvana to them, as they have been complaining on Twitter that they have been through “so much” these past couple of weeks. The offense, returning to the form displayed during their 16-1 blowout of the Brewers last Sunday, roared back to life, taking a 13-0 lead into the bottom of the 6th inning. That’s a guaranteed win, right? Actually, no, because apparently a 13-0 lead is not enough for the struggling Dodgers bullpen. Their beleaguered relievers would go on to allow a combined 11 runs in the 6th and 7th innings. The “Blue Crew” are constantly finding new ways to humiliate themselves in front of a baseball world which is expecting so much from the defending World Series champs. Even though the Dodgers were eventually able to hold on for a 14-11 win, the fact that the bullpen turned a lopsided snoozer into a save situation is embarrassing in itself.
Heading into Sunday’s game against the Halos, The Dodgers’ W-L record is 18-16, tied with the Padres atop the NL West. Not bad, right? Well, when you consider that a few weeks ago they were 14-4, it actually is pretty bad, especially when you have the highest payroll in the Major Leagues. Their bipolar fans overreact to every win or loss – one day they are whining that they’re suffering worse heartbreak than any fanbase has experienced and the next, they are crowing that they are a lock to repeat as WS champions. In other words, they are insufferable.
What does the rest of the 2021 season hold for the Dodgers, Dodger fans, and those who hate the organization (I include myself in this last group)? Only time will tell, but the calls for manager Dave Roberts’ head grow louder with each passing day. Personally, I think that pitching coach Mark Prior could be the first sacrificial lamb of the season, as the bullpen has been the main cause of their woes, as this article has hopefully made clear. That said, if the Dodgers fail to make the playoffs this season (still a pipe-dream for Dodgers haters), I would be shocked if Roberts is managing this team next season. The high-priced free agents who came on board this year, Betts and Bauer, are tied up in multi-year contracts (13 years and 3 years, respectively) so they won’t be going anywhere. As my grandfather used to say, “you can’t fire the whole team”, implying that you can fire the manager or coaching staff as a way to placate an angry fanbase. Therefore, my prediction is that there will be changes to the coaching staff, maybe a new manager, and possibly even a new GM if this season continues to go the way it has started for The Boo-Hoo Big Blue.
