The Dodgers could have a brand new proper fielder after they play the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, one with six Gold Glove awards on the place on his resume.
To say Mookie Betts is an ideal match for the Dodgers’ inconsistent outfield is an understatement.
Nonetheless, it took a couple of conversations between Betts and supervisor Dave Roberts to get on the identical web page. Roberts introduced Friday that Betts agreed to his third place change this 12 months.
Betts started spring coaching because the Dodgers’ second baseman, then rapidly shifted to shortstop when Gavin Lux struggled on the place early in Cactus League play. The most recent change, he stated, was a “largely mutual” determination.
“I simply need to win,” Betts stated.
Roberts made it clear that the (largely) mutual understanding was achieved over a collection of conversations between him and Betts.
“To be fairly trustworthy we speak every single day about it,” Roberts stated. “It wasn’t about ‘hey one thing occurred’ and ‘hey that is what we have to do now.’ … It’s basically studying the room, me and him speaking. That’s a part of my job, is to get a really feel for the place he’s at and the place the ball membership’s at.
“That is one thing we each really feel, the group feels as nicely, that is the most effective factor for the Dodgers in 2024.”
Betts made 72 begins this 12 months earlier than a 98-mph fastball struck his left hand in June, inflicting a fracture. He had began each recreation both at shortstop or second base.
For all his want to stay on the infield, and all of the enhancements he’d made at shortstop since March, ultimately Betts was a sufferer of his personal previous success in proper subject.
A transfer again to second base was successfully not an choice due to Lux’s shortcomings on protection. Because the All-Star break, Lux has been, by one metric, the second-best hitter within the Nationwide League however is restricted to taking part in second base.
The Dodgers will set up Tommy Edman in middle subject as soon as he’s activated from the injured record; Edman is about to start a minor league rehab task Saturday with Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis.
The crew’s different outfield choices have been inconsistent with the bat, the glove, or each. Andy Pages had probably the most success on the plate, however he’s slashing .244/.301/.378 — a pedestrian 92 OPS+ — and struggling at occasions to deal with middle subject.
Kevin Kiermaier, a four-time Gold Glove winner in middle subject, has a 51 OPS+. Jason Heyward, Kiké Hernandez and Chris Taylor are all higher with the glove than the bat.
Apart from left fielder Teoscar Hernandez, the Dodgers merely haven’t gotten the two-way manufacturing they hoped for from their outfield in 2024. Beginning subsequent week, that figures to alter.
Photograph Credit score: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports activities
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