Before I start talking about Opening Day, I want to talk about something that makes baseball so special. To me, it was never so evident as in the Freeway Series, although I saw flashes of it through the spring: Watching the youngsters and seeing the pure joy they experience is the best part of this game. Last year, it was Miguel Vargas, Bobby Miller, and James Outman (well, Bobby is pretty stoic). This year, it was Kendall George, Thayron Liranzo, Zyhir Hope, Jackson Ferris, Josue DePaula, and Austin Gauthier. Pure joy and thankfulness, and it was fun watching them. I will be watching them in the minors all season.
Back to Dodger Baseball
Vin would have been proud! I still miss those words.
The man, the myth, the legend!
Freddie and Mookie went yard, and Shohei got a double and a single. Max was 1-2 with 2 RBI, and James Outman had two hits. We saw Tyler Glasnow fulfill his childhood dream, and this is the year he becomes the Workhorse and Ace he was destined to be. Equally impressive was Ryan Yarbrough who came in and shut down the Cards for the last three innings. Glasnow threw 87 pitches, and Yarbrough had 44. This is a “killer duo.” Start out with the fireballing RH Glasnow and follow him up with the soft-tossing LHP, Yarbrough. You are going to see some shutouts like this. It should not be lost on anyone that Lux and Outman, along with Heyward, are in platoons. They will see some LHP, but not a lot as Kike, CT3, and Rojas are on the bench.
This team is full of promise and even the “Dodger Rule” instituted by Rob Manfred cannot keep them from winning the World Series this year. That’s my story.
Discussion (40)
Disagree, not disagreeable
9 million $ Joe Kelly. Him or Vesia either one can throw strikes. Pathetic
Dodgers should have scored how many early. I guess it never occurred to Roberts to make a change.
Never boring with Joe!
How many RBI’s is Smith going to have this year? He may never bat without someone on base! Couldn’t have a better comeback effort from Yamamoto!
drizzle getting heavier….
If Hernandez hits 30 homers this year, does that mean he strikes out the other460 times? If Smith, Muncy and Hernandez don’t even swing we score at least 2 runs there. My goodness
I nice analysis on Bobby Miller by Pitching Ninja.
https://youtu.be/2gfmHOflO1Q?si=W5sbploF19_6e5jr
Yamamoto just halved his era in one inning! Lance Lynn- let the bombs begin!
How much does Ohtani miss being an Angel?
9:10 PM ET
Cardinals (0-2)
Dodgers (3-1)
SP Lance Lynn R
0-0 .00 ERA
SP Y. Yamamoto R
0-1 45.00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
SS Mookie Betts R
DH S. Ohtani L
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
3B Max Muncy L
LF T. Hernandez R
CF James Outman L
RF J. Heyward L
2B Gavin Lux L
60% Rain
60° Wind 13 mph R-L
Fangraphs posted a recent article on the Will Smith signing.
I think this is the best Dodger move of the offseason. Will has been a top 2 catcher in baseball over the last 5 years. He is the ultimate team player, and played a key role in the 2020 world championship. Dodgers do not win a WS without Will’s 3 run HR in the 6th inning of game 5. They trailed in the series 3 games to 1, and trailed 2-1 in the game. His at bat was fabulous as he had to overcome two questionable umpire calls that put him down 0-2 in the count. But he battled back to a full count and hit a pretty good pitch for a HR that turned the game around and staved off elimination for the Dodgers. Great clutch performance by Smith.
Will Smith also had 2 RBI in game 7 against the Braves in the 4-3 comeback win.
Even as a rookie he came close to being a postseason hero. In the horrible loss to the Nationals in game 5 in 2019, Will Smith nearly hit a walkoff HR in the 9th inning. His drive to right center looked to by a HR or at least a game winning double, but it was held up in the cold October air and caught at the wall. The next inning Howie Kendrick hit a grand slam and the Dodger season was over.
The Will Smith contract is a team friendly deal with an annual AAV of only 12.2 million. While the 10 year deal is lengthy for a catcher, Will is athletic and may be able to play other positions as he ages. The deal makes Will Smith a Dodger for life and gives him generational security. Great to see the Dodgers retain a homegrown/long term talent. Hopefully, they can sign Buehler to an extension as well as he gets ready to pitch a rehab game in OKC. They should prioritize rewarding their longtime, successful players who have helped build the organization.
Great article about Gavin Lux and how, at the urging of Kike, he started addressing the mental side of his game.
https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/gavin-lux-on-mental-work-ahead-of-2024-season
I think this bodes very well for him.
I see old friend Michael Busch was -12 with 2 BB for the Cubs in his first game.
If Bobby Miller stays healthy and offers outings similar to last night all season, that checks a lot of boxes for this rotation. That was nothing short of dominant.
Big night tonight for Yamamoto. I say he has a solid outing and earns his first big league win giving him some much needed confidence going forward.
Great outing by Miller. Dominant performance. And Teoscar showing his power. He hit two HRs tonight that were probably flyouts in Seattle. Mark predicted over 30 HR to his credit, but it is a long season.
Lance Lynn tonight. That should be fun. Ohtani gets his first Dodger home run tonight. Call me crazy but I still think Grove has the stuff to be an mlb starter.
Bad day for the OKC Ballclub.
https://www.milb.com/gameday/baseball-club-vs-rainiers/2024/03/29/751442/final/box
Landon Knack – 5 IP, 3 H, 6 K, 0 BB, 0 R
No time to post today because we are in the midst of our move, and then I also have a funeral to attend.
However, it was a great win. Bobby Miller is looking Ace-Like. Teoscar does what he does and Michael Grove continues to pitch a lot worse than his stuff. He will likely go to OKC today and JP will be up.
David Vassegh
@THEREAL_DV
Walker Buehler will pitch a rehab start for OKC on Sunday. Dave Roberts said he expects Buehler to make close to 4 rehab starts. #Dodgers
great win Dodgers!!
Bobby Miller awesome!! To me he has the best stuff on the staff. 4 quality pitches just more experience and improved command. Tonight the command was there evidenced by 11 k.
Roberts at it again. Turning a blowout game into an opportunity for the Cards. If not for injuries Grove would not be on the roster. If you’re lucky enough to get 1 clean inning out of him then rejoice and replace. He would probably be traded but for lack of value.
Chris Taylor what has happened? He has somehow gotten worse. I remember when he was one of my favorites but now I cringe when he bats.
Hernández was hired to hit lefties. He earned his money tonight.
I predict our offense will lead the league in strikeouts.
Taylor should be platooning with somebody at OKC. And now we need Rojas’ bat in the lineup!
In another couple of years, we may have something with this Miller kid!
Not worth the skin off my knuckles.
Lefty killer!!!!!
It’s not a platoon, not a platoon, not a platoon. It’s a rest day!
10:10 PM ET
Cardinals (0-1)
Dodgers (2-1)
SP Zack Thompson L
0-0 .00 ERA
SP Bobby Miller R
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B Mookie Betts R
DH S. Ohtani L
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
3B Max Muncy L
RF T. Hernandez R
CF E. Hernandez R
LF Chris Taylor R
SS Miguel Rojas R
33% Precipitation
58° Wind 11 mph Out
Down in AAA Vargas is batting cleanup and starting in… Left field?
Some would say it’s about time to try this.
Calm down.
Just a heads up on the Apple subscription.
About 6-months ago, my wife and I were comparing misc charges to our credit cards and noted that we were signed up for individual Apple apps to include:
Apple Music
Apple TV+
Apple Arcade (which I don’t use)
Apple News+ – which is really a great site!
Apple Fitness+ – this is another great app!
I think we were spending in excess of $80+ per month, for just my wife and me.
However, after doing some research, Apple has a Family Plan that cost $36/mn that includes all the above and can be shared with six (6) individuals – it does not have to be family members.
Between all six people who share this service the savings are significant.
You also do not need an iPhone for this to works as 3 of the 6 on my plan have Google phones.
I think this is an awesome deal and as Mark stated – Apple TV has some really great shows!
Plus I do use Apple Fitness a couple of times a week.
Dodgers Sign Drew Pomeranz To Minor League Deal. The lefty has been assigned to OKC.
Hey Mark, did anyone win a free water system? I know I missed by one, and it was dumb on my part. I didn’t have Hudson making the team, I had Feyereisen.
I am from Southern Illinois so I have to suffer the Cardinal fans. It was wonderful to shut them and Mikolas up!!
Glasnow is dominant no doubt. But he still couldn’t land his curve. Imagine his stuff all working in a game. In a word unhittable.
I tried to research but couldn’t find the numbers. I heard from one of the announcers the dodgers at one time were 40-20 with Will Smith and 20-22 without him. Now Smith can’t dh so we will be fed the no hit no throw Barnes ugh!
As great as I think this team will be a lefty reliever is going to be needed. Someone who throws strikes and can dominate lefties.
Great time to be a Dodger fan!!
Apple TV=games I cannot watch since I’m not going to pay for something that will give me four or five games a year at most. Ridiculous!
It should be lost on no one that some weeks ago Roberts had this to say….
“I want him out there,” Roberts said of Outman. “He’s shown he can take good at-bats against left-handed pitching, so it’s definitely not a platoon situation. It’s more of how can I keep Manny involved situation.”
Only now it’s Kike, not Margot.
Against lefties in ’23, Outman had a .357 on-base percentage, and those are definitely “good at bats.”
After joining the Dodgers, Kike had a .293 OBP against lefties.
My guess is that Roberts would say that among the regulars, only Jason Heyward is in a “platoon situation,” while he’ll working to keep Rojas, Kike and Taylor involved.
I have no clue what you said about Vargas yesterday. If you say it, it must be your opinion. I don’t care. You sometimes have difficulty comprehending the English language. I think Miguel Vargas is very talented and will be a very good MLB player. I also think the same of Cartaya. Vargas is in no way my favorite player., but you insist on saying he is.
You disagree with Roberts pinch-hitting for Outman because HE IS YOUR FAVORITE.
Fine.
I agree with Roberts, and the entire staff sings out of the same hymnbook.
You are the one with the problem.
I have predicted 30 HR for Outman. That’s damn good.
All I am saying is that he should not hit against most LHP.
Get over it!
steve garvey was my favorite dodger till clayton came along. clayton will always be my favorite. that said , mookie betts is special! i love freddie, will smith, walker buehler, but mookie is a first ballot hall of fame player! he plays wherever, whenever, and plays at an elite level. ohthani really won me over yesterday! you could feel the excitement he felt! no need to argue over vargas, outman, lux! i like them all ! but i don’t see a path for vargas to be a dodger for a much longer time. outman is probably going to go down the same path bellinger did. when his free agency comes around, he’ll leave to pursue a chance to play everyday. don’t blame him. with lux, if he reaches my predictions of20 plus homers and a .280 average, he ain’t leaving! if he struggles, you might see bichette in the near future! my opinion! not an expert , just love to think and talk about the LosAngeles Dodgers!
Managing a roster involves more than just the starters. It was logical to let the 3 get an at bat especially knowing that we will see a couple of lefties this weekend.
Thanks for the minor league coverage. AAA missing many of the arms we expected. Knack is #1 right now.
Opening day at Dodger Stadium was pure fun.
Okay, having the Big Three is pretty cool..
Not sure about tonight. Rain coming in Friday night and Saturday.
Checkbook baseball? Love it.
Pounding the guy who said it … priceless.
From MLBTR:
While the Dodgers are set to turn to veteran superstar Mookie Betts and second baseman Gavin Lux up the middle this season, manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times) yesterday that veteran shortstop Miguel Rojas will get some starts at short as well, at least against left-handed pitching. On those days, Betts will slide over to second base and push Lux to the bench. While Robert emphasized that the situation won’t be a strict platoon, Lux’s career .586 OPS against same-handed pitching and Rojas’s strong defense at shortstop make sitting Lux against certain southpaws in order to improve the club’s infield defense a sensible strategy. Rojas, 35, hit a paltry .236/.290/.322 in 124 games with the Dodgers last year but slashed a much more respectable .286/.331/.406 in 145 trips to the plate against lefties.
great win yesterday! glasnow looked like an ace. will smith is blocking those 3 young catchers for at least 3 years in my opinion. if max produces at 3rd these next 2 years, he probably gets one more year added on. and unless dodgers bring in a shortstop if mookie struggles (im not saying he will ) and gavin handles 2nd, where would will play? maybe left ? one of those probably gets traded in a trade eventually. i really don’t like. platoons, but i didn’t mind doc getting those bench guys some play. taylor seems poised to have a good season, especially if he can cut down on his swing and miss. kiki will have his moments, just keep him away from short stop! go Barnes!! Bobby Miller needs an strong outing today! was awful nice to pound Mikolas yesterday, after his. dodger checkbook remark. someone was going to pay ohthani, someone was going to pay yamamoto, someone was gonna trade for glasnow & extend him. damn the dodgers for having a top 3 minor league system. given the fact they never draft anywhere near the top. and they do have money! the cardinals i think are ninth in payroll in baseball. they spent a boatload of money on an aging sonny gray(no disrespect to gray hes a good pitcher) and signed lance lynn (bombs away!) they have money so spend it!! was absolutely shocked to see beltre yesterday! should have been a dodger for life, as too piazza. ohthani looked like a young colt just being let out of the barn yesterday!! was funny mookie told him to slow down a little!! if max and Teo h. produce look out!! that top 3 looks like a tornado! they strike so damn fast you don’t know what hit you!!!