Dodgers: Cody Bellinger Has Walked Out of the Shadows of Platooning
Cody Bellinger didn’t mix his words early in spring training when he said he didn’t want to be platooned. Now, it appears the Dodgers are willing to let their 23-year old wunderkind sink or swim. On Wednesday – the day before the regular season begins – Bill Plunkett of the OC Register has a great read worth checking out.
Moreover, I like how Plunkett worded things within his tweet to the story. Plunkett says Bellinger has ’emerged from the dark side of platooning’. Equally important, the organization see Bellinger as an everyday player for the time being.
#Dodgers Cody Bellinger has emerged from the dark side of platooning and been assured LAD sees him as he sees himself — an every day player who hits righties and lefties. https://t.co/GqN3lj5nuQ
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) March 27, 2019
This sentiment was echoed by Andrew Friedman within two quotes. Indeed, Friedman spoke towards why Bellinger was platooned in 2018, and why he may not be this season.
“Had we had a meaningful lead in our division, we probably would have just let him play it out. The fact that it was so tight we felt that was the best thing to do to help us win our division.”
Belllinger has emerged, Friedman said, with a better “mindset, approach, thinking about right-handed pitchers and left-handed pitchers differently” – things that have put Bellinger “in a really good mental space” and make the Dodgers confident a return to platooning won’t be necessary.
That sound? Yeah, @Cody_Bellinger crushed that. pic.twitter.com/CfaN0LM1VA
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 27, 2019
Unfortunately, I won’t be tallying that one in the Bellinger Bomb Chronicles because it wasn’t regular season. However, that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable! Hopefully, Bellinger gives me something to write about tomorrow!
Must-Read Material
Definitely check out the full article over at OC Register which details Bellinger’s work with the hitting coaches. Also, quotes from Dave Roberts and the player himself provide a nice backdrop of what it’s like to win the NL Rookie of the Year, and then suddenly not know what you’re doing offensively. Definitely, Plunkett comes strong with a nice story on the eve of all that is sacred for baseball fans!
Blue Heaven Episode 47: Season Projections
