Even though the Los Angeles Dodgers are back atop the National League West, Dave Roberts doesn’t love the way his team is playing.
Roberts took Teoscar Hernández to task after a defensive gaffe cost the Dodgers two runs in the ninth inning of their incomprehensible walk-off, 4-2 loss to the last-place Colorado Rockies on Monday.
LA (71-54) lost for the fifth time in its past eight games and failed to gain any additional ground on the second-place San Diego Padres, who also lost. The Dodgers lead the Padres by two games for the division lead.
Why Did Dave Roberts Criticize Teoscar Hernández?
Hernández has been a mainstay in right field this season, since he has started 100 games there this season. Yet, his defense has been an issue all season, and his outfield struggles came up again in LA’s first loss to the Rockies this season.
LA was on its way after taking a 2-0 advantage after Dalton Rushing’s sacrifice fly and Shohei Ohtani’s RBI single in the second inning. But after led off the inning with a walk, Brenton Doyle blooped in a single in front of Hernández — on a play Hernández could have made — then the outfielder threw the ball to third base, allowing Doyle to move up to second base.
“I don’t know if he would’ve had a play on that one,” Roberts said of the Doyle single. “I know it shouldn’t have been second and third. … So the base hit scores two right there. [Hernández] has got to get better out there. There’s just no [other] way to put it.
“I know there’s effort — it’s not a lack of effort. But the thing is, we’ve just got to get better. We do. I don’t know what else to say.”
Then, with the score tied at 3 in the bottom of the ninth, Hernández could not corral Ezequiel Tovar’s fly ball to lead off the ninth inning, which Tovar turned into a double. Tovar then scored on Warming Bernabel’s single.
“We were playing no-doubles [defense],” Hernández said. “It’s a big outfield. I was playing pretty far [back]. I tried to make the play. I didn’t. It came off my glove, unfortunately. Things happen. I just have to wash it. This game is over with.”
What Did Dave Roberts Say About Outfield Defense In The Playoffs?
The Dodgers are almost a lock to get back to the postseason, since they are both the reigning champs and are fighting for the second bye in the National League.
Yet, once they get there, they may have an issue with Hernández playing the outfield. He ranks 38th in defensive outs above average (minus-10) and is 11th in fielding percentage among 14 qualifying right fielders (.990).
Yet, Roberts needs Hernández’s bat in the lineup, since he has a .749 OPS, is second on the Dodgers in RBIs (74) and tied for second on the team in home runs (20). So Roberts will need to manage Hernández’s defensive issues.
“I mean, he’s going to be in the lineup,” Roberts said. “He’s [due] up third in the top half [of the 10th], so I’m not going to take him out of the game.
“It’s just one of those things that, the defense is a big part of postseason baseball and winning baseball. So yeah, he’s just got to continue to get better.”
Dodgers’ Dave Roberts Sends Honest Message on Outfield Defense