{"id":59037,"date":"2025-05-06T07:08:13","date_gmt":"2025-05-06T07:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=59037"},"modified":"2025-05-06T07:08:13","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T07:08:13","slug":"shock-the-dream-max-muncy-solution-the-dodgers-are-too-afraid-to-make","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=59037","title":{"rendered":"SHOCK!! The dream Max Muncy solution the Dodgers are too afraid to make"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"relative z-10\">\n<div class=\"article-intro mb-4 text-darkGrey font-group-large md:font-group-normal lg:font-group-large\">It might be time to get creative.<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"mb-0 md:mb-9 relative md:mx-10 md:mb-9\">\n<figure>\n<div class=\"overflow-hidden bg-lightGrey\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_3720,h_2092\/c_fill,w_360,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FGettyImages%2Fmmsport%2F75%2F01jt9a6rg11yxfp92shg.jpg 1x,  \nhttps:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_3720,h_2092\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FGettyImages%2Fmmsport%2F75%2F01jt9a6rg11yxfp92shg.jpg 2x, \n    https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_3720,h_2092\/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FGettyImages%2Fmmsport%2F75%2F01jt9a6rg11yxfp92shg.jpg 3x\" media=\"(max-width: 719px)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_3720,h_2092\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FGettyImages%2Fmmsport%2F75%2F01jt9a6rg11yxfp92shg.jpg 1x, \nhttps:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_3720,h_2092\/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FGettyImages%2Fmmsport%2F75%2F01jt9a6rg11yxfp92shg.jpg 2x, \n    https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_3720,h_2092\/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FGettyImages%2Fmmsport%2F75%2F01jt9a6rg11yxfp92shg.jpg 3x\" media=\"(max-width: 1079px)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_3720,h_2092\/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FGettyImages%2Fmmsport%2F75%2F01jt9a6rg11yxfp92shg.jpg 1x, \nhttps:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_3720,h_2092\/c_fill,w_2160,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FGettyImages%2Fmmsport%2F75%2F01jt9a6rg11yxfp92shg.jpg 2x,\n    https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_3720,h_2092\/c_fill,w_2160,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FGettyImages%2Fmmsport%2F75%2F01jt9a6rg11yxfp92shg.jpg 3x\" media=\"(min-width: 1080px)\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full\" title=\"San Francisco Giants v Los Angeles Dodgers\" src=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_3720,h_2092\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/GettyImages\/mmsport\/75\/01jt9a6rg11yxfp92shg.jpg\" alt=\"San Francisco Giants v Los Angeles Dodgers\" width=\"3720\" height=\"2092\" data-uw-rm-alt-original=\"San Francisco Giants v Los Angeles Dodgers\" data-uw-rm-alt=\"ALT\" \/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"ml-1 pb-2 mt-4 md:m-3 text-darkGrey font-group-tiny\">San Francisco Giants v Los Angeles Dodgers | Jayne Kamin-Oncea\/GettyImages<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-wrap\">\n<div class=\"flex mr-4 lg:w-[calc(70%-3em)] max-w-full\"><main class=\"min-w-0 flex-1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"viewablity-block\">\n<figure class=\"player-wrapper relative aspect-video mb-[18px] bg-grey rounded-md hidden player-wrapper-lg md:block\">\n<div id=\"mm-player-placeholder-large-screen\" class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full\">\n<div id=\"voltax-mp-video\" class=\"shadow-root-voltax-mp\">\n<div class=\"voltax-mp-placeholder voltax-mp-placeholder-anchored floating\" data-is-split-view=\"false\">\n<div class=\"voltax-mp-container-anchored\">\n<div class=\"titleBar title-anchor\"><span class=\"title\"><span class=\"\">Pressing the Panic Button: Is it Time for These 5 Teams to Make Changes?<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"voltax-mp-video-wrapper-in-place\">\n<div class=\"voltax-mp-video-player-wrapper\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"article-content\">\n<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\">Despite ending a month-long homer drought\u00a0a couple of days ago, it&#8217;s become clear that the Dodgers have a Max Muncy problem.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\">Once one of the most feared left-handed bats in the game, Muncy had large chunk of his\u00a02024 season stolen by injury.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\">Now, with his 35th birthday approaching later on this year, it would appear that age is wearing on him as well.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\">Muncy&#8217;s always had some swing-and-miss to his game with a career 24.9% strikeout rate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\">This season, despite a still healthy walk rate, his strikeout percentage has reached an untenable 31.8% through May 1, while his trademark power has evaporated.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\">The Dodgers&#8217; offense has largely still been potent even with Muncy adrift; however, once the unexpected power surges from the likes of Tommy Edman and Andy Pages come to an inevitable end, the team will need reliable contributions from third base. It certainly seems that Muncy is no longer able to provide that.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-3\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\">Fortunately for the Dodgers, a creative solution should provide the perfect alternative. They just need to muster up the courage to make it.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"inline-text-4\" class=\"scroll-mt-24 my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\">Inserting Will Smith at third and top prospect Dalton Rushing behind the plate is the solution to the Dodgers&#8217; Max Muncy woes<\/h2>\n<p id=\"inline-text-5\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" data-uw-rm-sr=\"\">When the Dodgers agreed to a\u00a010-year, $140 million extension\u00a0with a then- 29-year-old Will Smith last March, they knew sooner rather than later he&#8217;d have to move out from behind the plate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" data-uw-rm-sr=\"\">Smith has only played one big league game at third, but the position isn&#8217;t exactly foreign to him.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-6\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\">Coming up through the minor leagues, Smith spent some time working around the infield, getting reps at both second and his most-often-played position aside from catcher, third base.<\/p>\n<p class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\">It&#8217;s been a while, though.<\/p>\n<p class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\">His last significant experience at the hot corner came in 2018, where he logged 43 games at the position across Double-A and Triple-A, but for a leader like Smith, the transition shouldn&#8217;t come with too many growing pains.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\">As an added bonus, his already elite offensive production so far in 2025 where he owns a fantastic .316\/.426\/.500 slash line, should only get a boost without the physical toll that catching every day takes on the body.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-8\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\">In his stead, the Dodgers could then call up top prospect Dalton Rushing, who has\u00a0put on quite the show\u00a0at Triple-A Oklahoma City and looks ready to take over as the heir apparent at catcher.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-9\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\">After clubbing 26 home runs and posting a .271\/.384\/.512 line between Double-A and Triple-A in 2024, he&#8217;s picked up right where he left off, beginning the season at Triple-A and posting a .316\/.419\/.513 line.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-10\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\">The 24-year-old is certainly ready with the bat and brings versatility in his own right, with experience playing both first base and left field in his minor league career.<\/p>\n<p class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\">Promoting Rushing would still allow for Smith to catch occasionally while mostly supplanting Muncy in the starting lineup, giving the Dodgers the best shot to maximize the talent available to them while taking some pressure off the struggling Muncy to figure it out in a lesser role.<\/p>\n<p>It might not be the most orthodox solution to the Dodgers&#8217; Muncy problem, but it is certainly more appealing than the alternatives.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/main><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It might be time to get creative. San Francisco Giants v Los Angeles Dodgers | Jayne Kamin-Oncea\/GettyImages Pressing the Panic Button: Is it Time for These 5&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":59038,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-59037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>SHOCK!! 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