Like just about each different time the Dodgers have discovered themselves in a self-made mess, the duty of downplaying a serious drawback as soon as once more was made the accountability of supervisor Dave Roberts.
So, within the aftermath of a deflating 11-1 defeat by the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night time, Roberts trudged into the interview room at Dodger Stadium and utilized an excellent previous Stan Kasten spin to Roki Sasaki’s transfer to the 15-day injured checklist.
The purpose relayed by Roberts was principally this: Sasaki underwhelmed in his eight main league begins due to a shoulder ache that he saved secret from the Dodgers “for the last weeks,” and never as a result of the 23-year-old rookie right-hander wasn’t nearly as good as they beforehand thought.
“He hasn’t been as productive as he would have liked because he was compromised,” mentioned Roberts, who added that Sasaki revealed his situation to the crew after his most up-to-date begin.
The reason raised an equally alarming chance, nonetheless.
If Roberts’ story was correct, and Sasaki skilled a shoulder impingement just like the one which slowed him down final 12 months in Japan, wouldn’t that time to a power drawback?
Because it was, Sasaki was already seen as a excessive harm danger. He by no means remained wholesome for a complete season with the Chiba Lotte Marines.
At this level, what’s worse? That Sasaki’s lack of management and decline in fastball velocity have been due to a power shoulder situation? Or as a result of he simply was too uncooked to compete within the main leagues?
Both situation can be problematic.
So, what now?
As a lot because the Dodgers bought Sasaki on how they might someday information him to a Cy Younger Award, his future isn’t their solely precedence. Additionally they have to contemplate what’s greatest for his or her crew, which is positioned to change into baseball’s first repeat champion in 1 / 4 century.
Even when the Dodgers acknowledge that Sasaki is extra of a long-term mission than a short-term answer and need to ship him to the minor leagues when he returns, they may not have the luxurious of doing so. They’ve signed 4 potential frontline pitchers within the final two years, and three of them are at present on the injured checklist — Sasaki, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. The opposite, two-way participant Shohei Ohtani, isn’t anticipated to pitch till after the All-Star break.
Snell was examined by a crew physician on Tuesday however the crew didn’t present any particulars about his situation. Glasnow performed catch however Roberts didn’t present a timeline for his return.
The rotation is in such a state of smash that not solely have been the Dodgers pressured to begin Landon Knack on Tuesday, they have been desperately awaiting the return of 37-year-old Clayton Kershaw 4 days later.
Roberts described Sasaki’s harm as “benign” however didn’t say when he would possibly resume throwing. The supervisor insisted there have been no ideas of sending him to the minors, regardless of Sasaki posting a 4.72 earned-run common and finishing six innings in only one begin.
“I think our goal is to get him healthy, get him strong, make sure his delivery is sound for him to pitch for us,” Roberts mentioned.
In different phrases, Sasaki will return to the mound within the main leagues. He must achieve familiarity with low-quality American baseballs within the main leagues. He must change into extra comfy with the pitch clock within the main leagues. He must strengthen his physique to stop future accidents within the main leagues. He must study to toss something apart from a fastball, forkball and slider within the main leagues.
The Dodgers knew Sasaki would require an adjustment interval, however they couldn’t have imagined something this drastic.
Again then, the Dodgers’ plan for Sasaki was easy: Insert him into the rotation and watch him become top-of-the-line pitchers in baseball.
Sasaki can nonetheless change into every little thing the Dodgers envisioned, however his path to greatness has change into infinitely extra difficult. Roberts remained characteristically upbeat, saying Sasaki hid his shoulder issues not as a result of he was egocentric however as a result of he didn’t need to let down an injury-ravaged crew.
“He’s a great teammate,” Roberts mentioned.
Together with his rotation crumbling, Roberts didn’t have the luxurious of viewing the scenario some other approach.
