On paper, the Dodgers have a terrific team this season.
"We're gonna pour money into this team," Magic declared when the new ownership took over. "We're gonna pour money into the fan experience."
And they did. The team looks great, on paper at least, and the 50+ year old Dodger Stadium gleams.
In reality, though, the Dodgers are last in the National League West.
They don't hit, especially with runners in scoring position. The starting pitchers do fine but the relief pitchers can't get the outs they need to get. The defense has committed more errors than any other team in the major leagues.
I was taught that pitching and defense were the two basic building blocks on which you built a team. The hitting would come around. Pitching and defense would keep you in there until it did. Hitters were always slow starters, but once they found their grooves you were fine, as long as you had good pitching and defense.
Dodgers have good starting pitching, but these days that just means six or seven innings. The game lasts nine, so that means going to the bullpen for the last two or three innings.
For the record, I don't agree with that, but that's the way it is these days. The manager tells the starting pitcher "You give me seven innings, and then I'm gonna go batter by batter."
That kind of micromanagement only works if you have good pitchers in your bullpen. The Dodgers don't seem to have that.
Good players, on paper at least, but ineffective pitching and poor defense.
So what's missing?
Good coaching. I've said that before. But in fairness to the coaches, they don't play the game; the players do. And when they play it badly we fans don't enjoy the experience.
Leadership. By a player on the team. Someone who steps up and says "Hey, guys" and the other players look up and listen.
Dodgers don't have anyone they would call Captain.
That might just be what they need.
