I see similarities between Jason Heyward and players like Tyler Anderson, Andrew Heaney, Thor, JDM, and others. Anderson and Heaney came to the Dodgers hoping that the Dodgers could “fix” them. JDM didn’t come to the Dodgers to get “fixed…” maybe to get better, but in the past, he did work with Robert Van Socyoc, who is now the Dodgers’ hitting coach and credits RVS with making his career!. The key here with all of these players is that they wanted to come to the Dodgers. JDM wants to come and get re-united with RVS, and even though it is late in Jason Heywards’ career, he wanted to move to the Dodgers at Freddie Freeman’s behest and the opportunity to work with RVS, Freddie, and JDM. By all accounts, JDM is revered as a player, a great locker room guy, and another hitting coach. I am not predicting that Jason will be the Comeback Player of the Year… or even make the team, but it could happen, and it would be a great story for one of the Good Guys in all of baseball.
Jason Heyward’s career Batting Average is .257, and his career OB% is .339. That’s serviceable – especially when you consider he plays “Elite Defense.” However, if you take a closer look, you will see that he had two “elite” years:
- 2010 – 623 PA/29 DBL/18 HR/72 RBI/91 BB/.277 BA/.393 OB%/.849 OPS
- 2012 – 651 PA/30 DBL/27 HR/82 RBI/58 BB/.269 BA/.335 OB%/.814 OPS
Something happened after that. Jason had a couple more great years. He has 5 Gold Gloves, but his career (in general) was a disappointment. In 2015, he stole 23 bases and was caught just three times. In 2020 he OPS’ed .848. and in 2019, he hit 21 HR with .343 OB%. He is a tremendous athlete, a great person, and a wonderful teammate, but none of that matters if he can’t play. I’m hoping that he can! Wouldn’t it be something if the Dodgers (RVS, Freeman, and JDM) could resurrect Jason Heyward’s career? It could happen… I am just not betting on it. However, Jason Heyward would look great in LF. I could see a platoon with CT3 there. The odds are long that Heyward makes the team, but it’s a storyline we are all following.
Trayce Thompson and the Rest of the Junkyard Dogs
I loved the Trayce Thompson story last season. What a great story! However, I have a caveat for you: In 12 years in the minors, in a season where he has had more than 200 ABs, last year’s .256 BA is his highest batting average EVER in the Majors or Minors, and he struck out 42% of the time. He will be 32 during Spring Training, and while I hope this is a “feel-good story,” I cannot see how it is sustainable. I will be rooting for him, and if the Dodgers elect to put Lux at SS, I will be rooting for him as well. I just cannot predict success for Trayce, but I hope for it!
Non-Roster & Rookie Junkyard Dog Invitees
Steven Dugger and Bradley Zimmer are AAA Depth. There’s not much chance they will make the team. It’s possible but highly unlikely. If either one makes the team, there has been a problem or injuries. Yonny Hernandez is very fast and very good on defense at just about any position, but the scouting report on him is that he has a “slow bat.” Sometimes you can fix a slow bat, but most times, you can’t. That is Kody Hoese’s problem. Allegedly, Edwin Rios suffers from that affliction. It’s strange no one has picked Rios up… I guess it is possible he returns to OKC on a minor league deal, but maybe it’s best for a new start. I can’t believe he can’t catch on with the Marlins or Reds.
You will likely see Zimmer, Dugger, and Hernandez play a lot early in the season, especially with the WBC happening, but it would take a disaster for them to make the team. Chris Taylor is a player I expect to come back and have a much better season. Don’t forget that he can play all outfield positions as well as 2B and SS.
I can see James Outman winning a job… at least as part of a platoon in CF with TT. There is a lot to be decided. Vargas, Busch, and Outman could all make the team or all be back in OKC. Pepiot, Miller, and Stone could all make it or be back in OKC. Pepiot and Stone are the most likely to make the team, but if the light ever flips on, Miller will be a monster! The only thing that will keep Pepiot and Stone at OKC is if these guys are all healthy and right:
- Kershaw
- Urias
- Gonsolin
- May
- Syndergaard
Still, one could make it… or both. There is a lot of ground to cover. The best offensive lineup would be like this:
C – Smith
1B – Freeman
2B – Busch
SS – Lux
3B – Muncy
LF – Vargas
CF – Outman/Taylor
RF – Betts
Defensively, they may be lacking. The keyword you need to remember is “JULY!” That’s the trade deadline. Anything can happen!
18 More Days to When Pitchers & Catcher Report!
I just got my tickets for the Freeway Series game on Sunday, March 26th. My son and I will be in Napa for a wedding on Saturday, March 25th, and we are flying into John Wayne Sunday Afternoon and will be at the game on Sunday Evening. We are sitting in 35FD Row N. Then Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, we will be in LA, visiting vendors in Valencia, Sun City, Chino, and Temecula.
Let’s Go Dodgers!
I like your lineup and rotation.
Let the kids play.
Anything can happen. Both Heyward and Thompson are ‘young’ enough to have something left in the tank. So Heyward has had injury problems the last three years. So are we hoping that he can be healthy and go back to ……..what?. He wasn’t very good in his healthy years. For Thompson I see him as being DFA this year. I don’t like him as a bench player to come up to pinch hit and probably strike out.
I hope the Dodgers are able to “fix” him. Unfortunately, his issues are not just mental or about what drives him. The mechanical flaws in his swing remind me a lot of Bellinger. Lots of moving parts. Unless he completely revamps his swing, I’m expecting more of the same, which isn’t very good.
Good stuff Mark. My take is simple. I think when a player wants to be somewhere as bad as Heyward wants to be in LA, they have a desire to prove themselves all over again. Heyward is a veteran player. He knows what it takes to get ready for a long season. He also has something to prove, which can be a huge motivator. Freeman pushed for the Dodgers to sign Jason, and I am pretty sure Jason wants to prove that trust was justified. As for Trayce, I am pretty sure he is working on making better contact and being more selective at the plate. He tasted more success last season than he has ever had, and I am pretty sure that is a huge motivator for him. He also has hair now, so he is going to need to keep making money to pay for his haircuts. I am flying into LA on the 28th, which is Tuesday. I will be out there for about a month. Dodgers open the season on the 1st against the D-Backs. Rancho opens their season on the 6th in Rancho.
All we should expect of Trayce is to be a good 4th OF. With rosters crunched these days, there’s no such thing as a 5th OF but instead a utilityman who can play OF.
Trayce Thompson has been at his best in Dodger blue.
Before he injured his back some years ago, he seemed destined to be a fourth outfielder with good defense and good power. Is it it coincidence that the just had his best season back in Dodger blue? Perhaps. But perhaps not.
Trayce’s reverse splits would make him a good platoon partner for Vargas in LF. To keep Vargas’s bat in the lineup, perhaps he could shift to 3B against righties, with Muncy moving to 2B, replacing Busch (I hope!). Perhaps Muncy or Busch (I hope!) can give JD an occasional break at DH.
It’s certainly possible that Thompson’s performance against righties last season was a fluke.
Platooning Outman and Taylor could make sense, even though both are likely to rack up plenty of the Ks. I’d rather see Outman prove that he doesn’t need to be in job share. If Taylor gets his swing fixed, perhaps he could platoon with Trayce–and then Vargas stays at 3B.
Let the 30-something guys play lineup
Betts
Freeman
Martinez
Muncy
Thompson
Heyward
Taylor
Barnes
Rojas
,
The Twenty-Something Lineup:
1. Lux SS
2. Vargas 3B
3. Busch DH
4. Smith C
5. Rushing 1B
6. Pages RF
7. Outman CF
8. DeLuca LF
9. Vivas 2B
Gosh just the thought of Thompson and Heyward getting regular playing time turned my optimism into pessimism, sorry
Well we’ll well. Timmons does a lineup similar to what I said yesterday. Except he just doesn’t put Heyward in the lineup as a starter. And then moves Vargas to the outfield when I thought he was thrid base. He puts Outman and Taylor in center field. And then he brings in Busch to make the squad out of spring training. All these players make the team out if spring training. When he does a lineup. But if anyone else says these players there wrong or told there not ready yet. So let me get this straight. Yesterday I had all these guys make the team except Busch. So today how does all those players make the team plus Busch make the team. You have Taylor Thompson Barnes Rojas Outman Heyward Muncy Freeman Lux Betts JD Martinez Smith Vargas Busch as the players and then eleven pitchers I guess I was just wondering if anyone else would have said Busch you would have told them how wrong they were at having Busch make the team. So Vargas is and outfielder nit a third baseman. And although you say Lux at short stop. You say you don’t think he can play there. And instead of having the veterans okay. The Dodgers are going to start three rookies over just one rookie in Vargas on opening day. Which I had Vargas starting at third base. And I think you criticized my judgement so don’t you like when a person critizes your posts.
Bradley,
Do you comprehend that I am presenting options?
I have some opinions, and I am not afraid to voice them.
On a lot of other issues, I have no opinions.
I just present possibilities to stimulate conversation.
Regarding your post yesterday… Much of it was simply untrue. Put some thought into your posts. It’s obvious you have some knowledge of the Dodgers – use it wisely.
You said the same players I said all you did was add Busch and have the Dodgers start three rookies this year. What team would ever start four rookies in one season. I guess you think that. When they have veterans to start. In Roberts history as coach. Has he ever started rookies or went with veterans as the starters. And you have three making the team and starting and Lux as the starting shortstop. I see Outman and Vargas this year. And if Vargas plays left Muncy at third. That leaves second base open. I bet Taylor would play there on opening day over a rookie. And wait you said Lux wasn’t a shortstop. If second base is open. Why not have Lux at second then. And Taylor or Rojas at shortstop. I Still say whatever anyone else posts on here you always think it’s dumb. And that we don’t look into things. I would like to know when has a team started three rookies in one year. That’s what your saying the Dodgers plan this year was instead of getting trades made.
Yawn…
Yeah yawn should have made trades. But now there going to wait until deadline and see what they have. It’s amazing they didn’t go after a third baseman or second baseman in the off season. There’s Chapman out there 3b Segura was out there as 2b and just yesterday Tucker got traded to Bluejays from the Astros. So teams still are making trades. You telling me a Chapman lux Muncy Freeman Smith infield wouldn’t be great entertainment. Um yeah it would and Vargas Outman Betts in the outfield.
Tucker was not traded to the Blue Jays. No idea where you got that. He’s currently in arbitration.
Marcia,
I did not see that you posted yesterday.
Don’t be a stranger – we are better with you than without you.
I see 12 guys with a spot open.
The starters:
C Smith
1B Freeman
2B Muncy
SS Lux
3B Vargas
RF Betts
CF Outman
LF Taylor
DH Martinez
Bench: Barnes, Rojas, Thompson
I’m hoping Busch makes the team as a starter at 2B, but I doubt it looking at his mediocre stats from last year. Maybe even Vargas doesn’t make it.
On another note, I wish the Dodgers would go with a 6 man rotation giving Gavin Stone a spot and keeping someone’s arm from falling off. I think Stone and Outman are ready. Not so much Vargas and Busch.
I also hope Miller and Pepiot are ready because there’s going to be those pesky 1-3 spots in the bullpen that are not so good, like there always is. Price, Bickford, Kimbrel, Heaney last year.
Oh yea I forgot. All you gotta do is make the playoffs and then it’s all luck.
Good article Mark.
Heyward has great athletic tools and hopefully he can figure it out and contribute to the Dodgers this year. I also think he is uncertain to make the team, but he could be a great platoon option in LF.
Duggar and Zimmer are even longer shots to make the team, but both are also very talented defensive CFers. Duggar had a very good 2021 for the Giants when they won 107 games. He had a 107 OPS +and had DRS of 5 in CF which was 11th best in the MLB as a platoon player. It seems like he had injury problems all of 2022 and tried to play through them with poor results. If healthy, maybe Duggar can surprise.
Zimmer is a former first round pick and top prospect who has not been able to hit in MLB. He was a top 30 prospect in the MLB twice in 2016 and 2017. But his career average in MLB is only 213. This shows that even top prospects often don’t always have a big impact in MLB.
Zimmer however has been a very good defensive CF in the MLB. Even in 2022, as a defensive replacement, Zimmer recorded DRS of 6 which was top ten in the MLB. Toronto used him mostly on defense in 100 games even though he hit only .101.
It is unlikely that Heyward, Duggar or Zimmer provide an answer in the OF this year. But it is smart for the Dodgers to bring in these talented players to spring training to give them a shot.
It usta was one rookie would make the starting lineup. Sometimes other rookies would be sprinkled in here and there over the course of the season.
There are mounting usta was’s.
I don’t see the Dodgers with 3 rookies in the starting lineup. I’m not sure I see the Dodgers with 2 rookies in the starting lineup, but it could happen.
I think Muncy will make the starting lineup somewhere, I see him at second, but it could be third. Him starting defensively puts Busch up every night in OKC.
I too would like to see a 6 man rotation, or more directly I’d like to see no starter with more than 25 starts. We have the arms to make that happen.
All that said, other than the obvious, I have no predictions on our roster.
Roberts has always been a manager that picks veterans over rookies. He likes players that have been there in the playoffs. So out of all those rookies who he would want. I would say Outman. And then Vargas this year. Maybe Busch next year.
I want a championship, anything less is not good enough. The asstros weren’t lucky last year they had some talented youngsters to go with some polished veterans and a real good staff. There were no reclamation projects involved I’m aware of. This is what I’d hope to be reading about not guys barely good enough to get a minor league contract and or if sub par players can contribute at bottom of order. I don’t care if Thompson can hit righties better than lefties I care about his 42% k rate and a total flop last year when it mattered most
The Phillies got lucky until their luck ran out in the world series. If their luck kept going they would have beat the Astros.
Let’s Go Dodgers! Really?
I think it is a possibility that if Trace did not have a history of back problems his career would have been much better and he would be projected more positively for 2023. If he is now truly healthy he might have a very good year.
Heyward’s value is higher as a right fielder just like Muncy’s value is higher as a first baseman. I don’t see Heyward all of a sudden be a different hitter than he has been for the last several years.
Outman might be the most exciting player to watch next year both because of performance but also because it is fun to see a person excel unexpectedly.
AF was on MLB radio and said that if he had to guess today, he’d say Vargas will be at 2nd, Muncy at 3rd, CT3 in the outfield and Rojas utility.
He also said all of that was subject to change and further competition in ST.
So that means Lux at SS. So the 9 starters I listed is probably right besides Muncy and Vargas at different positions and besides Outman according to AF as of right now. And I bet he just didn’t mention Outman because he didn’t need to.
Friedman also said Lux would be at SS as of today, and he thinks Lux has a lot more room to improve after a very good year in 2022. He said Lux came back early after getting injured and that dragged down his stats last year. Andrew reiterated that he likes to have multiple options, and he said that Rojas would get a lot of at bats playing 3B, SS, and 2B. He also said Muncy played really well at 3B last year. Overall, a positive outlook from Friedman.
I’m counting on youngsters getting there chance and shining to go with the five or six we know will be in there. Plus a pitcher or two such as maybe Stone or Miller not aware of just yet becoming lights out in postseason plus of course the deadline. I expect Muncy to get back to old self with a year further from injury, normal offseason prep and no shift. Taylor have no idea if he can rebound from a dreadful year. Players like Thompson, Heyward, Duggar or Zimmer and the such aren’t ring worthy IMO. There all welcome to show me wrong and I’d be just fine with that
Let’s not forget it’s the dodgers way to put out 140 different lineups though out the year
If it’s all luck like you say there’s no reason to even play the Damm game and tell me how how did the asstros luck into the last six ALCS. And the tigers didn’t luck into even one
Because the Tigers didn’t make it into the playoffs and the Astros did. I said the playoffs are luck not the regular season.
Really sorry – haven’t even read this article l
But if Heywood is playing then the the Dodgers are in deeeeep shit.
Absolutely no way
He’s actually worse than Belinger and that is a very low bar.
He’s also zero risk. MLB minimum deal. Bellinger got $20m. So if he makes the team he makes the team. Nothing to lose by letting him try.
20 mil for hitting the Mendoza line! Mario could only have dreamed of signing that contract!
Well, 17.5 million guaranteed for Belli..
Let’s not get carried away.
AF’s comments have me thinking that Vargas must be looking decent at 2B in workouts. (I had assumed that Vargas would be gift-wrapped 3B.) So it seems the depth chart looks a bit like this heading into spring
C–Smith, Barnes
1B–Freeman, Muncy
2B–Vargas, Rojas
3B–Muncy, Rojas
SS–Lux, Rojas
RF–Betts, Heyward
CF–Outman, Taylor, Heyward
LF–Thompson/Taylor (platoon?) Heyward
DH–JD Martinez
This means a bench of Barnes, Rojas, Heyward, Taylor…
I’ll just be surprised if Heyward doesn’t make the roster. Roberts has made comments that suggest he has the inside track. He was never really a star but scored a star-quality contract. League-average is a step up from what Belli and Gallo did.
Injuries are bound to happen, and this could give Busch his opportunity. But he is limited to 2B, LF, DH and 1B.
Now that I thought about it maybe Jonny Deluca is being seriously considered for that last position player spot. Rojas is the utility infielder so the infield is covered if an injury happens. You got outfielders Thompson that hits RHP good and you have Deluca that has crushed LHP in the minors, although it’s not that big a sample.
I like the six man rotation idea (with Gavin Stone) if Roberts can be persuaded to experiment. I’m a bit skeptical about Noah Syndergaard turning to gold, however. I also like the idea of having Michael Busch as a lefty DH/bench bat. I’m really happy that Trace Thompson will have hair this year. Hopefully he can get Klay and Steph to cheer him on–he’s better with them in the stands. Trace and James Outman are graceful with the glove in center…
I don’t see Busch making the opening day roster if they don’t plan to give him regular at bats. Otherwise, I think he’d be much better off getting reps at OKC.
JDM is going to get most of the at bats at DH this year so that would only leave a few pinch hitting chances every so often and maybe one DH start per week. That kind of inactivity really has a negative effect on a young player IMO.
If Busch has a very hot ST, they’ll be forced to think about putting him in left field or moving him to 2nd base and moving Vargas to left, or…………………………………trading him when his value is at a high point.
Can JDM play an occasional LF to give Smith some time off behind the plate and DH?
He played exactly 0 games in the OF last year so don’t count on it.
“President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said in an interview today on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM that he currently views the regular lineup with Max Muncy at third base, Gavin Lux at shortstop, Miguel Vargas at second base and Chris Taylor in the outfield. Miguel Rojas, acquired via trade from the Marlins earlier this month, is being thought of as more of a utility option, offering sound defense in reserve. Vargas made his MLB debut last season and didn’t actually see any action at second base over his first 18 big league games, plus he played far more third base than second base in the minors. Still, the Dodgers clearly think highly of the top prospect’s potential, and Vargas’ .304/.404/.511 slash line in 520 plate appearances at Triple-A indicate that he is ready for a longer look in the Show.”
Any active roster that contains all of Thompson, Heyward. Taylor and Rojas might squeak into playoffs but can kiss a ring goodbye IMO
Does anyone here have championship aspirations or have we got so accustomed to just making playoffs and losing it’s become acceptable