Sunday School: A Realistic Look at the 2023 Dodgers

It’s time for some Sunday School, Boys, and Girls, and I have a few observations, including what the Dodgers need to do for a SS, CF’er, and a six-man rotation in 2023. It’s time for some Sunday School Education.

1. JD Martinez: The fact that the Dodgers signed J..D. Martinez means two things: (1) Max Muncy will play 3B while JD plays his best position – DH; and when Muncy DH’s Miguel Vargas plays 3B, but otherwise, he will be in LF. I doubt that J.D. plays the field much… if at all. I have heard from multiple sources that Justin Turner was susceptible to the fastball last year, and they expect it to get worse this year as he will be fed a steady diet of them. JDM has a close relationship with RVS, and while JD is no longer the slugger he used to be, I think RVS helps him have a stellar season.
2. Gavin Lux: I think he is ready to break out as a 2B. He should lead off and use that speed. He could be an All-Star. Friedman will not let him play SS. That could derail his whole career. Watch and learn. Someone else will play SS… not Gavin. I’ll tell you who shortly.
3. Miguel Vargas: He could play 3B or LF. If the Dodgers just let Miguel learn LF, he will be fine and in the running for ROY.
4. Brett Anderson: He wants to come back, and I would endorse it (but not to the Dodgers) because if Trevor Bauer is re-instated, I’d love to see him bitchslap that fat ^%$*# all over the field.
5. Dustin May: Why do so many of you look at last year and think his troubles in coming back will just continue? He missed over a year! He was rusty! He is young. That is typical! Give him Spring Training and some games into the season, and he will be fine. I see 12 wins and a 3.20 ERA.
6. Thor: I see a guy who wants to resurrect his career. he was OK (merely) last season. He does not need to throw 98 to be successful – he needs to learn to pitch better (maybe a new pitch), and the Dodgers are the ones to teach him that. I predict 18 wins and a 2.70 ERA. He is going to win a lot of games slotted at #5.
7. Tony Gonsolin: Unless he is really injured, I expect the same kind of season as last year. He’s not a workhorse, but especially with an aging Kershaw in the rotation, I could see him flourishing in a six-man starting staff. I don’t know what Urias would think about that. Maybe six days would keep Clayton healthy all season. I think it has to be a consideration. I would look for the six-man rotation by May.
8. Dansby Swanson: I got the feeling the Dodgers thought Dansby was a nice player and would have signed him for something that amounted to stealing him, but now he is a Cub. If anyone thought Friedman was going to give up picks and International SB Money, they were greatly mistaken! He is building for the future every day!
9. Chris Taylor: The Dodgers could do worse than have CT3 at SS. He was coming off elbow surgery last year, and without the shift, I look for him to have a better year offensively. He’s not Ozzie Smith, but he’s solid and has a good arm that should be better a year removed from surgery. Let’s not forget that in 2021 CT3 had 507 ABs (that’s “Regular Status”) with 20 HR, and 13 SBs (caught once), with a .254 BA and .344 OB%. Why could his bad year in 2022 not be related to his elbow surgery and rehab? The more I think about it, the more I see CT3 as the SS in 2023. CT3 would be a solid choice at SS. Lux might be Gold Glove at 2B, Freeman is close at 1B, and CT3 ain’t a chump. Max Muncy is merely average. I can live with that.
10. Trevor Bauer: I heard from what I consider a reliable source that Trevor Bauer will have his entire suspension overturned and here is something as ridiculous as it sounds, the Dodgers will be on the hook for all his salary- even though he was not playing. That does not seem right to me, and the Dodgers may file a Grievance. However, that is part of the reason the Dodgers have been quiet. We shall see if my source is reliable.

From Chris Taylor’s own lips: “I would love to play short and center, (but) haven’t even had that conversation or thought about it at this point. We’re still early in the offseason. A lot can happen. Shortstop always has been my favorite position, so that would be exciting if I got to play some shortstop. And outfield is outfield to me. Left field, center, right, it’s kind of all the same.”

Look at this lineup and my projections:

1. Lux 2B – .290 – 14 HR – 30- SB
2. Betts RF – 290 – 35 HR – 18 SB
3. Freeman 1B – .310 – 25 HR
4. Smith C – .275 – 30 HR
5. Muncy 3B – .255 – 35 HR (this is what Muncy usually does… what’s not to like about that? )
6. Martinez DH – .290 – 20 HR/35 DBL
7. Vargas LF – 275 – 20 HR 15 SB
8. Taylor SS – .260 – 18 HR 20 SB
9. Outman/Thompson CF (combined) – .240 BA – 25 HR – 25 SB

I would argue that the above lineup could very well be better than the 2022 lineup!

The Dodgers re-set the Luxury Tax and are getting ready for three more years of driving it up. The bench consists of Barnes, Hernandez, Amaya, Outman (or Thompson, depending on the day), and another player, like Busch, Vivas, or Leonard. The numbers I have assigned are aggressive but not crazy. I think Miguel Vargas can get out of bed and hit .275. Muncy and CT3 are healthy – they will both do better. Will Smith and Gavin Lux will keep growing, and the Dodger’s six-man rotation may be the best in baseball.

The Dodgers might look at Bryan Reynolds (or Michael A Taylor), but I think they try “in-house options first.” Notice I have not even mentioned Jason Heyward? I expect nothing, but you never know. We saw what happened with Matt Kemp for a half-season when everyone thought he was done. Kemp was never as fit as Heyward, so we just have to wait and see.

A lot of things would have to go right, but I can still see this team beating the Padres… again!