It's Time for Dodger Baseball
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…
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.
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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.
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Discussion (82)
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.
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.
Open on www.mlb.comhttps://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/gavin-lux-on-mental-work-ahead-of-2024-seasonI 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.
Open on www.milb.comhttps://www.milb.com/gameday/baseball-club-vs-rainiers/2024/03/29/751442/final/boxLandon 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