With the amount of star power throughout the Los Angeles Dodgers team, from Shohei Ohtani to Freddie Freeman to Mookie Betts to Tanner Scott, it can be understood why many legitimately thought that the Boys in Blue may have had a chance to achieve a 162-0 season.
But recently, the Dodgers bullpen, even when completely healthy, has struggled to deliver and finish out ball games, and their collapse Tuesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks was a surefire example of the struggle.
And now, manager Dave Roberts thinks he knows why.
Scared or Careful?
In an interview with Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Roberts provided a potential explanation as to why his bullpen has struggled to produce at the expected level as of late.
‘That’s a sign you’re either scared or you’re pitching too careful.’ the two-time World Series winner said to Nightengale.
The Dodgers have already clinched a postseason berth and are closing in on their 12th division title in the last 13 seasons, so if Roberts' pitchers out of the pen are in fact "scared" or being "too careful," that needs to change, and fast.
Because the Padres are gaining ground in the NL West race, and the postseason will be starting soon, and timidness is a recipe for disaster, especially at this point in the year.