If the Dodgers miss the playoffs this year, the players and management will have plenty to assess while mired in disappointment. Perhaps they’ll lament their decision making regarding bullpen reinforcements. Maybe they’ll think of the wrist injury to Justin Turner or the elbow injury to Corey Seager as reasons they couldn’t eclipse the Rockies or Diamondbacks. All are reasons the Dodgers haven’t resembled the indomitable force that crushed its fellow National Leaguers last year en route to the World Series, where they’d lose to the Astros in seven games.
But maybe, just maybe, they’ll see a highlight of Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett and wonder why they just couldn’t get that guy out and couldn’t beat the NL Central’s last-place team.