While much of the early action surrounding the Dodgers at spring camp has been quite productive, there have been a few minor setbacks, specifically with regards to outfielder Joc Pederson.
Many folks around Camelback Ranch have described Pederson’s issue as a problem with his “side” or abdomen, suggesting that the ailment is perhaps muscular in nature. Skipper Dave Roberts has all but confirmed that Pederson’s oblique is not affected by the soreness.
“I haven’t heard that word,” Roberts said, referring to Pederson’s oblique area. “That’s the word you don’t want to hear, and I haven’t heard it. That’s a dirty word.”
Nevertheless, a bit of good news surfaced on Friday. During workouts in the morning, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com indicated that Joc began playing catch. Later in the day, Bill Plunkett of the OC Register reported that Pederson swung a bat for the first time in weeks.
As far as Pederson being ready for Opening Day goes, it could be a race against time. However, the Dodgers will be in absolutely no hurry to rush Pederson back into action, especially with A.J. Pollock healthy and ready to go in left field.
At one point over the winter, it appeared as if Pederson and righty swing man Ross Stripling were on their way to play for the Angels, opening the door for Pollock to be the primary left fielder.
Yet, once the deal with Anaheim fell through, the concept of a platoon between Pederson and Pollock resurfaced. With regards to center and right field, both Cody Bellinger and Mookie Betts are expected to see the bulk of the playing time, regardless of the handedness of the opposing pitcher.
Furthermore, all three of Matt Beaty, Enrique Hernandez and Chris Taylor may conceivably see occasional time in the outfield as well.
Last season, Pederson slashed .249/.339/.538, setting career highs with 36 homers and 74 RBI. What’s more, Joc primarily hit in the leadoff spot in 2019; but, with Betts poised to assume that role, there’s no telling where Pederson might eventually settle into the lineup, assuming he garners most of the left field AB against right-handed pitching.
In other news, the Dodgers have shut down righty pitcher Jimmy Nelson, just when things appeared to be progressing. Nelson was struggling with back and groin issues early in camp, but he seemed to be throwing well during several bullpen sessions last week.
After Wednesday’s session, though, the same injury apparently resurfaced, causing the need for the shutdown.
In terms of a potential return, there’s no timetable set right now.
Think Blue Planning Committee 
Spoiler Alert: I have watched several replays of Jansen’s 3k inning against the Angels on the 26th. Dude cannot hit his spots. Each strike out the catcher called for a pitch down, each time his pitch was up and somehow the Angel batter swung thru it. I know it’s early but it looks like the same old Firestarter that we have seen the last few seasons. He is going to get touched up and often as this season roles along, I’d wager that he will not be the go to guy by the time June arrives.
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I’ll take that bet! Jansen and Kersh gonna have all star years. It’s never about location for Jansen. It’s all about movement on his cutter. At least we know that Joe Broussard isn’t making our bullpen!
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Hope Joc can going if we have to count on Pollock we are in big trouble. I see so far this spring doing what he left off doing in the playoffs.
Forget about the past this is a way over the hill player. Eat your mistake and cut him loose
I’m sure I’ll hear from bear on this one
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Damn right. Sorry Larry, the guy has had 14 at bats. Hardly a reliable amount of data to base that statement on. This time of spring the pitchers are ahead of the hitter. Big thing, Pollock is healthy. He has more HR’s this spring than Belli, Betts, Seager, Turner, Smith, and Lux all put together. Let spring play out before you make any kind of judgement. I would rather see him come out of spring healthy and then get hits when they mean something. Nobody is tearing the cover off of the ball. Turner, Muncy, Lux, Smith, Kike, Rios, Beatty, all are hitting .250 or below, and only Muncy out of that bunch is over .200. Turner is right at .200. You want to cut him loose too??? Pollock has 3 years and an option left on his contract. Common sense should tell you they are not just going to eat that deal. Pollock is a career .279 hitter, which is about 40 points higher than Joc. And the guy knows how to play. I think you need to concentrate on something other than bashing a guy who has been a pretty solid major leaguer.
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Oh yeah, Rios is the team leader in K’s with 6. He must really be a lost cause. And how about Gore? struck out in 50% of his AB’s. No hits 1 walk. Brilliant pick up there Fraudman.,
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It’s only been a week of spring training. Can’t make any decisions based on that. If that’s the case Lux, Smith and Beaty are all headed back to OKC! If anyone saw the game today how did Kersh look?
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Here’s a little tip some may not be aware of. The glove may not be the target. It could be a knee or a shin guard or a shoulder or the mask. We did that stuff as far back as when I was a catcher in American Legion. Hitters used to peak. In MABL when I was 50 we had a signal to throw at the umpires mask which is usually chest high on the inside corner. It was 5-4 fist. I’d set up on the outside corner expecting a high and tight heater. I’m not saying the Dodgers are doing this but it’s it thing.
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Interesting stuff Scoop. I might have to stop skipping over all of your comments. 🙂
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Thanks Jefe. Nice to know someone is reading my blatherskite.
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Kershaw’s stuff looked good but he said after the game that he wasn’t hitting his spots. Overall though he was very happy with his performance and he sounds much more upbeat than he did last spring.
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Did you see where Bauer is going to ask to pitch every 4th day? He has the information to prove it’s a more efficient way to go. I’m thinking 6 man rotation and he’s promoting the 4 man. He’s got the algorithms to support his thesis, and we all know how sexy algorithms are.
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Probably most people would disagree with me but I think Bauer is good for baseball. He would make a horrible Shlemming because he never follows the crowd. And although he may be a total jerk (at least according to some), I do find him a bit refreshing.
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It would appear Bauer has an irritating presence at times but he has a connection with Driveline and we know they are achieving remarkable results, I think he should be listened to. He’s a free agent in ‘21, I say let him do it.
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Another thing in his favor is his twitter battle with Bregman before any of the cheating was confirmed. They don’t like each other.
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Alvarez did not pitch because he did not feel right when he was warming up. Jefe was right. The have 30 days to make a decision on him which would be optioning him to the minors, restoring him to the 40 man, or placing him back on the restricted list. They can also release him. They have 16 million invested in him. I read that some of the cops who were at the scene of Bryant’s fatal copter crash were circulating photos of the wreckage and the body’s Pretty sick stuff. There is an investigation about that going on now.
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If so I hope they are fired.
Was reading up on the UCLA team that had both Cole and Bauer on it. They allegedly didn’t get along that well, the team was good of course but didn’t win a championship. Bauer apparently came in as a cocky 18 year old that did things his own way. Old coaches don’t appreciate that, players don’t either, but if the eccentric gets it done a good coach will just work to keep a guy like that out of trouble. The fact he’s moved around as much as he has tells me the egos of Major League personnel couldn’t deal with the guy. He’s 29 now, was a winning pitcher in Cleveland, maybe matured some, but at this point, with 1 year to go I think if I were Cincinnati this year I’d pitch him til his arm falls off. You want to go every 4th day, have at it. He’s being paid $17 mil. If it works for 5 months and Cincinnati isn’t in playoff contention they can move him. If it isn’t working write it off and chances are MLB has seen the last of Trevor Bauer. Oh, he may at 30 get an offer but who’s going to listen to him if his every 4th day makes him look foolish? Frankly I hope it works. Like Jefe, I kinda like the guy.
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I’m guessing that lots of Bauer’s teammates aren’t thrilled with him but I’ve read some spring quotes from Alex Wood who says he loved talking baseball with him and that Bauer was the one responsible for getting him to go to Driveline. It’s like with everything else in life. Some folks only want to associate with people who parrot their views while others are open to hearing new ideas and thoughts. I bet Bauer would get along great with ex-Dodger pitcher Mike Marshall.
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Have to agree with you there. His ERA has only been below 3 once, 2018. Most of the time it has been over 4. Arizona did not like his attitude, so they dumped him early. Not the only cocky kid to want to do it his way, but certainly one of the more vocal ones. As for Larry, I understand disliking certain players because they do not live up to what you think they should be, and many, same as you, simply say cut them, and do not know how complicated that can get. Especially for a player under a long term deal. The only player over the last few years I can remember them just cutting and eating a big contract was Carl Crawford. Pollock is owed twice was he was getting when cut. I have know others who have had a healthy dislike for a player, saying he should be sent down, traded, or just released. Kid’s name was Pederson, just a short 3 years ago. Kind of a good thing they did not listen to the fans, who are talking with their hearts and not their brains. Same kind of rhetoric was used about Puig. We are tired of his antics, and all that crap. He is still the most exciting, if not frustrating player to be in a Dodger uni in years. I find it pretty weird he has not found a home yet.
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Story also surfaced on his You tube page that Kenta requested a trade from LA> Most of us fans knew he was not happy with the role the Dodgers had placed him in. He wanted to be a starter exclusively and now with the Twinkies he will be. Even though the stats show that he is much more effective out of the pen. Was the Dodgers best pitcher against the Nats in the playoffs allowing them NADA>
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I’m hoping that building a winning culture will help oddballs fit in. I think Arizona made a mistake not helping Bauer fit in through his arbitration years. They picked him #3 knowing he was headstrong. He was 21 when they gave up on him. Cleveland got some good years out of him, including 5.7 WAR (age 27) and 3.79 the year they traded him. Not sure what happened in Cincinnati but after the blow up toss over the centerfield fence I think the rest of the year was lost. He’s got a career 4.04 ERA which in the AL ain’t bad. I don’t know how he fits in Cincinnati, maybe not well as I don’t know their culture. But at 30, the age he will be as a free agent, I think he would be worth a look here in LA. Not for stupid money but enough for 1.5 WAR each year until he’s 33. A lot depends on what happens this year. Contract years cause players to behave differently. And I’m real curious about that 4 day start plan. Will the Reds do it?
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Why would you want a guy pitching every 4th day when he put up a 6+ era for you last year. Put up.some numbers before you shoot off your mouth!
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Good point Rich. But Bauer has algoproof he could do better if he is allowed to do it his way. My take is, if we fight him on this he might be the kind of jack wagon that would prove us wrong. If we let him do, what have we really got to lose? Encourage him, trust him, believe in him then let the chips fall. By the way, he projects a whole lot better than 6 era, That was an aberration. He’s projecting 183 innings of 3.93 era. That’s not bad for $17 million.
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Pretty good read on spin etc and how the Dodgers should use Stripling. Still can’t believe the Angels owner backed out of that. What a maroon. Arte Maroon.
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/how-should-the-dodgers-use-ross-stripling/
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You look at Bauer and his numbers and everyone is dissing on Kersh when he went 16-5 with. 3.03 era last year. Come on! And I bet Kersh this year is back in the Cy Young conversation especially if he gets his fastball back in the 93 range!
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Everyone is dissing Kersh?
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For those who have been watching the progress of Yadier Alvarez who came into camp saying he had been immature and now had his head on straight: he was supposed to pitch yesterday but couldn’t get loose.
Ken Gurnick now reporting he has been dfa. Sad.
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Well, he’s loose now.
What a waste of money.
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What a waste of talent! Maybe he and Puig can form their own “all time” wasted talent team and play in the independent league!
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I hope no one is forcing Bear to watch the game today. His two “favorites” are both having good days. Tyler White has a double and his second excellent defensive play at first base in the last two days. His absolute favorite Terrence Gore has 2 hits and 2 stolen bases. I hate to be the one to break the news to you Bear but AF has just announced that he’s traded Belli and Muncy to create roster spots for White and Gore. I know you’ll come to love them as much as the rest of us do. 🙂
In other fun stuff, we just scored 11 in the 5th against the Rox in the split squad game. Cody Thomas has two homers in that game, actually both were in the same inning. Graterol pitched an inning, a popup and 2 ground outs.
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