Since before opening day, Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez has been dealing with tendinitis in his right (non-throwing) elbow and a back and neck issue that has been nagging the soon-to-be 35-year-old (on May 8) San Diego, California native for at least the last two years and perhaps even longer. Much to his credit (and courage), the 14-year MLB veteran has never been on the disabled list – not once. The problem is, he needs to be and right now.

Adrian Gonzalez hasn’t looked good at the plate all season. Perhaps some down time on the disabled list would do him and his team a world of good. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

To date, AGon has appeared in every one of the Dodgers 27 games this season – either in the starting lineup or as a late innings pinch-hitter … all of them. Yet after Monday night’s painful 4-3 loss to the hated San Francisco Giants, the man once dubbed the “butter and eggs man” by Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully is 22-for-85 (.258) with zero home runs and only 10 RBIs this season. And while it is obvious that the Dodgers unofficial clubhouse leader and team captain is still not healthy, it’s time for him to take a reality check and it’s time for the Dodgers to place him on the disabled list, and right now.

Why, you ask?

Because 21-year-old Cody Bellinger – although playing left field since his April 25 call-up to the Dodgers – is, in every sense of the word, a pure first baseman and is 8-for-25 (.320) with two home runs, two RBIs and three walks. But more importantly, he is absolutely positively 100 percent healthy. He is also improving at the plate with each subsequent at-bat.

While Gonzalez continues to struggle at the plate, Bellinger continues to rake.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

The problem is, Dodgers regular starting left fielder Franklin Gutierrez will be activated from the disabled list on Tuesday before game two of the three-game series with the Giants, with every day second baseman Logan Forsythe and every day center fielder Joc Pederson expected back this Friday. In other words, the Dodgers will soon have 28 guys for 25 roster spots, and Bellinger seems to be one of the obvious guys to go.

…or is he.

It is impossible to ignore the outstanding job that the young Chandler, Arizona native and the Dodgers number one-ranked prospect has done in his first week in the majors. Yet at the same time, utility outfielder / first baseman Scott Van Slyke has been… well, horrible. In fact, as of this writing, the 30-year-old Chesterfield, Missouri native is 4-for-31 (.129) with one home run. However, Van Slyke still has one option remaining. As such, he would be a far better option choice – at least until he finds his swing – than Bellinger.

As much as it pains me to say it, veteran second baseman Chase Utley is in the same boat as Gonzalez. And even though it was understood from the moment that the 38-year-old Pasadena, California native was re-signed this past off-season to be a back-up second baseman to Forsythe, Utley is hitting far worse than even AGon, at 5-for-44 (.114). He, too, might benefit from some time on the disabled list – for whatever ailment – to allow Bellinger to remain with the big club. And although super utility Kiké Hernandez seemed to heat up a bit over the last week, even he is only 11-for-47 (.234) thus far this season.

But the bottom line is that Bellinger’s fate is not up to you nor I, regardless of his better numbers. No, that decision lies in the hands of Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, general manager Farhan Zaidi, and to a lesser extent Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

Let’s just hope they use those hands wisely.