A few months ago, when Andy Pages was struggling with his offense, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated that he uses 150 plate appearances as a guideline to assess performance. Fortunately for Pages and the Dodgers, the 24-year-old outfielder became an offensive force before reaching the 150 judgment point.
Dodgers left fielder Michael Conforto currently has stepped into the batters box 296 times this season (almost 2X Roberts’ guideline) and the results are ugly: .175/.294/.306 slash line with a wRC+ of 75 (25% below Major League average).
(ESPN)
It’s well past time for a change.
The best move for the team is to add a Rawlings Gold Glove player to the outfield – Mookie Betts. Mookie should set aside his personal desire to play shortstop and do what is best for the team – he returns to right field. That move would push Teoscar Hernández to left field, the less demanding defensive position, and Andy Pages remains the regular in center.
(SportsNet LA)
Shortstop and second base would be manned by Tommy Edman and a platoon of Hyeseong Kim and Miguel Rojas. Third base would be the regular position of the Dodgers number three prospect, 23-year-old Alex Freeland until Max Muncy returns. Effectively, Freeland replaces Conforto in the batting order.
How does this change happen?
Betts does what great leaders do, he goes to Roberts and volunteers to go back to right field to improve the team. He embraces the Muncy attitude of doing what is best for the team over his desire to play shortstop.
If there is a physical reason why Betts can no longer play right field, then the team must move to another option.
Perhaps putting the development of 24-year-old catcher Dalton Rushing on hold and moving him to left field. Or, promoting 27-year-old, power-hitting outfielder Ryan Ward to the roster and playing him in left field. Ward has nothing left to prove in Triple-A as he is slashing .301/.387/.580/.967 for the Oklahoma City Comets.
(OKC Comets)
Risky? Yes, but taking either action is a much better option than continuing to put Conforto in the lineup that is the classic definition of insanity – doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
The last option is a trade, but trading for an outfielder who will add offense and defense will require a substantial package of prospects. There are rumors that Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran may be available. The 28-year-old Duran would fit nicely in left or center fields and batting in the lower half of the Dodgers lineup. What would the Dodgers have to give up for the lefty swinging outfielder? With other contenders (San Diego Padres for example) looking to improve their outfield, it may take a package of Freeland and pitcher Ben Casparius.
The best option? Time for Betts to do what is best for the team and return to right field.
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