Thumper Said It Best

In the popular 1942 Disney animated classic Bambi, the star’s furry little friend Thumper uttered what are still among the greatest words ever spoken – cartoon or otherwise:

“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all.”  

There is “nothing at all” nice to say about Tuesday’s ugly 5-0 Dodgers loss to the division rival San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park, so I won’t. I’ll let Dodgers manager Dave Roberts do so instead:

“Today wasn’t a good day offensively for CT (Dodgers utility outfielder/infielder Chris Taylor), so I don’t know what it was, but I thought we were feeling pretty good as far as kind of the process and taking good swings too, and having good at-bats, but today certainly was a forgettable one.”

Forgettable indeed.

The 32-year-old Virginia Beach, VA native (who is clearly one of Roberts’ personal favorites) entered Tuesday’s contest with a minor-league-worthy .107 batting average that included 11 strikeouts in his (then) 28 official at-bats. He finished Tuesday’s game with a .097 batting average, having struck out in all three of his at-bats, including in the top of the sixth inning with no outs and the bases loaded, with Monday night’s hero Max Muncy – who homered three times in that one – sitting on the bench, having inexplicably been give the day off against the one team that he has had his greatest success against throughout his eight-year MLB career.

“I just felt that Chris in the sixth inning had a good chance. I thought about it (having Muncy pinch-hit for him). You know, right there, he’s a curveball guy, and obviously I had Muncy on the bench right there, but I just felt that Chris could move the ball forward, and I thought about it but didn’t pull the trigger.”

Chris Taylor struck out swinging, while Muncy watched from the dugout.

Roberts “…thought about” having Muncy pinch-hit for Taylor with no outs and the bases loaded in the top of the sixth inning “…but didn’t pull the trigger.” (SportsNet LA)

That sixth inning was the only real threat Roberts’ team mounted all night, with back-to-back singles by Dodgers designated hitter J.D. Martinez and centerfielder Trayce Thompson to leadoff the inning, and second baseman Miguel Vargas reaching on catchers interference. But as noted, Taylor struck out, with Dodgers catcher Will Smith flying out harmlessly to center for the second out, and shortstop Miguel Rojas striking out swinging, to end that only real Dodgers threat.

There really isn’t much else to say – nice or otherwise.

Play Ball!

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13 Responses to “Thumper Said It Best”

  1. OhioDodger says:

    Roberts isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer. Benching Muncy for KT3 was galactically stupid. KT3 is a mess and we are stuck with him. Ill advised contract and no trade value at all.

    • Jesse Pearce says:

      What really frustrates me with Taylor is that he had the whole off season to remake his swing, but nada. After signing with the Dodgers Jason Heyward sought out the Dodgers hitting coaches to rework his mechanics. The results are obvious.

      • OhioDodger says:

        Excellent point. He could just stop swinging out of his shoes on every pitch going for the HR. Sure wish we could get rid of Taylor.

        • Jesse Pearce says:

          Or someone gets through to him that his current swing path is better suited for a driver than a baseball bat.

  2. Jeff Gurnett Jeff Gurnett says:

    @Dodgers A stupid move to let CT have that AB with Muncy available. Just dumb.

  3. Stevenbendodger says:

    Old Turkish Proverb.
    You are really bad until your not.
    This team will have to improve to be better. Padres spent a fortune aren’t doing any better than us, struggling as well.

  4. Stevenbendodger says:

    Anybody want to trade Muncy????
    Hopefully CT3 gets cooking.

  5. Jesse Pearce says:

    Trade Muncy? Depends on the offer. Brewers take Muncy for Adames? (Just messing with you Steven)

  6. Stevenbendodger says:

    I get ya. Who would play third base?
    This is a weird roster don’t ya think?

    • Jesse Pearce says:

      Muncy to the Brewers: c – Smith, 1b – Freeman, 2b – Busch, 3b – Vargas, ss – Adames, lf – Outman, cf – Heyward, rf – Betts. Wait, if this isn’t the Hot Stove is it the Beer Cooler?

  7. Stevenbendodger says:

    How bout keep Muncy. Get a SS. Trayce Thompson Busch Grove for Adames.

    • Jesse Pearce says:

      Brewers are playing so well I don’t think they will trade Adames, especially to the Dodgers. But I think they need to find a shortstop sooner than later.

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