June 23rd, 2019 at 8:00 am 
by 0799291000348 With the recent report that A.J. Pollock is healthy, has started baseball activities, and is scheduled to play rehab games during next month’s MLB All-Star break, July 8 – 11, it begs the question how the team will utilize its abundance of outfielders. Currently, the Dodgers have four outfielders on their 25-man roster – soon-to-be two-time All-Stars Cody Bellinger and Joc Pederson, Alex Verdugo, and Kyle Garlick – all four of whom are all performing very well. They also have utility players Kiké Hernandez, Chris Taylor and new fan-favorite Matt Beaty.
Manager Dave Roberts has taken the preemptive action of playing Pederson at first base in anticipation of Pollock’s returning to centerfield, with Verdugo (presumably) moving to left field. This puts Pederson (more specifically his much-needed All-Star bat) in a position to platoon at first base with David Freese*, with Max Muncy likely to become the team’s regular second baseman and backup third baseman when 34-year-old / 11-year MLB veteran third baseman Justin Turner needs a blow.
All of this looks good on paper for Pollock and Pederson, but…
- Pederson is a ‘rookie defender’ at first base and his apprenticeship in limited appearances has been rough – as evidenced by several misplays at the position on Sunday;
- If Joc cannot play average defense at first base, then the Dodgers may be forced to move Cody Bellinger to the position – a move that significantly weakens the Dodgers outfield defense, and the Dodgers are loath to make;
- Pollock’s centerfield defense was below Major League average in 2018 and this season, while Verdugo’s defense is well above average and he has a much superior arm;
- Pollock’s return to the line-up likely puts Beaty on the bench, even though Beaty has better offense and defense statistics.
(Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA and Fox Sports)
Fundamentally, veterans should not lose their position due to injury, but Pollock’s veteran status (not to mention the $55 million he is owed through the 2022 season with a player option for 2023) does not lessen the fact that the Dodgers current 25-man roster – and more specifically the current Dodgers outfield – is currently functioning like a well-tuned engine.
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* Following Saturday’s exciting 11-inning / 5-4 walk-off win over the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium, Roberts told reporters that Freese was unavailable for the 4:16-hour contest, as he is dealing with “more knee issues” and is likely headed to the 10-day injured list.
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With the Freese situation and likely IL stint, Joc needs to learn 1st base defense faster and have it… https://t.co/1snYxDSuD1
Pederson is a good athlete, but learning to play a new position in the Majors is very difficult. First base is a much more difficult position to play than it appears.
Tough to learn a new position, during the season, unfortunately at the team’s expense, as was witnessed in Saturday’s game!!! On the job training can have its share of negative results!!! Should be done in the off-season! Who knew that Matt Beaty and Kyle Garlick were gonna both be brought up and have provided such a positive impact, which at some point will cause a major, roster crunch??? I couldn’t understand,as the game started, why Beaty was in left and Joc at 1st, when I knew Beaty provides better D at 1st! When A J and Corey get back, some major decisions, will need to be made! Kike needs to cut down his swing or he could be in trouble!!! What saves Kike is his versatility!
I agree Kike could lose playing time with Joc moving to first and Muncy sliding over to second, even though his 11 HR are fourth on the team he seems to be the odd man out. I guess it’s better to have too many good players then too few!
The problem that I have with Kike is his near-Mendoza Line .207 batting average.
The Dodgers best 2B option (IMO) is Gavin Lux, who is currently at Double-A Tulsa. That needs to change FAST.
I am with you 1000% about Lux, but bringing him on to the 40-man and active rosters would add another level of complexity. If Joc plays first base then Muncy is at second base, and as much as I like Lux, he is not going to supplant Muncy in the lineup. If Muncy stays at first base with Lux at 2b, then the only option in the OF would be to platoon Pollock and Pederson, but Roberts has said in the past that Pollock would not be platooned, and Pollock made it clear when he signed with Dodgers that platooning is unacceptable. I plan to soon explore trade alternatives before the July 31 trade deadline that might help with the roster dilemma.
Nice problems to have if you’re the Dodgers. With Pollock coming back soon and Freese very much headed to the IL with his ongoing knee issues, that move kinda works itself out right there. I’m not a big fan of the Pederson 1B experiment mainly because you already have better defensive options there in Muncy (my first choice) and recently called-up Beaty (2nd). Speaking of Beaty, there’s no way he gets sent back down when Seager finally returns after the break. That bat of his is way too valuable to the team, especially with RISP as he so adeptly demonstrated in yesterday’s nail-biter.
If anyone gets sent back down, it’s gonna start with Garlick. Like the kid and he’s shown he’s ready for big-league ball after cutting down on his K’s at AAA OKC this season. However, he’s not gonna move past Pederson, Verdugo, or Bellinger on the OF depth chart. He could wind up being potential trade bait soon (preferably to the crosstown Halos of which he was a fan of growing up???). As for Hernandez, he’s not going anywhere right now as he’s one of the club’s key “super-utility” players. Besides, NOBODY plays better SS defense than him in the entire organization. I can live with his fluctuating average as long as his power numbers remain consistent, which they have so far. Only way he gets moved off the roster is if management finally feels top middlie-infield prospect Gavin Lux is ready to take over for good. Speaking of Lux, what’s keeping them from promoting him to AAA OKC right now? There’s at least two middle infielders on that roster that have ZERO business being there anymore (Jake Peter and Errol Robinson, lol). And the moment they finally send either Barnes or Marting packing to make way for Will Smith once and for all, Dodgers are gonna be mighty hard to stop from that point on…
I agree, Garlick is at the top of the list to return to OKC when a position player returns. One possibility, when Freese returns from the IL Garlick goes back with Will Smith assuming a utility/catcher role. Why Lux is not in AAA is very good question. Couple of theories: (1) Omar Estevez is currently on the IL and Dodgers do not want to move Downs or Mann up to AA right now, so Lux stays at Tulsa until Estevez is healthy; or (2) Dodgers want Lux to continue to work on his throwing problems in AA, rather than AAA; or, (3) Dodgers do not want to change hitting coaches for Lux (currently Melhuse; AAA is Coolbaugh).
Regarding Lux, I opt for theory number 1. Almost forgot about Estevez (also potential trade bait in my eyes as I prefer Jeter Downs and Jacob Amaya more in terms of future middle infield depth for the Dodgers). Pray he returns soon so Lux and Mann (who could be possible trade bait as well soon enough) can finally get a move on through the system for once. And I’m glad Smith was called back up today, that move was a straight NO-BRAINER in my eyes after watching Barnes flail away in vain in extras last night. Freese has already done his part in inspiring the youngins with his play so far this season. Consider his trip to the IL some much-needed time off for the old postseason warhorse!
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I have been fan of Barnes since he was acquired from the Marlins, but he is so lost at the plate that he may need a change of teams. I believe Smith is the real deal and should be sharing catching duties with Martin.
I’d like to think the front office already knows what we both know regarding Barnes, they just don’t want to hurt his feelings when it comes time for Smith to supplant him for good just yet.
Lux may be our Buster Posey,what do you think are our chances.
Manuel, I would believe that if Lux continues his great play at Tulsa, he will soon move an INF off the OKC roster and then get his regular reps there. And one thing to look out for now that Will Smith is back up here…either he, or Barnes or even Martin for that matter can be used at an INF position back up if the need arises.
Regarding Kiké’s shortstop defense, just watched him make an incredible play against the Rockies. No doubt that he should be at shortstop when Seager is not in the lineup.
Get no argument from me on that one, buddy! Btw, your guy from Stanford has just started his first pro-ball game a moment ago for Ogden (Brandon Wulff). Still nothing from the final two Top 3 draft picks, however…
The return of AJ Pollock, looks like something we may not be looking forward to, at this present moment, but by that time I think a lot can change. Actually it doesn’t look too bad.
Well folks, this is a situation that may resolve itself at the trade deadline, meaning one of the above mentioned players here may have to be moved, because we are not getting any BP upgrades without having to give up something in order to get something. I just hope that we can resolve this perhaps before the deadline WITHOUT having to part with either Lux, May or even Smith for that matter.
Moving Petersen to first is not necessary and is not helpful. Yes, moving Bellinger out of the outfield will slightly weaken the outfield defense overall, but it markedly IMPROVES the infield defense. An outfield of Verdugo in right, Pollock in Center and a platoon of Petersen and Taylor/Hernandez in left is very good, if not exactly great. The majors is not the place for an outfielder to learn first base, especially since he has NEVER played a professional game there. Muncy is merely adequate at 2nd, having Petersen play first will give you a very weak right side. Not good!
I agree with you about Pederson learning first base, but there is another factor — Bellinger’s right shoulder. He has a history of the shoulder popping-out-of-socket and it happened again several weeks ago when he dove for a ground ball. At the time the Dodgers said that to avoid another occurrence that could lead to a significant injury and loss of playing time, Bellinger would only be used at first base in emergency situations. Do not under estimate the value of Cody Bellinger in RF. He is by far the best defensive right fielder this season; almost doubling Mookie Betts defensive runs saved and a defensive WAR of 6.9 compared to Betts 2.5 — Betts considered to be one of the best defensive right fielders in MLB.