Is Belli Back?

After more than a week of hearing Dodgers manager Dave Roberts repeatedly say that two-time All-Star, former National League MVP, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner, and 2017 NL Rookie of the Year Cody Bellinger would eventually come around at the plate, it appears that the 26-year-old Scottsdale, AZ native and Dodgers first-round draft pick in 2013 out of Hamilton High School in Chandler, AZ may finally be doing so.

After getting off to an atrocious 4-for-27 (.148) start through his first 12 Spring Training games and going 0-for-his-last-13 with 11 strikeouts, the extremely popular Dodgers outfielder finally got his fifth hit of the Spring during Wednesday night’s 12-1 pounding of the Cleveland Guardians at Goodyear Ballpark. And while Spring Training games are often referred to as “meaningless games,” you can bet that Belli – and his manager and teammates – were ecstatic with his fourth-inning bloop RBI single into short left field.

It was little, but it was huge.
(Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)

“Maybe that’s the little blooper that gets Bellinger back on track,” former Dodgers outfielder and current broadcaster Rick Monday said during Wednesday night’s simulcast.

Again, although Spring Training games (and stats) mean absolutely nothing come Opening Day, there is zero doubt that Bellinger breathed a huge sigh of relief after his 150-foot(-ish) blooper.

As they say, “You’ve got to crawl before you can walk.”

Well done, Belli!

Play Ball!

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5 Responses to “Is Belli Back?”

  1. baseball1439 says:

    Not even close.

    • Jesse Pearce says:

      Spot on! Not that the NL has the DH, Bellinger’s swing mechanics are the worst in MLB.

      • jalex says:

        i dont understand this roller coaster.
        when he opens up and shortens the swing he is a monster.
        with all of their FO and video capabilities, how can they not get this guy to consistently recreate that muscle memory????

        • Jesse Pearce says:

          My personal guess — Bellinger is too stubborn to accept advice. He needs the metaphorical 2″ X 4″ from Friedman — “your swing is awful and the season is too important to all of the other players, front office, and fans — you will stay at Camelback to fix your swing, then you will be optioned to OKC and earn your way back on to the roster.”

          • baseball1439 says:

            You nailed it.Can’t be a good hitter if all you want to do is hit HR, many think he has lost his confidence, I think he needs to lose his arrogance.

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