Just not at SS! Gavin Lux is OK at 2B, where he will be a “hit-first” player, or I would not be surprised if some team tried to convert him to CF. He cannot play SS and Dave Roberts said as much. Unless Mookie gets injured, there is not a spot for him on the Roster. That doesn’t mean that he won’t be on the Opening Day Roster… unless he is traded, he will be.
“Why do I Hate Gavin Lux so Much?”
Well, I don’t hate Luxie. I was not enamoured with the pick when the Dodgers drafted him, but he has grown on me and I actually like him a lot and respect the hell out of him. If Mookie went back to RF, Gavin Lux would be my 2B, but the Dodgers have made the decision that Mookie is a 2B and he is likely the best second baseman in all of baseball. I know that Gavin has looked bad in the Outfield, but he has never played there before. He’s an athlete and he’s fast and I believe he could be a very good CF as well as a second baseman. It’s just not going to be with the Dodgers.
I admire Gavin’s grit, and his effort to come back from a devestating injury… and don’t say “he needs more rehab.” It his arm, not his knee… well maybe it’s his head as well, but he just needs to forget SS and go 2B or the outfield and blossom. Forget about fielding and throwing! The Dodgers are a “championship caliber shortstop” away from a Championship and they have to address that issue. The Brewers have Joey Ortiz ready to take over at SS. Willy Adames will be a free agent and is expendable. The Brewers could use Home Boy Lux at 2B, where he might take over as the leadoff man and face of the franchise. Maybe it’s a one-for-one swap or more likely, it’s Lux and Rojas for Adames… or give me a better option for SS who is available? Adames has pop and he also has a lot of swing and miss but he has a glove and and arm that is Gold-Glove Caliber.
I’ll take a guy at the bottom of the lineup who hits 30 bombs and strikes out 180 times while playing great defense. The Dodgers already have Austin Barnes, who is going to play a couple of times a week – they do not need another Barnes (Rojas). I know AF has “kicked the tires” on Adames. I also believe that the Dodgers can help Adames improve offensively and that if they want to re-sign him, they can do that too. Let’s put this shortstop business to rest! Read all about it in The Athletic.
Here’s the Only Question:
Is it Lux and Rojas for Adames, or could it be Lux, Rojas, Vargas, and Knack for Adames and Devin Wiliams? That would be cool! I have predicted big things for Vargas, but adding Williams to the pen would make it invincible. I would trade him for a Championship. Hopefully, right about now, you are not as angry with me, and we can’t have that, can we?
So… James Outman still cannot hit LHP! š Pile on!
Dodger News and Notes
- Teams are hitting Max Muncy too much – send a message that if you hit him, we are going to drill you. Roberts is too much of a gentleman on this. Drill the teams that do this. Drill them now!
- Final cuts – coming soon.
- I am writing this from the Orlando Airport… waiting to head home. It was a busy and exhausting week!
I was hoping Lux was the answer and prove us all wrong, but he’s not. He’s actually doing the opposite. They can’t win with both Muncy and Lux on the left side. You can deal with Muncy at 3rd if you have a good fielding SS. but right now the left side is really bad.
There were doubts about Lux’s defense when he first arrived in the ML as a top prospect with tremendous minor league numbers.
When Seager got hurt, Lux had a chance to prove his defensive ability, but the doubts only grew.
Last year, we were debating whether Lux should be and would be the Dodgers’ SS. Rumors swirled about Adames. Then, as now, the big question concerned his defense. AF got Rojas as insurance–thank goodness.
In retrospect, it seems as if Lux’s injury has only delayed the resolution of whether he is really good enough to be the Dodgers’ SS. How can a roster this strong have a deficiency at SS? We were led to believe that he was healed, but now we see that a lot of rust has formed with the inactivity.
So maybe it’s too early to judge–but maybe not.
If Lux’s arm ultimately limits him to 2B and LF, that would be fine. (Sure, he could run down balls in CF–but his arm would be a liability there too.) I doubt that Mookie and Lux would change positions, but it could be considered. A Lux-Rojas platoon could be a stop-gap approach, but not the real solution. Lux could be groomed as a lefty-batting UT guy–but I think both Taylor and Kike are better on defense, because their strong arms enable greater versatility.
So Lux for Adames straight up?
If I ran the Brewers, I’d jump at it. You’d save a few million and get a new second baseman–a local guy–who might be good enough to bat leadoff. You can shift Tirang to SS or go with the top prospect you got from the Orioles in the Burnes deal.
The deal, I think, favors the Brewers because of Lux’s potential upside–as a second baseman–and the years of team control. The Dodgers would be guaranteed just one year of Adames at a much higher price–but he could be extended, also at a higher price.
There is little question that Adames would solidify the infield. A defensive weakness would become a strength. Pitchers would love him. Freddie wouldn’t have to dig out as many throws. With apologies to Pedro Guerrero, Max wouldn’t be thinking: “Don’t hit to me and don’t hit it to Lux!” (Sorry, Max. Cheap shot.)
On offense, Adames would strike out too much and wouldn’t get on base as much as Lux, but he’d hit 20+ HRs.
Decisions, decisions…
There’s still no reason to rush. It’s a long season…
But what if the Brewers are ready to deal?
And yes, what if the talks were to expand to include Devin Williams?
Blockbusters are fun.
iām going to join you mark! i love lux, but the dodgers canāt go through this season with lux AND. muncy on the left side of the infield. teams like the diamondbacks will bunt us to death!! if a trade is going to happen, do it now! iām afraid lux will. get freddie killed at first base! if mookie would go back to right field problem solved. but heās not going off 2nd. the dodgers can satisfy the brewers easily. do it! oh by the way mark, think thereās something to all the jordan montgomery whispers?
Not to the dodgers.
This has already become “Groundhog Day”
Wow! Lux, Vargas and Busch all could be gone. Thats a lot of lost young future hope. Lack of defense taking all 3 down. I wonder what Mookie and Dodger brass think about Mookie at SS with Lux at 2nd.
Just a tiny amount of speculation and exaggeration there Cassidy. Just a tiny amount.
I thought mb the Dodgers were going with all right handed pitchers hoping guys would hit to first or second. They would c more lefthanders in the lineup. But then they signed Paxton and Kershaw. Lux just doesnāt have the arm for ss. If the brass is so smart how could they end up with that duo at ss and 3rd. I hate to lose luxs bat but they will not finish the year with Lux at short.
Why can’t Doc go on the field between SS and 2B, look to his left and look to his right and say switch positions? lol.
Betts SS and Lux 2B.
It’s another day of stupid posts. Sigh.
Pluto, you were saying? You may think youāre the smartest poster but donāt believe it. (I know itās really Bluto). Only smart posts so far today belong to Eric and Mark. You called it, Eric!!! At least for now. Iām liking the package for WA and DW from the Brew Crew.
VIVA AZUL!!!
Ericās post looks even sillier, no?
Was there ever a doubt that the team could do this? Do you think Eric made it happen?
Bluto I just have to shake my head.
Thatās my reaction!
What a terrible burden you must labor under, Bluto. To be so cursed by the gods to have to share space with a world full of proles who are so very clearly beneath you.
To be as special as you is both burden and curse, but you carry that load with humility and grace.
Yes. To follow up with your inevitable question, I am being sarcastic.
Thank you BlueAZ2020.
I know that they are refusing to do so, but this whole thing can be resolved in-house if Lux and Betts change positions. Yes, it has been discussed here before and it apparently is not an option, but why not? We know Betts can master SS and Lux can handle 2B. Is the move not considered in order to save Lux from embarrassment? heās embarrassing himself already. Is it not considered because Betts is against it? Mookie was super enthusiastic last year when he started a few games at short. Itās best to make the change now in ST and not during the season when everyone will be second guessing. I simply donāt get why this solution is not even a consideration.
I’ve been asked to inform you that there is an opening for you in the Dodger Strategy Dept, Evan.
You speak, Dave listens.
Doc listened to you guys.
Mookie is at SS and Lux at 2b tonight
Well, Mookie will open the season at SS. I think they donāt want this to be a distraction.
Settles that for now.
8:05 PM ET vs Reds at Glendale
Reds (6-5)
Dodgers (10-3-1-0)
SP Nick Martinez R
0-0 .00 ERA
SP Justin Wilson L
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
SS Mookie Betts R
DH S. Ohtani L
1B F. Freeman L
LF T. Hernandez R
3B Max Muncy L
RF J. Heyward L
CF Chris Taylor R
2B Gavin Lux L
C A. Barnes R
69Ā° Wind 7 mph Out
I am too busy today, but all I am going to say to all the (it’s very hard not to use the”M-Word”) who said I had an irrational hate or an issue with Lux or that I was beating a dead horse.
NO, YOU WERE THE IRRATIONAL ONES,
I was right! You were wrong – Simple as that.
The only thing I did not see was Mookie being willing to move to SS. It turns out he was and has been for a while.
This is great. Now, Lux can just focus on hitting and the team is much improved.
Never doubt me again! š
Vargas?
LOL!!
“Hurray!!! Lux made an error!! Ya know, if he really muffs a few more grounders I might actually be able to gloat a little. Hell! If he completely implodes and has to go to a psychiatric hospital to treat his yips, I can spike the football and yell, “In yo FACE!! I was right, bitches!!'”
Yeah. Lux might not work out at SS. I’m rooting for him, though.
Amen!
Color me as one of the irrational, but probably more accurate – a ānon-expert optimistā š
I had hopes for Lux, At least until I saw the short 1-min clip (just 10-min ago) showing both Lux and Muncyās defensive efforts yesterday OUCH!!
Was almost keystone cop bad.
Then 5-min later see the news about the swap.
Besides Mark have to give kudos for Evanās post above and him stating his case with impeccable timing.
Probably a big sigh of release across the Dodger organization.
Mark, and it pains me to say this, but you were right. Kudos my man. I think Betts will turn out to be a pretty good SS once he gets some real reps there.
The timing was just dumb luck. Iām just glad that the front office is in tune with what we all see. It should be noted that others had posted here before that Mookie should play shortstop. Iām hoping that Luxās problems donāt continue on the right side of the infield but I think they wonāt because he wonāt be pressing about that longer throw.
Iāve always had my doubts about Luxās ability to be a reliable defensive SS, but I never envisioned he would be displaced before the start of the season.
Management shares some blame as far Iām concern. Why did they have to mess with his psyque? It has been evident for some time that he struggles making throws from that position. I just hope his struggles donāt carry over to 2base.
Feel the kid. Iām hoping he is able to put this behind him. Heās a good ball player. Iām of the opinion this should have never happened. Dodger brass shouldāve known better!
We have no clue what goes on behind the scenes… maybe it had to play out this way.
Is this a joke?
At this rate Freddie might set an all time MLB record for most short hops in a year.
Just because Mookie and Lux have now traded places doesn’t mean Gavin’s problems are necessarily over with. If most of the problem is truly in his head, he may take it with him to second base.
Keep in mind that two of the most notorious cases of the yips were Chuck Knoblauch and Steve Sax. Both were second basemen.
I’m rooting for him, but I’m not putting any money on it.
Duly noted!
Two games in a row cancelled due to rain. Surprising. Lux will be fine. The more reps he gets, the better he will play. He has been comfortable at second. First game back there, he has to adjust his thinking.
Dodgers should try to trade for Adames.
The LUx at SS experiment is over for good and I do not think it is a wise move to switch Mookie over to SS .
Best Dodgers lineup would be Adames at SS, Lux at 2b and Mookie in RF. If you want to manage his workload give him some extra days off or play him at 2b once or twice a week. There are multiple ways to give him extra rest.
Dodgers roster is so stacked they could afford it.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good Point!