PHOENIX -- The double-play combination in the middle of the infield has always been one of the most important aspects of a team.
But with the new shift rules, which ban teams from having more than two defenders on each side of second base, having a strong combination up the middle has never been more crucial.
For the Dodgers, they’ll have to adjust to the new rule, but they’ll also look to build chemistry between their new double-play combo of Gavin Lux and Miguel Vargas. After playing second base last season, Lux is taking over as the everyday shortstop this season. Lux believes it’ll be a smooth transition, given that shortstop is his natural position.
Vargas, on the other hand, has little experience at second base, having played just 28 games at the position throughout his four years in the Minor Leagues. He has yet to play second at the big league level.
Because of the importance and unfamiliarity, the Dodgers will prioritize having Lux and Vargas in the lineup together as much as possible this spring. That started with Vargas and Lux playing six innings together in the Dodgers’ 7-4 loss to the Brewers on Saturday at American Family Fields of Phoenix.
“The double play is always important, but without the shift, when you get the ball on the ground, to be able to turn [the double play] and get the feed and knowing the arm stroke from the guy throwing the baseball, it’s important,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “The more we can do that, the more comfortable they will be.”
Over the last week, Vargas and Lux have been working out and getting reps together in the backfields. They both understand how important their individual and collective success will be for the Dodgers in the upcoming season. They’re still patching up some things, but the two are confident they can be a strength as the season unfolds.
“I think a lot of it is just talking in between pitches,” Lux said. “You just have to communicate. Me and Trea [Turner], me and [Corey Seager], we always did that, so now it’s carrying that over [with Vargas].”
Off the field, Vargas and Lux have developed a relatively quick friendship. The two spent a lot of time together last season and Lux has continued to give Vargas tips on how to best play second base at the Major League level.
“He’s a great dude, man,” Lux said. “We never played together in the Minor Leagues, but we were always in Spring Training together. This offseason, we got pretty close. He has all the tools to be special and I’m rooting for him. He’s going to be really good.”
The Dodgers are hoping that all translates to the field.
“Our expectation is that it’ll only get better,” Roberts said.
First pitch timer test run
The Dodgers got their first taste of the new pitch timer on Saturday and it was received as an overwhelming success by the team. The game came to an end in two hours and 21 minutes.
“I think we had one violation [by Rubby De La Rosa], but I thought it was great,” Roberts said. “I felt really good about it.”
David Peralta benefited from the new rule as he took ball four following a pitch timer violation by Brewers pitcher Alex Claudio. Peralta and Roberts both acknowledged that Spring Training was about getting adjusted to the new rules, but they were all pleased with the results.
“I think [the players] realized that it wasn’t as big of a deal as kind of we talked about,” Roberts said. “Which is a credit to them."
Cactus League notes
• Freddie Freeman hit the Dodgers’ first homer of the spring, a two-run blast off right-hander Elvis Peguero in the third inning. Freeman continues to ramp up as he prepares to represent Team Canada in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
• Jonny DeLuca and Andy Pages each drove in a run on Saturday. DeLuca is the Dodgers’ No. 27-ranked prospect, per MLB Pipeline. Pages comes in as the No. 5 prospect in the organization.