Dave Roberts: Dodgers’ Defense Has Been ‘Undervalued’

The Los Angeles Dodgers have one of the most talented rosters from top to bottom, and while a lot of the attention naturally goes to their hitting and pitching, they also do the little things right.

The Dodgers have excelled with their gloves and arms this season, leading the league with 60 defensive runs saved through 77 games. They also rank third with 18.8 defensive runs above average, trailing only the Chicago Cubs (31.5) and San Diego Padres (19.1).

“Yes, it is,” manager Dave Roberts answered when asked if the team’s defense has been better than most realize. “I think that even when Teo was healthy, he was playing considerably better than he did last year. Muncy is playing considerably better than he did last year. Second base has been fantastic.

“Mookie has continued to do what he’s done, and I think Freddie has improved his defense from last year, the catchers have done a fine job. Andy keeps getting better. So, yeah, I do think that it’s an undervalued or looked at part of our team.”

The Dodgers have made significant strides on defense this year, which can be attributed in part to Teoscar Hernández finding more success with his move back to left field. Max Muncy and Freddie Freeman have also improved at their respective positions, while Mookie Betts and Andy Pages continue to shine on the defensive side as well.

“I think each of those guys made a concerted effort to be better,” Roberts said. “I think now the eye test also with analytics, the data, they’re seeing that where they are relative to themselves to the field, and they knew they needed to get better, and so to their credit, they all got better.”

Meanwhile, Alex Freeland is among the best defenders at second base in baseball, Kyle Tucker has been an improvement in right field from Hernández last year, and Will Smith and Dalton Rushing have performed well behind the plate.

It’s unusual for a team with so many veteran players to get better defensively, but Roberts believes the improvement stems from a mix of hard work and staying healthy.

“That’s true, but it shouldn’t fall off a cliff,” Roberts began. “So I think that that’s more of the intent part of it, being mindful of the positioning, lockdown every pitch, getting good jumps off the ball.

“Max’s case, he’s just in much better shape, so that’s helping the mobility. I think Freddie is now healthy with the ankle, so that helps his mobility. Teo, I think it was just more of really seeing how bad it was, versus what his own expectation is, and now he’s realized that.

“Freeland’s done great. He’s out there working every day. Tucker, I think he’s gotten better over the last month. Across the board, really good.”

Dave Roberts praises Dodgers coaching staff

In addition to being fundamentally sound, the Dodgers have an experienced coaching staff that works behind the scenes to help players reach their potential. Roberts specifically praised third base coach Dino Ebel for his excellent send in the team’s 6-5 walk-off win over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night.

“You know, I was talking to a friend of mine the other day, and he’s talking about watching games, and how the fundamentals that other teams aren’t good. And watching our club, we’re pretty sound fundamentally,” Roberts said.

“Bob Geren does a great job of the pitchers with PFPs, and telling them why and valuing it. So when the game does kind of speed up or big moments, we typically don’t beat ourselves, certainly on the defensive side.

“That was a great send by Dino yesterday. He saw the left fielder sort of lose his footing a little bit, and that changed his hold to a go. Close play, but either way, it was still the right decision on his part.”