LA Newspaper Says Dodgers' Big Signings Have Not Paid Off
Listen to the story
The Los Angeles Dodgers spent about 49.1 billion yen to sign two players, but a local newspaper in Los Angeles says the money has been wasted. The paper called the two signings a failure.
The two players are Kyle Tucker and Diaz. According to the report, both have played below expectations this season. Fans had hoped they would help the Dodgers win more games.
Tucker had been seen as one of the best players in baseball, with a 'No.1' evaluation from experts. However, his performance changed quickly, and some fans no longer trust him as much as before. The article says his form has changed a great deal in only six months.
Tucker recently went eight games without a hit, which worried many fans and reporters. One article said, 'He is not a player who should end with numbers like this.' When Tucker finally got a hit after that long slump, manager Dave Roberts made a fist in celebration, showing how relieved he was.
Meanwhile, another Dodgers player, who was signed for about 38.2 billion yen, has also struggled recently. A report described his poor form as shocking, saying even his eyes had lost their usual sparkle.
The reports suggest that the Dodgers' big spending has not brought the results the team hoped for, at least so far this season.
Vocabulary10 words
- wasted
- used badly, with no good result
- signings
- players a team pays to join it
- evaluation
- a judgement about how good someone is
- trust
- belief that someone is reliable
- hit
- when a batter hits the ball well in baseball
- slump
- a period of playing badly
- manager
- the person who leads a sports team
- shocking
- very surprising, in a bad way
- sparkle
- a bright, lively look
- expectations
- what people hope or think will happen
Quiz
Answer key
1. About 49.1 billion yen 2. He went eight games without a hit 3. He made a fist in celebration
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The Los Angeles Dodgers spent about _____ yen to sign two players, but a local newspaper says the money has been _____.
The paper called the two _____ a failure.
The two players are Kyle Tucker and _____.
Tucker had been seen as one of the best players, with a 'No.1' _____ from experts.
His form has _____ a great deal in only six months.
Tucker recently went eight games without a _____, which worried fans.
When Tucker finally got a hit after that long _____, manager Dave Roberts made a fist.
Another Dodgers player, signed for about 38.2 billion yen, has also _____ recently.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think big spending does not always guarantee success in sports?
- How do you think players feel when the media criticizes their performance?
- Do you think it is fair for newspapers to call signings a 'failure' after only part of a season?
- What could the Dodgers do to improve the situation described in the article?