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Albert Pujols of Los Angeles Dodgers, right, celebrates with AJ Pollock in front of Los Angeles Angels catcher Max Stassi, center, after hitting a double home run during the second innings of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. (AP Photo / Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Dodgers throwing pitcher Walker Buehler at a Los Angeles Angels batter during the first innings of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. (AP Photo / Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers throws batter to a Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. (AP Photo / Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers, right, has a chat with pitching coach Matt Wise and catcher Max Stassi during the second innings of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. (AP Photo / Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Angels’ David Fletcher receives congratulations from his teammates after scoring a double from Phil Gosselin against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles on Sunday, August 8, 2021. (AP Photo / Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Packy Naughton throws at a Los Angeles Dodgers batter during the sixth innings of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. (AP Photo / Alex Gallardo)
Home plate umpire John Tumpane (right) jumps off Trea Turner (left) of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who slipped home on a single from AJ Pollock during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Los Angeles on Sunday. August 8, 2021. (AP Photo / Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Albert Pujols tosses his bat after hitting a double home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the second innings of a baseball game in Los Angeles on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. (AP Photo / Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Albert Pujols celebrates on the plate after scoring a double home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the second innings of a baseball game in Los Angeles on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. (AP Photo / Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Dodgers throwing pitcher Walker Buehler at a Los Angeles Angels batter during the first innings of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. (AP Photo / Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers throws batter to a Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. (AP Photo / Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Trea Turner dives back to first base to hit a flyball hit by Max Muncy during the second innings of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Los Angeles, Sunday, August 8, 2021. (AP Photo / Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Justin Bruihl, left, celebrates with Trea Turner after the Dodgers defeat the Los Angeles Angels 8-2 in a baseball game in Los Angeles on Sunday, August 8, 2021. (AP Photo / Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Justin Bruihl throws to a Los Angeles Angels batter during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. (AP Photo / Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani looks out of the dugout during the sixth innings of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles on Sunday, August 8, 2021. (AP Photo / Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani looks out of the dugout during the sixth innings of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles on Sunday, August 8, 2021. (AP Photo / Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger, right, celebrates on the plate with Chris Taylor after scoring a double home run in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Los Angeles, Sunday, August 8, 2021. (AP Photo / Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Angels pinch hitter Shohei Ohtani, right, takes a stroll against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles on Sunday, August 8, 2021. (AP Photo / Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Albert Pujols wins a double home run against the Los Angeles Angels in the second inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles on Sunday, August 8, 2021. (AP Photo / Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Albert Pujols tosses his bat after hitting a double home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the second innings of a baseball game in Los Angeles on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. (AP Photo / Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Albert Pujols celebrates on the plate after scoring a double home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the second innings of a baseball game in Los Angeles on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. (AP Photo / Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Dodgers throwing pitcher Walker Buehler at a Los Angeles Angels batter during the first innings of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. (AP Photo / Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers throws batter to a Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. (AP Photo / Alex Gallardo)
There is a new starting angle at Dodger Stadium. It catapults Trea Turner around four bases that have never appeared so close together before.
The Dodgers knew that Turner would be a useful runner in the points position. In two games they learned that when he gets into a running position, he is a goalscorer.
On Saturday night he started with a walk and whizzed around in Max Muncy’s double punch to score. On Sunday afternoon he had another run for the Dodgers before they went out, with a double that preceded Muncy’s single.
But Turner saved his most Olympic performance for the second inning. He drew a walk from the Angels’ Reid Detmers. He was gone and running when AJ Pollock dribbled a grounder out of David Fletcher’s glove. It didn’t get very far, but Turner saw no reason to stop. He scored from first base a goal that was little more than an infield single. The Dodgers eventually won 8-2.
Can a pair of wing feet change the operating system of a club? Well, in that first inning, AJ Pollock and Justin Turner double steals. Not everyone was sure the Dodgers knew it was legal.
The Dodgers still prefer the 360-foot trot and most of all prefer to see Cody Bellinger rediscover this art, as he did on Saturday and Sunday. But when Mookie Betts returns on Tuesday, her top speed in the National League will be unmatched.
When you’re 1-12 in extra inning games, 13-20 in one-run games, and 3-8 in walk-off games, and you’re leaving San Francisco behind in a desperate race to win the national team, League West and avoid the wildcard playoff game, these microwave runs are precious possessions.
And this was the traumatic part of the July 30th deal for Washington fans. They thought they could lose Max Scherzer, who is 37 years old and is eligible for the free agency. They were taken by surprise by the loss of Turner, who is 28 years old, was runner-up for NL Rookie of the Year when Corey Seager won it, and is under contract until 2022.
Out of consideration for Seager, Turner plays second base. He was playing outfield in Washington when Daniel Murphy had to be on the line-up. He’s the first classic leadoff man the Dodgers had since Brett Butler, and one of the few left in baseball, perhaps the only sport in the world that actively devalued speed.
“It creates tension,” said Roberts of Turner. “When he scored in that game that Fletcher shot out, it was dynamic, right there. Just the energy he brings is contagious. ”
We haven’t seen Turner attempt a triple, reputedly the most exciting game in baseball, before the deliberate path without pitch came. Turner has 37 three-base hits in his career. The Dodgers have 19 in 112 games this season, which incredibly ranks third in the National League. The Mets have six.
Turner is not just a pepper shaker. He has beaten over .500 in each of his last three seasons. He was 1.70 m tall when he walked into Park Vista High in West Palm Beach, and he went to North Carolina state, the only major school that looked at him seriously. In his freshman year, he stole 57 bases, surpassing the total of 158 Division I teams.
Turner also fulfills a need with his .402 average against left-handed pitch. This worrying area is brought up by Albert Pujols, who grinded a 2-run homer just minutes after J. Turner suffered a groin injury and had to walk. Detmers became the 440th jug that Pujols trotted around. More importantly, Pujols hits .308 of left-handers and has undergone 10 of his 14 home runs in 2021.
This is not to question the Angels who released the Pujols to give Jared Walsh the innings he deserved. They also saw little benefit in putting Pujols on the bench or restricting participation in important games. But Pujols must have surprised her too. There is no doubt that he will be playing for someone next year, and therefore less doubt that his 700th home run will take place as this was number 676.
Bellinger has been relegated to hole 8, although it may find its way up.
“He was able to slip under 95 mph at the top of the zone,” said Roberts, which means he was crushing a high fastball like he used to.
Brusdar Graterol mowed Shohei Ohtani on Saturday night with two up, two out, a draw. David Price was hot on Friday night. Corey Knebel is on his way to speed up the bullpen.
Are the Dodgers gaining speed? Difficult to say, but on Saturday and Sunday at least two hooves could be heard thundering.
