The Dodgers offense is about. The pitching is generally set. The protection is with, let's wait and see, we have now. It's been the overall feeling all through spring coaching that Gavin Lux has struggled sufficient to keep away from the intersection, a task that now belongs to Mookie Betts, together with an occasional Miguel Rojas. The staff nonetheless determined to stay with Lux in an everyday place, however as a second baseman, and even there he was not so sturdy.
If there's any trigger for concern for these Dodgers, it's the protection within the infield, with Max Muncy at third and Lux at second, and Betts enjoying shortstop, greater than a decade after doing so recurrently.
Nevertheless, there’s a massive distinction between Muncy and Lux, and it limits the extent of potential vulnerability this staff can have in 2024.
Muncy is a longtime veteran and recent off a contract extension, his enjoying time at third is assured. Which means the staff should dwell with a questionable job on the scorching nook, assuming Muncy can't make strides, which is believable given his profession arc, and betting his bat will make up for any shortfalls with the glove.
With Lux, the scenario is way more fluid, and though the younger shortstop pushed the bounds of his leash with poor glove work throughout the spring, the hope is that he might be effective at second base, the place he has performed recurrently in 2022.
Though Lux can construct on the final season earlier than his damage, and supply a great manufacturing with the bat, at this level it may be projected very troublesome for him to dwell as much as the hype of his potential days. Nevertheless, the concept of a controllable above-average infield hitter with all of the pedigree on the planet permits the Dodgers to provide Lux each alternative to take care of an on a regular basis function.
Dave Roberts may have given the second base job to one of many vets (Chris Taylor or Kiké Hernández) and never fear in regards to the defensive facet of issues. If you wish to push on protection, you could possibly additionally depart Rojas at shortstop — so far, Rojas has began at shortstop with Betts at second base all thrice the Dodgers have confronted a left-handed pitcher — however now’s the time to Lux to get these possibilities.
Offensively, the core of three MVPs plus Will Smith, Teoscar Hernández and Muncy in the midst of the order, creates a ton of flexibility with the remainder of the lineup.
We have now to do not forget that Lux comes from a devastating knee damage and as he said throughout the spring, there was a way of simply needing repetitions to get again in form. Coming by means of the minors, his glove wasn't the spotlight of his profile, however he wasn't thought of an excessive amount of of a legal responsibility.
The flexibleness of this staff has already been useful, pushing the veteran Betts on the planet in essentially the most difficult of the center roles.
Certainly one of two issues will occur all year long – both Lux lastly settles on the defensive finish, or the staff will look elsewhere for stability in that spot, particularly with many succesful choices at dwelling.
It's cheap to suppose that in just a few different organizations, Lux would have misplaced a beginning function with the way in which he checked out shortstop throughout spring coaching. Proper now although, the Dodgers can afford all of the endurance on the planet to let Lux settle in at second base.
