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MLB Mailbag: Rushing, Phillies, Tucker, Giants, Rockies

By Tim Dierkes | April 30, 2025 at 11:59pm CDT

This week's mailbag gets into Dalton Rushing's future with the Dodgers, the Phillies' rotation, Kyle Tucker's earning power, the Giants' offense, the Rockies' potential run at history, and much more.

Matthew asks:

Since they've played Dalton Rushing in the outfield and 1st base, why don't they position him at 3rd? Johnny Bench played 3rd and catchers sometimes make a good transition to that position.

Rushing is said to have "above-average arm strength" and "reliable hands," per Baseball America.  He never did dabble at third base at the University of Louisville, despite spending his first two years there backing up Henry Davis at catcher.  This year at Triple-A, Rushing has spent 102 innings at catcher, 26 at first base, and one in left field.  Rushing did see ample time at both catcher and left in 2024.

It's usually a lack of range that results in a catcher moving to first base rather than third.  BA noted a 28.4 feet per second sprint speed for Rushing in Triple-A last year, so he's faster than most MLB third basemen.  Of course, sprint speed is not range, and I just don't know how Rushing would rate in that regard at third.

Johnny Bench never really did make the transition to third base.  He only topped 319 1/3 innings there once, when he reached 858 2/3 as a 34-year-old in 1982.

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View Comments (21)
Post a Comment

21 Comments

  1. Drewnasty65

    3 months ago

    Am I crazy, or hasn’t Will Smith played 3B before?

    Why wouldn’t the Dodgers try him out at 3B and put Rushing behind the plate if Muncy is cooked.

    1
    Reply
    • DarkSide830

      3 months ago

      In the Minors, yeah.

      Reply
      • vtadave

        3 months ago

        Back in 2018, but he could probably make that transition if asked. Not sure he’d want to nor am I sure they’d do that sort of move mid-season.

        Reply
        • Jean Matrac

          3 months ago

          IMO 7 years since he played significant time at 3B is too long for him to try to make the move back there. There are no advanced defensive metrics for his glove in the MiLs, but just based on chances, assists and put-outs, and errors, moving him to 3B would seem highly risky.

          Reply
        • mlb1225

          3 months ago

          According to MLB Pipeline back in 2019, they said that Smith “also has shown he’s a capable third baseman and passable second baseman.” Baseball America also called him an above-average defender at third base. I guess he was pretty solid at third base, but probably wouldn’t be a good idea to suddenly move him back to a position he hasn’t played multiple games at in about seven years, at least not this early into the season.

          2
          Reply
        • Jean Matrac

          3 months ago

          mlb1225, Thanks for finding that. It’s more informative than what I found. My supposition that he may not be a good defender was based on the worse indicators, which were minimal at that.

          Reply
    • mlbdodgerfan2015

      3 months ago

      Smith is not the greatest defensive catcher but he’s made strides including leading NL in caught stealing percentage. Why move him? Rushing is not going to play 3B over Muncy this season. I know some fans want that but that’s pure fantasy.

      Rushing probably won’t be as good as Smith at C and Smith likely won’t be that good at 3B. Rushing will get his chance. It may have to be LF next year but who knows. Injuries happen. Better to keep him at catcher until you have to make a final decision on position as catching skills much harder to maintain and refine.

      1
      Reply
  2. Bivouac-Sal

    3 months ago

    Smith played 2 innings at 3B in 2021. That’s it.

    Had one chance. Made an error.

    2
    Reply
  3. Ankle Monitor

    3 months ago

    I don’t need a subscription. The Phillies bullpen has been and is a Dumbrowski nightmare. Reclamation projects and discarded team hoppers . Loves those 1 year club friendly rejects. Hoskins power still a massive hole in that lineup. I would talk about the managers handling of his pitching staff but I can’t remember his name!!

    1
    Reply
    • Captain Dunsel

      3 months ago

      You may not need it but the subscription is worth every penny….at twice the price.

      5
      Reply
      • CarverAndrews

        3 months ago

        Having read a few of the posts from JDevil, he is in dire need of more background reading material, with far less access to a keyboard.

        3
        Reply
      • Ankle Monitor

        3 months ago

        Sgt dunsel why pay for something that is filled with nonsense.

        Reply
    • Brett Baty’s Bat

      3 months ago

      10 cents a day. The Devil is in the details.

      Reply
      • Ankle Monitor

        3 months ago

        MLB tell Carver history is repeating itself in Philly. Doesn’t counter my points with facts just in dire need of a thumbs up.Im laughing.

        Reply
    • Backup Catcher to the Backup Catcher

      3 months ago

      Looks like the Phillies manager’s name (Rob Thomson) is not all you can’t remember. Rhys Hoskins hasn’t played for the Phillies since 2022. Missed all of 2023 with a torn ACL and has been a Brewers last year and this year.

      Other than that, you’re good (Tsk, tsk.).

      Reply
  4. Redsman59

    3 months ago

    Yes it is

    Reply
  5. Backup Catcher to the Backup Catcher

    3 months ago

    Range? Who cares! If Rushing can play a decent LF, bring him up now. Conforto has be awful with the bat. By comparison, Conforto’s futility makes Mario Mendoza look like Barry Larkin.

    Also, I’m not convinced Pages has found a new gear and has all of a sudden developed plate discipline. JMHO, but Mookie or Edman may have to move to the OF at some point if Conforto’s struggles continue and Page’s little hot streak proves to be, as I suspect it is, an aberration.

    As an aside, nice to see Muncy have a good game. Still might hit 25-30 bombs but it’s gonna come with a poor BA and without his usual high OBP.

    Reply
    • mlbdodgerfan2015

      3 months ago

      I’d rather go by Conforto’s historical track record and think that there will be a nice bounce back once he’s back.

      Dodger fans love to complicate things whenever a player goes through a cold streak. Why recreate the wheel?

      Dodgers are not moving Mookie back to the OF after all the work that he’s put in to actually be good at SS. That’s the whole point to get an elite bat at SS, which is typically a position with weaker hitting.

      All these movements because you’re not happy with Conforto’s cold streak and somehow not convinced about Pages. I guess his hot streak is an aberration but Conforo’s cold streak is not? Where is the consistency? I’m not saying we should be going all-in on Pages, but he had a solid 2024 and showing progress in 2025. Sure, he could use more plate discipline but the talent is there and he could easily be much better than 2024.

      Reply
      • Pete'sView

        3 months ago

        As a fan who watched Conforto throughout the 2024 season I can say you shouldn’t be surprised. Not that I’d give any aid to the Dodgers but LA signing Conforto surprised the heck out of me.

        Reply
        • mlbdodgerfan2015

          3 months ago

          Doesn’t make any sense if your context is 2024 season. He had a 0.759 OPS (or 116 OPS+) compared to 0.569 OPS (65 OPS+) in 2025 season, and that was on 488 PAs in 2024. Only 190 points less than 2024!! Yes, sarcasm. He was also a little bit stronger in 2H compared to 1H in 2024. His OPS floor is in the 2023 season with the Giants at 0.718, which implies 149 point improvement from current OPS. Don’t get swayed by recent-isms.

          Also, he was better on the road overall in his two seasons in SF, which makes sense as Oracle is known to be a pitcher’s park. So, I can understand the Dodger one-year signing. Figuring that he would hit better at Dodger Stadium compared to Oracle.

          Don’t know how it will ultimately shake out, but I would be shocked if there isn’t a lot of bounce back from Conforto. He looked good his first 18 games. Has gone ice cold in last 10 games. Even when he hits the ball hard he gets out or grounds into a double play. He’s due for better results. Ebbs and flows of a long season.

          Reply
  6. Birdie man

    3 months ago

    Lockout coming in ‘27, mark it down.

    Reply

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