Mailbag Monday + latest Dodgers news
All your Dodgers news
Happy Monday, everyone!
Not one to brag, but looks like I was spot on with my best picture prediction from the Oscars. Shoutout to Anora!
Alright, let’s get to your mailbag questions as well as the latest Dodgers news!
Geoff Shackelford — It seems like based on stories out of Camelback that we are back to a five man rotation instead of six? What happened? Seemed like six man rotation made sense on multiple levels?
The plan is for the Dodgers to go with a five-man rotation until Shohei Ohtani returns. This actually makes a lot of sense. Once Ohtani returns, he won’t technically count as one of the 13 pitchers on the active roster as he’ll have two-way eligibility. It essentially means the Dodgers will get to carry an extra pitcher.
With him in the rotation, the Dodgers will have six starters while still being able to carry eight relievers. Without Ohtani in the rotation, the Dodgers would only be allowed to carry seven relievers if they had six starters. That would be brutal on the bullpen having only seven arms available.
Hopefully that made sense!
PapaJones — Why aren’t the Dodgers using Hunter at 3rd? I feel like Muncy has a better chance to see the IL than Freddie.
While I wish there was a way to get Hunter Feduccia more playing time, he has no experience at any position other than catcher during his minor league career.
Andrew Countis — Do the players, or even the superstar players, have any input on uniforms? If I recall correctly, what the team wears on a given night is usually the choice of the pitcher, although that may be an urban legend.
I believe the starting pitcher is the one who decides. I do remember a couple of years ago the Dodgers would wear their blue “Los Dodgers” jerseys when Julio Urias made a start at home. I know a lot of teams have scheduled dates for when they wear certain jerseys. Last year the Dodgers wore their new city connects for Saturday night home games.
The Dodgers don’t really have much of a uniform combination, so it’s not like the starting pitcher has a lot to choose from, but the starter does decide across baseball for various teams.
J. Zura — Besides Bote, Hope, Sauer; who else in the non-roster invitees has made serious impressions on Dodger Front Office & Coaching Staff? And combined with roster members who hasn't made great impressions straight out of the gate?
Also, do you think Dodgers might start regretting that Brasier DFA for Yates?
You pretty much hit on the names of NRI’s who have impressed so far. I’d add Josue De Paula to the mix as well. In regards to players on the 40-man who have disappointed, there have been a couple so far.
Andy Pages (.611 OPS)
Chris Taylor (.457 OPS)
Michael Conforto (.619 OPS)
Like I said in my last article, it’s still such a small sample size you can’t read TOO much into the production so far.
In regards to the Brasier move, I don’t think the Dodgers are regretting the move… at least not yet. I wasn’t a huge fan of the move at the time, mainly because you can never have enough pitching. It already looks like both Evan Phillips and Michael Kopech are going to begin the season on the injured list. You could sure use Brasier to fill the void for those two. Instead, the Dodgers will have to turn to their depth in the minor leagues.
I get the Dodgers needed to make some space on the 40-man roster, but I thought there were other routes they could have taken instead of releasing a proven veteran. I’d be stunned if the entire Dodgers bullpen is healthy at any point this season.
Other news & notes
Roki Sasaki is expected to make his Cactus League debut on Tuesday. The plan is for him to follow Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is expected to start and go 3-4 innings. It sounds like the plan for Sasaki is to also go 3-4 innings. Based on the timeline, Sasaki would make one more Cactus League start before making his MLB debut in Tokyo.
Will Smith made his spring debut last week, but is still dealing with a deep bone bruise on his left ankle. From Dave Roberts on the injury: “I just don’t think it’s something that’s going to go away anytime soon. So it is what it is. We’re hoping as time goes on at some point, but it’s not impeding at all.”
For relief help, Brett Honeywell is out there. He’ll eat some innings.