All systems go. Andre Ethier is back. He's going to be the Dodgers' regular left fielder in 2017.
He's not platooning with Yasiel Puig in right, as some have suggested, and he's not about to be beaten out of a job by Andrew Toles. Ethier is the left fielder. Period.
You'll excuse the use of the term "regular" to describe the player's role, because as a left-hand hitter in a sport with some two right-hand pitchers for every southpaw, it's mathematically closer to the truth and easier to say than "left fielder in a platoon with Franklin Guttierez, Scott Van Slyke, Kiké Hernandez or some combination of the above."
While an expectation of Ethier matching his career .303/.382/.506/.888 mark versus RHP as a 35-year-old (on April 10) may seem like a stretch, it's more doable than you might think. He hit .306/.383/.517/.900 against righties in 2015, and though he's two years old in actual age, it's not like he put any mileage on his body last season. He started twice in left in 2016, completed one game out there, and stepped to the plate all of 26 times (plus five more in the postseason).
Spring Training stats mean little, of course, but it's better to start a season after most of a year off hitting .375/.667/.750/1.417, with six walks and a homer than not.
Plenty scoffed when I predicted that Ethier would go .285/.350/.450/.800, with 20 and 75 a couple of weeks ago, but I think that's a reasonable goal for Dodgers' longest tenured player. Entering his 12th and likely final season in Los Angeles, Ethier's is motivated by his upcoming free agency, naturally, but it's more than just that. The bounce in his step is apparent to anyone watching, and he, like the rest of Dave Roberts' men, is focused on a pennant. Nothing less will do.
Perhaps he joins his friend Dustin Pedroia in Boston next year, as has long been talked about. Maybe he becomes a part-time outfielder and designated hitter. Perhaps he goes home to Arizona to play out his career. Or maybe he goes ape-wire one more time vs. right-handers, becomes Captain Clutch with some dramatic walkoffs again, and finds his way back to Chavez Ravine in 2018, where he gets to place a particular piece of jewelry in the safe by his locker every day when he shows up to work.
I don't know about you, but I plan to appreciate the Dodgers left fielder as he goes through his paces in 2017. I'll keep in mind that I may be watching his L.A. swan song throughout, and I'm confident you will too.
I'll just add one more prediction. Ethier wins the 2017 National League Comeback Player of the Year.
And remember, glove conquers all.
