Commentary: Dodgers have high expectations for Cody Bellinger, but how much ‘runway’ is left?

For the Dodgers, at the least, the lockout was price it. Over the three months through which groups have been forbidden from contacting gamers, Freddie Freeman and the Atlanta Braves drifted to date aside that the Dodgers might do in March what was unthinkable in November: swoop in and signal him.

And, as soon as the lockout was lifted and a brand new collective bargaining settlement was in place, the Dodgers might get on with their new life, as a Nationwide League crew that employed a chosen hitter.

If their pitcher needed to hit Friday, opening day won’t have been such a success for the Dodgers. If the Dodgers had not received, the followers could be centered on the efficiency of Cody Bellinger.

Nobody in uniform makes an enormous deal out of Recreation 1, not with 161 to play. Blips abound, throughout the division.

The Dodgers received their season opener 5-3 when their new nearer, Craig Kimbrel, held off the Colorado Rockies. Kimbrel was not tremendous sharp, however he acquired the job achieved.

The San Diego Padres misplaced their season opener as a result of their new nearer, Taylor Rogers, was acquired within the morning and was not accessible to pitch within the night, and two different pitchers coughed up a result in the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The San Francisco Giants received their opener, however solely after their nearer, Camilo Doval, failed to carry a lead in opposition to the Miami Marlins.

Nobody in uniform makes an enormous deal out of Recreation 1, not with 161 to play.

This was the fifth consecutive opening day begin for Bellinger, every time in a brand new spot within the batting order. He batted fifth in 2018, sixth in 2019, third in 2020, and fourth in 2021. On Friday, he batted eighth, in recognition that final summer season was a mighty wrestle and this spring was no higher.

Within the fourth inning, the Dodgers had runners on second and third, with one out. Bellinger fouled out to the catcher.

In 2021, the following batter would have been Walker Buehler, the pitcher, and that most likely would have been the top of the inning.

In 2022, nevertheless, the following batter was Gavin Lux, who singled residence each runs. The Dodgers scored three extra occasions within the inning — and they didn’t rating in another inning Friday.

Bellinger batted .165 final season, with a .542 OPS. Of the 132 NL gamers with at the least 300 plate appearances, he ranked 131st. He additionally began the season late as he recovered from shoulder surgical procedure, and he hung out on the injured listing due to calf, hamstring and rib accidents.

He batted .139 this spring, with no extra-base hits and 18 strikeouts in 36 at-bats. On Friday, he went hitless in 4 at-bats.

“I don’t assume there’s any carryover from spring coaching,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated. “I do assume all hitters need to get off to a great begin.

“I’m not studying something into it. All I do know is that he’s wholesome, and I’m anticipating him to have a great yr, and to assist us win quite a lot of baseball video games.”

The Dodgers are joyful to have Kimbrel, however they weakened their outfield depth by buying and selling AJ Pollock to get him.

When the Dodgers unveiled their opening day roster, they listed two outfielders: Bellinger and Mookie Betts. Lux and Chris Taylor have been listed beneath “infielder/outfielder.”

The depth chart on the Dodgers’ web site lists Taylor and Betts because the backups for Bellinger in middle, Lux because the backup for Taylor in left, and Zack McKinstry because the backup for Betts in proper. McKinstry is at triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis, the place the Dodgers to date have performed him at second base and shortstop.

Kevin Pillar is also at Oklahoma Metropolis, and he could be probably the most skilled hand ought to the Dodgers need to give another person a shot in middle discipline.

However they don’t, or at the least they’re nowhere near even contemplating such an possibility. On one hand, Bellinger is barely three years faraway from his MVP season, through which he hit .305 with 47 residence runs and a 1.035 OPS.

However, Roberts steered the Dodgers are so highly effective on offense that they may carry Bellinger of their lineup for his defensive prowess alone. Bellinger received a Gold Glove in 2019.

The Dodgers have a 99% likelihood of constructing the playoffs, in response to Baseball Prospectus. They’ve loads of time to see if Bellinger can get well the lightning in his bat.

“He’s going to have a runway, which he has earned,” Roberts stated. “I believe it’s deserved. And, with what he does in middle discipline, that alone warrants him being within the lineup for a crew [with this offense].”

Bellinger will likely be again within the Dodgers’ lineup Saturday. The Rockies are beginning a right-hander moderately than a left-hander, so Roberts stated he deliberate to maneuver Bellinger up within the lineup. He’ll bat seventh.