Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Sends a Message to ‘Slackers’ On His Team Causing a ‘Top-Heavy’ Imbalance

If there’s one thing that has been quite noticeable about the Los Angeles Dodgers this season, it’s that they’ve been a bit over-dependent on their top batters. Though the likes of Teoscar Hernandez have performed exceptionally, the others haven’t really met expectations. That is one of the reasons why despite having a great team, the Dodgers haven’t been as consistent as one would’ve liked. That’s something that has irked Dave Roberts. The Dodgers dominated the Angels on June 22 with a 7-2 win. However, the real story was that while Shohei Ohtani performed exceptionally well again, the rest of the Dodgers hitters too unusually played their part.

It’s been a rare sight this season as the bottom of the lineup hasn’t been up to the mark for long periods. So when asked about their performance yesterday, Roberts shared how this is exactly what he wants from his players. “I think that a lot of this year we’ve been very top-heavy,” Dave Roberts said in the postgame interview. “Will Smith in the last few weeks hasn’t been right as far as getting hits. So other guys have got to pick up the slack.”

Roberts isn’t wrong. While Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Hernandez have been good, the Dodgers have found themselves in difficult spots too many times. That’s been evident with their recent games, which have been on either side of extremities when it comes to runs scored. “Miggy Ro and Jason had a big night,” Dave Roberts said about the team. “And to get those guys to the bottom collectively, then it just makes our offense tough to navigate. You just don’t want to be too top-heavy like we have been for a good part of the year.”

Certainly, Roberts understands the issues plaguing the team. Gradually the team is turning a corner. At least, that’s what Miguel Rojas feels after another good performance from the shortstop and the bottom order.

Miguel Rojas impressed as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ bottom hitters gain consistency 

Miguel Rojas has been one of the standout performers for the Blue Crew lately. His consistency has led the bottom half of the order to step up its game too. That has impressed Miggy Ro, who has always believed in his teammates’ potential. “I just like the season is so long that everybody’s going to get hot at some point,” Rojas said in his postgame interview. “We have Shohei stepping up big for us in the leadoff spot, Mookie is a really hard guy to replace.”

Later Rojas agreed that players like Gavin Lux are struggling. But he believes things will improve soon. “I have a lot of confidence on everybody. We’re going to get hot at the right time when maybe the top of the lineup is not going to be producing,” Rojas said. So while Dave Roberts has urged the bottom hitters to pick up the slack, Rojas feels they’re improving slowly.

Their run to the World Series won’t be successful if 7 of their 9 batters continue churning below-average productions. They rank 21st in wRC+ (80). In rosters like that of the Yankees, Phillies, and Orioles, their 7-9 have a healthy wRC+ of 91, 93, and 98 respectively. The Dodgers are nowhere near these levels. While the last game was an encouraging sign, now the ball is on the hitters’ court.

Will they be consistent? Or will they let things slip again?