Yesterday Shohei Ohtani made his spring training debut for the Dodgers and homered in three at-bats. Today it was Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s turn to make his first appearance. He performed really well, and it wasn’t his fault the Dodgers lost their first game after five consecutive wins to open the Cactus League season.
In his first Cactus League start Wednesday against the Rangers at Surprise Stadium, the Japanese phenom tossed two scoreless innings, striking out three and allowing just one hit in what ended up being the Dodgers’ first loss of the spring, a 6-4 defeat. Yamamoto threw 19 pitches, 16 for strikes, displaying his wide arsenal of pitches.
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In total, Yamamoto threw 11 four-seam fastballs and was clocked between 94-96 mph. He threw three curveballs, all of which went for strikes. Yamamoto also threw the splitter and cutter, showing why he won the Eiji Sawamura Award three consecutive years in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league.
In other news, Max Muncy got hit with a curveball in his first AB and left the game with a contusion. He’s day-to-day (as Vinnie said, “aren’t we all”).
Tomorrow’s starter is yet another new acquisition: James Paxton. He’s a 6’4″, 212-lb lefthander with a lifetime record of 64-38 and 3.69 ERA. His career started well; he went 56-32 with a 3.50 ERA from 2013-2019. He’s had a tough three-year stretch since:
He was limited to just five starts during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season after a strain of his left flexor tendon. Paxton also underwent spinal surgery in February 2020 as well.
One year later, Paxton’s 2021 season with the M’s lasted just one start after he was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery. He missed all of 2022.
NPUT
Glasnow swatting the Gnats in an interesting game, leaves after 5-1/3.
Brewster won’t go to Korea, and Treinen has a bruised lung.
Betts and Lux are switching positions. Mookie at short, Gavin at second. It’s hoped that Lux’s throwing problems can be overcome with the shorter distances to 1B.
SSS = Steve Sax Syndrome
Top 30 prospects in the Dodgers’ system.
Big turnover. Need to acquaint myself with most of these guys.
Very impressed with early returns on Andy Pagés (TV team appears to have been mispronouncing his surname – according to my native Spanish speaker wife, there should be accent on second syllable).
Ex Dodgers on 40-man rosters.
Yankees: Jones, Verdugo, Ferguson, Gonzales, Beeter, Kahnle, Vivas.
Baltimore: Coulombe, Kimbrel, Kremer.
Toronto: Garcia, Pop, White, Turner.
Tampa: Clevinger, Elfin, Pepiot, DeLuca.
Boston: Jansen, Martin, Wong.
Twins: Stewart, Farmer, Margot.
Tigers: Maeda, Leonard, McKinstry.
Astros: Alvarez.
Rangers: Eovaldi, Heaney, Sborz, Scherzer, Seager.
Mariners: Raley.
Angels: Anderson.
A’s: Stripling, Wood, Noda.
Phillies: Turner.
Mets: Bickford, Thompson.
Marlins: Chargois, Amaya.
Nationals: Floro, Gray, Gallo, Ruiz.
Reds: Montas,
Cubs: Bellinger, Busch, Almonte,
Pirates: Joe.
D-Backs: Pederson.
Padres: Darvish, Machado.
Thank you, Ohio Dodger, for that information. Rather remarkable.
Bickford went to the Mets? How did I miss that?
That sure is something. Guessing that it is very unusual. Team has been very good for a long time and sheds talent along the way as it reloads.
Dodgers acquire infield help, move Clayton Kershaw to 60-day list. 26-year-old Andre Lipcius comes from Tigers in exchange for cash considerations.
A split squad sweep over the Kubbies and the Keggers, with the youngsters showing off their power.
Friday, 3/1 wrapup. Dodgers won 6-4 on a late grand slam, and Glasnow went three solid innings.
Though paying minimal attention to the Yanquis and the Fish, I noticed that old friend Verdugo is now beardless. However, I have since learned that management now allows mustaches – how permissive can they get?