With the Dodgers off to an undefeated start through their first seven games, MLB.com Dodgers beat reporter Sonja Chen took questions from fans in an r/Dodgers AMA. The full conversation can be viewed here, but here's a sampling of the best questions and answers.
Questions and responses have been lightly edited for clarity.
With this hot start, how is the mood in the clubhouse? Are the boys aware of the hot start from SD, San Francisco and Arizona?
Around the team, there¡¯s no real sense of surprise that they¡¯re off to this hot start -- it¡¯s in line with the high expectations that the team has this year. Obviously, it¡¯s easy enough to say it, but harder to carry that out, and the mentality of winning every day en route to the end goal seems to be working effectively early on.
I haven¡¯t heard much chatter from the team about how the rest of the division is doing. I¡¯m sure the Dodgers are aware, but other teams aren¡¯t top of mind. They¡¯re focused on their own goals right now.
What are the realistic expectations for Dalton Rushing; the bat seems ready to play in MLB, but with Will Smith [under] contract for 10 years and [Austin] Barnes signed [through the end of this year] and [Shohei] Ohtani as the DH, is he essentially going to go the Michael Busch route?
Rushing is an interesting case for those reasons. The organization wants him to work on his defense as a catcher, which might keep him in Triple-A a little longer to get some seasoning down there. In the near future, his ability to be versatile might be most important for him. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if Freddie Freeman and Ohtani both need some extra rest this year, potentially opening up some time at first base if Rushing is able to crack the active roster.
Beyond these next couple of years, it¡¯s no certainty that Smith will stay exclusively at catcher until the end of his contract. I think with the wear and tear, there¡¯s a possibility that he could end up playing some first base down the line or that catcher could become more of a platoon with him and Rushing. I think the Dodgers will get creative to find ways to get Rushing in the lineup if he proves he can hit in the big leagues, just as he¡¯s done throughout the Minors.
What player's walk-up song do you like the most?
I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve talked much about this since joining the Dodgers beat, but I love walk-up music. I even have a spreadsheet to try to keep track of everything the Dodgers have used so far.
I really like the rotation Tommy Edman uses, starting with ¡°Blue World¡± by Mac Miller, and it¡¯s also fun that players are using Kendrick Lamar songs that aren¡¯t just ¡°Not Like Us¡± (Smith walks up to ¡°squabble up,¡± and Blake Snell¡¯s entrance is to ¡°tv off¡±). Honorable mention for Michael Conforto, who uses ¡°Lay Low¡± by Ti?sto.
What is your favorite thing you have learned about the Dodgers' org, history or players so far?
I think one of my favorite things about this job is getting to learn about the sides of players' personalities that we don't necessarily see on the field. There were some fun things that emerged this spring -- such as Kyle Hurt using Legos in his Tommy John rehab, Jack Dreyer's knack for solving Rubik's Cubes and Anthony Banda being a self-taught barber. The stars get a lot of attention in games, and deservedly so, but there are a lot of cool stories around the rest of the roster.
And as for franchise history, I'm still learning! I'm midway through a reading list to get me up to speed on all things Dodgers history, and I would love any book recommendations that anyone might have.