Dodgers News: It Sure Sounds Like Dave Roberts Got Tired of Trying with Cody Bellinger
Last week, the Dodgers played against old friend Cody Bellinger for the first time since non-tendering him this past offseason. It was a nice reunion with a player that had a lot of success in Dodger blue until everything came crashing down.
Dave Roberts greeted Bellinger in center field before the game last week, the first time the two had caught up since Cody left LA. It turns out the former NL MVP changed his phone number in the offseason and Dave didn't have his new one.
As usual, Roberts offered up pleasantries about his former player, wishing him the best with the change of scenery in Chicago, but a key section of an article on The Athletic deserves another look. Beat writer Fabian Ardaya described Roberts' exchange with reporters that painted a picture of a man defeated.
Roberts was asked about what broke over those last few years, after Bellinger’s shoulder surgery, after the broken leg — and after Roberts vouched for his guy through it all. ... Roberts sighed, then paused. “It’s difficult,” he finally said. “There’s no exact science to it. I think I’ve shown that I’ve supported him. I’ve given him a lot of leash because he’s earned it, and also I believe in the player, the talent, the person.” He thought again. “(It’s) difficult at times.” ...
“As a coach, you want to feel like you do everything you can. I think we did. Obviously, some of it has to do with the player, and Cody would be the first to tell you that. ... Sometimes you just don’t have any answers. It’s not an indictment on anyone.”
Dodgers fans know that the last few seasons had been beyond a struggle for Bellinger. Each season we heard about adjustments that would bring him back to that MVP form. And each offseason we heard he was healthy again and had a new swing ready to go for spring training.
After hitting 47 home runs in 2019, Cody hit just 41 over his next three seasons and 295 games. His swing just never got right, and he was a shell of his former self. The Dodgers were hanging onto him for his plus-defense, but at some point, they needed to make that offense back.
It was a difficult decision, but the Dodgers were right to let the 27-year-old go this offseason. Dave Roberts is right... the Dodgers had tried enough.
