August brought surprises to MLB. Teams that used to be at the top of the standings can’t seem to get back on track. Not just the Yankees and Mets are struggling. The Dodgers can be found there, too, and the Dodgerland is losing patience. After yet another loss against the Angels in Game 2, frustration erupted around one 23-year-old hitter.

The Dodgers fell behind again, even though they were in the lead for a short time after Shohei Ohtani’s 42nd home run. The Angels won in a dramatic 7–6 extra-inning walk-off. The game was full of late-game pressure and a rare triple play. This gut-wrenching loss has ignited a storm. And this time, Los Angeles has called out the outfielder, Michael Conforto. But why? His performance.

The last two games against the Angels were especially worrisome. He didn’t get a hit in three at-bats on August 11 and struck out twice. Almost the same happened in the game on August 12; he didn’t get a hit in three plate appearances. When the Dodgers posted the final score on their X, “FINAL (10): Angels 7, #Dodgers 6.” The storm ignited, and everyone was asking to send him for the assignment.

He signed a one-year, $17 million agreement with the Dodgers. That included an $8.5 million signing bonus and an $8.5 million salary in 2025. The acquisition was aimed at strengthening their left-handed outfield depth. But it’s happening the opposite of what the Dodgers thought. In the last seven games, Conforto has only gotten two hits in 18 at-bats, giving him a .111 batting average and a .238 OBP. His problems at the plate have become a big deal for both the team and the fans. Especially when his bat was supposed to change the course of the game.

Even if things have been hard, manager Dave Roberts has always backed Conforto. “We’re not going to chase an .800 OPS, but I think that we can get better each day to help us win championships, so I’m clearly giving him runway,” he told the reporters. “For us, he’s just got to take good at-bats. I want him to be able to get hits, drive in runs.” It’s a sign of confidence, but it goes against the fans’ rising impatience. Fans, who care about every swing and pitch, have been quite vocal about their anger on social media.

Social media backlash: Michael Conforto on thin ice

Fans have always been enthusiastic, but the current performance has left them feeling both angry and confused. One user demanded, “DFA MICHAEL CONFORTO!” Two games and going hitless is not something on the cards, that too when every win matters. But with Roberts’ confidence in him, the question is, will they DFA him?

Another fan chimed in, asking for the same but with a solution. “Move Mookie back to RF and down the lineup. DFA Conforto and idk what to do with our bullpen tbh.” It’s not only Conforto who is struggling at the plate. Moved from RF to SS, Betts is having the worst career slump this season. He managed to hit only once in 4 at-bats on Tuesday. So, bringing him back to his original position at RF can be the solution to the offense? It’s Roberts’ decision.

However, for the bullpen, a suggestion came. “Dfa conforto Bring up Bobby Miller up for relief And hope for a miracle.” The relief corps faltered when it mattered most. After Ohtani’s ninth-inning home run gave the Dodgers a brief lead, Alex Vesia allowed the go-ahead run, resulting in a walk-off for the Angels in the tenth. Bobby Miller, a 26-year-old right-handed pitcher in Triple-A, has a fastball in the mid to high 90s and is improving as a relief pitcher, which could strengthen LA’s depth.

One comment read, “Conforto, Vesia, Sheehan, and Call need fired into the sun.”  The anger here isn’t only about the game. It’s also about the team’s poor performance. It’s not just one player; the whole team seems to be falling apart at the worst possible time.

And the frustration continued. “STILL GIVING CONFORTO STARTS EVERY DAY. THE BULLPEN CAN’T CLOSE OUT GAMES. THE OFFENSE IS SUPER STREAKY AND CAN’T DELIVER CLUTCH HITS. GET IT TOGETHER ALREADY!!” It’s a complete team fallout. Even Roberts knows it when he said, “We just got to play better baseball.”

The Boys in Blue need to show better baseball. And for Conforto, the next few weeks might determine not only the season but also how fans see him.