Don Mattingly rips Los Angeles Dodgers over poor play
By Bryan Rose
The Los Angeles Dodgers, after an impressive 2013 season, were expected to run away with the National League West with relative ease come 2014.
More from Los Angeles Dodgers
- Shohei Ohtani trade rumors live tracker: Every update so far
- After frantic trade day, Kiké Hernandez grateful for second chance with Dodgers
- This White Sox-Dodgers trade for bullpen help could lead to LA reunion
- MLB Trade Grades: Dodgers reunite with familiar face in Red Sox deal
- MLB Rumors: Cardinals budging on Arenado, Orioles-Ohtani package, Yankees backup plan
But the Dodgers haven’t fulfilled expectations and after a loss on Wednesday night, fell to 31-30.
Normally, that might not be that bad but for a team with such high expectations, the frustration has seemingly got the best of manager Don Mattingly who ripped his team after they fell 8 games behind the division leading San Francisco Giants.
“Basically, we’re sh—y ,” Mattingly said Wednesday night, via Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times. “We’re just not that good. Home, away, whatever,” Mattingly added. “I don’t know what that has to do with it.”
Many have questioned the leadership of Mattingly, even during the Dodgers historic run last season though the talk has only grown this year after reported spats with Matt Kemp, Hanley Ramirez and Andre Ethier.
Despite the harsh words, Mattingly believes there is still time to turn it around.
“Tommy says it all the time, and it seems corny at times, but he says, ‘We all have to get on one end of the rope,’” Mattingly said. “When that group gets going in one direction and that focus is purely to win a game no matter who gets the attention or who gets this or who gets that, I think it’s always better.”
Despite having a winning record, the Dodgers can’t fall much further behind the Giants if they plan to make a run at the National League West crown or their playoff aspirations may be reserved for a Wild Card birth, if that.