For old-school traditional Dodger fans, the term “everyday player” no longer exists. Gone are the days when the same guys played the same position every day, such as Davey Lopes, Bill Russell, Steve Garvey, and Ron Cey – affectionately known as “The Infield” – who played together from June of 1973 through the end of the 1981 season … yes, that 1981 season, having started 833 games together. It was a time when you didn’t need the internet, or a smartphone, or social media to know who was going to be starting at every position, without fail. All you needed was a transistor radio to listen to Vin Scully tell you everything you needed to know. It was a great time.

And then came guys named Andrew Friedman, Farhan Zaidi, Dave Roberts, and words like analytics, sabermetrics, WAR, ERA+, launch angles, etc., etc., etc. With them came the end of the “everyday player.”

To be fair, it’s hard – if not impossible – to argue that Friedman’s and Roberts’ (Zaidi is now with The Hated Ones) analytics and sabermetrics aren’t the reason why the Dodgers have won six consecutive National League West titles, two consecutive National League pennants, thereby appearing in two consecutive World Series, whether us old-schoolers choose to admit it or not.

With the arrival of Friedman and Roberts, the words “everyday player” were replaced with the words “platoon player.” In fact, the words “platoon player” are just about the only thing everyday about our beloved team anymore.

But while the platoon situation has worked exceptionally well for the Dodgers outfield, and with third baseman Justin Turner, first baseman Max Muncy and (hopefully) soon-to-return shortstop Corey Seager about as close to everyday players as we will probably ever see again, the second base position has been in a constant state of flux, without any one guy getting the lion’s share of playing time, with 16-year MLB veteran Chase Utley having retired after the 2018 season.

…until now.

To the surprise of no one, it now appears the utility infielder / outfielder Chris Taylor could see more playing time at second base in 2019 than anyone else. Notice that I used the words “more” and “could,” as opposed to “everyday.”

This past Tuesday, longtime Dodgers beat reporter Ken Gurnick posted what he projects the Dodgers 2019 Opening Day starting lineup will be, and if we have learned anything from Ken Gurnick, it’s that he is usually spot-on. Here’s what he wrote about second base:

Second base: Chris Taylor – He fell well short of his 2017 breakout last season, but reuniting with hitting guru Robert Van Scoyoc is promising, and Taylor’s defensive versatility is underappreciated.

Dodgers super-utility Kiké Hernandez will also undoubtedly see significant playing time at second base (and at shortstop when Seager needs a blow), and there is certainly a long shot possibility that recently acquired non-roster invitee utility infielder Brad Miller could play there as well … if he makes the Dodgers Opening Day 25-man roster, that is.

All of this being said, it is probably a safe bet that Dodgers top middle infield prospect Gavin Lux, whom the Dodgers absolutely refused to include in any trade talks this past off-season, is the guy that Friedman and Roberts see as their heir apparent second baseman, perhaps as early as September 1.

…in a “platoon player” sort of way, of course.

Play Ball!

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