Dodgers at Athletics, 12:37 PDT, TV: MLBN (out-of-market only), NBCSCA, SPNLA
RHP Trevor Bauer (1-0, 5.68 ERA) pitches for the Dodgers and LHP Jésus Luzardo (0-1, 9.00 ERA) goes for the As. Bauer was sailing along with a no-hitter into the seventh in his first start when the wheels came off the wagon a little; he gave up four runs in that inning. Nonetheless he struck out 10 in 6 1/3 in his Dodger debut. Luzardo struck out 8 and walked none in his first start, but he gave up two HRs and five runs overall in five innings and took the loss.
Today in Dodgers’ history:
- 1969 After throwing just two pitches to start the season, Don Drysdale finds himself and his team trailing by two runs when Pete Rose and Bobby Tolan hit back-to-back homers. The 32 year-old right-hander settles down, and the Dodgers come back to win the Crosley Field contest, 3-2.
- 1969 Bill Singer becomes the first major league reliever to officially record a save, a new stat which will be kept starting this season, in the Dodgers’ 3-2 win over Cincinnati in the season-opener at Crosley Field. The ‘Singer Throwing Machine’ does not allow a hit, hurling three scoreless innings en route to saving Don Drysdale’s victory.
- 1977 Gary Thomasson starts the game by walloping the first pitch in the Dodgers’ opener for a home run off Don Sutton, who had apparently thrown a gopher ball. Unbeknownst to the Giants’ leadoff hitter, the ball was to be taken for a pitch and handed to the home plate umpire to be sent to Cooperstown.
- 1977 Frank Sinatra keeps his promise to Tommy Lasorda by singing the Star-Spangled Banner on Opening Day at Dodger Stadium. ‘Old Blue Eyes’ had told the team’s new skipper he would perform the National Anthem if his friend ever became the L.A. manager.
- 2012 Octavio Dotel, playing for his 13th team, breaks a major league record he previously shared with Mike Morgan, Matt Stairs, and Ron Villone. The 39 year-old Tiger reliever, who throws 1.1 scoreless innings against Boston, has also appeared with the Mets, Astros, A’s, Yankees, Royals, Braves, White Sox, Pirates, Dodgers, Rockies, Blue Jays, and Cardinals.
Lineup when available.
Today's #Dodgers lineup at Athletics: pic.twitter.com/IGC4FGT4Wp
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 7, 2021
NPUT
The Dodgers unveiled new renovations to their ball park yesterday.
Bauer in a sticky situation…
“Multiple suspicious baseballs from Dodgers’ Trevor Bauer sent to MLB for inspection,” says The Athletic.
https://theathletic.com/news/dodgers-trevor-bauers-suspicious-baseballs-sent-to-mlb-for-inspection-sources/HaYqrb7QnfHN
Tough loss. Dodgers didn’t hit with RISP and still should have won this game. A major bullpen failure. Unfortunately, Kenley is just a shell of the 2016 dominate closer. He and Roberts both needs to realize it.
Well, it looks like the Dodgers need a closer. I would say wait awhile but I have read this book before. He had a clean inning to work with and couldn’t get it done.
Sad, but true. Perhaps Roberts was going to allow him to fail once, but I expect Roberts will still insist that he’s the club’s closer until he blows another save opportunity or two. The rest of the bullpen as a unit has also had its difficulties.
The Giants beat the Padres, 3-2, in 10, scoring in the top half of the inning and blanking San Diego in the bottom. A reversal of our ending. The Dodgers open their first homestand Friday at 5-2 with a one-game lead over the Padres. I can’t complain.
They’re celebrating like they won the division…
Well, it does mean they won’t go 0-162 for the season.
That’s it. Phooey.
We need a K and DP STAT.
The best kind of defensive stats around! 🙂
But not to be.
Well, to be fair, the DP is still helpful.
I’ll take the K right now.
More than a DP?
What an at bat by Lowrie. I suppose the As are due.
Ugh. Been listening in the radio as I move storage units. Kenley really didn’t have it today. Also, way too many LOBs.
Weak situational hitting today.
Up to CT3
I did not realize the extra inning start a guy at second was still in effect. I highly despise this variation.
I agree. It feels like cheating or something.
With the Dodgers being 2 for 18 today with RISP, maybe they would be better off if the runner started at first instead of second.
Ha!
Pity, Bauer deserved the win.
One almost gets the impression this is an audition. Roberts leaving him in just to see if he can right the ship.
The ship took on a lot of water, but remains afloat. For now.
Jansen’s first blown save of the year. Will be interesting to see if that moves him to a different role.
Surprised they aren’t loading the bases to get the force in play.
With Kenley’s control?
.042 average may have something to do with it.
Didn’t seem to matter too much.
Didn’t seem to matter too much.
The three batter minimum must be excrutiating for Roberts when it looks like Kenley is off.
It is for me.
Nelson warming up? Nelson? Shouldn’t it be Treinen?
This has extra innings written all over it. But moving quickly towards loss,
Turn two Dodgers.
Not a great start to the inning,,,
Knebel in not inspiring confidence.
Perhaps the extra day of rest with the off day tomorrow is figuring into all this.
Leaving Bauer in a tad long again?
Hopefully not. It will come down to the pen regardless.
110 pitches.
Maybe six innings is his shelf life.
Seager is due.
No longer.
Through six innings in his first two starts, Bauer has allowed just one hit and has 18 strikeouts in 12 innings.
Is that good?
Yeah, so-so, I guess.
CT3 is a target.
Interesting play with the run scoring thanks to the hustle of Muncy.
Joc just crushed his first dinger at Wrigley, off the fearsome Devin Williams, to tie the game 1-1 in the eighth.
Bauer not quite as sharp today. Lots of loud outs to go with the hit and walk.
Gettin’ sharper.
Another circus catch by Zac.
A little shakier than we are used to re outfield defense.
At least he’s adaptable.
Taylor burns home!
AJ hit it too hard, so CT couldn’t waltz home.
Eight of the nine batters in our lineup today are hitting at least .300. Seven of them are at .364 or higher. I love the early-season batting averages . . . when the team is hitting. The Dodgers, through six games, are hitting .327.
.420 OBP as a team, so getting a lot of walks as well.
Fernandomania at 40. A wonderful column from Gustavo Arrellano of the LA Times.
Link: Thanks for sharing that. Greatly enjoyed it.
De nada.
On the Schadenfreude front, the Rox lit up BadGums for five earned in five innings at Coors, and he now has an ERA of 11. It couldn’t happen to a more deserving person.
Leading off the 10th with Rios on second, Lux tried to pull an outside pitch on a 2-0 count and flied out to center. That AB was costly. He will learn.
Fiddesticks.
2-for-21 with RISP? Have the Dodgers ever done worse than that? I doubt it.
Not having Bellinger and Betts really hurts.
Yes. Also, Beaty is nowhere to be seen. Based on how he has looked for the first week — and it is only a week — I was not surprised. I think we need another righty off the bench besides Barnes/Smith (although both started today) and Taylor (who will start plenty of games).
Thanks Kenley
Thanks Kenley
I hope leaving the bases loaded in the 9th doesn’t bite us in the backside.
I hope leaving the bases loaded in the 9th doesn’t bite us in the backside.
Let alone 2nd and 3rd with 1 out in the 8th.
Bats have been doing more than their share. Time for pen to contribute.
SPNLA is out for me right now, so I’m a radio listener only. What’s been happening?
Bunch of walks and singles, but only one run so far.
Tks
30+ pitches in the first inning for the opposing pitcher. Sounds about right.
30+ pitches in the first inning for the opposing pitcher. Sounds about right.
A lead-off walk. Sounds about right.
A lead-off walk. Sounds about right.
Fernandomania at 40. A wonderful column from Gustavo Arrellano of the LA Times.
Dodgers have such a solid group of hitters, I get excited whatever the lineup. Have both catchers batting? Sure why not!! Have Lux and Zac Mac hitting 8-9? That will be great for Mookie and Seager hitting 1-2!
Good strategy. But once we leave AL parks we will be batting our pitchers. I have come to like the idea of a universal DH, particularly as the Dodgers have so many good hitters. We have won five of six without much of a contribution from Belinger. If he continues to struggle — and I know that we are extremely early in the season — I wonder if he would adopt yet another batting stance.
Belli hasn’t looked good and not beyond him to monkey with his approach. Small numbers at this point, yet as Jon has pointed out, if Belli had gotten credit for the dinger, instead of his current OPS of .664 he would be at .812, which is about 30% better than league average.
I am similarly considering some of the benefits of the DH for the Dodgers.
Replace Mookie with CT3.
Dodgers have such a solid group of hitters, I get excited whatever the lineup. Have both catchers batting? Sure why not!! Have Lux and Zac Mac hitting 8-9? That will be great for Mookie and Seager hitting 1-2!