Los Angeles Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on April 12, 2016. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI |
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ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Dave Roberts will have his "rookie manager moments," like all first-year skippers, but the Los Angeles Dodgers manager had to explain himself after an odd turn of events in the team's Wednesday game against the Los Angeles Angels.
The Angels took an 8-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, so before Yasmani Grandal led off the top of the seventh for the Dodgers, Roberts told Chase Utley, due up fourth that inning, that Enrique Hernandez was going to pinch-hit for him.
"Down seven runs, we haven't scored eight runs in I can't remember when," Roberts said. "So a guy (Utley) that's playing every day, 37 years old, it was one of those things where I didn't want him in a game that got away from us. So at that point in time I told him I'm going to give the at-bat to (Hernandez)."
Things changed quickly, however. The first three Dodgers to bat in the inning reached base, loading the bases with nobody out, bringing up Utley's spot. And Utley, a left-handed hitter, had doubled in his previous at-bat against Angels right-hander Nick Tropeano, who, by the way, had never completed seven innings in his major league career.
So even though what seemed like a blowout game was now maybe a big hit away from being within reach, Roberts stuck with the right-handed-hitting Hernandez, who struck out. Justin Turner then hit into a double play, and the rally was stopped before it ever got started.
"As a player, when you hear that (you're being pinch-hit for), you mentally check out," Roberts said of his decision to replace Utley even though the circumstances had changed. "Not to say Chase checked out, but you let your guard down a little bit when the manager tells you you're out of the game. And I wanted to give (Hernandez) ample time to prepare for the at-bat."
Roberts could have given Hernandez time to prepare for the at-bat, telling him to be ready, without telling Utley he was out of the game. It seemed Roberts was giving up on the game far too early, but he still tried to explain away his mishandling of the situation.
"Being down seven runs and not having threatened at all against Tropeano, that was a point ... it's just a lot harder to get back up to get a major league at-bat," Roberts said. "(Hernandez) was ready to go, physically and mentally ready for that at-bat, and he (struck out). My intent was just to, in a game like that, I want to make sure I take care of certain players, and Chase has done everything I've asked. For him to be in a game, down seven runs, I just didn't like that visual."
