Friday, March 8, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
For the second straight game, the Dodgers’ game was rain-abbreviated. When the game ended, the Dodgers were losing to the Cincinnati Reds 4-to-0in the fifth.
Justin Wilson pitched a perfect first inning. The veteran lefthander hopes to make the Opening Day roster.
Although Gus Varland allowed two runs, Ryan Yarbrough stopped the rally in the second but allowed two runs in the third. Yarbrough had a perfect fourth.
Earlier in the day, Dave Roberts announced Mookie Betts will play shortstop in the foreseeable future. Gavin Lux will return to second base where he experienced success in 2022. Friday, even at second base, Lux made two poor throws. His lower body isn’t working with his upper body.
Betts was originally drafted as a shortstop, and he can be a decent defensive shortstop with a little practice. He will have a satisfactory range and a strong throwing arm. As the season proceeds, Betts’ defense at shortstop will improve until the Dodgers find another shortstop.
After Lux’s offense has been great this spring, the Dodgers don’t want to lose his bat. Normally, the Dodgers would use Lux as their designated hitter, but they signed a guy named Shohei Ohtani to be their DH. Lux is a contact hitter with speed but doesn’t have much power. Ohtani can have forty home runs and forty stolen bases. Lux can’t have these statistics.
Max Muncy, except for Wednesday’s game, has played good defense at third base. After a poor defensive 2023 season, Muncy worked hard to improve his third base, including losing fifteen pounds. At Dodger Fest, Muncy confessed that he lost confidence after three difficult plays. However, he wants to improve.
Having Betts, a competent shortstop, playing next to Muncy will help. While Betts wanted to be a Gold Glove second baseman, he will do anything to help the Dodgers win. The likelihood of Betts winning a Gold Glove at shortstop is slim, but playing shortstop will help him to win a National League MVP if he can duplicate his 2023 offensive statistics. While the Dodgers don’t care about this, Betts will be the second player to win the MVP in each league.
