Monday, April 01, 2013

Game 1 Thread: April 1 vs. Giants, 1p (Opening Day)


"1, 2, 3, 4, I declare Thumb War!"

Clayton Kershaw (0-0, -.--) vs. Matt Cain (0-0, -.--)

No foolin'! The Sons have (begrudgingly) set aside our tradition of annoying the hell out of you with April Fools pranks to honor an even greater tradition: Opening Day.

And what an Opening Day! This game just about has it all: the best pitching matchup in baseball, the lofty expectations of a team with a massive payroll, 56,000+ fans jammed into a Dodger Stadium with brand-spanking new amenities, and, of course, the unparalleled fervor of the rivalry with the hated Giants.

Pregame festivities include tributes to the 1963 and 1988 World Series Championships, on their 50th and 25th anniversaries (*cries*), a performance by Blue Man Group, the traditional flag presentation, and a video highlighting the history of the Opening Day first pitch. The person throwing out the first pitch hasn't been announced at the time of this writing, but the buzz on Twitter is that it's Sandy Koufax. (*cries again*)

It's Vin!
It's Kershaw!
It's Kemp!
It's A-Gon!
It's...Justin Sellers?

It's (FINALLY!) tiiiiiiiiime for Dodger Basebaaallllllll!

Go Blue!

Update (12:00pm): Cool pic from the Dodgers' Twitter:

Image via Dodgers.com.

329 comments:

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Steve Sax said...

Whoo hoo!

GO DODGERS!

Steve Sax said...

Nice GT, Gnomes!

Dusty Baker said...

Off to the Yard, lads!

Uribe: Off to the Lard Lads

Alex said...

LET'S DO THIS SHIT!

GO DODGERS!!!

Franklin Stubbs said...

Least coast baseball cavorting in my browser window. I'd rather be in the yard, to be sure, but I'll goddamn take it!

Steve Sax said...

Reserve level team store! That's good

Madhouse right now. That's bad

Franklin Stubbs said...

Old Frenemy Victorino with the 2-RBI single off Sabathia. If he doesn't suck this year, I'm going to be a little perturbed.

spank said...

FUCK THE GNATS IN THE EAR!

Hideo Nomo said...

Got tickets for tomorrow night!

That still counts as "Opening Night" right?

Franklin Stubbs said...

@spank

I concur.

Hideo Nomo said...

Twitter is nice and all, but damn it feels good to be in a GT.

Steve Sax said...

Heading to field level

Franklin Stubbs said...

I am completely slammed with work, but I really don't feel like doing shit right now.

I wonder why that is?

Steve Sax said...

Sun coming out!

Hideo Nomo said...

I have a free preview of MLB.tv and an iPad that doesn't adhere to blackout restrictions, but also bosses that sit directly across from me.

*cries yet again*

Hideo Nomo said...

Looks like they're going to go through the HD scoreboard reveal schtick again. But if you weren't there Friday, it'll be new to you!

Hideo Nomo said...

I think Sax and Dusty are already in cellular hell.

Steve Sax said...

@Gnomes: go get your bosses a pass to the spearmint rhino and make the play

Orel said...

No Kershaw extension news?

Jason said...

It's a good day to play hookie. I'll be holding down a bar stool in T-minus 33 minutes.

Hideo Nomo said...

No Kershaw news. If the deal is done, I'm thinking they announce it tomorrow. Not that news of that magnitude would necessarily get lost in the Opening Day chaos.

Hideo Nomo said...

Somebody post the lineup. I don't want to hog everything.

Orel said...

Probably a good thing if he doesn't get shelled today then.

Orel said...

There's a lineup too?!

Paul said...

Field Section 28 Row F brothers and sisters!

Paul said...

Field Section 28 Row F brothers and sisters!

Franklin Stubbs said...

Crawford, 7
Ellis, 4
Kemp, 8
Gonzalez, 3
Ethier, 9
Cruz, 5
Ellis, 2
Sellers, 6
Kershaw, 1

Hideo Nomo said...

You can still sit in the Top Deck today for the low, low price of $167!

Dusty Baker said...

Cellular hell indeed. But I brought my iPad so since it's on 4g LTE seems to work better.

Orel said...

Don't spill beer on your iPad, Dusty!

Hideo Nomo said...

Post updated with a batting order pic.

rbnlaw said...

Getting work done waiting for this to go down.
Give the Gnats fans in attendance hell, DB.

Orel said...

Last year's Opening Day GT had 442 comments.

rbnlaw said...

For the record, this marks my 4th season as a snark contributor on this hallowed site.
1st game was the O-dog's cycle on the Home Opener 2009.


The rest, they say, is history.
Now back to this one.

Franklin Stubbs said...

That's a record of excellence, right there.

Orel said...

Is this rbnlaw's first GT comment?

Betsy said...

Just want to pop in and say YAY Baseball! I laid out mini me's opening day outfit and programmed the tv to make sure mom catches the game. Ahh baseball (and SOSG) how we have missed thee!

rbnlaw said...

I think you found it, Orel.

Where the hell has HLACK been, anyway?

rbnlaw said...

42

rbnlaw said...

Cue, DB waiting on #45.

#midseasonform

Orel said...

Betsy! Hope momhood is treating you well. Glad to see another true blue fan in the making.

Paul said...

Neeebs was an original part of the Blue Man group.

Hideo Nomo said...

46

rbnlaw said...

Well played, Gnomes.

I already hate Steve Lyons all over again.

Hideo Nomo said...

Ah shit, they fixed the blackout glitch. I was able to watch Dodger games on this iPad all last season, but no more.

Hideo Nomo said...

The KLAC pregame segments are still awful.

Orel said...

on the field

Hideo Nomo said...

Thrill to David Vassegh asking Andre Ethier eighty questions about the new clubhouse!

Franklin Stubbs said...

Let it be noted, the first not-Urine-soaked opening day lineup since 2010. This can only mean good things.

Orel said...

I think Sax is stuck under a giant bobblehead.

Meaniebreanie said...

It's a beautiful day for baseball. GO BLUE!

Orel said...

MB is here! We can begin!

Paul said...

Just saw the Goodyear blimp and it said Ron Ron's a pimp.


Actually it says Goodyear.

Orel said...

Crowd mics turned off for Giants intro on TV.

Hideo Nomo said...

I also saw a blimp and it said "Uribe 5."

rbnlaw said...

Goodyear knows me better than I know myself.

Hideo Nomo said...

Alright, gonna go grab some grub and be back at my desk in time for Vin.

Orel said...

Jaime!

Orel said...

VIN!

Hideo Nomo said...

No more Martin Mull on the pregame. Replaced by some HORRID Dodger Trivia segment.

Orel said...

I think you need a certain physique to work as a clubhouse manager.

Jason said...

Yankees breaking out GBA and the players look extra annoyed. Pirates broadcast is already fried-food-centric. Rockies keep showing best-of clips featuring Jim Tracy asking multiple rhetorical questions. Midseason form, indeed.

Orel said...

Hanley's first ICU of the season!

rbnlaw said...

SKIP!

rbnlaw said...

That Kemp fella. Expect some big things from him.

Steve Sax said...

Urine gets booed in the announcements. I love it

Orel said...

VIN!

Orel said...

jill painter ‏@jillpainter 1m

No flyover today at #Dodgers. I heard it was because of budget cuts, so while that's a cool part of Opening Day, totally understand.

QuadSevens said...

Sitting at my desk and my AM radio craps out. Boo!

Go Dodgers!

Orel said...

OREL!

Hideo Nomo said...

NOMO!

Wait.

rbnlaw said...

3-1 Fulham over QPR at the break.
#asifanyonecares

Orel said...

SANDY!

rbnlaw said...

Crap. Goosebump and weepy moment alert!

KOUFAX!!

Hideo Nomo said...

Steiner is a terrible actor, selling like he doesn't know what's going on with the first pitch.

Gameday Audio is on its usual 7 hr delay.

rbnlaw said...

Can't type with eyes welling.

#weepybastard

rbnlaw said...

At the table, Vinny!

Hideo Nomo said...

At my desk, Vinny!

rbnlaw said...

Finally!


Fuck the Gnats in the ear!

cc:DB, Spanktopolous

QuadSevens said...

Ditto!

Franklin Stubbs said...

Look! Dodger baseball! Right now!

karina said...

Epale everyone! doing homework, Vinny!

Orel said...

Mary Hart in the house!

Orel said...

Epale, Karina!

rbnlaw said...

QPR has pulled one back. Hmm.

rbnlaw said...

Odelay! karina.

rbnlaw said...

Fucking hate that panda.

Orel said...

Sandoval ripped it up the middle. Glad Clayton is still in one piece.

spank said...

holy shit! i was on the wrong thread. i need a beer.

wassup,mofos

Orel said...

Posey swings and misses at a 94-mph fastball for strike two.

Steve Sax said...

Sit down, oyster pubes

spank said...

sit down,oyster pubes

Orel said...

"Big number two! Uncle Charlie, as they call it, and the deuce took care of Posey." —Vin

Hideo Nomo said...

SIDDOWN, PUBES!

QuadSevens said...

Chalk one up for Kershaw's charity.

Hideo Nomo said...

First DAMMIT of 2013. Felt good!

Steve Sax said...

@rbnlaw: you tracking EPL during opening day?

Steve Sax said...

Hey, I haven't heard nancy bea Hefley yet...

karina said...

I missed GTs a lot and you guys...

Hideo Nomo said...

My hatred of KLAC continues, as they are now recycling the "Greatest Moment in Dodger History" segments from last year.

Orel said...

Slider or curve?

<< Pedro Moura ‏@PedroMoura 42s

Clayton Kershaw gets Buster Posey looking with a pretty slider to end top half of first. Took 16 pitches to retire Giants. >>

Hideo Nomo said...

@Sax: At all?

karina said...

Crawford is giving joy, right?

Orel said...

Crawford unleashed?

Orel said...

We missed you, Karina! Put down the homework for a few hours.

Orel said...

Mellis HBP. This means war.

Orel said...

I thought I heard Nancy Bea all over the pre-game.

Hideo Nomo said...

A plunk is as good as a bunt.

Orel said...

Felt that Kemp swing through the TV.

rbnlaw said...

@Sax.

Yes. I'm multi-tasking. Still 3-2, Fulham.
Berbatov with a double.

Orel said...

No swing!

Orel said...

Matty showing some nice plate discipline here.

Orel said...

"Cain ready as they go Matt to Matt." —Vin

rbnlaw said...

BISON. . . . . . . .

Orel said...

10-pitch AB so far for Kemp!

rbnlaw said...

. . . . .and. . . . .

Orel said...

11!

Meaniebreanie said...

The gangs all here just like old times. Love it!

Orel said...

Damn! Kemp Ks. Still a great AB.

Hideo Nomo said...

Make that Linus-looking motherfucker work!

rbnlaw said...

Well that ended poorly.

Orel said...

Does anyone else miss Hanley already?

rbnlaw said...

MB!

Orel said...

Nice avatar, MB!

Meaniebreanie said...

RonRon!

Orel said...

And Crawford CS trying to steal third.

spank said...

that was an awesome out,Crawford.

Meaniebreanie said...

@Orel - Angelina is currently on sabbatical.

Orel said...

Clean-shaven Andre today.

Hideo Nomo said...

Well, fuckity fuck.

Orel said...

Smart thinking, MB. Never want to risk overexposure.

Orel said...

First deuces wild of the year!

Orel said...

Full count to Dre.

spank said...

my hatred for all announcers not Vin resumes.

Orel said...

And Dre Ks on ball four. A whole new blew.

rbnlaw said...

Harumph!

spank said...

well that sucked.

Hideo Nomo said...

On pace for a 700 comment GT.

Hideo Nomo said...

More if Crawford keeps doing stupid shit.

Orel said...

Cain on pace for 700 pitches.

rbnlaw said...

Almost full time at Craven Cottage. QPR looking at relegation. Fat 'Arry can't save 'em.

Orel said...

Sorry, I shouldn't repeat myself on Twitter.

Orel said...

Kershaw's curve is working just fine.

rbnlaw said...

I'll go out on a limb and boldly predict Pence and Scooter-O don't have close to the season's they had last year.


Whereas, Kersh will continue to dominate.

Now back to this one.

spank said...

Urine on pace for eating 700 Big Macs by games end.

Orel said...

1-2-3 2nd!

Franklin Stubbs said...

That was a fine inning.

Hideo Nomo said...

Nomo's KLAC (well, technically Dodgers Radio Network) Hate, Part Whatever:

Coming back from commercial break, they now play a soundbite of Charley Steiner saying, "And now back to Vin Scully in the Mercedes-Benz Broadcast Booth." This was followed immediately by "Harlem Shake" playing under Vin.

rbnlaw said...

Fulham hanging on with 10 men. Former Arsenal man, Frimpong on to hold down the fort.

Franklin Stubbs said...

Yankees lose.

Here's to more of that in the future.

rbnlaw said...

Nice audio, Fox. Dirty fuckers.

Steve Sax said...

Justin Sellers has macklemore's thrift shop as his walk-up song. I thought he was cool. Guess not.

Hideo Nomo said...

FIX VIN'S MIC!!!

Orel said...

Ken Rosenthal tweeted a picture of Yankee Stadium in the ninth. Empty.

Franklin Stubbs said...

Way to make him work.

Orel said...

I guess this is a bad time to mention Cain is on my fantasy team. Again.

Steve Sax said...

No Vin piped into the bathrooms. Boooooooo

Orel said...

Beer status: Guinness, from a bottle.

Orel said...

Eric Stephen ‏@truebluela 42s

Nancy Bea is playing Master of the House with Orel Herhiser here. Never fails

Franklin Stubbs said...

No sweat, Orel. Somebody's got to be the Axis-of-Evil fantasy guy. It's a sound strategy.

Orel said...

Although I should point out I let autopick do all my drafting. Again.

Orel said...

Nice pick, Sell Block!

Orel said...

There goes Clayton's Gold Glove.

rbnlaw said...

Sellers has a looong way to go to convince me.

All over at the Cottage as Fulham hang on. Bye-bye, Rangers.

rbnlaw said...

Nick Scooter-O?

Orel said...

As we like to say, Marco now has to legally change his name to Nick.

Orel said...

A.J.'s got a gun! "He was out from me to you!" —Vin

spank said...

nice

rbnlaw said...

From me, to you.

Franklin Stubbs said...

Go the fuck home, Angel.

Orel said...

An-hel

Franklin Stubbs said...

Orel bringing the class.

Orel said...

It's beginning to look like Cain had a bad first inning rather than the Dodgers having a good first inning.

spank said...

BOOOOOOOOOOO!

Orel said...

1-2-3 for Cain in the 3rd. Look what you've let him do, Dodgers. Now he's settled down.

Orel said...

Tim Brown ‏@TBrownYahoo 19s

Thru three innings, the new Dodgers haven't hit a ball out of the infield against Matt Cain.

Orel said...

There's your NO RUNS, Clayton.

Orel said...

Who's the dillweed wearing the red hat behind home plate?

Orel said...

Cruz still bringing the smooth D. Nice pick on the Sandoval grounder.

spank said...

good inning for the kid.

Orel said...

Posey first-ball swinging bounces out to Cruz. Giants taking the same offensive strategy as the Dodgers.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Hitting? Hitting? Hitting?

OK, first day jitters.

Let's go get some runs.

Orel said...

A hit!

Orel said...

Neeebs sightiiing!

Hideo Nomo said...

There are some bitchy mofos on the Twitters today.

(Says the guy bitching about the radio broadcast.)

Orel said...

Buster Olney ‏@Buster_ESPN 5m

I hadn't seen Sandoval in person since the World Series last year, and there's no question, he's much heavier. It's an on-going issue.

Hideo Nomo said...

Two hits!

spank said...

glad Ethier was safe. i was about to throw down a verbal attack if he didn't hustle.

Hideo Nomo said...

Not a big deal, but GameDay's Dodger Stadium view has not been updated with the new scoreboards.

Steve Sax said...

AC foundation discrepancy with Doyer Dog prices. Depending on the stand, one can save$0.50. Do it!

Orel said...

200

Franklin Stubbs said...

I remember this part!

Orel said...

Who remembers Delino's theme song?

Steve Sax said...

Orel, you should be at this game.

Orel said...

So, Vin just said "hot mess."

Orel said...

Thanks, Sax. I called an audible and bailed on work today.

Orel said...

Pyat Pree with warning-track power.

Orel said...

Another 1-2-3 for Clayton.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Kershaw is doing his thing.

Come on you lumber-less lumberers!

Hit the F**king ball.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Is the wi-fi/cell service improved at the stadium as promised???

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