Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts drew the ire of his wife last season when Will Smith was not in the lineup for his bobblehead night at Dodger Stadium.
Although Smith had already started the first two games this season and the Dodgers closely monitor his workload, it was presumed he would start Saturday considering the Arizona Diamondbacks had left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez taking the mound. Plus, surely Roberts would not repeat last year’s oversight and especially with it being Smith’s 31st birthday.
Smith indeed was in the Dodgers lineup for the series finale against the Diamondbacks, and he produced fireworks with a go-ahead home run in the bottom of the eighth inning. But the perfect moment almost didn’t come to be because Roberts originally was not going to start the two-time All-Star.
“You know, actually, I didn’t have him in there tonight, and he really wanted to be in there tonight on his bobblehead night and said he felt good,” Roberts revealed after the Dodgers completed a sweep of the Diamondbacks with their 3-2 comeback win.
“And so it proved to be the right decision. We talk about a lot of our guys, but, man, when you talk about big heads, clutch, Will is right at the top of this as well. … He took some good pitches with two strikes down below, and then he got into fight mode.
“And then you can see him spoiling some good heaters and just trying to fend off, potentially, that split-change, or whatever that (Juan) Marillo throws, and got a fastball that he could handle and put a really good swing on it. But, obviously with Will, there’s just no panic in his at-bats.”
When reminded of his wife being upset last season and nearly repeating that mistake, Roberts quipped he needs to start tracking the Dodgers’ bobblehead giveaways.
Will Smith’s message to Dave Roberts
Coinciding with the bobblehead night, which was of Smith’s clinching home run in Game 7 of the World Series last year, his wife was on had with their two daughters. Charlotte and Layton Smith threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and along with their mother announced “It’s Time for Dodger Baseball.”
That alone made for a sentimental night, but Smith also wanted to play on his bobblehead night and appreciated Roberts being flexible.
“He’s always been good. We always talk about stuff,” Smith said. “He was giving me the day off. I just kind of dropped the bobblehead card, that it’s my bobblehead tomorrow, and he let me in there.”
And though the game-winning home run coming on his birthday and bobblehead night was a script for Hollywood, Smith’s biggest focus was on the Dodgers completing a sweep.
“I mean, regardless of being my bobblehead night or anything, it’s cool to put your team ahead, get a win, get the sweep. That’s what I was more excited about,” he said.
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