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LOS ANGELES -- Before the Dodgers' game with the Diamondbacks on Tuesday, Dee Gordon took ground balls and second base and shagged fly balls in the outfield during bating practice. It sounds like more of an experiment at this point rather than a full-fledged switch from shortstop to utility man, but the Dodgers are keeping their options open going forward.
But as for now, manager Don Mattingly didn't sound like someone ready to insert Gordon into a meaningful game at a position other than shortstop (or maybe not even at shortstop).
"I don't think we've gotten to that point yet," Mattingly said.
Gordon did play 20 games at second base with Triple-A Albuquerque and made one error in 99 chances. Gordon made 18 errors at shortstop in 73 games, and made six more in 22 games with the Dodgers.
"They tell me it went pretty good, and it sounds like he likes it [at second base]. We're just expanding that," Mattingly said. "There have been different talks at different times with Dee, tying to figure out where is the best place for him. Is it short? Is it second? It could possibly be in the outfield, also."
Gordon has appeared in one of eight games since getting recalled from Albuquerque on Sept. 1, but hasn't yet played in the field. He was 1-for-1 with a bunt single as a pinch hitter on Friday night in Cincinnati.
Notes
- Mattingly said Hyun-jin Ryu has had no problems in his back since the initial tightness after his Aug. 30 start and the left-hander will start the series finale against the Diamondbacks on Friday.
- Chris Capuano, who left Friday's start against the Reds in the second inning with a mild groin strain, has continued to progress. He will do dry work on Wednesday and Mattingly said a bullpen session could follow. As of now, there is no set schedule for Capuano to return to the starting rotation.
- I brought up to Mattingly that with four off days in early April and the Australia trip in March the Dodgers could potentially start Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke four times each in the team's first 11 games next season. Though understandably the present-focused Matingly wanted to part of a question about 2014, he did say of that possibility, "That's a good thought."