The Thot Plickens

Not at all, he is adjusting to the American ball, larger than the Japanese version and without the stuff on the ball that allows you to grip it better. He was also working on a new position of his hands when he is in the stretch. I am sure when the games have meaning, he will be the kind of pitcher they expect him to be. Talent like that does not just disappear. I never worry about spring performances. That is why it cracks me up to see people losing their minds about Lux’s troubles. Muncy has lost 10 pounds battling his illness. Reports now say, Buehler should be ready by May. Too small a sample size to get worried about anything. Don’t leave it all in spring training, old baseball saying. We got snow again this morning.

Is anyone here concerned at Yamamota’s last two Spring Training outings. He looked very hittable on his first pitches to the batters at yesterday’s game against Seattle. Batters weren’t waiting for deep counts and his unhittable splitter. Adjustments will have to be made.

Graterol is going to open the season on the IL along with Sheehan. Opens up a spot in the bullpen.

Reliever Blake Treinen threw 15 pitches in a bullpen session on Wednesday, four days after experiencing a bruised lung from a line drive to the ribs in a game against the Rangers. Roberts said Treinen felt “residual soreness” but expects for him to travel with the team to Seoul.

Good to see the Dodgers do the right thing:

(I am withholding commentary about how sad it is that the Dodgers need to do this in order to facilitate medical attention for Toles)

My immediate reaction to Cease and the Pads. I am glad it wasn’t Texas. With the Padre staff, Arizona staff, and Webb in San Francisco the Dodgers will have to earn their division championship. They need to face the best. The Padres definitely have talent but depth will come into play.

ChiSox just traded Dylan Cease to the Padres.

Huge move!

Maybe things just need to settle down for a while.

So Kirsten interviews Lux and he says he’s getting used to playing second base again because most of his reps the last two years have been a short. What a blatant lie. Kind of lost a little respect there with that statement. He didn’t play last year and the year before he pretty much only played second.

By the All-Star Break:

1. Betts – 2B

2. Ohtani – DH

3. Freeman – 1B

4. Teoscar – LF

5. Muncy – 3B

6. Smith – C

7. Outman/Hernandez CF

8. Pages/Heyward RF

9. McLain SS

Or, let’s see how Lux does at 2B.

For the record, I agree with dodgerpatch in his post, 3 posts above this one about Vargas.

Also for the record, I don’t think the Dodgers need to make any trades. Lux will be fine at 2B. He’ll at least get a little better than he is right now at 2B and that’s all the Dodgers need out of him. If he gets a lot better then that’s icing on the cake.

Mark, I finally caught on about what you’re doing wanting to trade Lux or Rojas for that matter. It opens a spot for Vargas to play 2B.

I don’t understand all the worry about the defense. How many errors can happen that cost games. Don’t you guys think that the Dodgers have enough good hitting and pitching to compensate if there is actually a need to compensate for the defense?

There’s going to be a lot more blowout games that the Dodgers are going to win during the season than normal. The Dodgers are going to win their division running away with it. What’s the problem with the defense in that scenario? As for the playoffs, there’s still enough good pitching in good hitting to compensate. I’m really excited about the Dodgers chances for a championship.

I have always said that Lux deserved a shot at the SS job.

I don’t think AF would have given him the opportunity last year if he thought he was physically incapable of playing the position (lacks the arm strength, ect).

Well, he got his shot. And while it wasn’t much of one, he didn’t make the best of his opportunity. And I agree that it is a mental issue. Mechanics can be corrected relatively easily. The YIPS, not so much.

All the trade talk is premature. One, the Dodgers will give a Mookie/Gavin SS/2b combo a legit shot. If it works, it may be our middle infield for the remainder of the season. Two, AF doesn’t sell low. Lux’s trade value has cratered over the last two weeks. If Lux can show the ability to play a decent 2b and hit like we all know he can, that would bring a much better return going into the trade deadline. Trading him now would bring limited value in return. If this shuffling of the infield doesn’t work out so well, the deadline will be where it will be corrected. I don’t think a below average middle infield will impact the Dodgers to the point where they won’t run away with the West. However, that bird won’t sing in the post season. With Kershaw and Walker coming back, the Dodgers could have a substantial log jam of starting pitching, baring a 2023 type injury storm. That could make for a lot of trade capital to acquire a potential star SS at the deadline. Or fill other issues that may arise. This is only spring training. AF isn’t going to make any rash moves.

To say the responses here have been knee jerk is an insult to involuntary reflexes.

You’re right. Let’s include Lux in a trade package for players that aren’t available because how a player performs in Spring training is really important.

Apparently it’s much more important than the fact that Lux played 2nd base for the entirety of the 2022 season just fine, but this Spring training proves that Lux isn’t very good at playing baseball and should just quit and sell commercial real estate or something.

A trade for McClain? Sure. Maybe we can trade Vargas to the Diamondbacks for Corbin Carroll.

Actually, now is really the time to unload Vargas if the Dodgers are wise. His value is only going to go down. He has not proven himself an offensive MLB player, and can’t play defense at any position. He’s a skinner Willy Calhoun.

Padres now talking with Sox about Cease. Yanks lose Cole for 1-2 months.

This is a good article to bookmark for the end of the year. Glasnow certainly looked like an ace yesterday, but after two good spring training starts, it may be a little premature to proclaim him the unquestioned ace. I would like to see him pitch a regular season game with the Dodgers or pitch over 120 innings in a season first. And Teoscar is a top 10 MVP finisher? I will take the over on that one.

Bill Plunkett had a good article on Walker Buehler today. Plunkett surmises that the Dodgers gave Glasnow the extension that would have gone to Buehler if not for injury. Buehler is a homegrown Dodger who just wants to be a great pitcher and win. He seems to love being a Dodger but understands it is a business. I hope that Walker regains his form and becomes the ace of the Dodgers staff again.

4:05 PM ET vs Mariners at Glendale

Mariners 5-12

Dodgers 13-4-1

SP Casey Lawrence R

0-0 .00 ERA

SP Y. Yamamoto R

0-0 .00 ERA

Confirmed Lineup

SS Mookie Betts R

DH S. Ohtani L

1B F. Freeman L

C Will Smith R

RF J. Heyward L

LF Chris Taylor R

CF James Outman L

2B Gavin Lux L

3B Chris Owings R

73° Wind 11 mph Out

This situation doesn’t make any sense. With an INF of Muncy, Betts, and Lux, they are weak defensively at 3 positions. This is not a championship INF.

As smart as the Dodgers’ front office is, they must have foreseen the possibility that Lux couldn’t handle the starting SS job. I guess that’s why they have Rojas, Taylor, and Hernandez?

Lux is a so-so offensive player so far in his brief major league career. He had an OPS+ of 109 in his one full season, 2022.

Here’s what Steve Buckley of The Athletic had to say:

“It doesn’t make sense that the Dodgers would work so hard to assemble a powerhouse team for 2024, highlighted by the 10-year, $700 million contract that inspired Shohei Ohtani to make the move from Anaheim to Los Angeles, and then decide, after spring training begins, they don’t have a shortstop.”

And “The way it’s supposed to work: Aging shortstops move to another position, not the other way around. Ernie Banks moved to first base. Robin Yount moved to center field. Cal Ripken Jr. moved to third. Rico Petrocelli was the shortstop for the pennant-winning 1967 Boston Red Sox and the third baseman for the 1975 pennant-winning Red Sox. John Valentin moved to second base during spring training in 1997 so the Red Sox could make Nomar Garciaparra their shortstop.”

And Betts is a 10 year veteran and is 31 years old. How will his body hold up?

There’s an easy solution – play Rojas most days at SS – the Dodgers have plenty of offense and can carry one bad hitter. Either move Betts to 2B and leave Hayward in RF, or move Betts back to RF and Lux to 2B.

1. I really do not believe the Dodgers will keep Mookie at SS all year.

2. I do not have a lot of hope that Gavin Lux can overcome his throwing problems.

3. I think the window has closed for Adames as Lux has no place to play for the Brewers.

4. De La Cruz is currently the Reds SS.

5. The Reds have India and McLain for 2B and could trade one. McLain can play SS, while India is a 2B only.

6. The Reds need pitching.

7. Maybe AF can move Lux in a 3-way deal to a team that needs a speedy LF’er. I think he has to change positions or move Lux to LF.

8. How about Knack & Sheehan and another reliever to the Reds for McLain? Shoot, I’d throw in Rushing to get an SS like McLain, who has five years of control.

McLain would be a huge get but that’s a lot of moving parts to make it work. Lux does need to go for his own sake so let’s see what Af can pull off after getting back from Korea.

The Orioles have an embarrassment of riches in terms of infield prospects and could end up being a natural trade partner given the Dodgers pitching depth.

“A trade to a team that needs a second baseman or shortstop could allow Westburg to have more success in the majors and clear a path for Mayo if he wins the starting job. A prospect of Westburg’s caliber would likely bring in the biggest return to either strengthen the pitching staff or replenish the prospect pool that they’ve begun to dip into.“

Right on cue, BILL PLASCHKE blasts the Dodgers for moving Mookie:

I said all Winter that I did not believe Friedman really believed Lux could play SS, but it looks like he did.

What about trading some pitching and catching prospect talent for some infield prospect talent? I know it’s not done much but why not?

The Dylan Campbell highlights are really impressive… even if he did misplay another ball out there.

What level will he be at this season?

Nice to have some more prospects to follow.

We are woefully thin on infield prospect hopes. Overall a lot of pitching and catching talent at the expense of other positional players. We need either Vargas or Pages stepping up to grab one of those OF spots next year.

love tyhe McClain idea. make the call Mark! Glasnow looked magnificent yesterday. lineup could be deadly except for days barnes is playing. i’m beginning to think mookie shouldn’t be shortstop every day. a trade is inevitable.