Michael Conforto Gets Honest About Being Left Off Dodgers’ Postseason Rosters
Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Michael Conforto spoke about his absence on the Dodgers’ rosters for all three of their postseason series thus far this October.
The Dodgers signed Conforto to a one-year, $17 million deal before the 2024 season to take over left field, however the veteran All-Star has failed to deliver for LA. Conforto batted just south of the Mendoza Line throughout the season, hitting 12 home runs and finishing the regular season with a .635 OPS. Conforto played 138 of the Dodgers regular season games.
“I am just trying to enjoy this experience and soak it all in and trying to stay ready if they need me in this series or the next one,” Conforto said. “But definitely not being on the roster is motivating, so I have some things I have to work on and go into the offseason and take care of those things and we’ll see what happens.”
Despite his struggles over the course of the season, Conforto has proven in the past he can hit well. He is a career .785 OPS hitter, and found his bat towards the end of the season.
With Conforto riding the bench, the Dodgers have been playing Alex Call and Kike Hernandez in left field during their run this postseason. The duo have been exceptional during the Dodgers’ playoff run, with Call posting an OPS of 1.607 through six plate appearances and Hernandez reaching a mark of .886 through 32 at-bats.
The Dodgers are rather set as far as outfield depth goes, with Justin Dean available off the bench in a pinch, but having a former All-Star in Michael Conforto on the bench is a good option for any team to have.
The Dodgers are yet to announce their roster for the World Series, however the odds of Conforto featuring for the Dodgers during the postseason is becoming increasingly low due to the stellar performances of Call and Hernandez in left field.
Reporter makes bold Derrick White prediction for Celtics amid Jaylen Brown’s injury
The Boston Celtics have been the dominant team in the NBA's Eastern Conference, but a major change in the pecking order is likely considering the torn Achilles suffered by Jayson Tatum in last year's playoffs. Tatum is likely going to miss the entire season for the Celtics.
Additionally, fellow superstar forward Jaylen Brown could miss some time in the early part of the season as a result of a hamstring injury. Compared to Tatum, Brown's problem is not a serious injury, but he may not be at his peak when he is able to return to action.
The Celtics, who won the league's title two years ago, still have plenty of talent. Several players may take on new roles this season. Derrick White has been one of the team's most important all-around players because of his defense, passing and clutch long-distance shooting. He may fit into one of the team's scheme as a legitimate go-to scorer.
Celtics reporter Noa Dalzell suggested that White will move comfortably into his new role and will rise above his past scoring levels in the upcoming season. “I wouldn't be surprised if Derrick White's averaging 25 points a game, especially if Jaylen sidelined for the first few games of the season.”
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla will be put to the test
Instead of having a dominating roster that regularly jumps all over opponents, the Celtics have to change the way they play the game. They are going to have to depend on hustle and defense if they want to remain a team that can hold its own in the Eastern Conference.
Once Brown is healthy, they should bare some resemblance to past Celtics teams, but players like White, Payton Pritchard and Anfernee Simons are going to have to make significant contributions or the team could sink like a stone.
Mazzulla is going to have to define new roles for all of his players and he is going to have to ensure his players understand and can follow the team's new game plan.
