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The Dodgers are flipping their center infield alignment. Mookie Betts is getting the beginning at shortstop whereas Gavin Lux will likely be at second base for this night’s Cactus League matchup in opposition to the Reds. Supervisor Dave Roberts referred to as the swap “everlasting, for now” when chatting with reporters (link via Fabian Ardaya of the Athletic).
Whereas that leaves open the potential of returning to their earlier association sooner or later, Betts goes to open the season on the infield’s hardest place. The Dodgers entered camp planning to have the previous MVP at second base with Lux at shortstop. The latter’s inconsistent throwing accuracy this spring changed the equation, as Roberts acknowledged final evening.
There’s no query about Betts’ premium athleticism and general defensive acumen. Nonetheless, it is a notable wager to position on a participant with so little infield expertise on the MLB degree. Betts didn’t play the infield frequently as a significant leaguer till final season. The Dodgers gave him 485 innings at second base and 98 frames at shortstop. Betts drew a robust +6 grade from Defensive Runs Saved on the keystone. Statcast, then again, estimated he was one run under par. His pattern as a shortstop is just too small to attract important conclusions, though he was charged with three errors there in opposition to solely two errors at second base.
That Betts instantly performed a strong second base after spending most of his 10-year MLB profession in proper subject gives some optimism about his possibilities of dealing with the left facet of the infield. But it’s clearly not what the Dodgers supposed coming into camp. Betts had not less than had ample second base expertise throughout his time as a prospect within the Pink Sox’s system, logging virtually 2000 innings there earlier than being pushed to the outfield due to the presence of Dustin Pedroia. His minor league shortstop expertise consisted of 13 begins between rookie and short-season ball in 2011-12.
The left facet infield protection turns into an vital storyline for the Dodgers. Betts will likely be joined on most days by third baseman Max Muncy, a below-average defender who’s within the lineup for his bat. The Dodgers have a number of shortstop-capable choices off the bench. Miguel Rojas is a plus defender. Enrique Hernández and Chris Taylor can log shortstop motion as a part of their utility obligations. Rojas hasn’t produced a lot offensively over the previous two seasons, although, whereas neither Hernández nor Taylor is an efficient match for on a regular basis shortstop work.
Lux will transfer again to second base. He has spent the vast majority of his MLB profession there after transferring off shortstop as a prospect. That was partially as a result of the Dodgers had Corey Seager and Trea Turner, respectively, by means of the 2022 season. It was additionally a mirrored image of anxiety-related throwing points that Lux battled when he was a prospect. Public defensive metrics have graded him as an above-average second baseman. His throwing has been much less of a difficulty on the fitting facet of the diamond. He has plus vary for the place.
Protecting Lux within the beginning lineup in any respect is a calculated transfer on the Dodgers’ half to maximise their offense. They might have bumped him to the bench or optioned him to Triple-A as soon as they decided he wasn’t a viable shortstop. That may have allowed them to maintain Betts at second and set up Rojas again into the lineup. Doing so would have subtracted a promising bat. The lefty-swinging Lux had a strong .276/.346/.399 line over 471 plate appearances in 2022, making him a significantly better offensive contributor than Rojas is. He missed all of final season after tearing the ACL in his proper knee throughout Spring Coaching.
Roberts indicated that Betts might sometimes slide again to second base on days when Lux is out of the lineup. That’d most steadily come in opposition to left-handed pitching and permit a right-handed hitter like Rojas, Hernández or Taylor to step in at shortstop. They might additionally time these substitutions to enhance the infield protection once they’re beginning a ground-ball pitcher like Bobby Miller. L.A. has a number of key high-grounder relievers (e.g. Brusdar Graterol, Blake Treinen, Ryan Brasier) who’d additionally profit from a greater defensive alignment behind them late in video games.
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