My favorite lineup (updated)

  

Every once in awhile I like to re-evaluate my favorite players as a Dodgers fan. In my now 50 years of rooting for them, my choices aren't going to change a lot. But they do change.

 

Nine years ago I wrote a post titled "My favorite Opening Day lineup". It corresponded with Opening Day and I arranged my favorite Dodger at each position in a lineup. This was only for Dodgers that I've witnessed as a fan, so as much as I like Campy, Pee Wee, Robinson and Koufax, they're not included.

 

For those of you who don't want to click the link, this is what the lineup looked like then:

 

2b - Dave Lopes

ss - Corey Seager

rf - Reggie Smith

1b - Steve Garvey

lf - Pedro Guerrero

cf - Matt Kemp

3b - Ron Cey

c - Mike Scioscia

p - Clayton Kershaw

 

Nine years later there are a few changes -- and the lineup has a designated hitter now. I'm still not thrilled with an across-the-board DH but we're long past arguing about it and I can't complain too much as my current favorite player happens to be a DH.

 

So this is the new lineup of my favorites. I tried to stick to a traditional lineup, I admit arranging them according to statistical analysis, as often happens now, seems like work and I already have a headache. So this is going to have a '70s/'80s feel in more than one way.

 

Batter up!

 

Batting first, Dave Lopes, second base

 

The late, great Lopes remains as the lead-off batter. After pulling that 1976 Record Breaker card of him, it's going to take a lot to knock him out of the order. Steve Sax doesn't have a chance.

 

Batting second, Mookie Betts, shortstop

 

The first change in the lineup. Betts supplants Corey Seager. I'm still unclear on why Seager left but Betts is an easy pick anyway and his recent move to shortstop I think actually helps the lineup.

 

 

Batting third, Shohei Ohtani, designated hitter

 

I admit it's weird seeing Ohtani at any other spot in the lineup other than lead-off. But tradition says he'd probably hit third or fourth. I enjoyed how he embarrassed Pirates boors in the stands last night.

  

 

Batting fourth, Freddie Freeman, first base

 

Freeman replaces Steve Garvey at first. I've mentioned before that I was only a mild Garvey fan in the 1970s but I did enjoy his clutch hitting in big games. However, Freeman's big-game clutch hitting is so far above what Garvey did. Also Garvey could never get to the balls that Freeman does at first base.

 

 

Batting fifth, Reggie Smith, right field

 

Smith gets a reprieve because Betts moved to short, Betts would probably have beaten out Smith in right and I would be sad.

 

 

Batting sixth, Matt Kemp, center field

 

Kemp remains from the 2017 team. If Cody Bellinger had stayed with the Dodgers -- or definitely did not become a Yankee -- he might be the choice at center instead.

 

 

Batting seventh, Dusty Baker, left field

 

Baker is the last switch in the lineup, replacing high school favorite Pedro Guerrero. It's funny that Baker's appeal has grown and grown for me since he became a manager and even his time with the Astros couldn't tarnish that. Besides, I feel more comfortable with Baker in the outfield than Guerrero.

 

 

Batting eighth, Ron Cey, third base

 

Wow, this newly arranged lineup is TOUGH. Cey was strictly a No. 3-5 hitter during his time with the Dodgers. But I guess at No. 8 he works as a second clean-up guy, right?

 

 

Batting ninth, Mike Scioscia, catcher

 

Scioscia remains my all-time favorite Dodgers catcher. I wrote a post about it.

 

So that's the lineup. But I think I should pick a pitcher even if he's not batting anymore. There's a change there, too.

 

 

Orel Hershiser returns to being my favorite pitcher after Clayton Kershaw reigned for so long. Since Kershaw retired I've had time to reflect a little. Hershiser just appeals to me more and it helps that I can listen to his goofiness on the air regularly now. Besides I'll never not get a kick out of knowing that Hershiser once lived in the house next to the house my grandmother lived in.

 

So that's my favorite lineup updated. I bet if I do this again in another nine years that there will be more changes. Though perhaps not as many.