He s Back!
Bear said it best: Rumors of Clayton s demise were greatly exaggerated! In the first inning, no one could blame you if you thought, Uh oh, here we go again. After a horrid opening day and a bad spring training, no one knew what to think, but he struck out three in the first and was masterful the rest of the way. His fastball hit 92.7 MPH at its fastest, but

Bear said it best:
Rumors of Clayton’s demise were greatly exaggerated!
In the first inning, no one could blame you if you thought, “Uh oh, here we go again.” After a horrid opening day and a bad spring training, no one knew what to think, but he struck out three in the first and was masterful the rest of the way. His fastball hit 92.7 MPH at its fastest, but when his slider is biting like it did last night, he can have an 89 MPH fastball and dominate.
I think we will see him hit 94 MPH this year and the second off-season of Driveline and a season with Trevor Bauer. He still pitches like an Ace. Treinen and Jansen sealed the deal. The pitching staff looks extremely solid outside of Price and Nelson. Neither one pitched in 2020, so it could be rust or it could be difficulty in learning a relief role, but it’s probably both. They will need some time to grow into those roles. Be patient.
Rants & Raves
- The offense is just getting going but is awesome.
- Zach McKinstry = Kike Who?
- Speaking of Kike, he is hitting .111 (2 for 18) while Joc is 0 for 13 with 7 K’s! Ouch! Hopefully, they can turn it around.
Fun With the Family
We are in Ft. Meyers, Florida – It was supposed to be Naples but our Air B & B canceled at the last minute. However, this has been great. Last night all ten of us were at Cabo’s Mexican Grill for Dinner. Great Times!

Celebrating my Daughter’s Big 40
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Discussion (94)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Yes, todays game should have been a win if our batters would have come threw just once with the bases loaded.
However: The Dodgers still could have won it if they had a reliable closer. There will be many more games that go like that, games that are close and the offense can not put the other team away. Playoff games often go like that.
I DO NOT WANT TO SEE KJ TROT OUT AGAIN IN THIS SITUATIONS! He no longer is a reliable closer. When will Roberts finally accept it for good ?
Dodgers probably should be in the market for a high leverage closer come trade deadline.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Aaron spent 13 seasons in the majors playing in Milwaukee. 11 as a Brave, and 1 as a Brewer. If MLB really wanted to honer Hammerin Hank, they would have moved the All Star game to Milwaukee. He spent 9 in Atlanta and the last time I checked, he never played in Denver.
As I mentioned earlier I went to the game and am home now. Didn’t record the game and was wondering if Orel or Joe mentioned anything at all about Dino putting the brakes on Seager on the double by JT (I think). Play was right in front of me and Seager would have scored. Watching it live I couldn’t believe Dino stopped Seager.
Might not have made a difference since KJ looks pedestrian once again.
Another loss by the decision maker Doc. Another loss that involved Nelson. Didn’t we establish that Jansen shouldn’t close? I guess Doc didn’t get the memo.
I hate to gloat but everything that I have said about the bullpen and Nelson and Doc has come true so far. I’m only saying this because I’ve got several disagreements about this subject.
Well, I was hoping Jansen would come back strong this year and that certainly isn’t the case. How long will it take before he loses his job as closer? I felt uneasy as he entered the game. That quickly turned to dread when I saw the radar gun report 90 after his first pitch. Treinen on the bench watching, waiting with a day off tomorrow.
We won 2 road series to start the year. In the big picture, that’s a fantastic road trip.
It’s better that Kenley gets a shot to close now, and eventually lose that job, than later.
The bigger worry is Belly’s leg and Betts’ back. But again, it’s better we deal with this now rather than later.
Kenley Jansen has struck out one of the first 15 batters he has faced this year, walking four.
#&%@!*€ bullpen!!
We had plenty of chances. Offense swallowed an olive too.
Oh well. Oakland was going to win one sooner or later.
I served from 1965 to 1974. Never went to Nam simply because of my MOS> I was a radar tech in a missile unit. But I have nothing but respect for those who did go. Bad end to a great road trip. But they are a different team without Bellinger and Betts in the lineup.
Now that was a win pissed away! Bauer must feel like he’s back in Cincy!
Jansen back to back- please Doc never again. If you left Gonzalez in the team would be showering right now!
Back to the concept of the weakest link and the bullpen,
I think we just experienced the weakest link in the bullpen.
Dodgers left way too many ducks on the pond — they should have 6 or 7 runs. I am hoping this early-season “experiment” with Jansen will remind Doc that Jansen is not a closer anymore. Bullpen by committee is the way to go this year with all the different options out there..
I don’t usually blame Roberts, but today I do …
Thanks Roberts!!
Why is Jansen on the mound?
Why not let Gonzalez to finish the game?
Jansen makes me nervous.
Very nice gesture Mark.
Lux and McKinstry overmatched against Diekman! Just seems like a lazy day for Dodger bats today. Bullpen has to save the day
Awesome curve from Knebel to get them out of the 7th inning. If that is how Bauer pitches without his best command, we have something to look forward to.
They didn’t give McKinstry a hit on his bunt. That has to be a hit because Taylor wasn’t called out until he came off of the base.
Today we honor the nearly 3 million Americans who served in the Vietnam Conflict. These heroes risked their lives to fight the most evil form of government man has ever known. They should have been fully supported by our government and home front. They should have been welcomed home as victorious heroes. Unfortunately, they were not. All too often they have been mistreated, mischaracterized, and maligned by our mass media and In popular culture. The lies and disgusting disrespect these American servicemen and women received is one of the most shameful episodes in this nation. Today as we honor their sacrifice and service we should also ask for their forgiveness. They bravely served when called. We owed them MUCH better when they returned. Thank you to ALL who served. Your service is not forgotten nor forsaken by those who love this Nation.
Offense stagnant today. Turner’s on base streak in jeopardy. Corey Seager has not hit a ball hard since his first AB of the series. Chris Taylor is on fire.
Another home plate ump that doesn’t know a strike from his balls.
Sborz lost their first game, so a little redemption today. Betts nursing a sore back.
Ryu:
7 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 SO
Sborz:
Scoreless inning.
Maeda:
6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K