The Good:

There is a whole lot of good going on at Camelback Ranch.

Justin Turner has had a good start with four hits in 10 at bats, including two doubles. While vying for playing time at second base Turner can also play third base, first base and shortstop. In 2013 in 88 games he had at least 12 starts at each of those positions. Although not considered to be a defensive wizard, Turner had a fielding percentage of .980 with the Mets in 2013 while committing no errors as a second baseman or a shortstop.

Turner is considered to be a bit of a doubles machine. In a five-year minor league career he had 124 doubles, a number surpassed by only 16 players in Mets history. It is interesting that another red head – Rusty Staub – hit 130 doubles for the Mets. Last year 26% of Turners hits were doubles.

Turner also has a reputation for being a pitch taking machine although that may not be evident so far in spring training with pitchers throwing mostly strikes. He strikes out about 12.5% of the time and hits line drives at a rate of about 23%, which would account for his high number of doubles.

Clint Robinson has had one of those starts in spring training that all players hope to have. He demonstrates a lefty swing which is so fluid and smooth. Among his team leading six hits is one home run.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly says that Clint Robinson’s swing reminds him of John Olerud’s swing. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Drafted in the 25th round of the 2007 draft by the Kansas City Royals, Robinson is a career .301 hitter in the minors. The big left-hander won the Texas League (AA) Triple Crown in 2010 hitting .335/.410/.625 with 29 homers and 98 RBIs. Even with all his minor league success he has but four major league at bats, those coming with the Royals in 2012. Life in baseball seems to be so much about timing and in Clint Robinson’s case he was backed up behind established first basemen Billy Butler and Eric Hosmer in Kansas City.

Now 29, Robinson is again trying to make his way to MLB, this time with the Dodgers. He is now backed up behind Adrian Gonzalez and most likely the right-hand hitting Scott Van Slyke who has had more major league experience and can also play the outfield.

Robinson indicates the Dodgers have not talked to him about any specific role but that he is not opposed to a bench job. In his words: “The big leagues are the big leagues no matter how you slice it.” His next few spring training games may be the most important in his baseball life.

Rumors are swirling that Alexander Guerrero may not be ready for steady work at the major league level. If not, then he will be assigned to the Albuquerque Isotopes as a bench role would not be in his best interests or the team’s. Second base would then be up for grabs with Dee Gordon and Justin Turner in the mix. I believe both will make the 25 man roster coming out of spring training. With Gordon a left- handed hitter and Turner a right-hander, along with Don Mattingly’s recent comment about platooning, a platoon may be in their future.

Gordon also is having a good spring making Mattingly’s decision more difficult, which is obviously a good situation to be in. In 10 at bats Gordon has three hits, two of them triples, has driven in three runs and stolen three bases. He has struck out but once. He has put on some weight which appears to have helped him with his swing and is playing with an exciting determination.

Relief pitchers as well as starters have been quite or very good. Seth Rosin would be a prime example of pitchers starting out well..

The Bad:

There really isn’t that much bad going on.

Carl Crawford has been sidelined with a tight right quadriceps. Crawford missed 30 games in 2013 with a strained left hamstring. The injury limited his running game and he was able to steal only 15 bases in 2013. Hopefully the quad strain is not of a serious nature and not a signal that Crawford’s legs are fragile.

Alexander’s Guerrero’s bat seems to be satisfactory but apparently after considerable time away from the game, coupled with a switch from shortstop to second base, his unfamiliarity with second base is noticeable. If the decision is to have him start the year with the Isotopes, that would be disappointing after the high expectations in signing him. On the other hand some rust should be expected and he is in fact a rookie to major league baseball.

Clayton Kershaw has had two terrible starts. He has given up eight earned runs in four innings and walked four in four innings. I know it is Clayton and we all pretty much know he will right the ship yet following his last game in 2013 with an unlike Clayton performance, his first two appearances of 2014 are also unlike Clayton appearances. I always get a bit concerned when pitchers appear to lose control as so often the end result is an injury. Not panicking – just concerned.

Kershaw has struggled in both of his starts this spring.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

The Ugly:

Doesn’t get much uglier than possible Tommy John surgery.

Ross Stripling has very quickly moved up the Dodger depth chart in just two years. He perhaps has moved to the head of the minor league pitching pack. With the Class AA Chattanooga Lookouts in 2013 he posted a 2.78 ERA, a 1.170 WHIP and has a K/BB ratio of 4.37. Stripling and the Dodgers are now waiting the results of a MRI which is taking longer than expected. We can only imagine the anxiety he is experiencing. The concern is that he has damaged the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his pitching elbow. More often than not any damage to the UCL results in Tommy John surgery sooner or later and more often than not – sooner is better. Stripling will turn 25 in November so this is a pivotal year for him.