We’ve been hearing it all spring from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and we heard it again after Monday night’s 4-1 loss to the Angels in game-2 of the annual exhibition Freeway Series:

“We’ve got some tough decisions to make.”

The Dodger skipper was, yet again, referring to the outfield situation and having to decide between Joc Pederson, Trayce Thompson and fan-favorite Andrew Toles for what will eventually end up being the final spot on the Dodgers Opening Day roster, which must be submitted prior to Thursday’s 2018 season opener against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium.

Although there have been rumors and speculation (ad nauseam) that Pederson holds the advantage, the 25-year-old Palo Alto native and Dodgers former 11th-round draft pick in 2010 did nothing to help his cause on Monday night when he struck out in his one at-bat.

Neither did 27-year-old former 2009 second-round draft pick (by the Chicago White Sox) Trayce Thompson, who is out of options and is (very) likely to be claimed off waivers if he is not on the Dodgers Opening Day roster, in his two at-bats on Monday, striking out both times.

On the other side of that rumors and speculation coin is Andrew Toles who, after working an 0-2 count full on seven pitches, launched the eighth 412 feet deep into the cold and windy night and into the Right Field Pavilion for the Dodgers lone run; so deep, in fact, that it actually bounced out of the stadium.

There isn’t much more that Andrew Toles can do to convince the Dodgers brass that he deserves a spot on the Opening Day roster over Joc Pederson and Trayce Thompson.
(Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)

So why, then, is Pederson (and his .154 spring training batting average that includes one home run and two RBI). and Thompson (and his .255 spring training batting average that includes one home run and two RBI), rumored and speculated to be ahead of 25-year-old former 2010 third-round draft pick (by the Tampa Bay Rays) Andrew Toles (and his .288 spring training batting average that includes three home runs and 10 RBI) you ask?

The answer is simple … Who knows?

When specifically asked after Monday night’s game – with one lone spring training game remaining – if Toles is still legitimately in the mix to make the Dodgers Opening Day roster, Roberts yet again gave his clear-as-mud answer.

“He is, he is,” Roberts answered. “He’s a guy that had an abbreviated last year. The year prior, we called him up and he played well for us, and he’s exciting. He does a lot of things well, he’s high-energy.

“And so guys like Andrew, Trayce, it makes our decision a lot tougher,” added Roberts. “And then obviously we talk about Matt [Kemp] and Joc as well, so…

“Andrew’s had a great spring, he really has, and making it tough on us,” Roberts concluded.

Clear-as-mud.