Game 2, 2024

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I didn’t think to put up the Game 1 thread, probably because the game started at midnight my time. Sorry!

Padres at Dodgers, 3:05 AM PDT, TV: ESPN (out-of-market only), San Diego Padres, SPNLA

It surprises me that MLB is enforcing its blackout rules even for a game being played in Asia, where the walkup crowd in the US is non-existent.

RHP Joe Musgrove pitches for the Padres and RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto makes his MLB debut for the Dodgers.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1934 Babe Didrikson, a renowned female athlete, gives up no hits and walks only one Dodger when she pitches the first inning of the Philadelphia A’s spring training game at McCurdy Field in Frederick, Maryland. The LPGA founder and Olympic track and field Gold Medalist will also participate in exhibition contests with the Indians and Cardinals.
  • 1979 In Puerto Rico, Willie Mays, in the second game of an annual exhibition series to benefit a youth sports program started by the late Roberto Clemente, pilots a mini-squad of the Mets to an 8-3 win over the Pirates. Last night, after a 5-3 victory in Game 1, New York manager Joe Torre and many players returned to Florida to play the Dodgers in a Grapefruit League contest.
  • 2002 The Commissioner’s office announces MLB will continue the practice that began after the September 11 attacks of singing ‘God Bless America’ during the seventh-inning stretch in each team’s first homestand. Also, an American flag patch will be worn on the jackets of 28 major league teams this season with distinctive logos for Opening Day, Memorial Day weekend, the Fourth of July, and Canadian versions designed for the Blue Jays and Expos.

  • 2006 In his first appearance in a Nationals uniform, Alfonso Soriano refuses to play the outfield in an exhibition game against the Dodgers. The All-Star second baseman, slated to start in left field, could be placed on the disqualified list for insubordination, preventing him from getting paid his $10 million salary and accruing service time used to determine a player’s free-agent status.
  • 2008 Behind Brad Penny’s strong pitching, the Dodgers make their Cactus League debut, beating the White Sox in Phoenix, 8-2. On the mound where he made his professional debut, the right-hander’s outing earns him the Opening Day start against the Giants.

Lineups when available.

76 thoughts on “Game 2, 2024”

  2. Soooo. What are we thinking
    about Ohtani’s translator, and Ohtani, and illegal betting, and and and?

    • I don’t want to say “inscrutable,” but I can’t remotely claim to understand what’s going on. In theory, I think it’s fair for MLB to undertake an investigation, but I have close to zero confidence in Manfred & Co.

      • It wouldn’t be so confusing if the interpreter hadn’t switched the story from “Shohei paid my debts. I am so ashamed” to “Shohei was the victim of a massive theft.”

    • Trying not to think of it, actually. Hard to imagine anything good coming out of this.

  4. After a game like this, I try to look forward to the next one – but that’s too far into the future.

  5. A split was probably the most likely outcome. But the least desired for the Dodgers after winning the first game.

  11. Dodgers outscore the Padres in an inning for the second time today. Have only been out scored in one inning.

  31. Ok Dodgers. Keep getting on base. But try putting up a crooked number this time.

  38. Unless the Dodgers score a couple of runs here, I might just go back to bed.

  41. Whoa! Big Ohtani interpreter news! From The Athletic:

    The Los Angeles Dodgers have fired Ippei Mizuhara, the interpreter for Shohei Ohtani, after Ohtani’s representatives accused Mizuhara of engaging in a “massive theft,” using the player’s money to place bets with an allegedly illegal bookmaker under federal investigation.

    “In the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft, and we are turning the matter over to the authorities,” Berk Brettler LLP, the firm representing Ohtani, said in a statement.

    The accusation by Berk Brettler followed an inquiry from The Los Angeles Times. The newspaper learned Ohtani’s name surfaced in an investigation of an Orange County resident named Matthew Bowyer. Mizuhara, 39, placed bets with Bowyer, according to the newspaper.

    Mizuhara did not respond to a request for comment. Ohtani is not currently facing discipline, according to an MLB official.

    Oddly, the LA Times has nothing online about this, despite its apparent involvement in the initial disclosure.

  46. At best, the betting thing is a distraction. At worst, well…

    With luck, it could mean that MLB might figure out that placing a team in Vegas was never a good idea.

    • I just don’t see Ohtani as the Michael Jordan or Phil Mickelson type in terms of being a big gambler. It doesn’t really fit with what we know of his personality and character.

  48. More on the gambling story from ESPN.

    Ippei Mizuhara, the longtime friend and interpreter for Ohtani, incurred the gambling debts to a Southern California bookmaking operation that is under federal investigation, multiple sources told ESPN.

    The developments this week came as federal investigators are examining the operation run by Southern California bookmaker Mathew Bowyer. The wire-transfer payments were sent from Ohtani’s account to an associate of Bowyer’s, according to multiple sources and bank data reviewed by ESPN. Multiple sources, including Mizuhara, told ESPN that Ohtani does not gamble and that the funds covered Mizuhara’s losses.

    ESPN had reviewed bank information showing Ohtani’s name on two $500,000 payments sent in September and October.

    While sports betting is legal in nearly 40 states, it remains illegal in California.

      • LA Times:

        The investigation into Bowyer involves the same prosecution team that has targeted a multimillion-dollar illegal sports gambling scheme anchored in Orange County, according to The Times’ sources and court records. At least a dozen people have been charged in that wider probe — including ex-Dodger Yasiel Puig, who has pleaded not guilty — that centered on a bookmaking operation led by former minor league baseball player Wayne Nix of Newport Beach, the records show.

  49. Last night I feel asleep around 10:30, then woke around 2:30, dressed myself, and moved to my office – adjacent to the bedroom – and closed the sliding door enough to block the light so that my wife could continue to sleep. I watched with the sound off and closed captioning, and avoided any swearing that could wake her up. The dog, though, heard me and stationed himself nearby.

    After game’s end, I felt remarkably vigorous and the canine and I went for an extended walk. I finally took an hour’s nap around 11 am and, refreshed a bit, got back to work. Sounds like a blueprint for tomorrow.