August 14th, 2017 at 10:30 am 
by Ron Cervenka It’s one of those things that happens to (almost) every major leaguer but one that nobody likes to talk about … a slump. For pitchers, it often results with a stint on the disabled list, especially with the new 10-day DL now in place. But for position players, it can sometimes result in a plane ride back to Triple-A – if the player still has options, that is.
Joc Pederson is currently mired in a horrible 1 for 32 slump. Pederson also has options remaining. Since August 1, Pederson is hitting .036 with a .182 on-base percentage and a .071 slugging percentage. Like I said, a horrible slump.
The knee jerk reaction is to simply ship Pederson back to Triple-A Oklahoma City to “work things out,” as they say. Fortunately for the 25-year-old Palo Alto native, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is not among the “they.” Not yet, at least.
“He’s working his tail off.” Roberts said, after yet another 0-fer day for his struggling center fielder on Sunday afternoon. “I think for Joc there’s a mechanical issue, there’s an approach issue. He understands this. Getting back to the big part of the field, he’s going to have more success. When he’s coming out – his swing – getting more rotational and hitting balls to the second baseman, that’s not where he wants to be.
“So obviously, number one is [him] swinging at strikes and the other component is for him,” Roberts added. “He has the ability to carry outfielders to the off side, to use the big part of the field, and when he’s doing that he’s a much better hitter.”
Pederson took this pitch in Saturday night’s game against the San Diego Padres that he probably wishes he hadn’t. He ended up grounding out to second base two pitches later stranding runners at second and third.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
But while this all sounds great, albeit a bit confusing, common logic dictates that when Roberts (and Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi) fill out their 25-man postseason roster, they fully realize that the postseason is not the time nor place to work things out.
There isn’t anyone who does not recognize how valuable Pederson is defensively. However, it is becoming abundantly clear – almost daily – that utility infielder/outfielder Chris Taylor plays an exceptional center field (and left and right field) while currently owning a remarkable slash-line of .307 / .377 / .549 for an outstanding OPS of .927. He has also slugged 27 doubles, four triples and 17 home runs, which is tied with Justin Turner for fourth most on the team.
Although Chris Taylor has been used primarily in left field, he has proven himself an excellent center fielder as well. He made this incredible diving catch in the top of the ninth inning in Sunday’s game against the Padres at Dodger Stadium. (Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)
In contrast, Pederson has a slash-line of .216 / .330 / .420 for an OPS of .750, which ranks 12th on the team. He has hit 17 doubles, zero triples and 11 home runs, which ranks seventh.
To further confuse matters, it has become so very obvious that Dodgers hitting coach Turner Ward has worked miracles with Dodger hitters this season, especially with oft-controversial right fielder Yasiel Puig. The Dodgers also have roving hitting coaches (between the majors and minors) Tim Hyers and Shawn Wooten readily available to assist Dodger hitters. On more than one occasion Pederson has credited Wooten as the guy who taught him how to hit. So why, then, is Pederson not getting it? Could it be a confidence issue?
“I think that is part of it,” Roberts said. “When any hitter or any player struggles, there is a battle with confidence because success breeds confidence. And when you are struggling a little bit, you start to kind of question a little bit. Joc works as hard as anyone, so that there is no doubt that we know he is going to come out of this.”
The burning question, of course, is when? Are Roberts and Friedman and Zaidi willing to let this thing carry into the postseason for Joc to “come out of this?”
Here’s a thought. When Pederson landed on the 7-day DL for concussion precautions, he had what was called an “open-ended” rehab assignment with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, during which he flat out raked (.333 / .300 / 1.000 / 1.300 with two home runs and four RBIs in 10 plate appearances). Upon his return to the big club on June 13, the popular fan-favorite went 17-for-56 (.305) with six home runs and 13 RBIs through the end of the month. Simply put, whatever they were feeding Pederson in OKC worked.
That being said, perhaps another stint with the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate will help the young Dodgers center fielder “come out of this” sooner rather than later, especially when you consider that after Monday’s off day the Dodgers have only 45 games remaining in the regular season.
This most certainly is not to suggest that Joc Pederson does not belong on the Dodgers postseason roster when the NLDS begins on Friday, October 6. It is simply to say that that Joc Pederson belongs on the postseason roster, not the current Joc Pederson … and the Dodgers have exactly 45 days in which to get that Joc Pederson back.
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SPOT ON! Did you happen to see Dave Roberts talking with Pederson in the dugout immediately after Joc popped up with the bases loaded? Actually it was Roberts doing all of the talking. Roberts patience may have worn-out as it did with Puig last season. IMO, Joc needs a tough wake-up call that a 3 week assignment to OKC may deliver.
That appeared to be the plan when he came off the DL, but other injuries made it necessary to get him back in CF. Still, he did seem to get the point, as he has before, but bad habits have crept back in, as they have before.
If Gonzo is effective when he returns I expect either Joc or Logan will lose playing time. Joc makes more sense to me since he can be sent to OKC.
If Dodgers FO does not send Joc back to OKC they are doing a disservice to the team and to the young player.
Couldn’t agree more, SCB. On Saturday, Joc swung at the first pitch and grounded out to second base to end the fifth inning after Jhoulys Chacín had walked the bases loaded. This was – hands down – the worst Joc Pederson at-bat I have ever witnessed.
Also, having Joc in the lineup behind Bellinger is absolutely ridiculous. This was undoubtedly on Chacín’s mind (after a mound visit) when he unintentionally intentionally walked Belly, which was a no-brainer.
As you pointed out, his performance coming back from DL was so encouraging — I though the light finally went on and Joc would become the young player we are all hoping to see. But not to be. Compare the attitudes of Chris Taylor and Joc Pederson. Chris at the end of last season decides for his career he needed to add bat speed and drive the ball, so he rebuilds his swing and stays with it even with the occasional slump. Joc? You said it best, horrible at bats. Last week (do not remember which game) he flailed away af the ball 3 times looking more like Rich Hill than a ML hitter.
I agree with all your thoughts on Joc. I must add (since he is my LEAST favorite player) that he should be sent way down, told to get his ego in check and to sign autographs for every fan that wants them. He needs to be humbled beyond the humbling of poor hitting. He was such a disappointment for the past 2 ST ignoring all the fans.
Not sure what happened with your experience but that is not what happened when my wife and I were at ST in March. We were on the back fields watching minor leaguers going through their workouts and Joc wandered through the area in workout clothing; walked right next to us. I don’t do autographs any more but several younger fans asked for and received autographs from Joc. He did not stay long but as far as I saw and heard he was polite and accommodating.
You were lucky – must be because he was in the back fields. You should see how he runs away from anyone up at the main fields.
I think this could be illustrative of an issue for Joc. No doubt, being a major league player is hard. If you succeed only 3 of 10 times, you can enter the HOF. The best work as consistently mentally, and emotionally, as well as physically. He may be working his butt off with his body, but if the mind and soul aren’t in it, it won’t help. Consistency of effort is essential in all of lifes worthwhile pursuits. As a Major Leaguer, that extends to how you interact with the fans, the media, opposition, and everyother stakeholder in the game of baseball. I just turned 30, and I’m still learning a lot of life’s lessons. To be 25 or so, in MLB, must yield many blessings, but they must be earned, day in day out. Until the last couple years, the Dodgers seemed to be plagued by an aloof attitude. They were stars, win or lose in LA. As a team, a much more grounded, nose to the grindstone attitude has taken over. Talent alone gets you nowhere without leadership and work. We are lucky as fans, Joc’s slump is what we can bicker about.
I’m sure if the Dodgers weren’t playing so well that Roberts and the FO would be paying more attention to Pederson’s slump and something would’ve been done by now.
Toles injury, Thompson’s Mendoza like stat line at OKC, Gutierrez ongoing medical problem, and Agon injury which sent Bellinger to first base likely contributed to Pederson getting more opportunities.
With what I saw last night in Rancho, Pederson is headed for OKC.
Sooner he goes to OKC the better. Then, a commitment to abandon his current swing mechanics and hitting approach and enroll in the Justin Turner College of Hitting.