It’s Only Spring Training

In fact, it is only the first game of the 2020 Arizona Cactus League season, and the Dodgers were playing the San Francisco Giants, who will be ‘competing’ for the worst win-loss record in the National League regular season in 2020. Nonetheless, there were some really encouraging signs for the Dodgers.:

  • Max Muncy looked like he is ready for the 2020 regular season to start, going 2 for 2, including a home run that would have landed in McCovey Cove if the game had been played at the Giants Oracle Park.
  • Chris Taylor played flawlessly at shortstop and hit a long home run to the right-field bleachers. Hitting to the opposite field is a very good sign for Taylor.
  • Kiké Hernandez hit a monster home-run, well beyond the centerfield fence against a right-handed pitcher. Kiké has the power to hit home runs to any part of any ballpark; once he abandons his pull-everything mentality and consistently uses the whole field when hitting, and could very well make a lot of money playing this game as a regular.
  • Minor leaguers Omar Estevez, Rocky Gale, Cristian Santana, Zach Reks and Luke Raley with base hits.
  • Pitchers Tony Gonsolin, Dennis Santana, Marshall Kasowski, and Reymin Guduan were efficient, and journeyman minor leaguer Joe Broussard was overpowering facing Giants minor leaguers.
Kiké’s two-run blast in the top of the third inning proved to be the game-winning hit for the Dodgers on Saturday afternoon. (Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)

Room for improvement:

  • Tough start to spring training for A.J. Pollock with two strikeouts and a ground out.
  • A total of 15 strikeouts by the Dodgers with only four walks.
  • Matt Beaty and Edwin Rios played to a draw in their first competition for a 2020 bench spot. Both were hitless with a strikeout but played well defensively at third (Beaty) and first (Rios). Unless there is an injury or trade, one of these two will open the 2020 season at Triple-A Oklahoma City.

We often hear that spring training games are “meaningless games”. Not so for those players who are competing for very few spots on a roster that is literally loaded with veteran and star players. Every thrown pitch, every at-bat, and every defensive play is important. Do not tell Messrs Gonsolin, Santana, Guduan, Beaty, and Rios that these games are without meaning; their careers are in play every day.

Next up: The Dodgers play the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch in Game-2 of the 2020 Cactus League. Mookie Betts, Joc Pederson, and Corey Seager are all expected to make their Spring Training 2020 debuts in the (sold out) Sunday afternoon contest.

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3 Responses to “It’s Only Spring Training”

  1. Ron Cervenka says:

    There isn’t a worse contract in all of baseball than the Pollock contract. The Dodgers are on the hook with him for $47 million through the 2023 season. He has a player option in 2023 for $10 million which, of course, he WILL take because no other team in their right mind will give him anything even remotely close to this.

    I predict that the Dodgers will bite the bullet and unconditionally release him before the end of THIS season … after he spends most of it on the DL.

  2. SoCalBum says:

    OUCH! Reminding fans of Pollock’s contract is painful. I did not understand the signing when it happened and Pollock has done nothing to change my mind. But, I’m confident the Cubs would gladly exchange Jason Heyward’s 4 years / $96M for Pollock’s contract; or, even Yu Darvish and his 4 yr. / $81M

  3. Ron Cervenka says:

    Hey Boxout7 and Paul – you guys out there? Hope y’alls are ok.

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