Camp Sights: For Dodgers, 'great' feelings, but jury out

NOTE: Paste BN Sports' Paul White, via car, causeway, plane and rail, will reach every major league camp this spring.

Follow his exploits on Twitter --@PBJWhite- as he makes his way through the Cactus and Grapefruit leagues before he imparts all you didn't know about every team right here.

GLENDALE, Ariz. – It's logical to wonder what to make of these made-over Dodgers.

Much has changed since they were left wondering what happened in October against the St. Louis Cardinals – again.

The turnover stretches from much of the front office to an unusually high amount of roster changes (it could be close to half the Opening Day roster) for a 94-victory division winner.

Zack Greinke still isn't sure what to make of it, but he's starting to like it – he thinks.

The usually forthcoming pitcher was especially candid before spring training when he pointed out that he thought the Dodgers were the best team in baseball last year, so it logically follows that the revamped roster has some proving to do to be better than that.

Midway through spring, the jury – or at least the one-man version whose opinion is particularly interesting because he can opt out of his contract after this season – is still out.

"I still don't know for sure," he said after one of his starts when, as is common up until the final week or two of exhibition games, only about half the expected regular lineup was on the field.

"That's how it is every time," he said. "Last time it was even less starters. There definitely hasn't been a couple of games in a row where you can see the whole team play. I gave you a long answer and said nothing but I just haven't seen the team play so I can't tell if we're better talent-wise.

"But …" Greinke continued.

Drum roll of anticipation, please.

"It has been a very good atmosphere in the clubhouse," Greinke said. "Not to say it wasn't last year, but it's definitely been a great atmosphere."

Whether or not the 2014 Dodgers family qualified as dysfunctional has received significant attention. One guarantee: It certainly will be different this year.

Greinke is part of the one of the more creative contract situations in the game. He can opt out of his six-year, $147 million contract after this season. Teammate Clayton Kershaw has the same choice in the midst of his seven-year, $215 million deal after 2018. And, in between, Masahiro Tanaka of the Yankees can do so after 2017. All three are clients of agent Casey Close, who could potentially drive the pitching market for several years.

For those reading the tea leaves on Greinke, he volunteered for a start last weekend when half the Dodgers traveled to San Antonio for a couple of games. This is the same highly detailed guy who saw no value in disrupting the normal preparation routine for the season by going to Australia in mid-March last year for games that counted.

San Antonio turned out to be a good call. Greinke pitched well in a makeshift set-up in the Alamodome that's particularly hitter friendly while Kershaw remained in Arizona and ended up with dental work thanks to a batted ball during his start the same weekend.

As for Greinke's appearance, stay tuned.

He's been sporting long, flowing blond hair so far this spring.

"I might have to have a talk with my wife and see what the plan is," he says. "Might have to cut it soon.

"There could be an argument if I just go do something drastic without talking about it first. She's been telling me to cut it for awhile, but not all the way, just to cut it some. I would say if it's still long in a week, then it might last awhile."

If that's the most drama in Greinke's life, it has to be a good sign for the Dodgers.

**

To everything, turn, turn, turn

The Dodgers have a mannequin in the middle of their spring training clubhouse.

It needs to be wearing one of Justin Turner's gloves.

The mannequin is dressed every morning in the uniform combination the team will wear that day – that eliminates the need for players to find and read a sign when they arrive – and it stands right next to what has become Turner's mandatory morning stop.

"Some guys in here who come in and know exactly where they're playing and hitting and when," says Turner, who's gone from being most noticed for his shock of red hair to getting credit for his value, versatility, energy and almost genetic loyalty to Dodger blue. "For me, I walk in, find out where in the lineup I'm hitting and what glove I have to take out on the field. It's fun."

It's productive, too. Turner played all four infield positions last season, batted in all nine spots in the batting order. That's the fun stuff.

The serious data is his .897 OPS, the highest among Dodgers who played at least 100 games last season, and a .340 batting average that led the team regardless of playing time.

"He's been tremendous for us," says manager Don Mattingly. "There's nothing that hasn't been good. He swung the bat extremely well last year, showing us he could play all the spots in the infield. What I like more than anything is the way he looks right now."

With his utility role morphing into almost full-time action – his 109 games were his most since he was the Mets' primary second baseman in 2011 – Turner ramped up his off-season conditioning heading toward a season when he could play more.

After all, third baseman Juan Uribe and new shortstop Jimmy Rollins are 36 and even second baseman Howie Kendrick, 31, is five years older than his predecessor, Dee Gordon.

"He allows you to give multiple guys days off and it also gives him a chance to get into the lineup at multiple positions," Mattingly says. "That makes it easier to get him at-bats. He's high energy. He's been great in our clubhouse."

That's not always the case for bench guys. Like most of them, Turner would prefer to start 162 games a year. Unlike a lot of them, he chooses not to debate the issue.

"I think some guys are a little stubborn about it," says Turner, whose 487 plate appearances in '11 remains his career high. "And it's OK to want to play more and it's OK to want to play every day and it's OK to think that maybe you're better than the next guy. But that's the stuff that you have to keep to yourself. Otherwise, you're probably going to find yourself not in the clubhouse."

No problem finding Turner in the Dodgers' clubhouse. He's often the center of activity.

"It's tough for a guy who's playing part-time to really be a leader," Mattingly says. "He's a guy who's been a good example for our other guys. He's been really good at it but I'm not sure he really wants that role. I'm sure he wishes he could be playing more."

Of course.

"You can look at it two ways," Turner says. "You can be happy about the role you're in and prepare yourself to do the best you can or you can whine and moan and be a cancer because you want to play every day – and you probably get sent to the minor leagues. I made a decision a few years ago that I'm just going to embrace it and have fun with it and prepare myself the best I can for it every day."

It's particularly easy for him to embrace his current uniform. Being a Dodgers fans is part of the family fabric growing up in nearby Bellflower. That's an asset.

"The guys we have and have had in the past from the L.A. area, who grew up Dodger fans, they seem to love playing here," Mattingly says. "I think we need to pay attention to the guys who grew up in that area because they're invested right away in the Dodgers and it's nice to have those guys."

**

From barista to baller

Joc Pederson walked to his locker after another session in the batting cages.

Whether or not he actually noticed, whether his head was down literally or figuratively, the 22-year-old who's been anointed the next Dodgers star – not to mention the starting center fielder – shrugged off the giant poster-like face of Turner attached to the hook where Pederson hangs the blue cap with the interlocking LA that he hopes to wear all season.

Was the culprit Turner, the veteran and clubhouse personality whose locker is adjacent? Or was it other teammates messing with the rookie who has used Turner as a sounding board for everything from hitting to how to be a major leaguer?

"I have no idea," Pederson said, displaying little interest in either the huge face or any discussion of the matter. "It wasn't me."

Yes, the rookie is living the cliché – keep your head down and put in the work.

Just ask him about his spring.

"I just want to show every day when I'm in the lineup and give it everything I've got and try to help the team win," he says.

This a prolific player – in the minor leagues. A 1.014 OPS at Class AAA last season is what produced all the expectations swirling around the young man who would replace Matt Kemp as part of the team's personality makeover.

This is a player under the microscope, as he found when he went 4-for-28 after a September call-up. Never mind that nine walks and 11 strikeouts in the small sample size showed he hadn't lost the solid handle on the strike zone, the trait that produced 100 walks in the Pacific Coast League and made the 149 strikeouts easier to take.

"Stick to your routine that got you here, continue to progress as a player and grow," is his explanation for how he's approaching this spring.

No, he doesn't officially have the center field job.

"Nobody's handing Joc the keys to the car," Mattingly said at the beginning of spring training.

Well, however he got in the driver's seat, Pederson is on quite the joy ride.

We'd be gushing over his 1.346 OPS this spring if it wasn't for the Cubs' Kris Bryant and the debate over whether he'll even be along for the ride to Opening Day.

Pederson has more total bases than anyone else in Arizona or Florida other than Bryant and Detroit's J.D. Martinez. Three homers, four doubles and a .472 average is good, right? C'mon, the center field gig has to be a done deal.

"That's all out of a player's control," Pederson says. "When you get an opportunity, you make the best of it. You just want to be prepared for whenever you get that opportunity."

He's already had the opportunity to pass mettle with teammates – and they nod and acknowledge they like the kid.

The made him do a coffee run after his celebrated call-up last September – in uniform – to a Starbucks near Wrigley Field. Pederson played along and posted on Instagram a photo of himself and a clubhouse attendant on the street toting several trays of drinks and turning heads.

Expect the heads to keep turning.

GALLERY: Spring training scenes