The Dodgers win the World Series! The Dodgers win the World Series!
In an opening day that has been improbable, the impossible has happened!
Ok, ok, I am joking, but opening day is such an important day that it’s not that far from the truth. People make way too much of opening day results then they should. Remember it’s only one game, and while it’s always nice to win on opening day it doesn’t mean the season is over. There are a lot of games left, and an entire season ahead of us. It certainly was an interesting day all around though.
While the Dodgers were posting perhaps the greatest shutout opening day victory in MLB history, our old friend Zack Greinke was getting pounded by rookie shortstop Trevor Story and the Rockies. Greinke gave up seven earned runs on nine hits over 4 frames for Arizona, as the Rockies beat them up 10-5. Greinke gave up six runs in the third inning.
Of course there were thousands of cries over twitter about the Dodgers winning the offseason, with people gloating about the Dodgers not signing Greinke. As if one game determines the Dodgers not signing of Greinke being the right decision. That was not proven by one bad start. It’s just one game. Will Greinke post a 1.66 ERA again this year? No, he probably won’t. However he’s still one of the best pitchers in the game. It’s still awesome to see him get hit like that. He’ll be fine and hopefully the Dbacks continue to lose.
The Dodgers were certainly fine on opening day with their incredibly wonderful 15-0 win over San Diego. What more could we have asked for? Clayton Kershaw was masterful, and the Dodger’s offense was as explosive as an atomic bomb. The Dodgers scored 15 runs on 17 hits and here we are with a perfect record.
Dodgers @ San Diego
Utley 2B
Seager SS
Turner 3B
Gonzalez 1B
Puig RF
Crawford LF
Pederson CF
Barnes C
Kazmir P
Dodgers Lineup-TBA
Scott Kazmir-0-0 vs. James Shields-0-0
Game time 7:10 PM-TV-SNLA
Kershaw’s performance was especially impressive considering he keeps doing this year after year. This one reminded us of his complete game shutout against the Giants back in 2013. That was the game where he homered and pitched a shutout. Kershaw is perhaps the greatest opening day pitcher in MLB history. In case you were wondering his opening day ERA is 0.93.
The fun is over though, because there is another game on tonight and the Dodgers have to do it all over again. They don’t have to score 15 runs, but they do have to win. Here’s hoping they saved a few runs for tonight.
The Dodgers will send left hander Scott Kazmir who had a touch and go spring training to the mound against the Padres. Kazmir spent his entire career in the American League hasn’t faced the Padres much if at all.
Kazmir has faced the Padres twice in his career and allowed seven runs over 14 hits across 11 innings. He struck out 17 though and walked just 3 to give him a 4.91 ERA. He’s only pitched once at Petco Park which was a five inning no-decision.
The current Padres have hit him well though. We’re talking about a .325 (25 for 77) tune with three home runs and a .903 OPS against. Alexi Ramirez is 9 for 24 (.375) with a home run and seven runs batted in.
Padres vs. Kazmir
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Alexei Ramirez | 27 | 24 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 3 | .375 | .407 | .667 | 1.074 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Adam Rosales | 26 | 25 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | .360 | .385 | .480 | .865 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Matt Kemp | 10 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .222 | .300 | .222 | .522 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Melvin Upton | 8 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | .333 | .500 | 1.000 | 1.500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yangervis Solarte | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .200 | .333 | .200 | .533 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Derek Norris | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .500 | .600 | .750 | 1.350 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andrew Cashner | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cory Spangenberg | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total |
San Diego will counter with right hander James Shields. The Dodgers have seen him before. Big game James is 34-years old and entering his eleventh major league season. Shields has made 5 starts against the Dodgers and has a 1-0 record with a 3.66 ERA in 32 innings pitched. Shields is dangerous at home. At Petco Park he is 7-3 with a 3.08 ERA in 17 starts. Shields has a 10.0 K/9 rate pitching in San Diego.
The Dodgers have had problems with him in the past. The boys in blue are batting just .206 (21 for 102) with 3 home runs against the veteran. The only Dodger that seems to have success against Shields is Adrian Gonzalez. The big first baseman is hitting .294 (10 for 34) with two home runs against Shields.
Dodgers vs. Shields
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Adrian Gonzalez | 40 | 34 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 8 | .294 | .375 | .471 | .846 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Carl Crawford | 18 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | .235 | .278 | .471 | .748 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chase Utley | 15 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | .154 | .267 | .154 | .421 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joc Pederson | 11 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | .250 | .455 | .375 | .830 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yasiel Puig | 10 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .222 | .300 | .556 | .856 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| A.J. Ellis | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .000 | .167 | .000 | .167 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Turner | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | .250 | .000 | .250 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Scott Van Slyke | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .500 | .333 | .833 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Enrique Hernandez | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Corey Seager | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Austin Barnes | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Clayton Kershaw | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 118 | 102 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 13 | 29 | .206 | .305 | .343 | .648 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Yesterday was fun. Now the real work begins. Championships aren’t won on opening day, so let’s temper our expectations while at the same time making unrealistic and ridiculous prognostications. Oscar will have the recap later tonight, so check in over here after the game and join in on the fun. Let’s do this!
Go Blue!
…Will Greinke post a 1.66 ERA again this year?”
Pretty hard to do with one really bad game already on the books.
Shields is bit more of a challenge. Look for Adrian to hit the first Dodger HR of the season, and let’s hope Kazmir was just playing possum through spring training.
It’s not a contract year for Greinke so I suspect he goes back to his career averages – 14-9 and 3.37 with 207 IP. Probably about a 4.2 WAR.
We are favored to win again today. 7.5 o/u. I’ll take the over – 5-4 Dodgers.
Tonight’s lineup same as last night. Why mess with sustained success???
Also, I mentioned this on the last thread, but then we started a new thread so not sure if many folks saw (thanks MJ, for your response). I’ll post again for help:
More importantly, question for you kids: so the last 3 years I’ve had the mlb.tv app, and it actually let me watch Dodger games on SNLA, at my house in LA via wifi on my ipad and iphone, but not on my apple tv or laptop. I assumed it’s because I signed up when I was in Singapore or Ecaudor, so the system thought I was traveling (just a guess).
But yesterday, my phone, ipad, and laptop all received the “you are blacked out because you’re in LA” message for both the Dodger game and Angel game. I guess my luck ran out.
So, any recommendations on which is the cheapest/best hide-your-IP Address to use? Also, does that work on ipad/iphone as well? Thanks much
HideMyAsss.com
So will we see a different lineup (1-8) tonight?
Different lineup? Yes. Of course.
Looks like the same lineup with Barnes behind the plate instead of AJ
The same except different?
Ok.
It’s the same lineup Badger with the catcher batting 8th
I see.
I think we can continue to expect different lineups, and by that I mean different players, just about every night with this team.
Roberts did say that Thompson, Hernandez, and SVS would play and maybe start one of the games in San Diego even with all three starters being from the right side.
Elysian Fields has been talking about Utley’s slide at home plate. If anybody missed it you can see it here: http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25542769/look-chase-utley-started-the-season-with-an-illegal-slide
I thought it was a stupid slide at best. Half way down the line Utley crossed over to the infield side of the foul line, maybe to get hit by the throw to home, and wound up sliding where it was easiest for the catcher to tag him.
Was he trying to get hit by the throw or was he trying to make it harder for the catcher to make a play on Turner who hit the ball into play, or was he trying to knock the ball out of the catchers glove. Two out of those three are illegal and one is stupid.
Bums, I do not know if it was legal or illegal, but I agree it was not a good slide. I thought at the time that he gave away the wrong side. If he stayed in the foul side, he would have been safe. He also slid late. But I do not know what he was thinking, so I cannot call it a stupid slide.
I was assuming the Posey rule would apply on his slide and intentionally running into a throw or maybe like the rule on running to first base has to be in the lane and not on the infield.
Jerry Hairston and Ned Colletti were praising Utley for heady veteran base running trying to get in the way of the throw. When the throw didn’t hit him I think he got caught trying to slide or just stop and get tagged out. The slide was very awkward.
Kazmir throwing his fastball at 88 – 89. Not a good sign early
He’s getting outs so far. He’s got the good offspeed pitches to mix in.
Per Daniel Brim at Dodgers’ Digest:
“There has been a lot of talk about Kazmir’s velocity this spring. The most reliable data comes via Pitch FX, of course, but it’s only in a few spring training parks. Most of the spring was a relative mystery, but Kazmir’s last two starts were tracked. In those starts, he averaged 92.4 and 90.3mph on his fastball, to go along with 91.5mph and 89.1mph on his sinker. Last April, Kazmir averaged 93.2 on the fourseam and 91.6 on the sinker. That is indeed down, but not to the degree of the “he’s sitting 86” that was reported in early March. ”
It sounds like his velocity IS down and it IS a concern.
He’s never thrown hard. maybe 92 tops. You can get outs other ways. Mixing pitches, offspeed stuff, keeping hitters off balance. Grounders, etc. Ive said this before, I don’t care how you get outs, just get guys out.
Any numbers on his 2015 spring?
Kazmir hasn’t thrown hard in years. He’s about location and change of speeds. He looks good so far.
Kemp made that great catch harder than it should have been.
I didn’t like Utley’s slide. Of all the people to try something like that. Ump must have at least considered it illegal – decided against it.
Testing
Test recieved
Kasmir can throw 88 to 89 all night if he continues to shut the Padres down. He has been up to 91 a few times. Location and change of speed is his game.
I have to respond to Bumsrap that he was more positive than me? Really? Seriously? If that’s what you think…
On trading for Incarte: I still want to do that and it wasn’t “Half the team.” It’s a few extra pieces and I would do it today. I always want to try and get better.
_______________________________________
On O’Day for 2 years and $20 million? HA Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha! Silly, silly!
Watford,
Yes, I posted a lot of trade ideas. Still do. Win or lose! … and the point was?
It was 4 years and $31 million, 6,7,9,9. The math works on 2 1/2 years for 20.
And the man’s name is Inciarte. Ender Inciarte. That’s the second time you’ve called him Incarte.
Yes, O’Day signed for $31M four years, plus he didn’t want to come here. The girlfriend was on east coast. He also got a no trade clause.
Madden signed for $22M three years, but, 35 years old and makes Brett Anderson look like Ironman Cal Ripken. Madsen missed 2012 – 2014 to TJ surgery. No thanks!
Chapman of course was a trade candidate. Not a free agent.
Kendrick 20M two years, a bargain for a “professional”. Plus the contract length fits with getting out luxury tax in 2018 at the latest.
Gordon with 3 hits including 2 doubles, Stanton with a home run, Marlins still lose.
Kazmir very efficient tonight. Throwing strikes, keeping the pitch count down.
Pederson. What are you looking for if not that?
Just before that fat pitch I was thinking it would be nice if joc ran up the pitch count. He already was sitting on about 7 pitches and then he takes that one. I was looking for some foul balls, not even looking for a base hit, and had to watch him take what looked like a fastball down the middle of the plate.
I have to think he was positive he would get a breaking ball down and in. That is why he should choke up with two strikes so he is better able to hold up on a breaking ball and still make contact with a fast ball.
Loved that he tried twice to bunt.
Bum he needs to know that you only bunt strikes, unless it is a squeeze play. All of these players, need to know that. They get in a rush, to bunt, and try to bunt almost any pitch.
Badger they were no hit until the seventh inning, doesn’t sound familar?
Kazmir has fantastic control tonight. His next start will be in SF Sunday. Let’s see what stuff he has vs a much better and smarter team.
But so far, great game
He looks terrific, in complete control tonight. The team looks fantastic on all fronts
75 pitches and he’s gone?
I think I remember talking about this very thing just a few days ago.
Yeah, let’s get ’em a 100 pitches the first game. Look and see how many pitches other teams pitchers are throwing.
Geeeeezzzzzzzzz!
Do you do any homework before you post?
Kershaw 96
Bumgardner 101
Cueto 96
A starting pitcher should be able to throw 100 pitches every time he goes out, and that includes his first start. That’s why you build them up to it in Spring Training. A good pitch per inning count is 15, giving a quality start a total of 90, and a 7 inning start 105. To be gone after 75 when he was pitching so well needs an explanation.
They’re playing the Padres. That’s the explanation 😉
Asked and answered.
Very efficient out there – don’t want him to use all of his bullets early. Smart to conserve him. It’s early in the season and he hasn’t built up his arm strength. Want him at his best to beat the Giants.
Test the pen!
To Badger and Tim, my guesses that Roberts wants to take Kazmir out and give him something good to build on, since he’s had a rough spring.
Taking him out after 6th also let’s him off with the LA media since he left with a shutout.
We may be looking at this all year with the starters we have, and I think they will be shuffling bullpen arms all year with the bullpen roster anyways.
Thats exactly the reason. He had a horrible spring, and everyone questioned him. Today, when it counts, he came out and pitched a great game.
Let him leave the game on a high note, and give him something to build on. On top of that, it gave a chance for 3 bullpen guys to get some work.
He now goes on Sunday at SF. Let’s see what he does then!
This was a typical game of the re-born Scott Kazmir. He does not throw like Syndergaard or deGrom. He relies on his command. When he has command he is very good. But there will be a game where he is going to get rocked, and everyone is going to say Kaz is done. But then he will come back and reel off four-five great games in a row. His ERA through July was 2.10. He reached 124.1 IP and his command started to leave him, except for his game against the Dodgers. Could he have gone 7? Sure. But why? To show people that he can pitch more than 75 pitches? Baez needed the work.
Now let me preface… I am not (I repeat not) comparing him to Greinke. But when the discussions turned to how Greinke is going to pitch fine into his late 30s because he has learned out to pitch and he relies on his command rather than MPH. I recognize that Kazmir has NEVER been a Greinke, but the argument is the same. Both need to rely on command because neither can overpower like they used to.
I know some do not think that beating SD is anything to brag about. But, Tyson Ross, Jamie Shields, and Andrew Cashner are three pretty good pitchers. Except for one April 2015 game, Cashner has been extremely tough on LAD. If they get any kind of offense/defense, those three should win their share. This is Cashner’s FA year, so I would expect him to pitch more like 2013 and 2014.
With respect to SF being the real test, just remember that LA lost all three games in SF last April and three more in May. They were 3-9 against SF through June. And if my memory serves me right, the Dodgers did manage to win the NL West with those games included. I do not remember those games being thrown out.
It is a long season, and there will be many ups and downs. Nobody expects the Dodgers pitching ERA to remain at 0.00. The longest losing and winning streak last year was 5 games. With Kershaw, the chances of a prolonged losing streak should be lessened. I for one, am going to enjoy the ride. Even when Kaz has that inevitable meltdown.
Ditto!
AC you are right about the Padre’s starting pitching. The fact that the Padres have good starting pitching, makes it a good sign about our hitting, even though they only scored three runs last night.
That second Padre pitcher, in that first game, was a AAA pitcher, but all of the other pitchers have been decent.