Dodgers: 5 Reasons the 2017 Dodgers are better than 2016
Left Field is stronger this season with Chris Taylor instead of Andrew Toles
Last year Andrew Toles came out of nowhere to take over left field and was a very solid player for the Dodgers. As surprising and good as Toles was last year, Chris Taylor has been even better this year. Here are the stat lines for Toles last year, and Taylor this year:
2016 Andrew Toles: .314 AVG 3 HR .365 OBP .870 OPS 1 SB
2017 Chris Taylor: .307 AVG 17 HR .377 OBP .927 OPS 13 SB
Although their average and on base percentage are close, Taylor has provided way more pop than Toles did last year by virtue of the seventeen home runs to the three Toles had in 2016. Toles is also a speedy outfielder but only had one stolen base to show for it last season. Taylor has thirteen stolen bases so far this season and could close with twenty by the end of this year.
Despite not being an outfielder until this season, Chris Taylor has provided the same quality defense that Andrew Toles did last year. Last year Toles had 5 DRS and this season Taylor has 5 DRS and should only get better as he becomes more familiar with the outfield. Taylor has also one more outfield assist this season than Toles had all of last year so despite being an infielder for his entire career, the adjustment has not been bad for Taylor.
Despite being new to the outfield, Chris Taylor has provided the Dodgers with an upgrade in left field compared to last year’s team.