After a week of games, we see things happening and note who is doing what! If you are forming an opinion about certain players… keep forming! There are four more weeks. Some guys are working on certain aspects of their games and others are trying to “show out” in order to make the team. Sometimes the “plodders” win out… you just never know – have you ever heard the term “a flash in the pan?” Keep watching! Here are some things I am seeing, but it is by no means definitive or final:
- Of all the Rookies, James Outman is showing he may very well deserve to make the team… if he can keep it up! Not only is he hitting .375, and he is fielding like a madman, but it is early!
- JD Martinez – In Spring Training of 2019, JDM hit .200. He followed that up with 36 HR. 105 RBI, .304 BA and .940 OPS. Spring Training means very little, but it’s still early!
- Miguel Rojas showed a Classic Example of what putting the ball in play is about in the 3rd inning. With a runner on 2b with I out, he grounded to the second baseman, which moved the runner to 3B, with one out, but it’s still early!
- Don’t count out Yonny Hernandez making the team. He is very fast, a switch-hitter who can play all over the diamond and is only 24. He has very limited MLB experience, and maybe it is his time. Stay tuned. He is hitting .400, but it is still early!
- Devin Mann is another guy who can play all over the field and is starting to show his ability this Spring. He is on just about nobody’s radar. It’s still early!
- Miguel Vargas is taking to playing 2B, and has difficulty with balls hit to his backhand side, as one would expect from someone who has never played 2B. He is third on the team in OB%, although he has never swung at a pitch. I think he will start swinging soon, but it’s still early.
- Ryan Ward and Drew Avans look like they could be of assistance, but they have no shot at making the team… but it’s still early!
- Jason Heyward has shown he can play the outfield in three spots and has hit and played well, but it’s still early.
- Diego Cartaya shows that he has a high baseball IQ, and acts like it is his first Spring Training… but it’s still early.
- Mike Busch: Ditto, but it is still early!
- Trayce Thompson is someone who I do not think deserves to make the team (and he is showing that right about now), but it is still early!
- Andy Pages has lost 25 pounds, and it is apparent. However, he likely is a year away, but it is still early!
I think Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Will Smith, Miguel Rojas, Mookie Betts, Austin Barnes, Chris Taylor, David Peralta, and JD Martinez are fine. I think Miguel Vargas will make the team. That leaves just three spots open for Trayce Thompson, James Outman, Yonny Hernandez, and Jason Heyward. There are going to be some disappointed players and fans, and another player or two (Mike Busch, et al) could play their way into consideration.
Behind the scenes, Andrew Friedman and his minions are considering their options and what may or may not happen. Who will be available, and who won’t? Is Willy Adames an upgrade over Miguel Rojas… and at what price? Of course, Milwaukee isn’t trading him now unless Freidman wants to include Cartaya, Miller, and Vargas in the trade – then Milwaukee would jump at it because it would be a dope-fiend move on the Dodgers’ part.
The competition is going to be very interesting. It’s way too early to know who is going to make it.
Dodger News and Notes
- I have been wondering if the extra weight Gavin Lux put on was part of the reason his knee blew out. His ligaments were used to carrying 185 pounds (or whatever he was previously), and at 200 pounds, a ligament just popped. I would think that the weight had an effect.
- Thor might get his velocity back up to 96 or so, but he ain’t going to get back to 100. He is going to have to learn to pitch with what he has… and that’s where the Dodgers come in.
- It will be fun to watch Tony Gonsolin’s first start against Tyler Anderson. I wish Tyler well, except for today. I hope they beat him like a rented mule.
- Jason Heyward can play CF. Who knew
Discussion (15)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Goodnight!
That’s all, folks.
Obsessing about a SS who has a .260 Career BA is silly.
The Astros won the World Series with a SS who hit less than that.
Along with a CF’er who did the same.
And a catcher who hit .186.
Knock it off… it’s silly!
I hate to get the blow back Bear got, but he is right, Hernandez is not making the team.
1) Doc already said Taylor will play some SS. So there’s your backup SS.
2) With all the platoon guys the Dodgers are going to carry and Rojas shitty bat, Hernandez won’t be on the team.
As it stands right now without a trade these are the 13 position players: Martinez, Smith, Barnes, Freeman, Vargas, Rojas, Muncy, Betts, Outman, Peralta, Taylor, Heyward, Thompson.
Either Heyward or Thompson got lucky because Lux went down to injury. And those 2 are going to be on the bench. Outman is going to get his shot in CF and Peralta and Taylor will platoon in LF. Slight possibility it could be Heyward platooning with Taylor instead of Peralta.
The offense will not be as good as last year and the Dodgers will struggle against LHP.
With Joey Gallo batting, the Red Sox moved their left fielder to short right field. Wonder if other teams will do this against dead pull hitters (i.e., Max Muncy).
A couple of things. A. I believe Martinez can easily return to the 30-homer level. The one thing that derails the Dodgers from having more players hit 30 or 40 is the heavy marine layer in LA in April and May. At least at home. Once it warms up, balls fly out of Dodger Stadium. I think the home run seats help that. B. Outman needs to play every day. Will he get that chance in LA? Maybe. But I believe also that the only guy who plays every day is going to be Freeman with maybe 3 or 4 games off all year. C. Heyward has at this point in spring, an excellent chance of making the team. At whose expense remains to be seen. Peralta is a lock. D. I think anyone who believes Hernandez has a snowball’s chance in hell of making this team is delusional. No power, better than average glove. He is versatile, and capable of some very good plays in the field. But he also can do what he did yesterday and airmail a throw into the next time zone and cost you some runs. Not a need at this point. They need a solid bench, and right now I see the bench as a very iffy proposition.
Did you guys see the Dodgers new top 30 prospects list that came out today on dodgers.com
Caleb Ferguson has apparently gained couple of ticks on his fastball and has “more life on his pitches.”
We haven’t really talked about the potential bullpen pieces, but I’m impressed with the potential of this year’s bullpen.
While I have my doubts about Outman, I think that it makes more sense to see if he has what it takes than it does to play washed up veterans like Heyward and Peralta. If Outman can hit .240 with power and can play good CF, that’s more than they are going to get from either one of the old guys.
If he can’t, then they will know and they can go to plan B.
It’s risky to put so much pressure on two rookies at once (Vargas and Outman), but I think that this is a transitional year for the Dodgers and they have to find out if the prospects are for real or are fool’s gold anyway.
3:10 PM ET vs Angels
SP Tony Gonsolin R
0-0 .00 ERA
SP Tyler Anderson L
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
SS Chris Taylor R
C A. Barnes R
3B Max Muncy L
DH J. Martinez R
CF T. Thompson R
LF D. Peralta L
RF Jonny DeLuca R
Clear-day
0% Rain
55° Wind 3 mph L-R
Again, I like Outman and he should be given every opportunity to start . I’m not certain that Heyward turns it around. I hope he does. But he has struggled for years. Defensively, he has always been pretty good. But the bat … we’ll see.
Obviously, Miguel Vargas is the guy that everyone believes will be a star. I’m exited to see how this plays out.
Apparently, the Padres are working to extend both Soto and Hader. Where exactly are they getting all this money? San Diego’s payroll may be headed for $300 million. It will be interesting to see where all this goes. You can understand why season ticket sales are soaring down south.
Mark
You listed Chris Taylor twice up top. So you have 3 spots open. Which means Outman makes the team. Because they are not carrying all 3 others.
Even if Lux didn’t go down he would have made the team.
I heard a rumor there looking at Amer Rosario seriously from the Guardians because he will be a free agent at the end of this year. So the Guardians have shortstops in the minors ready so that could be on possibility to watch. The expectations of Rosario are about what Lux would have produced. The Dodgers then could sign him at then end of the years and have there shortstop for the next couple of years. They say Rosorio is only 29. That I could see. Then next year Lux goes back to second base . Then Vargas to third base. And Muncy to the DH position for 2024. And you get Rojas as your utility infielder. This could be possible at the trade deadline like the Machado deal was.
Pretty cool!
https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/tommy-lasorda-i-5-freeway-dedication-to-honor-the-late-dodger-great/
Outman needs to start.
So far Heywood looks much better at the plate than I expected. And it really helps his cause if he can play CF. And I dont think it helps Thompson’s case playing in the WBC. I think Outman will have to significantly beat out Thompson to make the team. It can’t be close. But it’s still early!