Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — The All-Star break is always a good time to take stock of your squad and figure out exactly where the team is headed in the second half. First, to see what parts of the team can be improved internally, but also to see if there are any glaring needs that should be addressed before the trade deadline.
Before Saturday’s first half finale with the Angels, Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts said that he would grade out the team at about an A- for the first half, and we at DodgersBeat don’t disagree with that assessment. Indeed, we are happy to report that the state of the franchise is strong. However, there is always room to get better. So, with that goal in mind, let’s look at how each part of the team looks at mid-season. We’ll start today with the Dodger infield, which is quickly becoming one of the best in baseball.
Freeman, Turner consistent contributors
The most amazing thing about this infield is that we have got two guys, Freddie Freeman and Trea Turner, who have started every single game (all 90) at their position. They might have taken a break here and there at the tail end of a blowout, but those two names have been a fixture in the lineup, and have started more games by far than any other Dodger.
Max Muncy, last year’s first baseman, has become more of a utility guy in the infield, playing 35 games at third, 27 games, at second, and 13 games as a DH. Justin Turner has been taking more turns at DH as well, playing only about 50 games in the field in the first half. Gavin Lux has been pretty much the everyday second baseman, getting the occasional outfield assignment at which point Hanser Alberto would fill in. It’s interesting to note that Chris Taylor, who played infield quite a bit in the past, hasn’t played a single inning in the infield so far this year. With the trade of AJ Pollock in Spring Training, Taylor’s services are much more needed in the outfield, and Gavin Lux has transitioned into a larger role with the team.
Freddie Freeman (1B): .327 BA, 13 HR, 59 RBI
What can you say about Freddie? Other than the weird drama in Atlanta, he’s been everything that the Dodgers were hoping for when they signed him. When you watch this guy on a nightly basis, you really realize just what a great hitter he is, and how there is literally nowhere on the field that is safe from Freeman’s disciplined stroke. He leads the majors in opposite field hits, and his power is returning after a rather slow start. And with his surge in July, he has put himself at least in the conversation for MVP of the entire league. Right now his .927 OPS is second in the NL behind only Paul Goldschmidt. And while I’m sure he would like to have been picked for the All-Star team, he could use a little down time as well. Enjoy your family this week, Freddie, and hold onto whatever magic potion you’ve been taking for the second half of the year.
Gavin Lux (2B): .292 BA, 4 HR, 22 RBI
One of the big question marks when AJ Pollock left this “Team of All-Stars” was whether or not Gavin Lux was ready to step up and contribute every day. His 2021 had been up and down, with a couple of stints back in Oklahoma during some of the rough patches. But I think Lux’s play has pretty much put an end to those questions. This former top prospect is a bona fide big leaguer now. With no pitchers hitting this year, Lux has been camped out in the 9-hole most games, and his production has been something of a revelation. He’s not going after the big power numbers. Betts, Freeman, and Turner will take care of that. Instead, he’s become a scrappy hitter at the plate, spraying the ball around and taking what the defense will give him. In fact, his .292 average is good enough for 11th best in the NL. Keep it up, Gavin!
Justin Turner (3B): .252 BA, 8 HR, 51 RBI
Justin is 38 this year, so he’s not the player he once was, but thanks to the DH, he is able to rest a couple days a week, and remain a valuable part of the lineup. Things started very rocky for JT this season. His batting average started under .200 in April and stayed around the Mendoza line throughout most of May. However, Turner is a notorious slow starter. Once it started to warm up, so did Turner’s bat. In the last 30 games, Turner is hitting .321 with an .881 OPS. This is going to be critical going forward, as the JT/Muncy/Belli part of the batting order has been something of a dead zone in the early part of the year.
Trea Turner (SS): .306 BA, 14 HR, 68 RBI
The Dodgers score a lot of runs. And one of the main reasons for all those numbers on the scoreboard is playing shortstop. Trea Turner is quite simply having the best season of any shortstop in the National League. And, other than perhaps Xander Bogaerts in Boston, I can’t think of a more dynamic force at the position in the game right now. He’s not quite a true “five-tool” player yet, but his defense is getting a lot better. And whatever shortcomings he might have with the glove are more than made up for by what he brings to the table offensively. I fear this will be the last season that the soon-to-be free agent will be with the club, but that is a conversation for another day. In the meantime, let’s enjoy him while we got him.
Others…
I will be talking a lot more about Max Muncy in my post about the DH, but it should be noted here that he has been a pretty valuable piece on the defensive side, if only to get Justin Turner off his feet a bit at third. Hanser Alberto is a quintessential “good clubhouse guy” and his enthusiasm is sorely needed in a dugout with a lot of guys who take the game verrrrry seriously. He’s been okay in the sparing use he’s had out there, though, I’d hoped for a little better production at the plate. Hopefully, his big hit in the comeback win against the Cards will send him into the second half in a good place at the plate. I still am bummed out that Edwin Rios had to go on the IL. His 7 homers in just 27 games let me know that there is a bright future for this guy, if only he can stay on the field.
DODGERSBEAT RATING, INFIELD: A
