Since a remarkable turnaround during the 2013 season that led to a National League West title, the Los Angeles Dodgers have reached previously unseen success for the organization. This year they won a franchise-record 106 games and extended their NL West reign to seven seasons.
However, for all the success in the regular season and back-to-back NL pennants from 2017-18, a World Series has continued to evade the Dodgers. They were among the favorites in 2019, only to be eliminated by the Washington Nationals in NL Division Series.
Players were divided on whether the season could be considered a disappointment, with Cody Bellinger and Kiké Hernandez among those to deem it as such.
Although Justin Turner did not explicitly share the same sentiment, he acknowledged growing frustration and the Dodgers’ need to get over the proverbial hump during an appearance on the “Petros and Money” show, via AM 570:
“I totally understand where the fans are coming from and I try to let everyone know, ‘Look, we’re just as devastated, just as pissed off. We have all the same emotions that you have probably on a whole ‘nother level.’ But we get it. How many years in a row can you say, ‘We’ve got a lot to be proud of,’ as an excuse for not holding that trophy? We want to win, we want to be the last team standing, and honestly we’re running out of excuses here. We’ve got to get this thing done.”
After the Dodgers fell to the Boston Red Sox in five games in the 2018 World Series, Turner reasoned the season should not be considered a failure because the team could find a silver lining in reaching the Fall Classic for a second straight year.
Like in previous years the 35-year-old was a standout performer in the postseason. Turner was limited by back and ankle injuries in September, then went 6-for-21 with two doubles, two home runs and five RBI in five games against the Nationals.
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