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The start of Spring Training is a date cherished by fans no matter their allegiance as it marks the official end of days, weeks and months without baseball.
Opening Day follows roughly month later and with it comes more enthusiasm, but there’s also a date sandwiched between the two starting points that carries significant weight and importance in the gaming community.
This year, that’s Tuesday March 29, when MLB The Show 16, the latest edition in the annual series, will be exclusively released on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3.
Three versions ($59.99 Standard, $69.99 MVP and $99.99 Digital Deluxe) are currently available for preorder.
Toronto Blue Jays third baseman and reigning American League MVP Josh Donaldson is the cover athlete this year. Coming off an All-Star season in 2014 and someone who enjoys playing the game, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig was on the cover of MLB 15: The Show.
As the cover athlete on MLB The Show 15, Puig became the first Dodger to hold the honor, though Adrian Gonzalez did in 2012 when he was with the Boston Red Sox. Andrew McCutchen, Dustin Pedroia and Miguel Cabrera are among those who have also appeared on the cover.
Puig went on to struggle last season and missed significant time due to multiple hamstring strains. The down year wasn’t attributed to being on the cover, however, as is now the case with EA Sports’ Madden series — dubbed “The Madden Curse” and/or “Madden Cover Jinx.”
Although the Dodgers are not represented on the cover this year, Clayton Kershaw is tied with Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim center fielder Mike Trout as the game’s highest-rated player, with both receiving a 99 rating.
Kershaw, Trout and Miguel Cabrera were all rated 99 in last year’s MLB 15: The Show.
CONTINUE READING: Top rated starting pitchers
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Despite not winning the 2015 National League Cy Young Award, finishing behind winner Jake Arrieta and former teammate Zack Greinke Kershaw put together another dominant season and overcame a slow start — by his standards.
The Dodgers’ ace quieted his skeptics by going 16-7, 2.13 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and becoming the first pitcher since 2002 to amass a 300-strikeout season. Additionally, Kershaw was tops in FIP (1.99), xFIP (2.09), SIERA (2.24), strikeout percentage (33.8 percent), strikeout-to-walk ratio (29.1 percent) and innings pitched (232.2).
Kershaw also matched Arrieta’s four complete games and three shutouts. As for the ratings of starting pitchers in MLB The Show 16, Kershaw is followed by Max Scherzer, Greinke, Arrieta and Chris Sale to round out the top five.
Scherzer was ranked the third-best pitcher in last year’s rendition, while Arrieta received an increase from an 83 rating to 95, and Greinke from 89 also to 95.
Via Operation Sports, the top starting pitchers:
CONTINUE READING: Top rated relief pitchers
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While the Dodgers have won three consecutive NL West titles, their bullpen has been far from consistent during that stretch. Los Angeles ate the salaries of Brandon League and Brian Wilson in effort to improve the group of relievers.
The Dodgers bullpen had their share of peaks and valleys last season and also incurred bad luck, which suggests some reversal to the mean in 2016.
Much of the same group is on track to return this season, with Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman believing experience gained will serve the bullpen well.
Joe Blanton was added to the mix as a long reliever, though he nor other Dodgers relief pitchers are rated among the top bullpen arms.
Darren O’Day and Ryan Madson, however, both of whom the Dodgers reportedly had interest in, did make the list:
CONTINUE READING: Top rated closers
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As shaky as the Dodgers’ bullpen has been, Kenley Jansen is largely exempt from such criticism. The Curacao native missed the first month of 2015 as he recovered from offseason foot surgery.
It was then business as usual for Jansen upon returning. He finished the season with 36 saves, 2.41 ERA, averaged 13.8 strikeouts per nine innings, and led all relievers who threw 40 innings or more with a 0.78 WHIP.
Jansen and the Dodgers avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year $10.65 million contract. The hard-throwing right-hander currently ranks second on the Dodgers’ all-time leaders list with 142 saves; trailing only Eric Gagne’s 161.
The Dodgers nearly paired Jansen with another electric closer in Aroldis Chapman. However, their trade for the left-hander fell apart as reports surfaced detailing Chapman’s involvement in an alleged domestic violence dispute last October.
Jansen was rated the second-best closer behind Craig Kimbrel last year, but has since been surpassed by Kansas City Royals closer Wade Davis:
CONTINUE READING: Top rated catchers
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In trading Matt Kemp to the San Diego Padres, the Dodgers received Yasmani Grandal as the centerpiece in their return.
Grandal arrived with some question marks as he was suspended 50 games for PED use in 2013 and underwent reconstructive ACL surgery on his right knee later that same season. Additionally, it was reported Andrew Cashner, Ian Kennedy and Tyson Ross all preferred to work with Rene Rivera instead of Grandal.
However, he went on to enjoy plenty of success with the Dodgers — albeit in the first half. Grandal batted .282/.401/.526 with 14 home runs, 36 RBIs and 42 walks prior to the All-Star Game.
At the All-Star break he led all catchers with a .401 on-base percentage, .927 on-base plus slugging percentage, and was second with 14 home runs. He was named to the All-Star Game for the first time in his career.
He was then slowed considerably over the second half due to a nagging left shoulder injury that required offseason surgery. Perhaps still with too many uncertainties, Grandal isn’t rated among the top catchers:
CONTINUE READING: Top rated first basemen
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Adrian Gonzalez has been a model of consistency at first base for the Dodgers since they traded for him in August 2012. He’s appeared in at least 156 games all the while assuming a leadership role over the past four seasons.
Despite battling a pinched nerve in his back that affected the left side of his body, Gonzalez posted an .830 on-base plus slugging percentage last season, which was his highest mark since 2011.
Overall, Gonzalez hit .275/.350/.480 with 28 home runs, 90 RBIs, a .354 wOBA and 129 wRC+ last season. He led the Dodgers in batting average, on-base percentage, home runs, RBIs, total hits (157) and doubles (33).
The successful season earned Gonzalez an two-point increase in overall rating from last year as he checks in as the seventh-best first baseman:
CONTINUE READING: Top rated second basemen
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The Dodgers’ decision to trade All-Star Dee Gordon came as a surprise to some as he was under team control and a young talent. On the flip side, the argument could be made Los Angeles sold high on their converted second baseman.
Gordon poured salt in the wound by becoming the first player to win a Gold Glove, lead the Majors in stolen bases and win the batting title all in the same season.
Howie Kendrick played a steady second base for the Dodgers as he turned in another consistent season. However, he also missed 34 games fover August and September because of a strained left hamstring.
To help fill the void, the Dodgers traded for veteran Chase Utley. Kendrick and Utley re-signed during the offseason.
Last year, Kendrick received an 82 rating and Utley an 85. Both appear to have dropped a bit as neither are listed. Meanwhile, Gordon received a seven-point increase:
CONTINUE READING: Top rated third basemen
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When the Dodgers signed Justin Turner to a Minor League contract with an invitation to 2014 Spring Training, it was impossible to predict what has since transpired. Turner was cut loose by the New York Mets after 2013 despite putting together a solid season.
He made the Dodgers Opening Day roster and the rest as they say, is history. Turner provided plenty of punch off the bench in his first year with Los Angeles that also led to semi-consistent starts.
His success continued last season and it led to the Dodgers trading Juan Uribe as Turner was essentially given the everyday job.
Despite the accomplishments over the past two seasons, Turner remains on the outside looking in at the top third basemen in The Show’s rankings:
CONTINUE READING: Top rated shortstops
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Simply needing to find a bridge to Corey Seager, the Dodgers traded for veteran shortstop Jimmy Rollins as he only had one year remaining on his contract.
Rollins hit the decided home run on Opening Day against the San Diego Padres, but otherwise played a largely underwhelming season with the Dodgers.
The 2007 NL MVP eventually lost his job to Seager as the youngster took advantage of an opportunity created by Rollins suffering a sprained right index finger.
Seager hit .337/.425/.561 with four home runs, eight doubles, 17 RBIs, a .421 wOBA and 175 wRC+ in 27 regular-season games with the Dodgers.
He then became the youngest position player to start a postseason game in franchise history.
Seager now enters this season slated as the Dodgers starting shortstop and in line for his first full year in the Majors. The 21 year old is the consensus No. 1 overall prospect, named as such by Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, ESPN and MLB.com.
Seager is part of an influx of young, talented shortstops who have taken the league by storm. Veteran Troy Tulowitzki is still rated as the best in baseball at his position but he has plenty of others nipping at his heels, including Seager:
CONTINUE READING: Top rated left fielders
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Over the past three seasons the Dodgers have largely dealt with a juggling act in their outfield. That hasn’t changed heading into 2016, however roles could become more clear-cut than perhaps they’ve been once the club reaches full health.
Coming off a bounce-back season in which he batted .294/.366/.486 with 14 home runs, 20 doubles, 53 RBIs, had a .366 wOBA and 137 wRC+ over 142 games, Ethier was expected to be the Dodgers starting left fielder.
That was going to move Carl Crawford to a role of the bench, which he naturally didn’t prefer but was understanding of the situation.
When healthy, Crawford started in left field more times than not under former Dodgers manager Don Mattingly.
Ethier is owed $18 million this season, $17.5 million in 2017, and his contract includes $17.5 million club option in 2018 with a $2.5 million buyout. He will earn the right to veto a trade by reaching 10 years of Major-League service time, including the last five with the Dodgers, on April 21.
Although Ethier is coming off a strong season, he isn’t rated among the top left fielders. Justin Upton, now with the Detroit Tigers, headlines the group:
CONTINUE READING: Top rated center fielders
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After getting his feet wet at the Major League level in September 2014, Joc Pederson was officially handed the keys in center field last season. He beat out Ethier during camp last spring to earn the job.
As Rollins busted out of the gate slowly, Pederson found himself in the leadoff spot on April 29 in the finale of a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants.
At that stage of the season, Pederson led the Dodgers in walks (16), walk rate (21.9 percent) and on-base percentage (.458). He eventually took hold of the leadoff spot, batting .230/.364/.487 with 20 home runs and 40 RBIs in the first half.
He rode the hot first half to a start in the 2015 All-Star Game and also participated in the Home Run Derby. Pederson became the first rookie position player in franchise history to start an All-Star Game.
Pederson finished the season batting .210/.346/.417 with 26 home runs, 54 RBIs, 170 strikeouts, 92 walks, a .335 wOBA and 115 wRC+. He was replaced down the stretch of the year as the everyday starter in center field by Kiké Hernandez.
To little surprise, Pederson has not yet cracked the list of top rated center fielders, where Trout reigns supreme:
CONTINUE READING: Top rated right fielders
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As the cover athlete last year, Puig was rated 90 and considered the second-best right fielder behind Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins.
Multiple hamstring injuries limited Puig to a career-worst 79 games last season. He batted .255/.322/.436 with 11 home runs, 38 RBIs, .328 wOBA, 111 wRC+, 66 strikeouts and 22 walks in 311 plate appearances.
Puig was instructed to shed some weight during the offseason with the hope it will correlate to him avoiding the same hamstring issues in 2016.
Stanton was also affected by injury last season as he fractured the hamate bone in his left hand on June 26 in a game against the Dodgers.
The Marlins slugger never appeared in a game after the injury. Meanwhile, Bryce Harper went on to be unanimously voted the 2015 NL MVP. At 23 years old, he became the fourth-youngest player to win the award.
Harper led the Majors in on-base percentage (.460), slugging percentage (.649) and WAR (9.9). He also tied for the NL lead in home runs (42) and batting average (.330), and led the NL in runs scored (118).
In 153 games played, the 23 year old hit .330/.460/.649 with an MLB-best 197 wRC+, 195 OPS+ and .461 wOBA.
Last season was Harper’s first as a full-time right fielder. He ranked fourth among NL players at his position with seven defensive runs saved and was a Gold Glove finalist. Harper is now rated the top right fielder in baseball:
