Mookie Betts.... your starting shortstop
Pretty big news out of camp
How quickly things can change during spring training.
One of the biggest storylines of the offseason was Mookie Betts becoming the Dodgers’ second baseman. That’s the position he wanted to play, so the Dodgers constructed their team around that.
Well, that lasted a couple of weeks.
On Friday, Dave Roberts told the media that Betts would be switching positions again, sliding over to shortstop. This isn’t a one or two game sample size. According to Roberts, the move is “permanent”.
If you’ve been watching games this spring, this wouldn’t come as a major surprise. Gavin Lux, to put it as kindly as I can, has been horrific at shortstop.
Lux missed all of last season with an ACL injury. He’s worked his ass off to come back and get to this position. All offseason, the entire Dodgers staff has spoke highly of his recovery and have been saying he’ll be their every day shortstop.
Yeah, about that……
It’s been a rough spring for Lux. I don’t have the numbers to back it up, but I don’t believe he’s made a throw to first base that hasn’t ended up in the dirt or forced Freeman to extend to make the catch. It seems like there’s been an issue with every throw he’s made.
The final straw appeared to be Wednesday’s game. Lux had about five opportunities at shortstop and every throw was an adventure. He short-hopped it and forced Freeman to make a Gold Glove caliber snag. Or, he’d throw it way off the base and make Freeman stretch to catch it.
Every throw looked like a struggle. After numerous weeks of bad play, the Dodgers finally opted to make a switch.
Betts has experience at shortstop, as he played there last season for a number of games. Although he’s more than capable of fielding the position, this isn’t what the Dodgers had in mind at all. They want Betts at second base, trust me. Now, they gotta figure out what to do with the season less than two weeks away.
It sounds like the plan is for Lux to get every day reps at second base. You’d think that would be easier for him, considering it’s a shorter throw to first base. Like I said…. you’d think that.
On Friday night, Lux got the start at second base. I missed the game, but thanks to Twitter I saw the highlights. Lux had two opportunities to make a throw to first. His first throw was turning a double play, where he bounced the throw to first base, allowing the runner to beat the throw. His next was a routine grounder to second base. Lux side-armed the throw and put it in the dirt again, forcing Freeman to scoop it.
I don’t know what is going on with Lux. I don’t know if this is his ACL injury holding him back or if he just has the “yips”. I wasn’t around for the Steve Sax era, but I don’t ever remember seeing a player struggle this bad throwing the ball. It would be one thing if it was like 10 percent of the time (which is still really bad) but this is EVERY throw he makes.
According to The Athletic, the Dodgers remain interested in Brewers shortstop Willy Adames. If the Dodgers go down that route, that would be best for the club. Adames is fantastic defensively and has 30+ home run upside. Have him as your shortstop and shift Betts back over to second base. Not sure if the Dodgers pay the price, but at this point you might need to.
I’m rooting for Lux. Overcoming the horrific injury he suffered last year had to be really grueling. Now, he’s lost his starting shortstop job and there’s a chance he’s battling to be in the every day lineup.
Luckily the Dodgers have other options in Miguel Rojas, Chris Taylor and Enrique Hernandez. Although they are solid pieces, the Dodgers would much prefer to have Lux’s bat in the lineup. He’s been having a great spring at the plate, as he’s hitting .348. Having him as your No. 9 hitter would be extremely valuable for the Dodgers.
Hopefully he overcomes his throwing woes. If he doesn’t, well….. the Dodgers will have a difficult decision to make sooner rather than later.
The man bowled a perfect game at a professional competition. He probably has a Nobel prize lying around somewhere.
Keep Lux at short to start the season, he was just dealing with nerves and the pressure of being the Dodgers starting shortstop. He's been making throws from short to first his whole life, just give him time.