We learned yesterday that Clayton Kershaw is still Clayton Kershaw as he struck out two in his first two innings of the Spring. No announcement was made as to who the Opening Day Starter will be, so I am going ahead and making it now: Trevor Bauer will be on the mound in Denver on April 1st to start the season.
Got cha’ – The Season starts on April Fools Day and actually Clayton Kershaw will be the Opening Day Starter. Nuff’ Said! It is decided! Bauer will either go #2 or #3! You heard it here first. I am very adept at perceiving the obvious immediately.
In his post-game interview, Clayton mentions that he felt lighter and the burden of not winning the World Series was off his back and the team’s back. That got me thinking about that very thing and what kind of role that burden created in the form of self-imposed pressure and how it could have contributed to past failures in the post-season. With that pressure and burden gone, these guys could be really dangerous as they fight for a second World Championship! Certainly, they will play more loosely!
The LA Times, in fact, wrote: “Clayton Kershaw exuding ‘lightness’ after shedding World Series failure weight” Clayon was quoted as saying:
“But yeah, maybe you don’t really realize what you’re carrying while you’re carrying it. Maybe the burden to win after 32 years is finally off, but that doesn’t mean I’m any less motivated to win this year.”
Kody Hoese had his compact power-swing on display as he hit his first HR of the Spring. The only question I have is whether he starts at AA or AAA. Gavin Lux keeps on hitting: not spectacular, but very solid. Alex Veisa had a solid outing and Andre Jackson looks like he could be a closer. Chris Taylor is in mid-season form as he hit a Grand Slam and a Double.
There Will Be Fans
It looks like there will be Butts in Seats as the season starts – the only question is how many? I think it will ramp up pretty quickly… especially as the vaccination process gains traction. I still have not taken the vaccine… still debating!
DodgersWay.com reported Dave Roberts provides bizarre update on Brusdar Graterol. What? Here’s what Doc said: “There were some things this winter that didn’t allow for him to get off a mound and throw as consistently as he’d like. … So the ramp-up has been a little different for him.” How is that weird or bizarre? That is just the Dodgers Way, DodgersWay. Let me translate: “Bazooka did not throw as much as he would have liked for reasons we are not going to discuss!” Nothing strange about that. In fact, it’s pretty normal around a very close-knit and tight organization. Look how long it took to find out about Andrew Toles.
Baseball America Organizational Talent Rankings
When Andrew Friedman took over the Dodgers in 2014, the organization was ranked #14 in organizational talent. By 2015, they were ranked #3 and in 2016 they moved up to #1. IN 2017 they were #2, followed by #9 in 2018 as they graduated and traded some talent. In 2019, they remained at #9 and in 2020, they moved up to #3.
In 2021, they are back at #9. That’s seven straight years in the Top 10! That is quite a run and I doubt it is over. BA says this:
The Skinny: The defending World Series champions graduated a steady stream of homegrown stars to become baseball’s best team, including Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger and Walker Buehler within the last five years. While the top of their system no longer contains the same star power, the Dodgers immense depth has them primed to continue debuting impact players for years to come.
Kyle Glaser of Baseball America writes this: “
“The Dodgers have been lauded as baseballs’ “model organization.” They draft and develop better than anyone, they turn retreads into stars, and they win game at a rate on par with the best teams in major league history. The only thing missing was a World Series Trophy. That is no longer a problem!”
No it is not! This is an amazing time to be a Dodger fan. It does seems to me that some fans have lost some interest after FINALLY winning the big one or maybe it’s just a combination of winning the big one and COVID-19 stir craziness. I am not joking about that one. This is a real problem. Many people are having mental health issues and a large number of kids are acting out or even considering suicide.
Disruption of routines and being separate from one’s grandparents is devastating to many. One 84-year-old grandmother said, “I’d rather get COVID and die while seeing my family that be alive and healthy!” The elitists, the media, and journalists do not understand that, but I do. This is America, the land of the free and the home of the brave. I usually wear a mask, but I am sick of it. Maybe just a little longer. I can certainly understand what Patrick Henry meant.
How About a Little Nancy?
(Cover Photo by Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)
Actually, as much as we all know Kersh deserves to be on the mound for Opening Day, I’ll say Doc works it out where Walker Buehler starts Opening Day in Colorado, and Kersh starts in the home opener, Friday April 9 when we get our rings and the banner goes up.
If there’s anything I want in 2021, it’s to be lucky enough to have my season ticket number called and allow me to be at the home opener. From tributes to Tommy and Don Sutton, to welcoming Trevor Bauer, to FINALLY welcoming Mookie, and to celebrate the 2020 title, AND have Kersh on the mound? It might be emotion overload!!
My guess is that Bauer pitches the Dodgers Home Opener and Clayton pitches that Sunday.
Absolutely, the Dodgers are the model organization for MLB.
We finally heard from the Dodgers. There will be approximately 12,000 people in the stands for opening day, 20 to 25 percent of capacity, if all goes well. The state is also working on including the number of vaccinations in LA County to help determine the tier level. It might be possible to hit two-thirds of capacity rather quickly.
It’s still not clear how the Dodgers plan to handle the initial crowds, what the ticket plan will be and how they intend to deal with season ticket holders. I’m guessing, like we did, most simply rolled the ticket money forward and we received a 10 percent boost for doing that. No idea how they intend to do that, maybe it can be used for food, merchandise etc.
They said they would get back with additional information shortly. They simply don’t have answers right now. But Disneyland, Universal Studios and other attractions are also allowed to open by April 1 with some restrictions in place.
But we’re ahead of the game. Remember Stan Kasten thought the Dodgers would be the last MLB to have attendance because Dodger Stadium is in LA County. But the pressure to move back to normal has been intense and governor Gavin Newsom is facing a recall.
So far Gavin Lux has looked pretty good and he’s the starting second baseman moving into the 2021 season. The Dodgers want him to solve second base with Chris Taylor moving around the diamond, including third base.
Good write-up, Mark.
Definitely making the team:
Smith
Barnes
Muncy
Lux
Seager
Turner
Betts
Bellinger
Pollock
Taylor
Rios
That’s 11. Do they carry 12 or 13 position players?
In the running and ranked best chance to make the team to worse chance:
1 McKinstry
2 Peters
3 Beaty
Just my opinion of where we are at. Any other opinions?
I think McKinstry is in. Last spot [if carried] probably comes down to Beaty or Peters [Davidson longshot; Neuse not ready].
It might come down to defense vs. offense as Beaty has a nice little stick but Peters plays OF like a grown man. Also, RH vs. LH and speed vs. no speed. I think Roberts wants to see how versatile each is.
Pitching side I think is more fluid, with several guys maybe not ready for opening day [Kelly, Graterol, etc]. That makes space for others. We will be mixing and matching all year. Battle for 2nd LHRP is a good one though.
I think you are right. McKinstry and Beaty are LHB and McKinstry plays more positions. So McKinstry is most likely in. Then if they carry 13 position players I think Peters is in.
I think you are right, McKinstry and his versatility have the inside track on the opening day roster.
I think Bellinger and his shoulder surgery give Peters the edge if we carry 13 position players.
Good write-up, Mark. Thank you. I agree with you, Clayton will our opening day starter at home. I am anxious and excited about this season. It is good some fans are being allowed to be in the Dodger stands. Hope one of them is Bobby.
Hoese has a resemblance to Tim Wallach but Hoese is more agile.
I hope he is a player of that level, especially the Wallach of the Expos
Good call
I got my second Covid vaccination about 2 weeks ago. I had no side effects either time other than a sore arm for a short period. The version I recieved was the Pfizer. I read up extensively on it before I okayed getting the vaccine. Go ahead and get it Mark. Better safe than sorry. My take, if they were opening in LA< Kersh gets the start. Since they are opening in Denver, which is no lock to happen because the weather here has been very erratic. We had snow on Wednesday, It really does not matter who is penciled in for the start. McKinstry is making a strong case. Neuse seems like he is a nervous Nelly right now, so not ready for prime time. Beaty on the bubble, but they know what they are getting with him anyway. Neuse starting at 2nd in today's game against the Padres, and Rios is at 1st. Davidson pretty much has no shot either. Lux if he keeps this up will be the 2nd baseman opening day. He has been solid at the dish and on defense.
Some observations from the first few games of Spring Training.
* I would love to see Kershaw start the Opener at Dodger Stadium. But that would be the 5th game and I’m not sure it’s a good idea to start the season as the 5th starter in the rotation and then have to juggle things around awhile to get into a rotation you actually want.
* It may not inevitably matter. Even with a typical rotation the Dodgers 4th and 5th starters are better than any other team I can think of.
* For my money the Rockies should never open at home for the first 9 days of the season.
* Small sample size but I think Lux looks more comfortable and loose in the infield. I’m not seeing those stiff, mechanical actions right now. I can’t smell his braining burning when he’s throwing the baseball to 1st.
* I did’t know it was possible but I like CT3 more every day.
* Thursday night’s game provided an opportunity to compare a seasoned professional pitcher versus young prospects who are a work in progress. Jo-Jo may have been throwing hard. I don’t know with no gun available. But he was just trying to throw it somewhere in the zone with no command of the strike zone. He was “male sexual package” hight all night or uncompetitively up. No strikes on the fringes. Twitchy with bad mound presence. Aceta was just BP. He looked like a thrower with no idea. He might also pay more attention during PFP’s so he remembers to cover first. It’s the first time I’ve seen either but both obviously have a long way to go. Then Treinen came in and the presence and command of a veteran makes a great visual of what the kids have to work on. The difference between the prospects and the established MLB veteran was so apparent and something you may only see in Spring Training.
Odorizzi signs with the Stros for 2 with an option. There are still some MLB caliber free agents out there. The list of players, which you can see on MLBTR< who are out of options and could be cut is pretty long. Only Dodger on the list is Austin Barnes. He is going no where. Ruiz still not in camp. Totally right about those kids the other night Phil. They were throwing, not pitching. Uceta was a gas can.
Nice write up, Mark! Andre Jackson is fun to watch. Doesn’t look like a guy who has only played single A ball. His whole approach seems a lot more mature and polished than that. There were some moments when his mechanics were out of sync, but many more when he hit his spots and showed a very lively fastball and a sneaky curve. A converted outfielder, by the way. I think he’s a guy that we’ll be seeing a lot more of. The next Kenley Jansen?
The old man still looks pretty good at third! That Bauer curve is nasty!
Most of the pitchers looked good. Alexander gets a couple of outs then gets beat on a flair to left. Davidson with a nice double, but they leave the tying run at 3rd.
Cannot believe how wacko people go over a spring training game. Padre fans acting like it means something and Dodger fans Jonesing over a loss. Insane.
The loss doesn’t look so bad if you close one eye :).
This just in: Bauer has elite command.
As for your closing covid commentary…. Have you gotten the vaccine yet?
Masks are hugely beneficial–and work best if there is wide use. This is an airborne virus that is spread by a cough, a sneeze, even a breath.
My mask protects myself and others; the mask shunners aren’t protecting anyone. They are more likely to get the virus and more likely to spread it. Similarly, the anti-vax crowd (including my brother) aren’t helping either. This isn’t about “freedom” but a simple health measure that saves lives. It’s really not hard to do the right thing.
I am offering this perspective from the masked metropolis of Hong Kong, just 570 miles from Wuhan. People here learned a lot from SARS and reacted with alacrity. Masks are a big reason why this city of more than 7 million has recorded only 201 covid deaths out of only 11,066 cases. How does compare to LA or Orange County or anywhere in the USA? By my rough reckoning, Hong Konger is about 50X more likely to survive the plague than the random Californian.
Pardon the soap box, but this is personal. My wife just lost her favorite uncle back in OC to covid, leaving his widow to raise two young sons. This was not inevitable. An effective community response, as we’ve seen through out Asia, is vital.
Bottom line: masks work. Go to the games and proudly wear one with the Dodgers logo