Dodgers: Analyzing the Viable Options to start in Left Field

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LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 06: Joc Pederson /

Up until last night, the Dodgers have been no bueno as of late. Everyone is aware of this by now so why do we continue to discuss it? It’s depressing. So instead of telling you how bad they’ve played let’s talk about the players who are battling for a starting spot in Left Field.

The Dodgers have depth everywhere on the diamond, yet somehow always manage to over analytical decisions, which keeps players from getting into a rhythm. Now, this late in the season Dave Roberts needs to decide on who will be the starting left fielder heading into the playoffs. For the second consecutive season, the Dodgers head into the postseason not knowing who will be the starting left fielder come October. Well so far, Roberts has no answer halfway into September.

When Andrew Toles went down with an injury early on in the season, Los Angeles did not even bat an eye. The Dodger faithful figured he was not a big part of this team considering how well they performed without him. Specifically, the production of two of our best players, Cody Bellinger and Chris Taylor were the ones who played out in Left and made us all but forget about Toles.

With Taylor taking over CF and Bellinger taking over at 1B, the problem of left field has been brought up once again. The Dodgers are no strangers to having to the LF spot late in the season. Last season it was Toles who took over the job towards the back-end of the season. So with the three players who filled that spot earlier in the season no longer an option at the position who will step up and take over?

Curtis Granderson

The last minute veteran acquisition that added depth was Granderson this season. Last year it was the acquisition of catcher Carlos Ruiz that had fans befuddled this year it was Curtis. Just like last season fans were claiming that adding these players late in the season is unnecessary and would ruin the team chemistry. Thus far they have been proven right.

But the front office did not bring Grandy to LA for the regular season; they brought him to open up the options in LF, and the bench come October. But what Granderson has shown us since his arrival has been bad. Very bad. With the Dodgers this season he is hitting a measly .111 with a .256 OBP and 24 strikeouts in just 22 games. He was supposed to be the guy in LF this post-season.

Since he has performed so poorly, it opens the door for someone else to jump in and steal the spot. When he was acquired, it was his job to lose, and he is currently doing all he can to lose it. Seemingly rolling everything over which results in a soft ground ball to the right side.

He does hit the ball hard at times. But the problem is he has been scorching balls foul instead of in play. He may still get the job because of his playoff experience, but if he continues his lousy play, it will be hard for Roberts to explain giving him the job.

Joc Pederson

Oh, how fast baseball can bite you. Joc was once the everyday center fielder for the best team in baseball, but now he is fighting to even touch the field. Pederson has struggled mightily this season. His poor performance all culminated to a demotion when Granderson was acquired. Joc was sent to Triple-A Oklahoma City in hopes that it would get him back on track as it did for Yasiel Puig last season.

But rather than step up and perform in AAA he fell down and fluttered. He hit .169 with 14 strikeouts in his 17 games in OKC. He has not done any better since coming back up to the big leagues. Going 1 for 10 in his limited playing time with the team this month.

Though Joc has struggled as of late, he can turn it around at any moment and become a very dangerous bat. He is a player to watch very closely for the remainder of the season. Left field isn’t exactly thought of as a big time defensive position, but it would not hurt to have a big time defensive player out there holding it down. Roberts has already shown his commitment to Taylor in center field and who can blame him as Taylor leads the team in outfield assist.

Something that may be enticing for Roberts about Joc is that notion of having lightning in a bottle with Joc. He can have some very frustrating at-bats, but he can also be an offensive spark plug and another power bat in the lineup. Just like in last season’s NLDS when he started the scoring during game 5 with a big fly. He can get the entire team going with his energy and pop which could be reason enough to give him a shot to start in LF.

Andre Ethier

Ethier is the longest tenured Dodger on the team. He is a fan favorite and one of the best Dodgers in the last decade. Ethier has had tough luck these past two seasons. Falling to injuries in the last two spring trainings. This cost him most of the last season and most of this season.

When he joined the team last year, he came in as strictly a pinch hitter off the bench, and when he played in that role, he did very well. He forced himself onto the playoff roster last year by hitting very well when he arrived in September; this season is looking like déjà vu for the veteran.

He has been hitting very well just like he did last season. He has all but locked up a spot on the final 25-man roster. Even if he isn’t the starter in left field, he will still fill an important role coming off the bench in high leverage situations in the playoffs like he did last season.

But if he is hitting so well, why even limit him to just one at-bat? Start him and take him out when an unfavorable match-up comes up. The Dodgers have more than enough depth for them to allow Ethier to start and get the 2-3 AB’s that he deserves. Ethier is a former gold glover, although he is not the same defender he used to be, he can still hold his own. Andre should get a strong, hard look at the job.

Enrique Hernandez

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One thing you may have noticed about the top three choices to start in left field was that they’re all left-handed. Hernandez may be the starter against a left-handed pitching because the other guys are just atrocious against lefties. And fortunately for Kike, he eats them for breakfast. The extra base hit machine could be used everywhere which is why he may be more valuable coming off the bench, but with the biggest hole in the lineup coming in left field, Roberts may be better suited platooning the position as a whole. Kike is very important wherever he is used and is a decent option to start in LF.

Alex Verdugo

The September call-up has shown some promise. But it does not look like he has gotten or will get enough AB’s for Roberts to feel comfortable starting him in the playoffs. He shows real poise in the batter’s box and is also a stout defender with a great personality to have in the clubhouse. Verdugo may not be the solution this season, but he will be a difference maker in the near future.

O’Koyea Dickson

Dickson saw great success in the minors this season. He got a well-deserved call-up this September. Dickson is a powerful man. He has a dangerous bat and the power to go deep in any park at any time. He just like Verdugo may not get enough AB’s to pass any of the guys mentioned. In the bigs he still does not have a hit. But that’s in a very small sample size and he is a lot better than he has shown.

Trayce Thompson

No. Just no.

Next: Silver Lining of Losing Streak

No matter who the choice is that player needs to produce in October. Toles is just now being missed after the Dodgers surviving without him all season long. Whoever replaces him will have to step up in order for the Dodgers to break their World Series drought.

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