Steve Webb
Two Proven Veterans will split time
LOS ANGELES — Today’s post is practically a carbon copy of last year’s at this position. We have too very capable players who will be splitting time in left field for your Dodgers this year, and both of them are coming off very strong 2021 seasons. And with the newly implemented DH, Dave Roberts‘s job just got a whole lot easier, because Doc is sure to want both these guys on the field as often as he can get them out there.
AJ Pollock (2021: .297 AVG., 27 HR, 69 RBI)
What can you say about AJ Pollock in 2021? He was just really, really, really good. Especially during the summer months after he came back from a hamstring injury in May, Pollock was at times the best and most dangerous hitter in this Dodger lineup. It took him a while to get ramped up again but from July onward, he was a bat you wanted in the lineup every day. After the All-Star break, Pollock hit .324 with a .937 OPS.
He missed some time toward the end of the year, but he picked up right where he left off when he returned and carried his momentum right through the postseason. In the playoffs last year, he hit .324 with a couple of home runs and 9 RBI and it was he who was stranded on third in Game 6 of the NLCS when the Dodgers late inning rally just couldn’t come up with a game tying single.
Now, with the universal DH, Pollock will probably spend less time in the field this year. Which is probably a good thing, since at 34, he is not the Golden Glove winner that he once was back in Arizona. Still, he is a capable defender, and Dodger pitchers can feel very comfortable no matter who is in left field. I imagine Pollock will probably get a little more than half the starts out there this year, because Chris Taylor is such a valuable piece that he will be moving around a lot more to give guys time off, I’d imagine.
Chris Taylor (2021: .254 AVG. 20 HR, 73 RBI)
Chris Taylor was another Dodger who came up big time for the Boys in Blue last season, so much so that he got himself added to the All-Star team for the first time in his career. From his epic 14 pitch at-bat against the Cardinals early in the year, to that walk-off winner that he put into the Dodger bullpen in the Wild Card game, Taylor filled 2021 with a lot of great memories for the Chavez Ravine faithful.
Taylor is the Swiss Army knife of the Dodgers defense. Last year alone, he played every position on the field except pitcher, catcher, and first base. In fact, last year he only played 30 games in left, simply because he was needed elsewhere on the field due to the injuries to Bellinger, Betts, and Seager. Hopefully, the Dodgers can avoid that kind of injury bug this year, but if somebody does go down, it’s good to know Taylor can be plugged in anywhere. Have glove, will travel.
Others…
In addition to Pollock and Taylor, Gavin Lux could be put out there from time to time. In addition, non-roster invitee Kevin Pillar is a solid ballplayer, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t figure out a way to play himself into the lineup at some point this year. I hate to sound like a broken record, but Doc has a lot of choices in the seven-hole this year. A good problem to have.
DODGERSBEAT GRADE: B+
