With eight more days left in Spring Training, all thirteen (13) of the position players are set (barring injury). There is nothing left to decide. Here’s the list:
- Will Smith
- Max Muncy
- Gavin Lux
- Corey Seager
- Justin Turner
- AJ Pollock
- Cody Bellinger
- Mookie Betts
- Chris Taylor
- Austin Barnes
- Edwin Rios
- Zach McKinstry
- Matt Beaty
Noisy and Peters may be back in the heat of summer when a fan (I mean a fan to keep us cool) is really necessary. They remind me of Alfredo Griffin.
Well, maybe not as bad, but man-o-man, do they swing and miss!
So the hitting and fielding side of the team is set in stone. Can you blame anyone for not really being motivated? Nothing at this point means anything to a veteran player… or even Zach McKinstry who has already made the team.
The Pitching Staff
The same is true with the pitching staff – again barring injury. Look, if you think May and/or Gonsolin are going to AAA, I do not think you are thinking this through. They were both good enough to pitch in the World Series and if so, they are both ready to contribute this year. If they have to pitch out of the pen and get a spot start occasionally, then so be it! Here’s how I see the pitching staff:
- Kershaw
- Bauer
- Buehler (even though he got bombed yesterday)
- Urias
- Price
- Nelson
- May
- Gonsolin
- Gonzalez
- Treinen
- Knebel
- Jansen
- Alexander
I have Alexander getting the last roster spot over Santana, but that could change over the next week. The 13th roster spot is the only question mark. That’s it! It is all set. The pitchers are lined up to set ’em up and mow them down. Clearly, Bauer on Monday and Buehler on Tuesday had little focus. These are the Dog Daze! No urgency and no purpose! Once a roster has been set… and this roster is indeed SET, it’s only human to lose focus. These are truly the Dog Daze! Let’s hope they are of the Junkyard variety!
The Batting Order
I am not hung up on where everyone needs to bat. Someone talked about how dumb it was to bat Muncy leadoff last year. I would not hit him there, but it is not “dumb.” You want your leadoff hitter to get on base and Max Muncy has a .391 and .374 OB% in 2018 and 2019. Last year, he had an “off-year” at .331, but I think he will comeback and have his normal year. Managers do things for reasons we do not know. So, I am OK with experimentation.
Ultimately Doc made the right choice and put Mookie at leadoff and Corey at #2. I think it’s possible that as the year goes on, Mookie could drop to #2, with Gavin Lux taking over the leadoff spot. Gavin is faster and, if he can keep up his hitting and OB%, this would allow Mookie to move to #2 with Corey Seager at #3. It won’t happen yet… but it could happen. What about this:
- Lux 2B (L)
- Betts RF (R)
- Seager SS (L)
- Bellinger CF (L)
- Turner 3B (R)
- Muncy 1B (L)
- Smith C (R)
- Pollock LF (R)
AJ Pollock would hit 4-5-6 on most teams. I have not been a huge fan of the acquisition, but I think he might have a “season for the ages” in 2021! I am also starting to have more confidence in Gavin Lux!
Vacation
The first week of April, we are headed to Naples, Florida with the family including our six granddaughters. My newest granddaughter will be 6 months old then and my daughter turns 40 on April 7th. We rented a huge Air-B & B on the Ocean and plan to have a blast. I may be incommunicado for a few days then.
I agree with you Mark. I think you nailed the roster pretty good. I am not worried about bad outings by veteran players unless they are end of the roster guys. Tatis has a shoulder problem and so does Freeland, the Rockies starting pitcher. Not good for either team if those guys have more than just an aching shoulder. Weather in Denver around the 1st is supposed to be nice. But not at night.
Bad outings is one thing. A decisive drop in velo as witnessed with Buehler and CK and KJ is something to worry about.
Espeically WB lives off of his velo. He cosistently is only at 93-94 while he averaged 96,4 last season. That is a huge dropoff.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a great trip Mark and enjoy the family!
If Lux finds his way to lead-off then why not move Smith up as well.
Lux 2B (L)
Betts RF (R)
Seager SS (L)
Smith C (R)
Bellinger CF (L)
Turner 3B (R)
Muncy 1B (L)
Pollock LF (R)
I keep reminding myself of Jeff’s article yesterday. Spring training stats don’t matter. Because right now our big three starters are only making the all star festivities if they’re throwing in the home run derby contest! And how can your number 4 bat not even be a full time starter?
The DH would help with that #4 spot.
If it ain’t broke…
Getting on base is the key for leading off. If Lux can prove himself at the bottom of the lineup, maybe he gets a shot at the top. But clearly Mookie thrives in the role, and I’d want to keep him happy. (If Roberts wants Lux to bat in front of Mookie rather than the pitcher, he could bat him 9th in a “second leadoff” role.)
I’m struck by how, except for Nelson’s impressive return, the ups and down of Spring end with no real surprises. Lux looks fine, and McKinstry succeeds Kike–as expected. Despite flashes of talent, nobody beats out Rios or Beatty. Rooting for health, but also for Peters, Neuse, Ruiz and others to have a chance to prove themselves at Dodger Stadium.
This is how the season will begin:
1 CK22
2 Buehler
3 Bauer
4 Urias
5 Gonsolin
6 Nelson
7 May
8 VGon (L)
9 Price (L)
10 Knebel
11 Treinen
12 Jansen
13 SANTANA
The bullpen will be good in the playoffs as long as the starting pitching is good. That is a quote from me that you can take to the bank.
I know it’s just spring training, but the Dodgers have 4 starting pitchers with an OPS higher than .700 right now. and all 4 are probably counted on being the 4 starters in the playoffs.
Price .730 OPS
Bauer .819 OPS
Kershaw 1.018 OPS
Buehler 1.031 OPS
The key to the bullpen in the playoffs is going to be in my opinion 3 guys, Urias, Gonsolin, Gonzalez. If Doc has to count on any of those 3 guys to be starters in the playoffs, because those 4 starters above are not doing their job, the bullpen will be weaker in the playoffs.
Let’s just hope those 4 starters are just working on stuff while it’s spring training and not something that’s going to spill over into the regular season and playoffs.
Gonzalez as a starter?
Much more likely to be May or Nelson.
Yeah I know. I didn’t mean Gonzalez, just Urias and Gonsolin. I’m counting on those 3 in the bullpen in the playoffs. The others in the bullpen have their flaws, some more than others, or some barely have flaws and others have more. But those 3 are good against both sides of the plate and that’s why if all 3 can be in the bullpen come playoff time we are in good shape. It all depends on Kershaw, Buehler, Bauer, Price. And if it’s not Price starting I hope it’s May starting.
I heard this somewhere:
Spring Training Stats mean very little… maybe nothing!
Santana? I don’t think so.
Only one lefty in the bullpen? I don’t think so.
I think DH has Price as the second lefty
DODGERS ANNOUNCE UPDATED POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR DODGER STADIUM TO START 2021 SEASON
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today launched their Fan Safety Portal at Dodgers.com/FanSafety with updated policies and procedures for games at Dodger Stadium to start the 2021 season. The portal will be updated as more protocols are finalized.
The following protocols will be implemented for the start of 2021 season and were created to comply with local and state regulations and after consultation with Major League Baseball:
• Tickets:
o All tickets will be issued digitally and scanned at stadium entrances from mobile devices. All game tickets will be delivered via the MLB Ballpark app, ensuring a touchless entry.
o Dodger Stadium’s available capacity will be determined by California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy reopening framework, with 20% capacity permitted in the Red tier, 33% in the Orange tier and 67% in the Yellow tier.
• Distancing:
o Fans will be seated in physically distanced pods of two, three, four, five or six seats.
o The Dodgers will encourage social distancing at all times at Dodger Stadium with capacity limited in elevators, restrooms and indoor areas. Fans should refrain from congregating on the concourse, where signage and floor markers will indicate six feet of separation. Unused seats will be zip tied and stanchions will be placed in higher trafficked areas to promote separation.
• Promoting a contactless experience:
o Only clear bags will be permitted with a maximum size of 12”x12”x6” – the size of a one-gallon freezer bag. Bags, backpacks, coolers, large purses, etc., are no longer permitted with the exception of bags carried for medical reasons or manufactured diaper bags that accompany infants and young children.
o All purchases in the ballpark will be contactless and cashless. The team has installed cash-to-card kiosks throughout Dodger Stadium to assist with the transition to cashless transactions. Cash-to-card kiosks will accept cash and add value to a Mastercard debit cash card, which can be used at Dodger Stadium or anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
o Parking must be purchased in advance to reduce contact for fans and employees.
• Face Coverings: Appropriate face coverings will be required for all fans ages two (2) and above, unless fans are eating or drinking in their ticketed seats. Neck gaiters, bandanas and masks with valves are not considered appropriate face coverings.
• Smoke-free Dodger Stadium: Dodger Stadium and its surrounding parking lots are now smoke free, including prohibiting the use of electronic cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products on Dodger Stadium property.
• Enhanced cleaning, sanitization and hygiene: Dodger Stadium will engage in best practices in cleaning, sanitization and hygiene. Hand sanitizing stations have been added through the ballpark and additional staff will be on-site for cleaning high-touch areas throughout events. All bathrooms have been modified to reduce capacity and will utilize touchless soap and towel dispensers. Plexiglass dividers have also been added to information kiosks and other areas of interaction.
• Parking and stadium gates: With reduced capacity, parking lots will open 1.5 hours prior to the game and stadium gates will open one hour before first pitch.
Procedures for ordering food and beverage will be announced at a later date.
Following the completion of the re-seating process for Season Ticket Members, single-game tickets are expected to go on sale at a to-be-determined date later this month. Through Sunday (March 28), fans are invited to register for the opportunity to purchase limited Opening Day ticket pods at Dodgers.com/OpeningDay.
A modest proposal.
Dodgers could give away lovely Dodger Blue masks to every fan during the opening week, or longer. Not that expensive, and it would send convey two great messages.