Dodgers News: Finding Guerrero Playing Time A Struggle For Mattingly
When Alex Guerrero reported for Spring Training this year where he fit in with the Los Angeles Dodgers was a large question mark. He wasn’t able to win the starting job at second base in 2014 and he certainly wasn’t going to unseat Howie Kendrick now.
Guerrero has since morphed into a left fielder/third baseman utility player, buying time in the lineup with a big bat, which allowed time for his glove to come around. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly has lauded the Cuban native for adapting to the utility role and said on multiple occasions the club is pleased with how comfortable Guerrero has looked at the hot corner.
In the Dodgers’ 15 games since trading Juan Uribe to the Atlanta Braves, Guerrero’s played in 12 and made eight starts. However, none have come at third base. Instead, it’s been Justin Turner or Alberto Callaspo platooning there with Guerrero placed in left field.
Prior to Wednesday’s series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly touched on the difficulty in finding playing time for Guerrero. “The toughest thing with Alex has been, we like him at third base,” Mattingly said. “We like the way that’s looking, but we can’t put him anywhere where he can play every day, every day.”
As a result, the Dodgers have been attempting to teach Guerrero on the move, which has come with the expected errors and adventures — though primarily only in left field. “At the big-league level, you’re trying to learn to play third and at the big-league level you’re trying to play left; that’s the toughest thing,” Mattingly said.
“I think he can play third and I think he can play left. But the amount of experience we’re able to give him is just going to retard the process, as far as him playing every day and getting a chance to be really good somewhere.” With Yasiel Puig back from the disabled list it figures to further cut into Guerrero’s playing time as Andre Ethier gets bumped from one corner outfield spot to the other.
While Guerrero conceivably could form a platoon of sorts with Ethier, the Dodgers also have Chris Heisey, who carries a stronger glove, that can be used. Granted, that may soon become Scott Van Slyke once he’s reinstated from the 15-day DL.
Through 46 games Guerrero is batting .278/.309/.617 with 10 home runs and 17 RBIs. After a torrid start to the season, he’s hitting just .200/.222/.450 over the last 28 days (22 games). While Hector Olivera’s expected arrival may further muddy the picture for Guerrero, trading him may not be the easiest of tasks should that be the direction the Dodgers opt to go in.
Along with a clause in his contract that prevents him from being optioned to the Minors without his consent, Guerrero can opt out of his four-year deal at the conclusion of any season in which he’s traded.
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Too bad, cause the guy has value, but I knew there was no way he stayed as hot as he was at the beginning…
How can he stay hot, when he is not playing! It is really hard to hit at all, in the big leagues, when you don’t play much! Also, Guerrero at the most, is playing maybe 2 out of 6 games, and this, along with getting maybe one at bat , against the other team’s closer! How is he suppose to keep hot, as you have said? He is doing pretty darn good, considering his situation! Callaspo, Heisy, both batting at the Mendosa line,should not be playing, before Guerrero! Mattingly was wrong about Guerrero last year, and he is still wrong!
Well Michelle , the real problem is that he has no where to play….He also has more value to the team as a pinch hitter, at which he has excelled. No way he is a better OF than Ethier, or SVS when he is ready, and no way he is a better 3rd baseman than Turner..plus…..Olivera is on the way, and he is playing 3rd exclusively at OKC….Even A Gone is not as hot as he was at the beginning of the year. He is paid a lot of money to hit.. Heisey is a far superior defensive OF to Guerrero……and that is why he was starting over him. Callaspo is a veteran, and plays multiple positions, which is why the FO traded for him..Heisey will most likely get sent down when Van Slyke comes back…..Guerrero might be better served being traded……sorry…that is just the way things are…blame the front office,,,,
Guerrero only played left field in AAA last year 6 times, and the times he played leftfield in spring training this year, and this season, is the only time Guerrero has played leftfield! The players you are referring to in the outfield, have played outfield, throughout their careers, so there is no comparison! Third base is not his first position either, but he has played it much better, than you have given him! I have heard, that Callaspo, is not the great on defense, and Callaspo hitting, does not compare to Guerrero’s excellent hitting! Callaspo should never play third, over Turner, or Guerrero! Callaspo couldn’t make the Brave’s lineup, and shouldn’t be playing, this much for the Dodgers! About Olivera, how do we know, how well Olivera plays defense? Guerrero was a shortstop in Cuba, and Olivera’s best positions were second and third base, and he has played a little at third! Most players who play shortstop, are better defenders, than players, who play second, and thirdbase! How do I know, that Guerrero’s best role, for this team,is a pinch hitter? If Guerrero was played more, especially when he was hot, maybe this team would be farther in front! I would give Guerrero 4 at bats, any time over Heisy, Callaspo, Rollins, and even Scotty! What Guerrero’s done with his few at bats, is more than the three above players, and he has not gotten any real playing time, and many of his at bats, were against the other team’s closer! This means, that Guerrero can hit good pitching, I wished more of the Dodger players, could do the same!
I understand your passion for the guy I really do, BUT…the front office and the scouts totally disagree with your evaluation. He is a good hitter…and hitting in the .280 to 290 range is very possible with him. BUT, even in Cuba his play at SS was not that great. The Dodgers have never even considered him a SS. What Guerrero has done the last 30 games is lose 70 points on his batting average. He is way more valuable off the bench. Heisey is back in AAA, Callaspo is nothing more than a utility player and he was picked up because he can play multiple positions. Rollins I totally agree has been a total bust, but if you want him benched you are not going to get that wish, and even if he was they would not put Guerrero at SS. SVS is a better OF, but his strength is that he is A Gones back up……Guerrero has not played SS since e left Cuba……and if you want to know why SS is not his best position…….Just read the scouting reports…..
I know when those scouting reports were done, and that was when he had not played baseball in a year!
Makes no difference….he was not rated that good a SS when he was playing….you really think these guys are not scouted extensively long before they are signed? Plenty of scouts saw play in international tournaments. He was never highly rated, and I think the scouts know a little more about the game than you………you are beating a dead horse…
I agree with her point that guerrero should be playing 3rd base over callaspo. I thought uribe was traded to give more time to turner and guerrero, after he fell behind those guys based on performance. But instead we down-graded even further to callaspo, so WTF?
You have a point there……I do not know why they play Callaspo over Guerrero, but that’s the FO’s call….they traded for the guy because he is multi positional…
I can understand why they exchanged uribe for callaspo, based on utility, switch hitting, etc., since uribe was very limited as a third string 3rd baseman. I also think they were doing uribe some respect, since he is in a contract year, and now playing regularly and batting in the middle of atlanta line up. But that still doesn’t explain why they play callaspo at third over guerrero, especially in the midst of an offensive funk. It seems to me they just don’t really like guerrero for some reason, even signing olivera for big bucks, who looks to be a complete guerrero overlap, told me they think guerrero is garbage.
Here in lies the problem….this FO has no loyalty to show Guerrero. He was signed by Colletti’s guys. Now, he has played ok at 3rd, but…..he is way more valuable off the bench. He is a man without a true position, and the scouts have said from the beginning that his fielding was suspect….also….Olivera signed by this FO and for BIG MONEY. So, he is going to get the nod at 3rd when he is ready. He too is multi positional. As such he has more value to the team than Guerrero. Callaspo also was traded for by this FO. And so far as we all have seen, they really do not own up to the mistakes…..Rollins..Hatcher…..Heisey……so they feel Callaspo is more valuable to the team as a starter over Guerrero..
Turner may be one thing at times, considering, Mattingly also said that he wasn’t an everyday player, as well. But, Guerrero should be getting starting and playing time over Callaspo just based on merit alone. Otherwise, what problem was solved by getting rid of Uribe? It certainly could not have been for the pitching depth the Dodgers got in return. All together now, “One step forward…Two steps back.”.
I totally concur with this comment. If the Dodgers end up losing Guerrero in a trade should he decide to bail on his four year deal, would be a huge Mistake for the Dodgers!