Yesterday, the Dodgers announced that Mookie Betts and Gavin Lux were going to switch positions. I first suggested this last year after watching Mookie play SS for a few games. Mookie is a natural SS… a natural infielder who adapted very well to RF and 2B, but right about now, Mookie Betts is the best SS in baseball. End of story! I am also a fan of Gavin Lux – I just knew that he was not a SS… and I was very vocal about that. If I see something on the team that I have followed for 61 years, I am going to talk about it. Ignoring something or pretending something is OK does not make it go away!
Some M_________ wrote that “You got irritated and closed this site for weeks because some people didn’t agree with you about Lux, Outman and Vargas.” That is patently false: I closed the site due to several jackasses continually being disrespectful and combative. You can always feel free to disagree with me, but you will find that when you do, you better be able to articulate your argument! When you disagree, try and provide some cogent argument and not just the emotion of me allegedly dissing your favorite player.
Others accused me of beating a dead horse by continually saying that Lux was not a SS… and then they said that he needed time to recover from his injury. Are your freaking crazy? He could not play SS before the injury. Come on man! Another condescending passive-aggressive poster dismissively said, “Lux will be just fine!” Yeah, on what planet? Uranus? See, the difference between my opinion and yours was that I studied Gavin Lux and saw how he tends to “short-arm” the ball when he has to hurry. It’s in his head. We saw it last night at 2B, but I think he will not have as many throws… quick throws to make at 2B. At least, the Dodgers can probably live with it. Also, it won’t get inside Gavin’s head as much. Dave Roberts alluded to it when he said this:
“Just to make this move right now it’s something that the entire organization feels is the right thing to do to give us the best chance to prevent runs and to win baseball games,” Roberts said Friday. “I think that, specific to Gavin, it gives him an opportunity to get to the other side of the diamond and — he’s actually played more second base than shortstop in the last few years. So to get him back over there, shorten the throw, it should be less of a toll on his body overall and give him an opportunity to have success.”
He finished with this (the part that I made BOLD speals volumes:
“To really care about the player and his well-being and success mentally, emotionally and physically, is part of the job,” Roberts said. “And then you look at it on the bigger scale as far as the team and what gives the team the best chance — and we’re speaking specifically to defense — to prevent runs.”
We may never know the full story, but I am betting it goes something like this:
I believe that Mookie went to Doc early on and told him that he had no problem moving to SS if the team thought it best (secretly, I think Mookie prefers SS anyway).Gavin Lux saw himself as a shortstop, but I do not think for a minute that Andrew Friedman EVER, EVER, EVER thought that. However, AF knew that Lux had a “fragile psyche” (there, I said it). So, he let him play his way on or off the position. Where I messed up is beliving that the Dodgers were committed to Mookie at 2B. Maybe at some point this offseason, Mookie told Friedman that he would love to play SS … if Gavin Lux could not cut it!
When the Dodgers announced that Mookie was going to play 2B this year and that he did not even bring an outfielders’ glove to Spring Training, I felt that Mookie was entrenched at 2B. I knew that he could play SS but thought the Dodgers were not open to it. So, that is why I was trying to figure out how to package Lux for a SS. It turns out that was not necessary. Secretly, Mookie wanted to be a SS. Lux failed… here comes Mookie.
Gavin will play 2B against RHP, much like James Outman will play CF against RHP. This move makes Gloveman Rojas irrelevant. At some point, the Dodgers will likely move him to get another RH bat on the roster, either Pages or Vargas. That does not have to happen immediately.
Dodger News
MLB.com rankedf the Dodgers farm system #8 in MLB and had this to say about it:
No organization marries winning and development better than the Dodgers, who have won 100 or more games for four straight seasons, reached the playoffs for 11 consecutive years and still have a deep system despite graduating Top 100 prospects Bobby Miller, Miguel Vargas and Emmet Sheehan to the Majors along with James Outman (third in National League Rookie of the Year Award voting) in 2023. They have more prospects ready to contribute this year (outfielder Andy Pages, right-handers River Ryan, Gavin Stone and Kyle Hurt) and plenty more on the way behind them.
i think it comes down to this. with lux moving to second base i really believe it helps his offensive game immensely! mookie doesn’t let a missed play here or there affect him at the plate. will they be trammel and whitaker? no but solid in the field and explosive at the plate would be fantastic! though a trade for adames still may happen anyway.
This is the way!
I think Miguel Rojas is a great clubhouse guy, much like Kike, Austin Barnes and Joc are…. but, truthfully he can’t hit a lick. That being said, it’s time we move on, bring up Vargas. Move some guys around and see if he can play and hit semi regularly in LF. If not, it might be Andy Pages time. I agree that Mookie may prefer SS too. He is such a team player. I think if Lux is comfortable, he’s going to be scalding the baseball this summer. You will see plus .300 BA. and possibly 20 plus homers. I’m skeptical if Jay Hey can hit what he hit last year. I hope he does, but history really isn’t on his side. Gavin Stone looks great this spring. I do think that Doc will install a 6 man starting rotation by June. Hopefully Dustin and Clayton can both make it back by late summer and give us more SP depth. I don’t believe all of our old RP’s Brasier, Hudson and Kelly will make it to postseason. I’m still really high on Kyle Hurt. I truly enjoy your opinions Mark.
Rojas has a higher career batting average than Willy Adames. He doesn’t have his power, but the guy can hit. He also has a higher career BA than Chris Taylor, Max Muncy and Kike Hernandez. So saying he can’t hit a lick is pure bull. He just doesn’t hit for power. And his glove more than makes up for any deficiencies he has at the plate. One other thing, he strikes out less than any of those guys, which means, he is making contact and not having 100 plus empty at bats. Vargas is still learning left field and he is not ready to be a regular left fielder by any stretch of the imagination. Pages has spent very little time in AAA and was injured most of last year. He needs time there, he will be ready next season. Don’t sleep on J-Hey, he has been scalding the ball in spring.
You write…
“Gavin Lux saw himself as a shortstop, but I do not think for a minute that Andrew Friedman EVER, EVER, EVER thought that. However, AF knew that Lux had a “fragile psyche” (there, I said it). So, he let him play his way on or off the position.”
Odd analysis. If AF never thought Lux was good enough to be SS, why did he string him along for the last two years? To protect his fragile psyche?
Don’t think so.
If AF never really envisioned Lux as the Dodgers SS, he would have traded for a better option. The Dodgers would have made it clear that Lux would play 2B or UT, but would not be the starting SS.
Seems to me that AF’s faith was just misplaced. He probably believed AF was a “good enough” option, but realized in the last few weeks that this simply wasn’t true. (Maybe Lux would have been good enough before the injury, but he seems worse than ever.)
The better question would be: Why did AF keep planning on Lux playing SS if he really didn’t believe that Lux should be the starting SS?
I once saw an interview with Trea Turner after he joined the Phils in which he casually said he thought that Mookie might be his replacement because he always took infield with him as part of his routine.
If AF believed Lux didn’t have what it takes to be the Dodgers SS, why wasn’t the Mookie option explored then?
As it happened, Mookie only moved to the infield because of Vargas’s struggles.
Perhaps AF believed in Lux the way he believed in Vargas.
Interesting times for the Dodgers.
Well, as I always say, progress is not linear.
AF, myself, and a lot of knowledgeable baseball people still believe in Vargas. If you have ever played the game, it’s easy to understand what two broken fingers can do to your swing and habits. Miguel is not “officially” a “prospect” anymore, but I believe it is incorrect to use believe in the past tense when talking about Vargas. The Dodgers still believe in Miguel… actually very much.
I know that AF has watched a lot more baseball than me and has watched Lux a lot more than me, and that is why I say that he never believed Lux could play SS. A sharp talent eye says otherwise. I believe he let this play out for Gavin’s psyche. He knows Gavin Lux better than us all and he is a better talent evaluator than us all. He let him in there to struggle for a reason.
Miguel sees himself as a hitter – he will play wherever. Gavin saw himself as a SS Now, maybe he can just focus on being a force in the lineup. I agree that he can hit .300+ and 20 HR. These kinds of guys don’t grow on trees, and sometimes you have to treat them a little differently.
To think that AF believed Lux could play SS makes him as silly as some of the Monday Night Quarterbacks. He saw what I saw.. and MORE!
Congrats to Mark for predicting that Lux was not capable of being a major league SS.
Mark and Eric have been pushing for Mookie as an everyday SS for a while as well.
Now Mark is proclaiming that he really knows what AF thinks. That AF knew for the last two years or more that Lux was not a SS but left him there to learn for himself that he was not a SS!
I don’t believe that AF would name Lux the starting SS in spring training of 2023 and 2024 if he did not believe Lux could play short. He would not jeopardize two seasons with a WS caliber team just to prove a point to Lux. AF and Gomes openly stated this year how confident they were in Lux at SS. AF let two potential HOF SS leave the team in free agency because he thought Lux could be a good MLB shortstop.
Mark deserves credit for his prediction that Lux was not a SS. At this point, he is correct, although some expert once said a thousand times, progress is not linear.
Mark should get to take a victory lap for this prediction.
But to rewrite history and say that AF never believed Lux could play SS is inaccurate.
Well now we just have to wait and see how it all pans out. I do think Rojas will stick around and be there in case Mookie needs a day off, or even slide over to second against some left-handed pitching. Snowed here the other day, and it is in the low 20’s this morning. I am getting a new curved monitor for my computer today. At least today’s game is a day game against the defending World Champs.
It would be a desperate move to go for Adames. They don’t want to overpay and lose the bat of Lux and his contract control. Friedman will exhaust all options that LA has before taking on another huge contract. If this is not the answer then at the deadline he can adjust. The next big worry will be c. Barnes is not only a terrible hitter but a rally killer on top who has a weak arm. We have catchers in the pipeline but none who are even a backup currently. Then, Heyword in right could be a disaster offensively. Hopefully, Pages is the real deal.
I agree with Therealten regarding an Adames trade. It would be a desperate move at this point and AF would have to pay extra to get him now. Earlier I wouldn’t have traded Lux straight up for Adames, but the price is now likely Lux plus a top prospect for Adames who hit 217 last year. Fangraphs had a timely article today on Adames and what contract he may get as a free agent. They estimate 6 years for $150 million or similar to what Swanson received if Adames bounces back this year on offense.
Here is the article link. https://www.fangraphs.com/players/willy-adames/15986/stats?position=SS
But I am skeptical that Mookie can be a good everyday SS. I may be in the minority here . He is a great athlete and competitor but Mookie will be 32 this year, and SS is the most difficult position on the field which takes years of experience. He has not been a full time SS since high school 14 years ago! But if anyone can learn to be a MLB SS at age 32 it is Mookie. I do think the Dodgers will win the division and win 100 games with Mookie at SS, but I think they would win 100 games with Rojas at SS also.
Here’s a great tidbit from MLBTR:
Roberts indicated that Betts could occasionally slide back to second base on days when Lux is out of the lineup. That’d most frequently come against left-handed pitching and allow a right-handed hitter like Rojas, Hernández or Taylor to step in at shortstop. They could also time those substitutions to improve the infield defense when they’re starting a ground-ball pitcher like Bobby Miller. L.A. has a few key high-grounder relievers (e.g. Brusdar Graterol, Blake Treinen, Ryan Brasier) who’d also benefit from a better defensive alignment behind them late in games.
agree on barnes. i’ve said before i don’t hate the guy, but he doesn’t pass the eye test behind the plate. now that’s just my own personal opinion. 2 days a week with barnes in the lineup? like heyward and rojas, but they could have a barnes like year at the plate. Pages could be a big deal, or a big bust. it’s too early to call him an everyday mlb player. BUT, if he rakes in the minors and heyward struggles, why not?
Rojas’s worse season was his rookie year with the Dodgers when he hit under .200. Since then, he has not come close to being as bad as Barnes has been the last couple of years. His last two seasons have been his lowest BA since then, but still not as bad as Barnes. He also averages almost 7 homers a year, Barnes has hit that many twice in his career. Miggy’s great defense also makes him a valuable member of the team. There was a stretch of games last year where he drove in 12 runs. Don’t sleep on Heyward, he looks in fantastic shape and he has been scalding the baseball.
I have a hard time believing Lux’s throwing problems suddenly reappeared while playing his first games of spring training. What about practice? How do you ignore his track record in the minors? I’m a huge proponent of placing folks in the best position to succeed. In this case, trying to force the issue was clearly a mistake. For that, I blame Dodger brass.
The fallout out of this whole debacle is: what confidence issues is Lux going to carry out if this unnecessary experiment? What impact is this sudden change in defensive positions going to have on Betts’ offensive game?
Mookie is a bonafide superstar but he is human and one stigma we can identify about folks in general is that we are creatures of habit. I hope Lux has a short enough memory to flush out what has transpired and that Betts is able to make a seamless transition to SS. However, history tells otherwise. Would anyone be shocked if both Betts and Lux experience some struggles on the onset of yet another change in positions?
To DodgerFan –
You are absolutely 100% correct that for any organization – that you always strive to put the individual’s in a position to succeed (something I learned in the military and having my own company).
However, I agree with Mark that if the stakes are not too high you can put an individual in a position to see if they succeed even if you don’t think they have the necessary skillsets. This is one way to find out if the intangibles can overcome the real or perceived mental and/or physical limitations (i.e. sum of the parts vs. sum of the whole).
I know I can cite numerous antidotes where this scenario was true and you learn something about human nature along with possibly perceived biases on your part and/or others.
Now just a general response to multiple posts:
I for one was really pulling for Lux, I also 100% believe Mark when he stated – that he really likes Lux and wanted him to succeed at shortstop, BUT didn’t think he would. Not sure why that concept is hard for some to believe.
I still do not like the idea of Adames for the pure selfish reason that it I don’t want to watch a third of the lineup provide either a token homerun or strikeout the rest of the time (a little exaggeration) – for me it just makes the games boring to watch.
I was right in the middle of an edit – when my post – posted.
I was going to add a comment after the first paragraph – that while we will probably never know – what was the Dodger’s thought process with Lux.
Plus, as you stated if there will be any residual affects to either Betts or Lux.
It will be an interesting next few weeks/months seeing how it all plays out.
Everyone is so reactive to the point of histrionics.
“I totally blame the dodger brass for this fiasco the Dodgers are in! It’s totally inexcusable that Lux was ever expected to play shortstop. It’s terrible …. blah blah blah!”
Calm down. Geez!
The Dodgers opted to play Lux at SS because that was the plan last year before he was injured. They decided to play him at SS because that is his natural position. He was drafted as a SS.
His “yips,” which were an issue in the minor leagues, were apparently resolved. When Mark starts crowing about short arming balls and how he predicted his current yips … don’t buy that for a second. The discussion, always, was that he simply didn’t have the arm strength to make hard throws from the SS position. That I actually agree with. This whole recent outbreak of yips is something unrelated to his arm strength or soundness of his footwork (which Phil had some good comments about on Jeff’s site). Mark getting his “I-told-you-so” moment is a fake news.
If Lux can play decent, acceptable defense at SS and keep Mookie at 2nd, that’s a sensible move if I’m the Dodger brass. I don’t fault them for it at all. Mookie can play SS, but it’s a more demanding position. For someone who hasn’t played it much in his career, why put him in that position unless necessary? The mental bandwidth required to handle it would detract from the bandwidth needed for hitting, and Mookie is one of the Dodger’s most valuable hitters.
Lux is not doing well defensively, so the Dodgers pivoted and moved Mookie to SS. The Dodgers thought Lux could handle SS. He hasn’t so far. They adjusted. Big deal. Move on.
And for the record, I don’t think Lux’s struggles are something to gloat over. I can’t say that I understand what is going on in his head, but I can empathize, and it’s sad to watch.
Good points, Dodgerpatch.
I feel bad for Lux as well and hope he bounces back strong. I am still a big fan of Lux!
This is almost as good (it’s really, really, really good) as your sarcastic post to me yesterday which was amazing!
Well said. Really well said.
AFAIK most cases of the “yips” resolve, hopefully they will with Lux and he’ll be back at short.
His throws are fine in practice video.
This isn’t physical.
Agreed!
Dodgfan
I’d be shocked about Betts.
hey Bear! i’m just hoping heywards struggles are gone. i really like him in the clubhouse! rojas can be an extremely important bench player. i guess my biggest concern for the dodgets IS the bench! kiki and taylor are very versatile for sure. barnes is pretty much zilch on offense and i don’t believe no matter what the pitchers say he’s all that valuable on defense. but the number of strikeouts sitting in the dugout could be very high! got any thoughts on who fills out the last spot or spots on the bench?
You are going to have four bench players. Your starters are Betts, Ohtani, Freeman, Muncy, Smith, Hernandez T., Outman, Heyward and Lux. That leaves Rojas, Barnes, Taylor and Kike on the bench. There is no room for Vargas or Pages. They will only get called up if and when an injury occurs. Taylor and Hernandez have some pop, but the consensus is the Dodgers will normally start all six of their left-handed bats. Heyward and Outman will sit against some lefties, with Kike and Taylor taking their spots. Rojas could replace Lux against really tough left-handed pitchers. But with a 26-man roster and needing 13 pitchers, your bench options are limited. That is why the AAA team will be loaded with guys who have some MLB experience. Like Owings. But Owings probably has a opt out at a certain date. The bullpen will have these guys for sure, Hudson, Treinen, Graterol, Kelly, Yarbrough, Phillips and Brasier. That leaves one spot up for grabs. Should be a lefty, Vesia has options left, so he could be sent to AAA. Wilson looked good in his debut, McFarland and Gage have also done well. Hurt is being stretched out to possibly become a starter. He will be at AAA. Most likely rotation, Glasnow, Yamamoto, Miller, Paxton and Stone. Sheehan has been injured so no doubt he starts the year at AAA. So there is really only the one.
This is the winning path. Glad they made the decision now rather than in May. Lux’s confidence may have been shot by then. Lux can still retain his confidence at the plate and work on a much shorter throw now. I just hope he can get the throw from 2B right. Time will tell.
Let me make one thing perfectly clear. I am not happy that I was right. I love Gavin and expect him to recover. However, the yips are a terrible thing to have. I hope he can learn to forget but it is very hard. This is a bad place to be.
Interesting Mark.
The big player I remember having the Yips was Knoblach. He overcame them. The one I can remember who kinda didn’t (debateable) is Ankiel.
Bluto,
I say he did not overcome the YIPS and Wikipedia agrees:
Once considered one of the game’s best fielders (in fact, ESPN personalities nicknamed him “Fundamentally Sound” Chuck Knoblauch), Knoblauch’s play deteriorated shortly into his Yankee career; his errors at second doubled from 13 in 1998 to 26 the following year; all of these were throwing errors. In 2000, he began to have difficulty making accurate throws to first base, a condition sometimes referred to in baseball as the “yips” or “Steve Sax syndrome” in more recent years.
Knoblauch tried various solutions to his problem, but his throwing did not improve. He made 15 errors in less than half a season in 2000, including 10 throwing miscues. (During one game, an errant throw sailed into the stands and hit sportscaster Keith Olbermann’s mother in the head). After making three throwing errors in six innings of the Yankees’ 12–3 loss to the Chicago White Sox, on June 15, 2000, Knoblauch voluntarily left the game. He then left Yankee Stadium in his street clothes while the game was still in progress. He was back at second the next day, but Knoblauch never fully recovered his throwing accuracy, especially after missing most of August with an injury. Knoblauch returned to the Yankees in September, but was often used as a designated hitter in lieu of playing second; he was exclusively a DH in the Yankees’ run to a World Series title. Finally, in 2001, he was reassigned to left field by manager Joe Torre, never to return to his old position.
3:05 PM ET vs Rangers at Glendale
Rangers (8-5)
Dodgers (10-3-1)
SP Yerry Rodriguez R
0-0 .00 ERA
SP Michael Grove R
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
SS Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
3B Max Muncy L
CF James Outman L
RF Chris Taylor R
2B E. Hernandez R
DH Miguel Rojas R
LF M. Vargas R
71° Wind 7 mph R to L
I think Betts will be a good shortstop at least above average. Mookie appeared to be bored in the outfield. He will have some ups and downs but if healthy solid. Lux was a solid second baseman. If he can stay healthy he should work his way back to being an asset. As far as age Rojas is 35 and still strong defensively and Mookie is a better athlete. Barnes, somebody said have him bunt every time. I know that was sarcastic but mb a good strategy.
There’s a lot of action at shortstop. I hope and pray Mookie doesn’t get hurt there. Then we would be down a leadoff hitter and a shortstop.
.That’s right, that’s why you closed this site, because they didn’t agree with you with what you said about Outman, Lux and Vargas and those people you call disrespectful only returned the treatment that you gave them and obviously that didn’t bother you. I liked it because insulting is not the same as being insulted and you ended up expelling them. Your great collaborators, from the pas,t have fled from you and left you alone, you have a compulsive-obsessive disorder, that is why you have turned this great site into Groundhog Day with the theme Outman, Lux and Vargas.
I hope you get better from your compulsive-obsessive disorder.
Be the change you want to see.
…. or … the related but less woo woo concept – don’t be a hypocrite.
Wow.
Some things are so wrong that they do not even warrant a response.
Per ESPN
Dodgers RHP Emmet Sheehan (shoulder) to start season on IL
“The Los Angeles Dodgers’ fifth starter slot just came more into focus with right-hander Emmet Sheehan expected to start the season on the injured list, manager Dave Roberts announced Saturday.
Sheehan had been experiencing shoulder soreness earlier this spring.
He took a week off after arriving to camp with reported body soreness then was shut down again with shoulder discomfort. He has not appeared in a Cactus League game this spring.
With Sheehan expected to be in the running for a starting spot, the Dodgers could pivot to right-hander Gavin Stone or left-hander Ryan Yarbrough for that role. The Dodgers start the season March 20-21 in South Korea against the San Diego Padres but do not need a fifth starter until April 1”.
Go Dodgers. Good grief. Just start Rojas a SS and bat him 9th. His defense alone makes the team better. We have signed plenty of offensive players. If they get the job done, having Rojas at short will not be a problem. The impetus is on Mookie, Freddie, Ohtani, Muncy, Smith, THernandez, Heyward, and Outman to get it done offensively.
I remember both of us, Mark, talking about Betts at SS and Lux at 2B a long time ago and you mentioning that you and I were the only ones here talking about it. But if I was the passive-aggresive person you talked about up top “Lux will be just fine!”, I didn’t use the word “just” by the way, that word makes it sound different. I wasn’t being aggresive with you, I was just not wanting to pile on Lux after Betts was declared the starting 2B and if it seemed I was being aggresive, I’m sorry.
We are fine, Eric!
You said that you closed down the sight because some people are disrespectful and combative but that’s exactly who you are. You set the tone. At least this isn’t passive aggressive.
I know it is only spring training, but the guys who have impressed me a lot are Austin Gauthier, Chris Owings and Chris Okey. Feyereisen pitching himself on to the AAA team. Grove looked good, so it looks like the #5 spot is still up for grabs. Who is this Lao guy??? He has some nasty stuff.
Giants placed JD Davis on waivers. Grandal has plantar fasciitis.