Several weeks before the MLB trade deadline arrived on July 31, it was reported the Los Angeles Dodgers were in the market for a left-handed hitting outfielder.
The implication was such a position player would effectively replace Michael Conforto, who has fallen well short of expectations after signing a one-year, $17 million contract with the Dodgers. But Conforto had a productive month of July, particularly relative to the rest of the Dodgers lineup.
The team instead acquired Alex Call, a right-handed hitting outfielder, who figured to be part of a platoon with Conforto.
Despite the veteran cooling off after the trade deadline passed, Conforto has continued to receive regular starts. The latest of which was Saturday night, when he delivered the Dodgers’ first hit of the game — a two-run single off Dylan Cease with the bases loaded and two outs in the first inning.
Cease to that point had issued four walks in the inning and was on the verge of putting Conforto on base as well.
“Definitely you don’t want to help him out in that situation,” Conforto said. “He fell behind 3-0, came back into the zone and showed he was going to throw strikes and he wasn’t going to put me on.
“So being ready to hit 3-1 and then being ready to hit 3-2 was obviously a big thing there.”
Conforto later singled off Yuki Matsui and finished the night 2-for-4 with two RBI and one strikeout. He was the only player in the Dodgers lineup to have a multi-hit game in their 6-0 win.
Michael Conforto reveals talks with Dave Roberts
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has continued to publicly back Conforto throughout his down season. The two recently have also been seen having conversations together in the dugout during games, both when Conforto is playing and when given a night off.
There also have been private discussions between the two in other settings.
“I think the gist of it is just he wanted to see more out of me, which is fair. I expect more out of myself. We talked through a lot of things, but that’s kind of the main thing,” Conforto revealed.
“Just to fight for every inch in those big situations. A lot of times there will be bases-loaded situations that fall to that seven hole, and playoff teams, great teams, they come through and they score in those spots. Just wanted to see a little bit more out of me, which obviously today was great to come through in that spot.
“It’s something we’ve been working towards for a long time. … Obviously you want to come through for the team, especially the way the year has gone for me. A lot of situations of just leaving some guys out there. Having those conversations with him, it’s nice to get his perspective and to get some things off of my chest to just try to go out there and play free, and be the guy that I am.
“I think it definitely helped. Hopefully we can continue making those steps toward being that guy in that spot.”
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