The Dodgers had been prepared to provide Gavin Lux the reins at shortstop after getting back from an ACL damage. Nonetheless, his poor protection this spring coaching appears to have compelled their hand.
On Friday, Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts introduced that Lux would transfer again to second base. In a corresponding transfer, Dodgers famous person Mookie Betts will transition to shortstop.
Whereas spring coaching is ripe with overreactions, this transfer doesn’t seem to be one. On Thursday, the Dodgers’ supervisor modified his tune as regards to who would begin at shortstop this season. When requested concerning the transfer on Friday, Roberts mentioned that for now, this infield alignment is everlasting.
How the Dodgers Dealt with the Gavin Lux Scenario
Los Angeles had a number of methods to deal with Lux’s struggles at shortstop. They might have began Miguel Rojas, Chris Taylor, or Kiké Hernández primarily at shortstop over Lux.
Whether or not as a platoon or for a extra prolonged interval, this could have given Lux time to get extra snug within the place. Nonetheless, doing so would have taken away at-bats from him, somebody who would profit from on a regular basis taking part in time.
President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman may have acquired one other shortstop by way of commerce. This might nonetheless occur and, once more, Willy Adames stays a prime candidate for the Dodgers.
Nonetheless, since none of that occurred, it’s clear the Dodgers nonetheless imagine in and worth Lux.
They might have moved off him solely or despatched him right down to the minors for extra seasoning. As a substitute, they opted to shift him again to second base and maintain his bat within the lineup.
Final 12 months, the membership gave Miguel Vargas up till the commerce deadline to show himself on the main league degree. They despatched him down after he struggled each on the plate and defensively. It could have been laborious to imagine that the Dodgers wouldn’t afford their former prime prospect this luxurious.
Why Did the Dodgers Transfer Gavin Lux Off Shortstop?
The Dodgers transferring Lux has nothing to do along with his athleticism. He has the fast twitch and agility to get to nearly something hit his approach. The issue comes right down to his arm power.
He grades out within the eighth percentile in arm power in keeping with Statcast. That locations him useless final amongst shortstops in 2023 in that class.
Justin Turner skilled an analogous drop off again in 2019. He couldn’t make the throws from third base in addition to he used to. So, he developed the flexibility to one-hop the ball from third to Max Muncy, on the time, at first.
Lux had been doing the identical factor this 12 months in spring coaching. After a number of errant throws in his first few makes an attempt, he began bouncing the ball to Freddie Freeman at first. In doing so, he’s making an attempt to get the ball throughout the diamond precisely, however seldom in time.
By transferring Lux again to second base, the Dodgers can cover Lux’s lackluster arm power. The throw from second base to first is considerably shorter than from shortstop. Plus, with using the revamped shift, Lux is likely to be standing between first and second throwing to both bag.
What to Anticipate from Gavin Lux in 2024
The previous Minor League Participant of the 12 months appeared in 102 video games at second base again in 2022. Whereas he regarded uncomfortable at instances, the defensive metrics graded out favorably for him.
Regardless of 9 errors on the 12 months, in keeping with Statcast, Lux graded out within the eightieth percentile of outs-above-average. He additionally accounted for 3 defensive runs saved in keeping with Fangraphs.
As talked about above, transferring Lux again to second alerts that the Dodgers nonetheless worth his offense. They’re looking for methods to maintain his bat within the lineup with out compromising an excessive amount of defensively.
He commented prior to now how he a lot prefers taking part in shortstop as a result of he feels extra athletically free. Nonetheless, it appears like he must study second base if he desires to remain on the roster — a minimum of with L.A.
Will Mookie Betts Be a Good Shortstop?
Betts wished to earn a Gold Glove at second base, and he very properly may have. That objective turns into considerably tougher transferring to shortstop.
Not solely are there higher defenders there general, however shortstop is by far Betts’ worst defensive place. For context, in 107 video games in proper area in 2023, Betts had an ideal 1.000 fielding proportion in keeping with Fangraphs.
That quantity ticked down ever so barely within the 70 video games he appeared second base with a .991 fielding proportion. It’s a small pattern dimension, however his fielding proportion dropped all the best way to .935 in 16 appearances at quick. He dedicated three of his 5 errors at shortstop in about 10 p.c of the video games.
This doesn’t imply Betts can be a foul shortstop by any means. He confirmed flashes of his elite athleticism in that small pattern dimension at quick final 12 months. Now, he has to place it collectively for the entire season — or a minimum of the start of it till the Dodgers discover a resolution. His being simply a mean defensive shortstop nonetheless makes him probably the most helpful gamers in all of baseball.
The Dodgers, as would anybody, are betting on their $365 million participant figuring issues out at shortstop over a youthful participant coming off damage. This may need been one of the best in-house resolution to this downside. This manner, the Dodgers nonetheless maintain Lux within the lineup, Betts within the infield, and sacrifice a lot much less on protection.
Photograph Credit score: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports activities
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