November 15th, 2018 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka As the Dodgers and their fans slowly recover from the disappointment of losing their second World Series in as many years, there hasn’t been much good news coming out of 1000 Vin Scully Ave. of late.
Oh sure, it’s hard to argue that locking up future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw for the next three seasons (to the tune of $93 million) isn’t a good thing, or that buying out veteran utility infielder and former 2011 World Series hero David Freese‘s $500,000 option and then immediately re-signing him to a one-year / $4.5 million contract (making the deal worth a total of $5 million) didn’t give Dodger fans a little something to feel good about after a less-than-feel-good ending to the 2018 season, but by and large, there hasn’t been a lot for Dodger fans to cheer about as the off-season is about to enter its second month.
But in spite of the uncertainty of Dodger manager Dave Roberts’ long-term future with the franchise and a dwindling coaching staff that some have likened to rats abandoning a sinking ship, beloved Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner gave Dodger fans something to cheer about on Monday during the team’s annual Veteran’s Day Batting Practice event held at The Ravine – the much-anticipated return of Dodgers two-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger (and 2016 National League Rookie of the Year) shortstop Corey Seager, as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on May 4 and arthroscopic surgery on his left hip on August 7.
After spending most of the 2018 regular season and the entire 2018 postseason as a spectator in the Dodgers dugout, 24-year-old Corey Seager hopes to spend all of 2019 on the field. (Photo credit – Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
“Obviously that was one of the many injuries we dealt with this year,” Turner told reporters on Monday. “He’s a middle-of-the-line-up guy that plays every day and can change the course of the game with one swing of the bat. I’ve been having conversations with him – he’s still in L.A., actually, rehabbing – so I’ve seen him a couple times, had a few conversations with him and I’m really looking forward to having him back out there.
“I don’t know how it’s going to work next year, if he’ll be ran out there every day like he probably would like to be because coming off the injury and not playing for so long, but just try to keep him from jumping off a cliff if he’s taking it slow in the beginning of the year, because it is a long season,” Turner added. “We’re going to want him around, we’re going to want him healthy at the end of the year if we want to accomplish what we want to accomplish, and that’s to win a World Series.”
Turner describes Corey Seager as “…a middle-of-the-line-up guy that plays every day and can change the course of the game with one swing of the bat.” (Video capture courtesy of Dodger Blue 1958)
As Turner notes, it is uncertain exactly how it’s going to work out with Seager. In fact, initial reports prior to and immediately following his May 4 Tommy John surgery suggested that he would not be ready to resume full baseball activities when position players report for spring training on or around February 18, but might be ready by Opening Day on March 23. That being said, it now appears that Seager is ahead of schedule in his recovery and that he now indeed might be ready when spring training camp opens at Camelback Ranch.
Stay tuned…
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TJ surgery on Cory’s right elbow rather than shoulder. Seager was such a huge loss last season, a huge improvement for the 2019 team.
It will certainly be great having Seager back and I can’t see why Machado can’t be signed to play shortstop with Seager moving over to 2nd base. I know this isn’t in the plans but I wouldn’t mind if it were.
Machado acknowledged he doesn’t hustle. Add to that how many games they’d have to play with him on suspension.
No thanks.
I can only guess that you didn’t follow ANY of the Machado news while he was with the Dodgers, Joe. NOBODY wanted him back, not even his teammates. He is a dirty player and a malcontent. He definitely doesn’t fit the Dodger way.
At the time of the trade I was all for Dodgers pursuing Machado in free agency, but watching him play for 2 months was more than enough for me. Perhaps he will mature one day, but for now good riddance.
Aside from his arm I didn’t see in Machado a player who was notably spectacular (to my eyes either Kike is a better athlete or just flat out tries harder) or was easily “one of the best”. I think maybe he showed just how much Camden Yards is a hitter’s park and Dodger Stadium is not (even if the Dodgers were the #2 HR-hitting team).
EXACTLY! No question that a healthy Seager is the all around superior player
You hit the nail on the head for me. I was all about hoping we’d re-sign him and then find a way to make it work. Dang how his bat coupled with Corey’s would lengthen our lineup. Then the playoffs came around and by the end of them I was like, no thanks!
I haven’t heard any reports of the players not wanting him back. From all accounts he blended in well with his teammates. I’m sure guys like Utley and Hill had some words with him about it. Lets not say he didn’t hustle. Not hustling consistently would be more accurate. His hustle actually won the long extra inning game with Milwaukee. He got a great secondary lead, a great read on a pitch in the dirt, and took 2nd with hustle and then scored on the game winning hit from Bellinger. Unfortunately, not hustling down the line consistently overshadows the other things. Also, from what I’ve heard the Dodgers had been complaining to the umps about Aguilar keeping his foot on the base too long for quite a while. Machado decided to take it into his own hands and kick his foot off the base. Yes, it was bush league but there is some back story to it all. I will also say that interview has been cut and spliced into a way that it sounds worse than it was. He said he wasn’t a guy who isn’t going to dive into first base. He said that when he looks at the video it looks bad to him. If Machado was smart he should have just said it looks bad. Machado twice was injured running to 1st base. Once at the 1st base bag and once getting out of the batters box. He needs to get over it.
He said he’s not “Johnny Hustle”.
He had plenty of room to touch first base without touching Aguilar.
How about that interference at second base that cost the Dodgers an out?
Then I saw the video of him throwing his bat at a third baseman.
Cheap shots are not part of the game. I say, “Good riddance”.
I hope all the rehab work has a secondary effect in that it improves Corey’s throwing. Maybe he was not lazy but a touch too assumptive that his throws would always make it to Cody’s glove (thank God for his length and reach) just before the runner hit the bag. Too often for my liking Cody had to catch a short-hop from the short-stop. For all his flaws at least Manny had a *cannon arm* and liked to show it off.
Machado is gone and Seager is back,that’s all I need to know.
👍👊✋
What do Cody Bellinger, Jean Segura, Ender Inciarte, Trea Turner and Gary Sanchez have in common?
Answer: All were benched by their managers in 2018 for lack of hustle.
I guess a team could shitcan all of the above players, but I would rather build a team around them at the right price. That’s the key “the right price”.
The Dodgers may not resign Machado, but it won’t be because of lack of hustle, it will be the price.
Dodgers need to get better to win a World Championship. Machado is a young superstar and makes them better at the right price. Period!
Now what’s the cost.
I don’t think “lack of hustle” alone determines whether a player is pursued and certainly cost is a huge factor. But if you are going to guarantee a player hundreds of millions of dollars over 10+ years you better be certain that the lack of hustle, and in Machado’s case bush league plays, is not a symptom of an overall attitude problem. Watching Machado play since he came to the Dodgers I saw a player who only gave 100% in the field and at bat on occasion. Based solely on his time with Dodgers I saw a vastly overrated player, certainly not worth the monies and years being projected for his FA contract.
It looks like you and I saw the same player, Boxer7. I agree Machado makes the Dodgers a better team regardless of all the other stuff.
I sure hope he doesn’t end up on a team in our own division or on an American League team and knocks us out of another World Series.
Machado reminds me of the attitude issues of Manny Ramirez and Hanley Ramirez — no thanks
He’s lazy, doesn’t hustle, got a bad attitude and now he wants a raise!
NO THANKS!
Harry Frazee, 12/26/1919
That was probably what Harry was thinking when he sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees all those years ago. Probably seemed like a good idea at the time, after all, the Red Sox were coming off a 66 win, 71 loss season WITH the Babe. Of course, with hindsight, doesn’t seem so smart now.
I’m with OldBrooklynFan, I don’t want to see Machado beating us in the future without at least exploring his PRICE. Young Machado’s actions have hurt his contract demands, that means potential opportunity.
It’s not Machado or Seager. It’s potentially BOTH.
Sign Machado, beef up the bullpen, and make our third trip to the Series a charm!
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