ARE THE DODGERS INVENTIVE ENOUGH? To be clear, the Dodgers’ backyard is awful! They have dropped six bats with a 90% or greater chance of being caught in just 17 games. For a team to boast about competing in the World Series is unacceptable!

The Los Angeles Dodgers, reigning World Series champions, are undeniably one of the most talented and well-resourced teams in Major League Baseball.1 Their acquisition of superstars like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, combined with an already stacked roster featuring Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and others, signals a clear and unambiguous intent: to compete for and win the World Series, year after year. As of late June 2025, their 53-32 record (.624) places them firmly atop the NL West and gives them the best record in the National League, according to recent reports.2 They are, by most metrics, a dominant force.

However, the assertion that “The Dodgers’ backyard is awful! They have dropped six bats with a 90% or greater chance of being caught in just 17 games. For a team to boast about competing in the World Series is unacceptable!” strikes a chord of truth that even the most ardent Dodgers fan cannot fully dismiss. While the exact statistic of “six bats dropped with a 90% or greater chance of being caught in 17 games” needs specific verification, the underlying sentiment points to a recurring Achilles’ heel for this otherwise juggernaut of a team: defense.

In baseball, defense is often the unsung hero, the quiet contributor that prevents rallies, saves runs, and ultimately wins games. A team can possess the most explosive offense and the most dominant pitching staff, but if they consistently fail to make routine plays or convert high-probability outs, they are leaving runs on the table and putting unnecessary pressure on their pitchers. The “backyard” – referring to the infield and outfield defense – is where many games are won and lost, especially in the tight margins of postseason play.

Let’s delve into why this perceived lack of inventiveness or execution in defense could indeed be a significant impediment for the Dodgers, even with their overwhelming talent.

While the Dodgers boast elite offensive players, not all of them are renowned for their defensive prowess. Some of their best hitters are either designated hitters (like Shohei Ohtani) or players who have transitioned positions in part due to defensive limitations or to accommodate other talent. Mookie Betts, an exceptional outfielder, has been playing a significant amount of shortstop, a demanding position he didn’t grow up playing, to strengthen the team’s overall lineup.³ While Betts is a phenomenal athlete and has worked tirelessly to learn the position, any positional shift for a non-natural infielder carries inherent risks and requires a learning curve. Similarly, Max Muncy at third base, while capable, is not considered an elite defender.

The “dropped bats” analogy likely refers to errors, missed opportunities, or plays where defensive metrics suggest a high probability of an out, but the out isn’t recorded. This can manifest in several ways:

• Physical Errors: Misplayed ground balls, dropped fly balls, errant throws. These are the most obvious and are recorded as errors.
• Mental Errors/Miscommunication: Players failing to communicate on pop-ups, taking inefficient routes to balls, or making poor decisions on throws, leading to extra bases or safe runners. These don’t always show up as traditional errors but are equally damaging.
• Lack of Range: Players who, despite their best efforts, simply don’t have the quickness or agility to get to balls that other, more agile defenders might. This results in hits that might be outs for other teams.
• Infield Shifts: While the Dodgers are known for their analytical approach and aggressive use of shifts (which can save runs), these strategies also come with trade-offs. Sometimes, a perfectly executed shift can turn into a weakness if a ball is hit into the vacated area, and the defenders are unable to recover quickly enough.

When a team that boasts about competing in the World Series exhibits these defensive lapses, it raises legitimate concerns. In the postseason, every out is magnified, every extra base granted feels like a monumental mistake. The pressure is immense, and defensive breakdowns that might be shrugged off during a 162-game regular season can be utterly devastating in October.

The question of inventiveness isn’t just about revolutionary new strategies; it’s also about effective execution of fundamental baseball. Inventiveness in defense for a team like the Dodgers could mean:

1. Optimizing Player Placement: Given their deep roster, are they always putting their best defensive players in the positions where their skills are most impactful? For instance, while Betts at shortstop creates an offensive juggernaut, is it truly maximizing their defensive potential compared to a dedicated elite shortstop? This is a constant balancing act for analytical teams. They have brought in Chris Woodward as first-base coach and infield coaching specialist for 2025, which suggests a renewed focus on infield defense.⁴ Dino Ebel, the third-base coach, is also now focused on coaching outfielders, indicating attention to that area as well.
2. Advanced Defensive Instruction and Drills: The Dodgers are known for their sophisticated player development and coaching. Do they have specific, innovative drills or data-driven approaches to improve reaction time, footwork, and communication, especially for players who are not naturally elite defenders at their current positions? Their coaching staff, including Major League Development Integration Coach Brandon McDaniel, suggests a commitment to evolving player performance.⁵
3. Leveraging Analytics for Defensive Positioning: The Dodgers are pioneers in using data. Are they utilizing cutting-edge defensive positioning algorithms that go beyond standard shifts, perhaps incorporating real-time adjustments based on batter tendencies and pitcher arsenal? While they certainly do this, the “dropped bats” suggest either execution issues or perhaps the limits of even the most advanced data.
4. Prioritizing Defense in Roster Construction: While their offensive acquisitions have been splashy, has there been an equal emphasis on acquiring top-tier defensive talent at all positions, or is the focus overwhelmingly on offensive production? The balance between offense and defense is a perennial challenge for all teams.

The claim that these defensive issues are “unacceptable” for a World Series contender is a strong one, but it holds merit. A team aiming for the Fall Classic must be fundamentally sound in all facets of the game. Pitching and hitting can win games, but defense prevents losses.

Consider the historical context: championship teams often have exceptional defense. Whether it’s the dominant defensive teams of the past or more modern clubs that make highlight-reel plays consistently, strong defense builds confidence for pitchers and keeps momentum on the team’s side. Mental errors or missed routine plays can be rally-killers for the fielding team and rally-starters for the opposition.

The Dodgers, as current World Series champions, are entering the 2025 season with immense pressure and expectations to repeat. Their 53-32 record indicates they are well on their way to another successful regular season. However, regular season success doesn’t always translate directly to postseason invincibility. The unforgiving nature of October baseball means that a single defensive lapse can swing a game, or even a series.

While it’s important not to overstate a small sample size of “dropped bats,” if this pattern of defensive misplays persists, it truly could be a vulnerability that opponents exploit in high-leverage situations. The Dodgers have the financial resources, the analytical capabilities, and the star power to overcome many deficiencies. The question is whether they are inventive enough – in their coaching, their strategy, and their commitment to defensive fundamentals – to ensure that their “backyard” becomes a strength, rather than a potential weakness, as they chase yet another World Series title.