It’s pretty obvious to me what Andrew Friedman is doing. I was going to say “trying to do” but no, he is actually doing it. He has all but PROMISED the 2B job to Miguel Vargas, and he has four older guys (Taylor, Peralta, Heyward, and Thompson) fighting for two positions in the Outfield. I believe that he believed that introducing one rookie at a time was the way to go, but now James Outman has gone and screwed up that plan. One of those four outfielders might not make it out of Spring Training, and the other three may not see the end of the season. Yes, really!
Unless James Hitman (credit to Mushers’ Pop) tanks the last 15 games of the season, he has won the CF job. Full Stop! So, now Andrew Friedman has two (count ’em 2) rookies in the lineup. He really did not want to do that, but James Hitman is forcing him. Jason Heyward would be a “feel good” story, and man, he has worked hard this past Winter and Spring, but old habits are hard to break, and I do not see any consistency in his swing. He looks great in one swing and totally lost in the next one.
I do not believe in Trayce Thompson and do not believe he will survive the season… much less half the season. David Peralta will hit RH pitchers and could be traded at the deadline. We don’t know which Chris Taylor will show up this year, but if it is the Good CT3, he is very tradable. Do you see where I am going with this? By the All-Star break, CT3, Peralta, Heyward, and Thompson could all be gone. Teams will need help, and CT3 and David Peralta could ride to the rescue. The Dodgers could get some more low-level prospects for them. Heyward and Thompson could have no value, so they would be released.
What then? Well, Eric and Bradley think some big trades could be coming. I see some Big Hitters coming from the Farm. The Dodgers have several hitters who are close to ready and may be ready by mid-season, including Andy Pages, Mike Busch, Jonny DeLuca, and Eddys Leonard. Could this be the lineup after the All-Star Break?
- Betts RF
- Vargas 2B
- Freeman 1B
- Martinez DH
- Muncy 3B
- Smith C
- Outman CF
- Busch/Pages LF
- Rojas SS
Bring on the Kids! Screw the Luxury Tax!
… and then I woke up! It’s not a bad Idea!
News & Notes
- Cody Bellinger is hitting .174 this Spring for the Cubs with a .457 OPS! 0 HR, and 1 extra-base hit. Ouch!
- Edwin Rios is at .167 with 2 HR and 1 Triple.
- Gavin Lux’s surgery revealed Damage to his LCL and ACL, and Doc said, “It’s more than a strain.” This is not good news.
- Dave Roberts is changing his tune about JD Martinez playing LF. JDM made a nice running catch over the weekend, and it only makes sense to let him play LF to get Will Smith’s bat into the game more. I think he might play LF 10-15 times when a tough LHP is on the mound, allowing another RH bat (Smith) into the lineup. JDM says he likes to play LF and finished 2nd in Gold Glove voting once.
- Of course, JDM is hitting .172 as well… but…
If you want to read the story about RVS and Craig Wallenbrock and their work with JDM, here’s the link to a great piece written last week by Rowan Kavner on Fox Sports: https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/can-the-dodger-who-fixed-j-d-martinezs-swing-get-the-best-out-of-him-again
Peter Gammons who followed JD in Boston says this:
Discussion (18)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Edwin Diaz of the Mets. Their star closer was carried off of the field after suffering a knee injury. Not good for the Mets. What is worse is that he suffered the injury celebrating their win.
WBC claims another soul.
Tonight’s game rained out.
I didn’t realize that the guy who wrote the song in “Midnight Cowboy” (“Everybody’s Talking” sung by Nilsson) is the same guy who did one of my favorite songs ever: Fred Neil and “The Dolphins”
David Vassegh
@THEREAL_DV
Freddie Freeman said Opening Day is NOT in doubt #Dodgers
9:05 PM ET vs Rockies at Glendale
SP Austin Gomber L
0-0 .00 ERA
SP Clayton Kershaw L
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B M. Vargas R
LF Chris Taylor R
3B Max Muncy L
DH J. Martinez R
CF J. Heyward L
SS Miguel Rojas R
RF James Outman L
1B Devin Mann R
C P. Mazeika L
Rain
35% Rain
65° Wind 7 mph R-L
Dodgers moved on from Justin Turner and they very well could move on from Heyward. Both good teammates and good clubhouse guys.
Is $5MM enough payroll to retain in order to trade Taylor?
CF Outman
RF Betts
1B Freeman
C Smith
3B Muncy
DH Martinez
LF Thompson / Peralta
2B Vargas
SS Rojas
Dodgers renewed the contract of Michael Grove and did the same for Andrew Toles so he can continue to receive care.
Rojas will be the starting shortstop. Taylor will be the utility infielder and outfielder. Unless Hernandez makes the team then he is the utility infielder. Taylor will not be the starter at short unless Rojas gets injured. The only way Rojas doesn’t start is if the Dodgers trade for a starter.
Just for the record I don’t necessarily believe a big trade is coming for a position player. But that’s ok Mark.
I don’t think the Dodgers want to go that young like Mark talked about up top. But I do agree with Mark that Peralta, Heyward, Thompson are all on the bubble.
So I was thinking Outman in CF. Peralta (my guess of those 3) and Taylor platooning in LF. I was also thinking about a right handed bat (that hits LHP good) from the minors coming out of spring training that would make the team and platoon with Peralta to free Taylor to be the starting SS. I was thinking Deluca because Pages is considered a better prospect and the Dodgers probably want him to get at bats and wait to make sure he is ready since he has only completed AA and didn’t do very good there. But Deluca and Pages just got optioned the other day. So I think that plan has been delayed but eventually will happen.
So:
Start of the season:
Betts, Smith, Muncy, Martinez, Freeman in whatever order are 1-5. Outman is 6th. Vargas, Rojas, Peralta/Taylor platoon, in whatever order are 7-9.
Sometime later in the season Deluca (maybe Pages) is inserted in the platoon with Peralta, freeing Taylor to be the starting SS and Rojas goes back to the utility guy that the Dodgers got him for until Lux went down.
Later in the season:
Betts, Smith, Muncy, Martinez, Freeman in whatever order are 1-5. Outman is 6th. Vargas, Taylor, Peralta/DeLuca platoon (maybe Pages) in whatever order are 7-9.
I don’t think Busch (a LHB who didn’t do all that good in AAA) has an opening on the team, because LF needs a RHB and Busch will have to wait until next year.
Peralta hit RH pitching well last year (.778) and the Dodgers are paying him plenty. He’s in the plans. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Heyward/Thompson in center. Frankly I think Outman is a better choice than Peralta, but what do I know.
I’m still surprised, after seeing the side view of Lux’s injury, the PCL isn’t being mentioned. Whatever, it could take two years. I’d suggest he loses that twenty pounds he put on. I agree with whoever first said outfield may be a good place for him to begin his comeback.
Glad to see Freeman coming back to camp. Would rather see all of them back, moving at a different tempo toward Opening Day. I’ve read many believe playing is playing, but the pressures of the games at the WBC appear different than the games in Glendale.
That said, we are now only a few days away from the ST games meaning a lot more. Time for a few guys to start turning it up.
Freeman officially out of the WBC at the request of the Dodgers.
Can we never have a Dodger play in the WBC again please.
I wish they would just scrap the whole dadgum thing….
And yes I know guys can get hurt in ST as well, see Lux, but I just dont get the while WBC thing at all….
But Bellinger is coming off an injury (5 years ago!) and plays gold glove defense (not) and he’s only costing 20 mil
Not giving Outman the CF job is a dope fiend move. He’s a junkyard dog. 5 out of 4 people agree.
Note to Bradley. I could not answer your last post, but I do have a suggestion for you that will answer all of your questions about the pitch clock. Buy a baseball rules book. Rick Monday suggested that the other day on the broadcast. As with all new rules, the clock rule is going to be tweaked as it progresses. I am pretty sure they will set a limit as to how many pitch clock violations a pitcher can have before he gets the old heave ho.
Of those 4 players you mentioned above I like Jonny DeLuca. Pages has also looked good. He has a great arm. These kids are starting and playing 5 innings against starting pitchers. Usually the farm kids play the last 4 innings and batting against young pitchers. Hard to evaluate. The WBC has given these young kids an opportunity and they have taken advantage of the opportunity.
Right now Taylor looks like the 2022 version. Not good. Thompson is the one I do not think will make it. You are right. Peralta, Heywood and Taylor need to play well early or they will be gone. We could have 3-4 rookies playing by mid year. That will blow Friedman’s mind.
Bellinger actually hit a homer in a B game last week so it is not showing up on his stats. I saw the video. He creamed that pitch. Dansby Swanson is worse. He is hitting .053 this spring.