“It”

That is what James Outman has: “IT!” With his arm, last night, he threw out a runner at the plate, and both of his home runs were “key” to the Dodger’s victory over the Cubs… especially his Grand Slam. “IT” is something that is not definable, and yet it is something that allows the person to see things in slow motion, slow their heartbeat, and seize the moment. It appears to me that no stage is too big for JO. It’s still a small sampling, but you cannot argue with the results. Major League Pitchers will be trying to figure out his weaknesses and he will have to compensate, but right about now, he has to play every day!

When he was called up last year and hit a HR in his first at-bat, we took notice, but after four games, he was sent back down. Some people wondered why he was not called back up later in the season. Well, this is baseball. Some players get “lucky” and then fade away like “Super Joe” Carboneau, who was the Rookie of the Year in 1980, hitting .289 with 23 HR, only to face into oblivion the next year, and he was gone a year later. Novices are impressed with instant success, but baseball people are more calculated. It takes time to show you have “it” and maybe I am jumping the gun, but I have seen James Outman rise to the occasion on at least 6-8 times already.

I see a pattern, and it leads me to believe that he is “Big Games James.” James has had very few at-bats against LHP in the MLB, but is hitting .429 against them (.260 vs. RHP) this season. James has earned a spot to play every day, whether that be in CF or RF (if Mookie goes to SS). This changes everything and then add in that David Peralta is warming up and Miguel Vargas Thumb is looking better and this team may be a force to be reckoned with. Patience Grasshoppers!

Mookie Betts – SS

Those of you who don’t think Mookie can play SS forget that when he was drafted, he was a SS. Last night, he was able to show off his skills, and there is no doubt in my mind that he can play the position… at an All-Star Level.