June 21st, 2022 at 7:00 am 
by 0799291000348 * * *
“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.”
Hall of Fame Manager Tommy Lasorda
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Players and diehard fans alike will acknowledge that baseball is a grind. Even when a player makes it up through the minor league ranks to finally play in The Show, there is still a learning curve. All anyone can do is their best in any given moment, which may look different from game to game.
Luckily, the season is long, and there is always a new game with an opportunity for a clean slate. If fans get frustrated, one can only imagine how players feel playing on such a big stage in front of tens of thousands. Extraordinary plays get celebrated while mistakes get magnified a hundred-fold.
The match-up on Sunday against the Cleveland Guardians was a prime example of this. Los Angeles would ultimately drop the series to Cleveland with the 5-3 loss to close out the weekend.
Let’s set the table…
The Dodgers are shorthanded in the outfield with right fielder Mookie Betts on the injured list after cracking a rib in a collision with center fielder Cody Bellinger on Wednesday. Betts is expected to be out for a minimum of two weeks while he heals. Utility infielder/outfielder Zach McKinstry was recalled but was not guaranteed to make it to the stadium before Sunday’s 1:10 PM PT start time.
Enter utility infielder Eddy Alvarez. It is unclear how many of the Dodger faithful realized this was only his second start in right field … ever. He is typically a utility infielder specializing at third base, shortstop, and second base. Between playing an unfamiliar defensive position and a brutal afternoon Dodger Stadium sun, he had a rough go of it on Sunday.
(Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)
Despite being tested, Alvarez holds himself to a high standard. In his postgame interview with SportsNet LA’s Kirsten Watson, he took responsibility for his pitfalls during the game.
“My second time playing right field, and just like my fifth game in the outfield,” Alvarez stated. “But I do hold myself accountable for a lot of the runs scored today. I hold myself to a high standard and I didn’t realize how tough it was to read the ball off the bat in the daytime. Just the way the sun hits the bleachers a little bit, or the chairs, so I got a lot of work to do.”
He mentioned that this was the first time he has ever had to battle the sun this much. Also, playing in Dodger Stadium is much different than playing at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City.
It does not help to try to fill the large shoes of five-time All-Star, five-time Gold Glover, four-time Silver Slugger, two-time World Series champion, former MLB batting champion, and former MLB Player of the year, Mookie Betts.
Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts summed up the challenging play in the top of the ninth inning when Cleveland designated hitter Josh Naylor doubled on a fly ball to Alvarez in right field to drive in a run.
“It was a tough play. You’re still dealing with the wall and obviously, Eddy hasn’t had a lot of time out there. If there’s anyone in baseball that can probably make that play it would be Mookie. But that’s certainly a high bar.”
(Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)
It may be frustrating, but his work ethic and accountability definitely shine through. Alvarez is determined and wants to prove his worth to the team.
“It’s a tough situation to be put in, but it’s a situation I want to be put in,” Alvarez asserted. “I want to be out there again tomorrow or the next game. I’m just that kind of guy and that player. Yeah, this one was definitely on me.”
Practice makes perfect. As many know, when a player is new to a position, the ball has a way of finding you. Many were questioning what went into the decision for the right field. Roberts broke down what went into his planning process.
“McKinstry just got here. Neither one has played a whole lot of outfield,” Roberts explained. “I wanted Eddy to have a chance to take some at-bats and you got to look at where to put him in the outfield. CT (Chris Taylor) hasn’t played a whole lot of right field either. I made that decision.”
“It certainly not Eddy’s fault, he hasn’t played right field,” Doc said defending Alvarez. “I want to get his bat in there and the last play was a tough play. I know he’d like to have the error back. It’s a tough sun field. It’s tough. He’s doing the best he can. I’m sure he said it was on him, but if it’s on anyone, it’d be on me for sure. He’s doing the best he can.”
Sunday was the last official game of Spring. Here’s to the Boys in Blue becoming the Boys of Summer and finding their stride despite a series of costly injuries.
Let’s go Dodgers!
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Posted in 
it was ignorant to put him in RF with the sun in his face.
that high sky would have been tough on anyone and as i recall, our opponents also dropped one down the line that (if memory serves me) gave Smith an additional opportunity resulting in a single.
playing LF would have given him, and the team, a better chance at success.
Lux has LF experience. Barnes has LF experience, and yes having both catchers on the field is certainly viable and previously experienced.
why wasn’t mckinstry up already instead of this guy?
Some of the decisions this organization makes are infuriating.
Could have put Belli in RF, Taylor in CF, and Lux in LF and Alvarez on the infield. Roberts decisions make me shake my head a lot of times.
that would have been my preference as well. it would be the strongest defensive outfield they could have provided. i believe CT3 is much better in CF than in the corners but they wont move bellinger. he hasn’t played RF at all this year and only saw time there in 7 games last year starting only 5.
i think the thing that made this team great for several years was playing for the name on the front and “passing the baton” but now it seams superstar demands and hitting for homers is more important than moving runners and playing position players in the best interest of the team.