Fansided
Around The Foghorn
Home/SF Giants News

San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: Position-by-Position Breakdown

By Jake Mastroianni
Sep 30, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (5) head first slide safely into home against San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) during the first inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (5) head first slide safely into home against San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) during the first inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Mar 23, 2017; Surprise, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Logan Forsythe (11) dives back to first on a pick off during the third inning against the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2017; Surprise, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Logan Forsythe (11) dives back to first on a pick off during the third inning against the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

Second Base

One of the biggest offseason moves for the Dodgers was the acquisition of Logan Forsythe to become their every day second baseman. The 30-year-old only played 127 games for the Tampa Bay Rays last year but still managed a career high in home runs with 20. He’s a career .255 hitter, but he’s really just developed into an every day second baseman the last two years.

As for the San Francisco Giants, Joe Panik is still a bit of a question mark at second base. After two very solid seasons to begin his big league career, he struggled much of last year – mostly because of injuries – leaving some doubt about his ability to be an every day second baseman.

Despite his lack of production on offense in 2016, Panik still managed to win his first Gold Glove award.

This one is also very close, and like Belt with A-Gon, I think Panik has the room to grow and become better than Forsythe. But at this point, I have to give the edge to the Dodgers at second base. Especially since the Dodgers also went out and re-signed Chase Utley.

Advantage: Dodgers

Third Base

There is quite the theme developing here with the Dodgers having players with just a little more experience to give them the edge, and that’s basically the situation we have at third base with Eduardo Nunez and Justin Turner.

Turner’s career is quite perplexing as he’s never been selected to an All Star team or won any big awards, but yet he’s very instrumental to the Dodger’s success. So much so that the Dodgers resigned him this offseason for 4 years and $64 million. At age 31 last year he finished with career highs in home runs (27), RBI (90) and runs scored (79).

This was also only the second time in his career he’s received over 400 at-bats. His batting average was the lowest it’s been in four years, and he broke his career high for strikeouts. After six years of being a utility player, Turner has finally become a solid every day guy for the Dodgers.

That’s exactly what Nunez is trying to do with the San Francisco Giants. He’s been a utility player for the first six years of his career, but at age 29 last year he finally received more than 309 at-bats in a season. He posted very solid numbers hitting .288 with 16 home runs, 67 RBI and 73 runs scored.

Both guys play a solid third base defensively, but again I have to give the edge to the Dodgers because of Turner’s experience. But this one is a lot closer than most people think.

Advantage: Dodgers

facebooktwitterreddit