Hiroki Kuroda (0-0) vs. Justin Germano (0-0).
COMMENTS: Time to see how the Dodgers' $35 million import plays. Kuroda had a strong spring training and seems to have already made a connection with Russell Martin, according to the LA Times (reg.):
"I feel blessed that I have a very good catcher," the 33-year old Kuroda said. "He really thinks and leads me."By and large, big league catchers are perceived by Japanese players to be technically sloppy and mentally lazy, insensitive to the strengths of their pitchers and making little effort to read the minds of opposing hitters.
The fear of being caught by someone like that prompted Kuroda to ask closer Takashi Saito about the Dodgers' catcher when they met in November in Japan. Leading up to his signing of a three-year, $35.3-million contract in mid-December, Kuroda spoke to Saito a few more times over the phone to inquire about Martin.
Saito assured him that he and Martin would work well together, adding that he once had the same skepticism.
"When I started playing with Russell, I stopped thinking that way," Saito said. "I will never again say that American catchers are inferior."
Martin laughed when relayed the story.
"I'm Canadian, that's why," he said.
The Dodgers' next concern: Will their situational hitting improve? They will face Jake Peavy and Chris Young tomorrow and Sunday, so cold bats tonight would not bode well for the weekend.
Also, Chan Ho Park has been promoted and will be available to pitch out of the bullpen.
Tonight's lineup:
Furcal, SS
Martin, C
Loney, 1B
Kent, 2B
Ethier, LF
Jones, CF
Kemp, RF
DeWitt, 3B
Kuroda, P
Joe Torre is giving Andre Ethier a real vote of confidence batting him fifth (ahead of Andruw Jones!) (and ensuring alternating lefties and righties). I like this lineup.
UPDATE:
From Diamond:
Vin Scully is "a little under the weather," according to a team spokesman, and will not be simulcasting on radio tonight. He's expected to still be on TV.
41 comments:
3rd inning—pitching duel so far. 0-0.
3 K's for Kuroda so far.
"Go Dodgers!" chant breaking out at Petco!
No score after 3.
Padres make two errors in one play, thank you Santa. And Jeff Kent is slower than molasses.
Only one error charged. Men on 1st & 3rd, no out.
Loney with a leadoff single (he is 6-for-11 on the year), then Kent reaches on an error and Loney continues on to third.
We are making Germano work tonight! And whenever Charley Steiner says "Germano", I think of the Arrested Development plot where Justin Bateman was dating Will Arnett's girlfriend..."Hermano".
Ethier drives in Loney. 1-0 Dodgers.
Man, Petco is huge. Andruw tagged it and didn't even reach the warning track.
Petco park factors last year: Batting -89, Pitching -88 (under 100 favors pitchers)
DeWitt backwards K on a big looping curve. Still 1-0 Dodgers.
Lakers 33, Mavs 31.
Another 1-2-3 inning for Kuroda. Impressive thus far.
Mavs 40, Lakers 33. What the hell happened? And Christine Nubla is at the Lakers game.
Pitchers' parks do not for exciting slugfests make. But Kuroda looks good so far.
I wonder if we get credit for a page view when people look at our comments.
Kuroda K's Barrett and does a little fist pump. Nice!
Andruw looks like he's smiling when he's at bat.
DeWitt with the sweeeeet sliding catch in foul territory!
Giles hammers Kuroda for a solo home run! 1-1 tie.
Let's see if Kuroda has intestinal fortitude.
DeWitt and Kuroda (!) walk against Germano's replacement. Two on for Furcal.
Ballsy! Torre sends both runners (including the pitcher) on Furcal's 3-2 count. Bases loaded on three consecutive walks.
Good time for Martin's first hit.
Martin flails at high heat. Feels desperate.
Finally! 2 RBI's for Martin, 3-1 Dodgers.
Martin shakes the monkey, 2-run RBI in his 14th at-bat! 3-1 Blue!
Ethier going nuts in the dugout. Nice to see that enthusiasm.
Nice Peter Gabriel reference.
Loney drives in Furcal! 4-1 Blue.
Andre singles! 5-1 Dodgers! Love it!
Sweet pinch running by Hu on the WP! 6-1 Dodgers!
Andruw singles. 7-1. This rules.
Dodgers open up a can of whupass in the seventh. Nice to see a hit parade for the Dodgers, pummeling the Padres' bullpen.
This just goes to show you, all those long at-bats in the first two innings (Ethier's working of an 0-2 count back to a nine-pitch at-bat, for example), count for a lot late.
Dodgers 7-1 after seven full.
JP lashes a single!
Wow, Bills in. And he's good.
Hey Orel, what was the Peter Gabriel reference? I'm camping this evening so I only have a transistor radio.
Hu works the walk with a six-run lead. Gotta love it!
"Martin shakes the monkey"
Bills struggles a bit at the end but the Dodgers win it. Final score 7-1. Lakers win too!
Orel: SHAKES the monkey, not SHOCKS the monkey...
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