Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will have some very difficult decisions to make in the coming days. Among them include who his outfielders will be for the upcoming National League Division Series – and hopefully beyond.

But the absolute bottom line is that our National Pastime is absolutely positively one hundred percent results driven – or at least should be. To beat the very best you have to put your very best out there every day – period. End of discussion.

The results speak for themselves: 28-year-old / eight-year MLB veteran Dodgers outfielder Joey Gallo is not among the very best. In fact, he isn’t even among the very good. This, of course, has nothing to do with his defensive skills, at which he excels. However, with the bat, he, well, … sucks.

By no means is this a personal attack on the two-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glover. It’s simply calling it like it is.

Since being acquired from the New York Yankees on August 2nd, (in exchange for 23-year-old minor league right-hander Clayton Beeter), and as of this writing, Gallo has had 103 official at-bats in a Dodgers uniform. In those 103 at-bats, he struck out 50 times. That’s a 48.54% strikeout rate, which, anyway you slice it, is absolutely unacceptable at baseball’s highest level regardless of how good your defensive skills are.

Enter 22-year-old Dodgers rookie outfielder Miguel Vargas.

Although the sample size is ridiculously small, and even though he is currently slashing a paltry .195/.209/.293/.502 on the season (in his 13 games played and 41 at-bats), he is 3-for-9 (.333) in his last three games played, which includes five Runs Batted In. In fact, the extremely popular young Dodger drove in three of the Dodgers five runs in the team’s 5-2 win over the NL West second-place San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Thursday night.

“He accounted for most of our offense tonight,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Vargas, following his team’s win on Thursday night. “He was ready when called upon.”

Vargas was called upon on Thursday night and went 1-for-2 that included an RBI sacrifice fly in the top of the second inning to cut the (then) 2-0 Padres lead in half, and hit a two-run single in the top of the sixth to make it a (then) 4-2 ballgame. Dodgers designated hitter Will Smith also homered in the inning for the Dodgers fifth and final run.

“I feel pretty good. Every time I can go out here and help my team to win, always a great time for me,” Vargas told SportsNet LA’s Kirsten Watson postgame. “I’m enjoying, I’m happy to be on the best team in baseball. I’m just enjoying the moment.”

For reasons only he knows, Roberts had Gallo pinch hit for Vargas in the top of the ninth inning.

He struck out.

Asked postgame if Vargas has a legitimate shot to make his team’s postseason roster, Roberts said (almost) exactly what Dodgers fans wanted to hear.

“His name is certainly in the mix to make the roster. All Miguel can do is respond when given opportunities,” Roberts answered.

This one’s a no-brainer, Dave. Make the right call.

Play Ball!

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