Dodgers slugger Max Muncy was the team’s most clutch hitter last season, but he’s been anything but this year.
In fact, Muncy has been the guy opposing teams have chosen to pitch to, rather than pitch around. He hit .251 last season, with 35 home runs and 98 RBIs. Teams simply did not want him at the plate with men on base.
This year, however, has been quite the opposite. He’s hitting only .193, with 27 RBIs, and hasn’t shown any signs of his bat heating up anytime soon.
But October does bring out the best in some players, and Muncy apparently believes he falls into that category.
“I’d say I feel good, but I’ve felt good all year long and things haven’t necessarily worked out how I wanted them to,” Muncy said, via the Los Angeles Times. “But hopefully once October hits, things will change for me.”
He continued:
“It’s extremely difficult, but at some point you have to realize that it really isn’t about you,” Muncy said. “Whether you do great or do terrible, all that matters is the team winning. The ultimate goal is for the team to win, not for you to win personally. Once you can realize that, it makes it a little bit easier.”
Muncy isn’t the only Dodgers player struggling, as Joc Pederson has been just as bad. Cody Bellinger was in that class as well, but he’s since been heating up. Still, the Dodgers managed to clinch the No. 1 seed in the National League, so if these guys can get it going, they’ll be a popular pick to win the World Series later this fall.
