Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Howie Kendrick, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Trayce Thompson, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Yasiel Puig, RF
A.J. Ellis, C
Kenta Maeda, P
By Jon Weisman
It has been, if one weren’t to mince words, an ugly time.
The Dodgers have lost four straight, six of their past seven, 16 of their past 25.
Since April 25, when they were 12-7, the Dodgers have played .360 ball and have lost eight games in the standings to the National League West-leading Giants, who are 17-8 in that span.
On Saturday, the Dodgers lost when Chin-hui Tsao threw 12 of his final 14 pitches of the game out of the strike zone, forcing in the game-winning run.
“We’re finding different ways to lose games and I haven’t seen this one,” Dave Roberts said afterward. “It’s a tough one and to try to defend it, having a hard time.”
The only thing harder to watch than the final score of the games has been the frustration of the fans, because that’s really whom the games are for.
I’ve been blogging about the Dodgers a long time now, coming up on 14 years. This is when I usually step up and make my attempt at “it’s always darkest before the dawn” arguments. I’ve hesitated, not because I believe any less in those arguments, but because I believe less that the audience for those arguments is willing to hear them.
Nonetheless, there are certain fundamental things I feel worth saying, however succinctly. You either buy in, or you don’t …
1) It’s not September. It’s May.
2) Disappointing is not the same as hopeless.
3) You shouldn’t judge a team on its worst days, any more than you would on its best.
4) There is talent, up and down this organization, even if it hasn’t all been on display in the past four weeks.
5) If the Dodgers had a 4 1/2-game lead over the Giants, you wouldn’t think the Giants’ chances were over. (I know this from experience — recent experience. Like, last year. And the year before that. And the year before that.)
6) A loss on the scoreboard doesn’t reflect the effort made in that game. (For example, a walkoff loss, after your team rallied twice from deficits to take the lead, does not mean your team doesn’t care about winning.)
7) If you don’t think the players or the organization should give up on the season, then you shouldn’t either.
throwdeuce
I can only speak for myself Jon, and this season is over. I’ve been pretty clear how I felt about the makeup of this years team, and it was never good. What the last 30 games have shown is it looks like my fears are correct.
I love the future the FO is making, so I’m not calling for any heads. But I was very disappointed that they just let this season go by the moves they made in the off season. I really was hoping, and still hope I was incorrect, and they would be better than a 500 or below team, and closer to a 90 win team. But sadly it just doesn’t appear that’s the case.
I’ll just admire Kershaw for what he continues to do whenever he’s on the mound, but frankly there not much else to get too excited over this year.
oldbrooklynfan
We go through good and bad times. As bad as it seems there are better days ahead as we have seen in the past.
Dan Estrada
“…this season is over” – Blatantly ridiculous conclusion on the face of it. Yeah, I suppose it reflects your disappointment but how do you call yourself a Dodgers “fan” if you give up hope in them before the end of May?
We have a new, as yet unproven manager. We have this year’s consensus (yes, I agree too early) odds on favorite for Rookie of the Year, LAST year’s same odds-on favorite – that didn’t pan out – but who is still quite talented, we’ve got Puig who is at times the most exciting p,Ayer in the league. Two of our starters are due back, we’ve got last year’s Japanese equivalent of their Cy Young award winner, Wood just struck out THIRTEEN batters! And this doesn’t even count Urias, Deleon, Cotton, Bellinger not to me tion Utley plaging like he’s sipping from the fountain of youth, and on and on. C’mon man, shake it off!
jpavko
THe season is over in may? I seem to remember a friend who was an Angels fan telling me the same thing in 2000 On Sunday the Dodgers gave us a resounding “Over my BLue Behind!”