The Los Angeles Dodgers lineup features a bevy of All-Stars and arguably the best combination of first three batters in Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Trea Turner. However, the offense collectively has been inconsistent and that was magnified in a series sweep by the San Francisco Giants.
Prior to the series finale on Sunday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts voiced concern some players had become too focused on their individual at-bats. Roberts also wondered if the Dodgers were playing with the urgency that’s required.
Roberts’ remarks came one day after his team left 14 on base and were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. The Dodgers didn’t squander as many opportunities Sunday, stranding nine and going 0-for-10 with men in scoring position.
Trea Turner had one of their five hits and after loss said he believes the Dodgers lineup would benefit from trying to be more proactive, via SportsNet LA:
“I think we know that we’re really good, so sometimes you just think it’s going to happen instead of taking charge and going out there and making it happens. So I think that definitely is the case sometimes. Maybe not all the time, but sometimes I think we could do a better job of being a little bit more aggressive and more confident instead of just sitting back and waiting for it to happen, because we’re so good and a lot of guys can do a lot of different things.”
Turner added the Dodgers’ approach isn’t necessarily what’s plaguing the team:
“I don’t know about better approach. I think it’s just more of a mindset and more of a mentality. People aren’t scared of us, as they shouldn’t be. Everybody should be confident in themselves, whether you’re 10-for-10 or 0-for-10, or pitching really well or not, you’ve got to be confident in yourself, or it’s going to be a tough game. I think we just need to take charge a little bit more early in the game and not sit back on our heels. I don’t feel like we’re defensive, I just think we can get downhill faster and stay downhill.”
The Dodgers scored two or fewer runs en route to being swept by the Giants, and twice were shutout on their six-game road trip.
Turner had a particularly costly at-bat in Saturday’s loss when he grounded into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded in the seventh inning.
Turner hitting streak
Turner’s single in the eighth inning on Sunday extended his hitting streak to seven games.
That adds to hitting streaks of 27 games (Sept. 12, 2021-April 16, 2022), 26 games (May, 9-June 3, 2022) and 16 games (Aug. 24, 2021-Sept.9,2021) since being traded to the Dodgers last year.
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