The Dodgers are tenuously holding on to first place in the National League’s Western Division, they are loaded with talent – four players are legit candidates for the Hall of Fame. But, there are too many games where fans watch uninspired Dodgers baseball. Foolish errors of omission and commission, hitters flailing away at pitches as they expand the strike zone, pitchers failing to command the strike zone, and managerial lineup tweaking that is head-scratching worthy.
Injuries to pitchers is beyond bizarre, but do not explain the subpar, on-field performances of some players.
Austin Barnes and Chris Taylor were recently released because their unacceptable on-field performance. Statistically, Michael Conforto should be at risk of joining Barnes and Taylor as an ex-Dodger. And, while Miguel Rojas provides terrific infield defense, keeping both him and Kiké Hernández may be a luxury the team can no longer afford.
It appears that the 2025 Dodgers is a roster of talent, but not yet a team – lacking the cohesiveness necessary for another World Championship. It’s hard to explain, but fans know it by observation – an undefined chemistry, synergy, esprit de corps that takes a team to another, higher level of play.
What’s the answer? A players only meeting to clear the air. That’s what they pay Dave Roberts to work out.
This is a new generation of highly paid players. In decades seemingly long past, managers and/or team captains would challenge players who failed to perform, or put the team first. Is Roberts willing to hold Teoscar Hernández accountable for his poor defensive play in right field and occasional lollygagging in the field and on the base paths? Or, scold Andy Pages for his repeated base running gaffs? Sit Conforto on the bench for a week with Tommy Edman in centerfield, Pages in right field, and Teoscar in left?
Perhaps the Dodgers will skate into the MLB postseason without making changes, without team chemistry, but how far will they advance?
Something is missing.
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