Los Angeles Dodgers middle fielder Andy Pages had a tremendous Opening Day recreation, sparking the Dodgers’ offense and offering to be a key cog within the lineup.
Pages, who was in the midst of the lineup for many of final season, dropped in the direction of the top of the 12 months and within the postseason, ending up on the backside.
Regardless of enjoying at a excessive stage throughout Spring Coaching, he made the Opening Day lineup at No. 8, however he confirmed that his preseason kind was no fluke.
In opposition to the Arizona Diamondbacks, Pages went two-for-four with a house run and three RBIs.
The Dodgers had been down 2-0 in opposition to Arizona, however within the fifth inning, after the Dodgers began to work on starter Zac Gallen, Pages delivered a homer to provide the crew a lead and help starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Pages was hitting .340/.370/.500 with 9 RBIs within the Cactus League.
Andy Pages’ mentality
Pages went ice chilly within the postseason, particularly within the World Collection, to the purpose the place supervisor Dave Roberts most well-liked going with a hobbled Tommy Edman, who had a severe ankle harm, quite than enjoying Pages down the stretch.
Nonetheless, he didn’t let his struggles get him down, and he seems to be coming into the season with a recent mindset.
“What occurred final 12 months is prior to now. It may occur to anybody,” Pages mentioned. “It’s not going to carry me again mentally this 12 months. I really feel good proper now.”
Roberts has taken discover of Pages’ confidence and has developed a respect for his resilience.
“(This) is definitely a giant confidence enhance,” Roberts mentioned. “Coming into this spring, he was in nice form, and his mindset was in a great spot. I’m positive that fireside, that gasoline, to not relinquish his place later within the season is one thing that motivates him.”
The Dodgers don’t want Pages to be a fantastic hitter, however his resurgence will definitely assist a crew that, on paper, is already the favourite to take house one other World Collection title.
He stayed with the Dodgers as an alternative of going to the WBC for Crew Puerto Rico, and the transfer seemingly paid off.
