Roster Locks

The Dodgers can trade any player any time Bum. Nelson is on a minor league deal. Now we do not know if he has an opt out option on the deal if he is not called up like Morrow did a few years ago. But any player can be traded up to the deadline. They can also be waived and released. I do not believe that how he is doing in spring is going to change the fact that Muncy will be on the team. He had a terrible regular season, just like Joc, and both turned it around in the playoffs. Muncy and the rest of the regulars are there to get reps, results do not matter. But they matter for guys like Neuse, Davidson, Peters. The team knows what Rios and Beaty can do. McKinstry has been considered the utility guy since the end of last year. Neuse is making the decision harder. Peters started out well, but has floundered the last several games. Davidson has shown nothing so far beyond having power. They knew that. Today was simply a bad game. I have seen worse.

Some fans are like the waves of the sea, they come and go in their moods, a player has a bad day and they want to trade or send him to the minors, others have a good day and they want to give him a contract extension for several years , take it easy.

I don’t know if the Dodgers are allowed to trade Nelson prior to June xx, 2021 but if they could then a package of Ruiz and Nelson could bring back something intriguing. Include Muncy and maybe get a package back from the Yankees that includes Voit. If nothing else, it gives the Dodgers another righty bat and the Yankees another lefty bat and in both cases better balances each team’s lineup.

Who was the catcher for Kersh today? Is he doing this on purpose to poor Smith!

I think Bauer gave up a couple of bombs just so Kersh wouldn’t feel so bad. What a teammate!

My predictions and hopes for the OD roster.

Starters: Smith, Muncy, Lux, Turner, Seager, Pollock, Bellinger and Betts.

Bench: Barnes, Taylor, Beaty, McKinstry and Peters.

Starting Pitching:

Kershaw, Buehler, Bauer, Price, Urias

Bullpen: Gonsolin, May, Jansen, Treinen, Nelson, Gonzalez, Cleavinger, Knevel

Lux earns it, Peters showed he is a very good outfielder, Beaty good hitter.

Just my picks for what they are worth.

Since the beginning of the preseason I have been reading that DJ Peters and Neuse could and maybe should make the team, but I don’t think, not at the beginning of the season, I think this will be the bench to start

Barnes

Taylor

McKinstry

Rios

Davidson

Taylor and McKinstry (Left and Right) can play in the outfield,

Rios and Davidson (Left and Right) the corners of the infield.

And I think May is going to be on the team, at least until the Triple A season starts or until Kelly or Graterol gets out of IL

Ok, lets get something perfectly clear. What you saw from Kershaw today is not the in season Kershaw. So his velocity is down. No big deal. Muncy has hit 3 balls hard all spring, and you do not see people saying he is done. Turner has not homered. Bellinger has had 3 at bats, and he changed his batting stance again by the way. The veterans know what they need to do to be ready and that is what they are doing. Worrying about results in spring training is a waste of energy. Should we be pulling our hair out because Bauer gave up a HR to the #9 hitter? Please. Spring training is more about the fringe players than it is a vet like Kersh. DJ Peters may K a lot, but the kid is a really good outfielder. I get what you are saying about Neuse Eric, I really do. But what he lacks is experience at the MLB level. So does McKinstry. But McKinstry plays more positions than Neuse, Rios has more power, and Beaty has a good rep as a pinch hitter. Taylor is going to play the infield more than the outfield this year if Pollock stays healthy. Neuse will be a phone call away at OKC in case of emergency. But he has shown no power in spring so far. They know what Rios can do.

My son had a tournament in Scottsdale this weekend. Unfortunately, they finished 1 win away from making the championship game. Fortunately, being eliminated meant we were able to take in both Sunday and Monday’s Dodger games.

A couple of takeaways.

1. Gavin Lux is dialed in. He went 4 for 5 in the two games and all 4 hits were hard line drives. Interestingly, all but one of his hits this spring have been singles (one double) and he has zero walks. I remember when Gavin turned the corner in 2018 in Rancho. He didn’t have a spectacular start to the season. But then he started making consistent hard contact. A couple weeks later he was mashing balls to and over the fence with regularity and was moved up to AA where he continued the same. As long as Gavin is barreling up, the power is going to come. I think he may come out of the regular season gates with gusto.

It’s fun to speculate who will get the last roster spot. But I don’t think it’s terribly predictable. Dj Peters started off hot and has cooled down. But if you’ve ever watched him play, he’s very very streaky. When he’s cold he is cold. When he is hot he is on fire. He’s got a little Joc Pederson in him.

Sentimentally, I’d like to see Davidson make the team. Even though I know it’s unlikely. He’s a local guy and is extremely excited to have a shot with the Dodgers. I’m also bias towards Dj, as some of you know. He’s a great guy.

It will be interesting to see how this goes down as they start sending players down in the next week.

And it was unbelievably satisfying to actually go to a game again. First in person game since September of 2019. My son got 4 balls yesterday (none had the ST logo, unfortunately). Gave all but 1 away to kids and other fans. Austin Barnes tossed him the ball that Dustin May warmed up with. That was the keeper. Unfortunately, no autographs due to covid. But we did get to talk to a couple players who waved us down after the game.

I am glad 2020 is in the rear view mirror.

I’m preparing myself that Kersh will have an era under 2.50 and we will win back to back championships!

Boy, Cody Bellinger is swinging like a Lumberjack!

After the first two batters today, the Dodgers announce they have optioned Kershaw to OKC and Kickham will take his place as opening day starter.

Third batter bunts and is thown out.

Fourth batter hits a line drive that almost takes Seager’s hand off.

Mr. K. is not fooling anyone. However, it’s spring training.

I think the final 2 position player spots are down to Peters vs Neuse and Rios vs Beaty.

Neuse is more versatile than Peters and makes way more contact than Peters. Therefore I think Neuse makes the team.

Rios vs Beaty is a hard one to predict. They both play 1B and 3B but Beaty also plays LF. Beaty makes more contact than Rios but Rios has more power.

I think 12 are locks. Smith, Barnes, Muncy, Lux, Seager, Turner, Betts, Bellinger, Pollock, Taylor, McKinstry, Neuse.

Last spot Rios vs Beaty. I think Rios has the advantage. Both have options, so if one goes into a consistent slump we can see “musical chairs” between the two using the options.

Peters will get called up during the season and contribute though.

My thoughts on Rio making the team is based on the fact that the Dodgers have been lefty heavy for quite a few years and balancing the bench L-R has never seemed to be a priority. Rios is obviously the better option behind Turner. That is what he did last year, and I have little doubt he will do it again. Neuse has not shown any kind of power, but he has shown a lot of versatility. But I still think the Dodgers are not worried about Rios’ production in the spring. That matters for someone like Peters who has had very little AAA experience. Going to AAA is not going to help Rios at all. He has proved he can hit there. As for May, the AAA and double A guys will be at Camelback. They will be able to play games against the White Sox farmhands as well as other teams AAA guys who are close. 2 teams in Surprise and 2 more just down the road with Seattle and SD in the same complex just up the 101. Also 2 more teams in Goodyear. They do not even have to go to the other side of town since 8 other teams train on the west side. For this reason alone, I think May will stay in camp. I also think they do not need 5 starters most of April. That will come when they have fewer off days in May. I also think they have a really good chance of not getting in all 4 games in Colorado opening the season. If the weather stays anything like it has, there will be at least one lost to bad conditions. As of today, Coors field is covered in snow. I think they break camp with 13 pitchers and 13 position players. 5 starters and 8 relievers. And that gives them 5 bench players. Rios, Beaty, McKinstry, Taylor and Barnes.

Bellinger starting and batting 5th. Kershaw starting and hitting 9th. Bauer is supposed to piggyback Kersh today. Beaty hitting 8th playing LF. Muncy in the cleanup spot. No DH.

So what’s the rotation?

I’d take Price up on his offer to relieve, thus adding a lefty to the pen. If Urias continues to struggle opening games, he and Price could swap roles.

May > Alexander and Cleavinger. Obviously. Plus, L/R seems less important with 3-batter minimum.

And with Graterol and Kelly delayed, May would supply the greatest heat.

The Athletic on Gavin Lux:

President Andrew Friedman: “Gavin is in a great headspace after his uneven 2020 season. His swing is in a really good place after getting out of whack last year and he is playing a really good middle infield. We remain very optimistic in terms of the player he will be and look forward to him helping us win a lot of games in 2021 and beyond.”

Roberts: “Gavin has got clarity of mind this spring. There’s a process in place, (and his) mechanics are sound, which has bred real confidence.”

Just saw this from Jorge Castillo re Dodgers BP plans

Dave Roberts yesterday on if the #Dodgers plan on carrying two lefties in the bullpen to start the season: “I don’t know if it’s something that we have to. We’re going to go with the best available option or the best available player.”

I think one factor on the last BP spot will be the form of the MiLB camp in April. If AAA was playing their season it would be a much easier call to send Dustin to work on pitches in AAA. With no AAA season until May, it may come down to whether Dustin would benefit more from the alternate site or pitching in relief for 1 month.

If Alexander or Cleavinger don’t earn the second LHRP spot than Dustin May take that last spot.

The thing is, May really wants to make the team and says he would be fine in the pen this year.

I like May but think he is best served by working on things in AAA. Having him relieve and possibly spot start during the year would be a disservice to him long term.

No argument here, Mark. Well-reasoned.

Unless Noisy goes crazy big these last 2weeks I think Rios is in. Good news is Lux and Mckinstry look ready to contribute in a big way! And I agree Mark, Noisy will contribute this year. He’s a grinder! Really good pickup

They have to open a roster spot for Nelson if he makes it. I think he would get Kahnle’s spot since he will be on the IL and is not on there yet. I think Rios is making the team no matter what. Just my opinion. They know what he is capable of.