6:55pm: The Dodgers issued a clarification on the injury, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange Country Register (Twitter link). An exam by Dr. Robert Watkins did not identify a “degenerative” issue in Gonzalez’s herniated disc. Rather, it’s the same herniation with which he has dealt in the past.
4:18pm: The injury to Gonzalez, as Andy McCullough of the L.A. Times tweets, was described by manager Dave Roberts as a “degenerative” problem with the herniated disc. The Dodgers will give him as much time off as possible, McCullough notes, though there’s still not even a general timeline being placed on his absence.
1:53pm: The Dodgers announced that outfielder Joc Pederson has been activated from the seven-day concussion DL. To clear a roster spot, the team sent first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to the 10-day DL with what the club is calling lower-back discomfort. Both players came into the season slated for regular duties. But while the club is off to a strong start, Pederson and Gonzalez have mostly presented question marks.
For Pederson, attention will now turn to his performance over the next six weeks. He was excellent last year, driving 25 home runs and posting a 129 wRC+, but has faded badly thus far in 2017. Through 123 plate appearances, Pederson is slashing just .200/.309/.314 with a pair of long balls.
Entering the year, Gonzalez had never gone on the DL. But he already had one stint for a lingering elbow issue and will now take a stretch to rest his ailing back. Gonzalez says his back has been “locking up” as he tries to play with a herniated disc, as Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reported yesterday. He is also hitting a meager .255/.304/.339 through 182 trips to the plate.
Keep Taylor in the lineup.
I’m pretty sure that’s the plan. Gonzales on the DL means Bellinger plays 1B
Meaning, Gonzo is fatigued with his age. Joc crushes two bombs so clearly he’s ready to strike… ahem… hit in the big leagues. Sorry not convinced. Taylor deserves the starting spot. So until Chris stops slugging and hitting clutch, Jocs riding the pine.
Joc will most likely play CF while Taylor will move to LF unless the team feels like keeping Taylor in center would be more beneficial
I think LF is probably easier for Taylor unless the BrainTrust wants Joc to stay away from the moving wall known as Puig
the answer is Taylor starting in LF and Joc in CF today in Cleveland
Joc is a superior CF, Berlinger is a very good first baseman. The big concern is AGons missing bat from the lineup.
He hasn’t been himself this year so far with all these injuries catching up to him. The bright side is that we have lefty bats by the dozen so we can afford him the time to get healthy. I imagine Verdugo would be the next man up if we suffer another injury or maybe Trayce Thompson if they don’t want to start Verdugos clock this year. We will miss AGons timely hitting though.
I don’t see Verdugo up unless it’s an absolute disaster. He barely physically made it through AA and was sent home from the AFL. There are maturity issues there, both physical and those that come with a young 20 year old. And yes Bellinger is 21, but he also an in an elite prospect class whose dad was a professional. Not all move at the same pace so I’m guessing the FO slow plays Verdugo, which is perfectly fine. Gonzo needs to honestly sit and get healthy, fully healthy.
I’d be fine with letting Verdugo develop in Triple A until mid 2018. He’s doing well against older competition so I don’t think he’d be completely overmatched, but I do agree that it would be beneficial to all party’s not to rush him. We still have SVS, Thompson, Eibner and even Culberson who we can have fill a spot if need be. I was of course talking about dire circumstances. Our roster seems set as of now.
Let A-Gon get fit for the stretch run. Still a professional hitter, every at bat of his is like a clinic. He will adjust to age , don’t write him off yet.
exactly with the depth the dodgers have no need to play hon injured let him heal up for later
“Degenerative,” uh oh. The wheels are coming off for Adrian Gonzalez. Heal up, AG.
Goodnight sweet prince.
Need Gonzalez for the playoffs (God willing) best to get him healthy Right Now! This also allows Joc to either sink or swim, a .190 BA won’t cut it
That’s one way to avoid those Sunday night games
Looks like A-Gon will be a part-time player from hereon out.. Not a terrible option as long as Bellinger and Taylor keep hitting and Joc can at least hit his weight and play a solid centerfield. I see Adrian playing 3 or 4 games a week and being a solid late inning bat off the bench. Unfortunately, discs continue to degenerate and rest will be required.as part of an ongoing maintenance plan.
Why is there a picture of Joc Pederson in an article about Adrian Gonzalez?
It’s got a little paragraph about Joc, but yeah, I guess it should be Adrian’s picture up there since his name is in the Title.
Same thing that happened to Prince Fielder?