Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES — As we continue toward the All-Star break with nary a Dodger in the starting line-up for Denver later this month (boo!), let’s move along in our mid-term report cards and today focus on a real strength for the Dodgers: the infield.
Seager Injury Key in First Half
Of course, the huge loss of Corey Seager for much of the season has put Dave Roberts into scramble mode to patch up for his loss, but for the most part, the Dodgers have responded well to Seager’s IL stint and in fact have thrived in his absence. When Seager went down with the broken bone in his hand from a HBP on May 16, the Dodgers were just starting to come out of the 20-game tailspin that they had been in since mid-April. With Seager on the IL, the Dodgers have gone 29-13, which bodes well when we get such a critical piece back later this month. Nevertheless, let’s look at how the team has fared position-by-position, and compare the reality to my pre-season grades.
First Base
Preseason Grade: B- / Mid-season Grade: A-
Coming into the season, I was unsure which Max Muncy we were going to get in 2021. The regular season Max of last year, who hit a buck 92? Or Magnificent Mashing Max of the 2020 postseason? Luckily, it has been far more the latter. Muncy has been great all year, and was robbed of an All-Star starter spot in the fan voting. His OBP is currently first in the National League, and his OPS ranks him fourth. His flare for hitting dramatic home runs is becoming legendary and his versatility has come in handy as Roberts has used him occasionally at second base.
And if there is a lefthander throwing, Dave Roberts has the advantage of putting in veteran Albert Pujols, who has been quite the steal from the Angels. The Machine’s stats with the Dodgers against lefties are what makes him a vital part of the roster going forward. Matt Beaty also has seen a little time at first, but he’s been mostly an outfielder this year, so is barely worth mentioning at this position. Still, all in all, it’s been a very good and productive first half at this position.
Second Base
Preseason Grade: B / Mid-season Grade: B-
Here where the Seager injury has been felt most acutely. With regular second baseman Gavin Lux being forced into emergency service at short, second base has become a bit of a free-for-all in the last six weeks. At least a half a dozen players (including Austin Barnes, believe it or not) have been used at second in Lux’s absence. Zach McKinstry has proven himself worth of being on the field, but he spent a lot of time on the IL as well. Of course, the best of the bunch has been Chris Taylor, but with Bellinger’s injury, he’s had to spend much more time in the outfield this year, where he has played 50 games.
However, Taylor has been a very good fielder wherever he has been put in the lineup and his hitting continues to amaze this year. I’m guessing that once the Dodgers get Seager back, Lux will platoon at second and only be in the lineup against right handed pitching. Taylor is too valuable a bat to be riding the pines in the postseason.
Third Base
Preseason Grade: B+ / Mid-season Grade: A
Justin Turner continues to pay dividends late in his career, making his off-season signing perhaps the most significant move the Dodgers made last winter. His slash line (.296/.388/.487) is the best among all NL third baseman, and JT was another Dodger who got robbed when the All-Star starters were named on July 1. The problem at this position is that there isn’t a whole lot of depth if Turner gets injured or needs a day off. Taylor has played a game or two over there, and of course Muncy has experience at third, but with Edwin Rios out for the season with an injury, there really isn’t much to choose from off the bench. Stay healthy, Justin. Please.
Shortstop
Preseason Grade: A / Mid-season Grade: C
Here’s where we’ve had the biggest difference between expectation and reality this year. It seemed like Corey Seager was just about to put it all together when he got hit by that fateful pitch in May, and here it is July, and we’re still waiting for his return to active status. There had been hope that we would be back prior to the All-Star break, but those hopes have been extinguished when Seager was transferred to the 60-day IL, which would make his return no earlier than July 15. And then, it will surely take some time for Seager to ramp up his level of play, so I would think it wouldn’t be until mid-August that we can judge what we’re going to get out of Seager the rest of the year.
So, how has Gavin Lux done at shortstop in Seager’s stead. Okay, I guess. Not spectacular. He’s had moments where I thought he was going to put it all together and go on a viscous tear at the plate, but lately his AB’s haven’t been too pretty to watch. In his last 30 games, he’s hitting a measly .188. And in the field, he’s booted some pretty routine plays, so he needs to work on that going forward as well. His six errors put his fielding percentage at short at only .963, and the Dodgers need better than that out of the six-hole in the defense. However, these problems might all become moot once Seager returns. Seager is not a great defender, but the other things he brings to the table more than make up for whatever defensive inadequacies he might have.
