Who Thinks Brian Doizer Will Platoon?

It has been reported that Dave Roberts told Brain Dozier he would not play everyday… and in the truest sense of the word, that may be true. He may get a day off now and again, but there’s no way Doc is not writing his name in permanent marker on the lineup card.  Where he hits in the order is the only thing up for debate.  You can make a case for hitting him in any one of the top five spots, but he will be there everyday.

Last night, Dodger fans got a little glimpse of what he can do when it all clicks. Last year, after the All-Star Break, Mike Trout hit .285 with a .429 OB%. He had 17 HR and OPS’ed .981.  Brian Dozier, in that same span hit .304 with a .394 OB%, to go with 21 HR and a .985 OPS.  He essentially did the same in 2016.  Brian Dozier is a clutch player – in a small sampling he has also excelled in the playoffs, OPS’ing 1.850.

Yopu can say that “these guys are pros – they play at the highest level every day.”  That would be true if they were machines, but they are only human, and suddenly, when you are traded from a dismal team to a team with a chance of winning it all, most players have a heightened sense of purpose.  J.D. Martinez is a prime example when he got traded from Detroit to the D-Bags.  He hit .302 with a .366 OB% with 29 HR and a 1.107 OPS!  I believe Brian Dozier is of that ilk as well.

Brian Dozier is the Dodgers’ starting 2B – PERIOD!  There is no platoon… at least, there better not be.  Max Muncy, Chris Taylor and Kike Hernandez will have to accept less AB’s, because the new Dodgers’ infield is very good defensively with Bellinger at 1B, Dozier at 2B, Manny at SS and JT at 3B.  I don’t care what the defensive metrics say – Manny can play a very good SS. He is not speedy, but neither is Corey Seager.  I would be fine with Manny as SS next year, but where does Dozier fit in?  The options blow my mind.

Max Muncy can spell Cody, Brian and JT as well as pinch hit to keep fresh, but as a L-R DH in the Post-Season, it will be hard to beat a Duo of Muncy and Hernandez at that position. They already have 41 HR between them!

Yasmani Grandal is locked in.  Among all catchers in baseball, only JT Realmuto is better!Right here, right now, Yasmani is the #2 catcher in the game.  “yeah, but he will slump as usual.”  Maybe – Maybe not! This is 2018, not 2017.  Sometimes history repeats itself… somtimes it doesn’t.

Even after last night, I am beginning to trust Scott Alexander – his pitches move like crazy – he just has to watch the walks. I see progress, but the bullpen will look entirely different in the playoffs.  This 2018 Dodger team is built for that.  So far, I have been impressed with Floro as well.

The big Question is: Turner and Axford will be activated soon – who goes down or on the DL?

Options (pick 2):

• Chase Utley to the DL due to old age.
• Hudson, Goddel, Chargois, Floro or El Gasolino to AAA.

Remember when I said the Cueto signing was a bad deal?  Well, he has misssed most of this year and will miss next year before coming back at 34 years old. Orel said it best:  “It’s not smart to give long-term contracts to people who throw a ball for a living.” True That!

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill