Dodgers manager Don Mattingly won’t be returning to the team in 2016, following the high-priced team’s second consecutive postseason flameout in the NLDS. Los Angeles had far and away the biggest payroll in baseball, but was outgunned by a Mets rotation that makes less than $2 million combined. It’s not surprising to see Mattingly go, but there are several reasons unrelated to him that the Dodgers didn’t get further.
1. Yasiel Puig’s Lost Season
For all the money that the Dodgers spent on putting the 2015 roster together, much of the players offered little bang for the buck. Veterans like Carl Crawford, Jimmy Rollins, and Chase Utley have big names, but little left in the tank. Outfielder Yasiel Puig was supposed to be the lead dog, but his season was so marred by injury Mattingly didn’t even feel comfortable starting him in four of Los Angeles’ five games in the NLDS.
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The Dodgers missed Puig’s explosiveness at the plate, and the energy he provides defensively. Watch a replay of Yoenis Cespedes’ throw in the NLCS to nail Starlin Castro at the plate to get a sense of what kind of impact Puig is capable of.
2. Joc Pederson’s Mysterious Demise
Where the hell did Pederson’s power go? Pederson was a shoo-in for NL Rookie of the Year with a 20-home run first half and excellent defense. Even though Pederson batted just .230, the power he showed, plus the defense in center field, were A-plus.
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In the second half, Pederson hit .178 with just six home runs. He continued to draw walks, but that couldn’t save him from a benching. By the time October rolled around, two of Mattingly’s best talents were in disrepair. Against the Mets’ insane rotation, that’s a lot to overcome.
3. Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke Let Him Down
Neither Kershaw nor Greinke were particularly bad in the NLDS, but the fact of the matter is that they have four Cy Young awards between them, and they are two of the highest-paid pitchers in baseball, and they were both outdueled in the series.
Sure, Kershaw pitched a gem in Game 4, but the Dodgers were 2-2 in starts made by this duo, and they served up five Mets home runs.
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