November 4th, 2021 at 8:00 am 
by 0799291000348 Seems strange to characterize the Dodgers 2021 season as disappointing, considering they won 106 regular-season games and advanced to the National League Championship Series. But “Good is not good when better is expected,” as Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully so eloquently said.
The Dodgers were the overwhelming favorites to repeat as World Champions in 2021, but an improbable series of injuries to key players and the loss of starting pitcher Trevor Bauer to allegations of sexual assault proved too much for the team to overcome.
Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman is now challenged to overhaul the team’s roster in pursuit of the 2022 World Championship. The Dodgers have a staggering twelve players from their 40-man roster (30%) who are now MLB free agents: starting pitcher Danny Duffy, closer Kenley Jansen, starting pitcher Cole Hamels, reliever Joe Kelly, starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw, reliever Corey Knebel, reliever Jimmy Nelson, first baseman Albert Pujols, starting pitcher Max Scherzer, shortstop Corey Seager, outfielder Steven Souza Jr., and utility player Chris Taylor. In addition, there are several rostered players without minor league options who may be on the cusp of being non-tendered contracts for the 2022 season: relievers Scott Alexander, James Sherfy, Andrew Vazquez, infielder Andy Burns, and outfielder Billy McKinney.
But Friedman’s roster makeover must also include the long term. After the 2022 season, catcher Austin Barnes, reliever Tommy Kahnle, pitcher David Price, and middle infielder Trea Turner will be eligible for free agency, and 2023 player/team options could also result in free agency for reliever Blake Treinen, infielder Max Muncy, outfielder AJ Pollock, and third baseman Justin Turner.
Further complicating Friedman’s roster construction, several of the team’s Top-30 prospects must be added to the 40-man roster in order to protect them from being exposed to the December 2021 Rule-5 draft: catchers Diego Cartaya, pitcher Ryan Pepiot, infielders Jacob Amaya, Miguel Vargas, and outfielder James Outman.
Who will be on the Dodgers roster when the team reports for Spring Training 2022 at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona?
What do you think, Dodgers fans? The Hot Stove season is open for business. Which of its free agents will the team retain? Which free agents will they pursue? What trades do you think the team should make? Join the conversation and stoke the Hot Stove fires of supposition and rumor.
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It’s ALWAYS excuses. Too much to overcome? Give me a break. Only one change matters for next year, a manager that doesn’t wreck the pitching staff and ruin the “marathon” season in sight of the finish line. Five tries, five failures. Bruce Bochy is available. Fire Dave Roberts = LA Dodgers 2022 World Series champions.
Although a change of on-field leadership is an option, I think it is extremely unlikely to happen this year. I don’t see the Dodgers firing Roberts, or moving him upstairs, considering that he currently has the best winning percentage of any Dodgers manager with more than 500 games in the position.
Injuries, and the Trevor Bauer situation are facts. You may view them as excuses, but losing Dustin May, Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy, Clayton Kershaw, and Bauer for extended periods of time no doubt impacted the 2021 Dodgers.
whether or not you like Dave Roberts is irrelevant. whether or not his actions win or lose ball games is also irrelevant. he does what his bosses believe are best and that is ALL that is relevant. if you follow your employers instructions, regardless of the outcome, getting fired is most likely not in your future. Dave recently said “i only have one vote” to paraphrase, ‘i do what i’m told’. perhaps he isn’t getting every play phoned into his headset but he most definitely is following the prescribed game plan. when he was hired, i was excited to think that he would coach as he played. small ball, stolen bases, taking 3rd on a single, valuing defense over power. analytics plays a different game. i am not a fan of what the game has become but i can’t see a reason to blame Roberts. as the the old saying goes, “dont hate the player, hate the game”.
With regards to who makes the in-game calls, I encourage you to read my ‘Friedman Answers the Burning Question’ piece from 10-28-21.
https://thinkbluela.com/2021/10/friedman-answers-the-burning-question/
Seems like some finger pointing going on. Doc says he only has one vote and Friedman says all the on field decisions are Doc’s. Seems like those statements are contrary to each other. In one of the interviews with AF, he said that he doesn’t agree with some of the decisions during the game, but later he sees it was the right move at the time.
i read it. (i read, and enjoy, them all Ron) what i read is:
“We do a lot of work to prepare ahead of time to understand like how certain relievers match up against certain hitters…”
your article is exactly what i based my analysis upon.
i stand by this statement:
‘perhaps he isn’t getting every play phoned into his headset but he most definitely is following the prescribed game plan’
his decisions are “prepare(d) ahead of time” = “pre-scribed”
if dave is told not to let a starter throw more than 75 pitches and which relievers will have the best results against which hitters, then dave decides which arm to call based on the which hitter is coming up now that said starter is at 68P possibly exceeding 75 with the next AB. is it daves decision to call bickford or wait for vesia? kind of, but is it really? he cant let that starter get to 90P or call for vesia to face bickford’s guy without hearing about it.
analogy for you: you ask jesse to write an article regarding seager’s poor defense. you don’t choose his words,you allow him to craft it himself with a goal in mind. if he writes an article about seager’s tendency to hit the first pitch you’re going to be frustrated with the resulting product. if that happens enough, you two are going to part ways.
The Dodger players have a so so attitude. And the manager is the leader of this bunch, Dave Roberts is a laid back no skills manager that must GO.
I think the criticism that Roberts is too laid back is fair (one of my concerns earlier this season), but “no skills” is not only harsh, but IMO inaccurate. Reading and listening to Dodgers players comments over the last several seasons demonstrates that they respect his leadership competencies.
Very informative piece, Jesse. Thanks.
Keeping on topic, any way you slice it, it’s going to be a very expensive off-season for Friedman and the Dodgers. Then again, it’s going to be an expensive off-season for most teams this winter.
As much as I would love to see Corey Seager remain a Dodger, he is my pick as one of the first to sign elsewhere this off-season.
This is where we see just how good – and deep – the Dodgers farm system really is.
Regardless, the Dodgers Opening Day 40-man roster is going to look A LOT different next season.
Thanks. Good topic about Seager — in process
Jesse solid piece.
1-Roberts did a real good job this yr. To get this injury laden team to game 6 down 4-2 with the tying men on base with nobody out is truly a solid job . Losing Muncy and JT was the final blow.
If the Dodgers bring back CT 3 and KJ and Kershaw on incentive contract
They will be clear favorites again.
I expect a trade for or a free agent SP. Dodger Blue Forever
cartaya and pepiot do nothave to be protected
Good catch! My error, they do not have to be added until Dec. 2022
since when has dave ever not cost the dodgers a title? except for last year when betts flew from the sky to catch that ball and save daves ass. what the players say is usually artificial. theyre getting paid too much so theres a ton of pretending. they barely had enough gas to finish 2020. and that was less than half a season.the dodgers cant win a full season title because they are pretenders.they cant even spell championship. and they certainly cant play major league baseball the way its supposed to be played, and roberts isnt a field general.he falls apart every october and flails about all year round completely lost. and come the postseason he always falls apart under the bright lights when the pressures on and his every little move is exposed.instead of settling for the wildcard the dodgers went into complete idiot mode and wore themselves out chasing frisco. they wore jt out till he blew a hammy. ihe team was in an offensive slump muncy was clearly tired and dave kept on running them out there so they could catch the giants after dave gave them 2 free games mid season.
dave rolled over mid season when the dodgers clearly had the giants beat those 2 games so he could give frisco a blow as dave likes to say about giving players a blow or a break. then as the offense was slumping late season he had pollock try to steal 3rd base when pollock was the only one hitting the cover off the ball. and although pollock injured himself by indecision,if dave had a little sense just a little mind you,he wouldnt have tried to steal 3rd with pollock in that situation. pollocks age ,il history,the slumping offense,no guarantee of catching frisco,and not accepting home field in the wildcard game werte all grevious intelligence failures of extreme negligence. and no one in the entire organization noticed either or spoke up. the dodgers are an embarrisment to baseball they play so bad. then they or some combination of the dodgers organization and dave overcooked kershaw and got him sent to the i.l. then he overcooked scherzer until his arm went dead. and he overcooked urias and buehlers arms out and drove the team into the ground.
pollock probably woulve tore the cover off the ball the whole postseason if dave hadnt tried to have him try to steal 3rd.and the catcher has a shorter throw there too.11 more at bats and pollock would have qualified for free agency and a huge payday. that cost pollock millions. after la picked up max and trea the dodgers had the stone cold nuts in the playoffs. all they had to do was rest in september and la would be rockin right now. the dodgers are more interested in regular season wins than victory in the postseason.they should just pay dave now for next season then release him and he could find another managing job and get paid twice for it. daves almost innocent. he literally has no idea whats going on. which would explain why hes already asking for another extension. he might have destroyed either or both of the rest of kershaws and scherxers hall of fame careers. and he endangered both buehler and urias* careers where sometime in the next few years they might have to go under the knife for tommy john procedure.
urias isnt built to be a full time starter anyway. but he excels as a hybrid reliever who can start sometimes. and if dave hadnt of worn muncy out max probably would not have gotten injured on that play in september. then in the postseason you have 3 starters. all aces. worn out. dangerously thin on starting pitching and a well rested fully stocked bullpen. and dave runs his starters out there multiple times in relief.and he wants an extension. can you fathom how stupid that is? and the dodgers just let it happen. the fans blame houston for cheating 4 years ago and its true. but they came prepared to play in game 7 and took it to the dodgers. in that game the dodgers were worn out playing on empty. and dave ignored the signs that darvish was uncomfortable allowing runners on base and not bringing in the relief fast enough.and when the team lost dave said it happened so fast. thats when i wouldve fired him and he wouldve been out of there so fast. dave cost the dodgers at least 2 titles or more so far.hes like a trainwreck.
what i didnt get about the 2017 world series is after game 7 why did the music come on and play that queen song ‘ nuthing really matters to me- my question is who would be responsible for something like that? that seemed like extremely poor taste to play that song on national tv right after the world series ends. who and why would somebody do that? its a good scientific question.