Los Angeles Dodgers: The biggest question entering offseason
By Ben Fadden
The Los Angeles Dodgers had another disappointing season after being eliminated in NLDS, so here’s the biggest question to be addressed this winter.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was highly scrutinized on some of his questionable moves he made in Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals.
He left in Clayton Kershaw for a second-inning instead of going to Adam Kolerak to at least face Juan Soto, and of course, it backfired as Rendon and Soto his back to back homers to tie it.
Then, he didn’t bring in Kolerak again in extras to face Soto, instead walking him to load the bases for Howie Kendrick.
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The Dodgers probably won’t want that to happen again, but for that to happen they need to get some good bullpen pieces so they don’t have to use Kershaw out of relief again.
So the big question is…
Will the Dodgers upgrade the bullpen?
Kenley Jansen wasn’t even used until the game was out of reach in Game 5, and he is the closer of the ball club which tells you how much trust the Dodgers don’t have in him.
They wanted to use the guy that they paid over the offseason instead and we saw how that played out.
So, it is going to be Los Angeles’ biggest thing they need to focus on this winter.
The Dodgers are not going to get over ‘the hump’ without having a deep bullpen.
Just look at the two World Series teams. The Astros have a deep bullpen headlined by Roberto Osuna, and the Nats (as Dodgers fans know) have an even deeper bullpen that includes Fernando Rodney, Tanner Rainey, Sean Doolittle, and closer Daniel Hudson.
As you know the postseason is about pitching. The Los Angeles Dodgers have a lot of talent on the offensive side but they had a hole and it was the bullpen.
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So, it is on Andrew Friedman and company to fill that hole if they want to reach the top of the mountain.