Shohei Ohtani will lead off again. Will Smith will bat fifth. Mookie Betts will probably be in the third spot.
Three weeks before the Dodgers’ first full-squad workout of spring training, manager Dave Roberts was already talking about what his batting order would look like.
All-Stars up and down the lineup. A rotation packed with potential Cy Young Award candidates. A bullpen loaded with flamethrowers.
Not much guesswork is involved when your team is the two-time defending World Series champion. Not as much finger-crossing when you have the most expensive collection of talent in baseball history.
That doesn’t mean the Dodgers don’t have any questions heading into spring training this year.
Here are the five most important:
Considered a generational talent in his home country of Japan, the24-year-old Sasakiremains a mystery as he prepares for his second year in the majors.
Sasaki underwhelmed as a starting pitcher last year, as his control was off and his velocity was down. Hespent more than four months on the injured list, but returned in the final week of the regular season and quickly became the team’s closer.
The right-hander accepted the move to the bullpen under the condition that he be given a chance to start again this year. The Dodgers will honor their promise to him, but it’s uncertain whether he has the durability or arsenal required to be a starting pitcher in the majors.
In his five years with the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese league, Sasaki was never healthy for an entire season. He said his goal this year was to “remain standing on the mound for the entire year without any injuries.”
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
