There is no kind or gentle way to put it – Dodgers utility infielder and primary first baseman Max Muncy has been nothing short of atrocious offensively for well over a month now. In fact, during his final 20 games of the COVID-19-shortened 60-game 2020 regular season, the man who once told Madison Bumgarner to “Go get it out of the ocean” struck out 20 times in his 69 official at-bats, or 28.99 percent of them.

During those 69 official at-bats, the 30-year-old Midland, TX native, and former fifth-round draft pick by the Oakland Athletics in 2012 out of Baylor University hit one double and two home runs among his (wait for it…) 11 total hits. This equates to a horrendous .159 batting average.

The good news, if you can call it that, is that Mad Max (as he is affectionately known) drew 15 walks in his combined 81 plate appearances over those final 20 regular-season games – an impressive 18.52 percent of those 81 plate appearances – so there’s that. And it is ‘that’ for which Dodgers manager Dave Roberts continues to keep Muncy in his starting lineup nearly every day; this despite his very obvious on-going struggles.

But wait, there’s more.

During the just-concluded Wild Card Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at a fan-less Dodger Stadium, Muncy went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts. He did, however, walk two times, so there’s that (ditto).

Talk about blind faith.

In his Zoom media conference on Sunday afternoon in advance of Tuesday’s start to the National League Division Series against the red hot San Diego Padres at Globe Life Park in Arlington, TX, Roberts was asked if he is going to continue to have Muncy bat in the middle of his lineup?

“He’ll be in the middle of our lineup,” Roberts answered, clearly annoyed by the continuing questions about the on-going struggles of his first baseman. “I still think the first game [of the Wild Card Series], taking a couple of walks. The second game, I think he took some really good swings, didn’t make contact. But I feel he’s seeing the baseball considerably better. I like where he’s at.”

Blind faith indeed.

But Roberts’ blind faith doesn’t end here. The Dodgers skipper was asked – yet again – if the on-going struggles of 33-year-old Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen might cause him to use one of his other very good relievers during the extremely crucial best-of-five NLDS against a Padres team that also has a stable full of very good relievers.

“Like I said the other day, he’s our closer,” Roberts answered, again noticeably annoyed by the oft-asked question. “But there’s still opportunities that I might need him in a different inning. He’s on board with whatever helps us win baseball games. It’s a title, but in practice, there are certain innings in certain parts of the lineup I think he’s the best option. So, we’ll proceed that way.”

Could it be that Roberts is finally beginning to see things a little clearer with Jansen, perhaps using him in non-closing situations? I mean, even blind faith has its limitations, right?

To be brutally honest, one would have to be completely blind to not see that Jansen’s best days are clearly behind him; this despite the fact that the three-time All-Star and two-time Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Year award recipient is due to receive $20 million in 2021 – the final year of his current five-year/$80 million contract.

It’s no secret that the Willemstad, Curacao native’s once devastating 98-mph cutter has lost significant velocity, for which he finished the truncated 2020 regular season with a 1-3 record and a non-Kenley-Jansen-like 3.33 ERA in the 27 games in which he appeared and his 24.1 innings pitched. He did, however, earn 11 saves (tied for fifth-most in MLB in 2020) in 13 save opportunities in those 27 appearances, so there’s that. And it is ‘that’ for which Roberts continues to run Jansen out there as his (almost) exclusive closer.

Blind faith indeed.

Play Ball!

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