Mike Salas
Dodger fans are still processing last night’s game and the walk off home run by Freddie Freeman to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 1-0 World Series lead over the New York Yankees.
Dodgers All-Star catcher Will Smith has managed, framed, and called the 2024 post-season better than any other catcher in recent memory who has put on a Dodgers uniform. Smith is taking his starting pitchers to 5-6 innings a game and then managing a bull pen game every fourth game.
With all the pre-game preparation Smith is doing to get his pitchers game time ready, is Will Smith’s bat suffering this post-season. In the NLDS against the San Diego Padres, Smith’s line was 5G / 16AB / 2H / 1HR / 2RBI / 4BB / 2SO / .077AVG. During the NLCS against the Mets, Smith’s line was 6G / 22AB / 4H / 2RBI / 2BB / 4SO / .146AVG.
As you can see from the stats line, Will is not striking out a whole lot and he is not walking a bunch. Smith is not putting bat to ball for a clean hit and most of his outs are by pop up. Smith has been moved down in the line-up with the hope of taking some pressure off of him to produce and concentrate more getting a hit.
Now that the Dodgers are in the World Series, Smith needs to look at Max Muncy on how his on base percentage has increased just by being selective when he is at the plate and not chasing as much. Smith has been batting seventh in the line-up and his main focus should be on, put the ball in the gap or through a hole in the infield to get on base and move a runner into scoring position.
Last night in game one of the World Series, Smith got the Dodgers on the score board first by hitting a sacrifice fly to right field scoring Kiki Hernandez. If Will Smith can help the bottom of the lineup by getting key hits, taking a walk to get on base, laying down a bunt to move a runner, or blasting a home run to score runners. The Dodgers will have a great chance on brining the World Series Trophy back to Los Angeles so the team can raise it high during a championship parade.
Have you subscribed to the Bleed Los Podcast YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows & promotions, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
