Thursday, April 01, 2021

2021 Opening Series Thread: April 1-4 @ Rockies

Thurs 4/1 1p: Clayton Kershaw vs. Germán Márquez
Fri 4/2 5.30p: Trevor Bauer vs. Antonio Senzatela
Sat 4/3 5p: Walker Buehler vs. Jon Gray
Sun 4/4 12n: Julio Urias vs. Austin Gomber

This is the first Game Thread for your WORLD CHAMPION LOS ANGELES DODGERS! And yes, even though many of the players who got us here last year have returned (most notably, Justin Turner at third base), some have departed (Kiké Hernandez, whose jersey outsells Mike Trout's!; Joc Pederson; and Pedro Baez, among others). And then there's that Bauer guy that we picked up and have slotted him in at the #2 spot in this season-starting rotation.

And this re-stocked team has some pundits predicting the Dodgers will win 118 games this season, en route to a World Series.. Which will never happen, mind you, even if it may be fun to speculate. No, the Dodgers will face more difficult opposition this year from a investment-happy Padres team (adding Blake Snell and Yu Darvish, and locking up Fernando Tatis Jr. for 300 years); a bitter and hungry Braves team who narrowly lost the 2020 NLCS; and a new entrant Mets team who just plunked down $341M for 10 years of Francisco Lindor..

And then there's the whole American League, by the way--even if this year's wackball schedule doesn't have us playing anyone beyond the AL West during the regular season.

Me, I'd love to see the 2021 season be incredible again for the Dodgers, so we can put an end to the 156-day drought since our last World Championship. I won't be there for Opening Day this year, but I know I'll be gunning for the Dodgers for all 162 regular season games this year.

And this time: as reigning World Champions!

GO DODGERS!

56 comments:

Dusty Baker said...

Let's fuckin' goooooo!!!!

Dusty Baker said...

Welcome back, kids! I'm next-level masturbation level excited about this season.

QuadSevens said...

Got my Turner Tag shirt on and I'm ready to go! Let's go Champs!

Dusty Baker said...

Nice avatar, Quad!

karen said...

WELCOME COMMRADS!!! Here we go defending our 2020 Championship team!

karen said...

I'm liking Kirsten ok but really miss Alonna.

Dusty Baker said...

REALLY miss Alanna.

Dusty Baker said...

1. Mookie Betts, RF
2. Corey Seager, SS
3. Justin Turner, 3B
4. Cody Bellinger, CF
5. Max Muncy, 1B
6. Chris Taylor, LF
7. Gavin Lux, 2B
8. Austin Barnes, C
9. Clayton Kershaw, P

Dusty Baker said...

I already "wearing his pants the right way"'d Mookie before the first pitch. All is good.

Steve Sax said...

Wow Turner looks skinny!

Steve Sax said...

Dammit. Turner swung on a bad pitch and GIDPd.

Put on some weight, JT!

Steve Sax said...

Good AB by Cody to work the walk. First and second, two outs. Marquez at 18 pitches. Muncy up.

Steve Sax said...

All that action, but nothing to show for it. 0-0 through 0.5

Steve Sax said...

Gavin Lux picking up where he left off last year: first-pitch GIDP

Steve Sax said...

Dodgers strand two again.

Steve Sax said...

BELLINGER! Yes?

Steve Sax said...

what the hell just happened there>!

Steve Sax said...

If the ball dislodged from his glove and went over the wall, it's a HR

Steve Sax said...

I have no idea what just happened there. Did we score? Did we not? I can't have the volume on so I can't tell

Steve Sax said...

So I guess Turner (who was on base) scored, but Cody (who hit the ball and had an apparent HR) did not. But it's 1-0 LA, two out, two on, T3

Steve Sax said...

Gavin Lux looks lost out there at the plate

Steve Sax said...

And, he Ks.

1-0 LA after 2.5

Steve Sax said...

And it’s quickly 1-1. Lead off triple and bunt single.

QuadSevens said...

Bellinger got credit for a single and RBI but was called out because he passed Turner on the bases. Steiner was confused as well.

QuadSevens said...

Thanks Dusty!

Steve Sax said...

And, now we are losing 2-1 through 3.

Steve Sax said...

@Quad: Steiner is always confused on home run calls

Dusty Baker said...

That must have given Steiner a stroke.

Steve Sax said...

4-4 but Kershaw is getting shelled here in the sixth. Wait it’s 5-4 Rockies. Two RISP, none out

QuadSevens said...

Down 8-4 in the 7th now. Gonna need some late inning hits.

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

Hidley-ho Sons and Daughters. Good to digitally
See y’all again. I’ve now got Spectrum and am watching the game like regular folk. Imagine being able to watch your local team on the tv. Boggles the mind. But can we circle back to dusty’s “next-level masturbation” comment ?

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

That strike was the worst call of the season!

Dusty Baker said...

@Delino

Yes, we can circle back.

If you know what I mean.

Hideo Nomo said...

"...even if this year's wackball schedule doesn't have us playing anyone beyond the AL West during the regular season."

That's how it always is, though. At least, since they made interleague a year-long thing. They rotate the divisions that face each other each year. And then in years where they don't play the AL West, they still have a series against the Angels because they're "rivals."

Hideo Nomo said...

Oh hey! I can comment again!

Dusty Baker said...

(comments)

QuadSevens said...

Winning streak starts today!

QuadSevens said...

GAME 2

Betts RF
Seager SS
Turner 3B
Bellinger CF
Muncy 1B
Smith C
Pollock LF
Lux 2B
Bauer P

Dusty Baker said...

Looking forward to seeing Bauer's debut!

Steve Sax said...

Dodgers up 4-0 through 2.5. Finally scoring some runs with runners in scoring position!

Steve Sax said...

@nomo 9:33a: hmm I hadn’t noticed the schedules these days don’t allow AL teams beyond the west. Was that how it was in 2019?

QuadSevens said...

Mr. Luxurious with a triple to make it 8-0!

QuadSevens said...

If you’re not watching the game, might want to turn it on. Something special going on.

QuadSevens said...

Well that fell apart quickly. No hitter broken up with a single, HR, single, HR.

QuadSevens said...

Bauer done. Price coming in. Bauer finished with 10 Ks.

QuadSevens said...

10-4 Dodgers in the 7th when Price comes in.

QuadSevens said...

Price gives up a HR to the first two batters he faces. 10-6 now.

Steve Sax said...

But a win is a win. 11-6 final. I’ll take it.

QuadSevens said...

GAME 3

Dodgers win 6-5!

QuadSevens said...

McKinstry has an inside the park HR today.

QuadSevens said...

Kenley with the 5 out save too.

Steve Sax said...

Sad for UCLA. Need to go watch the highlights of the Bruins beating the Zags and Adam Morrison.

Dusty Baker said...

Bruins gave it their all. Nothing to hang their head about. My neighbors hate me for yelling so loud after that OT.

Steve Sax said...

GAME 4

Dodgers win! 4-2 victory includes a Will Smith solo shot. Corey Knebel earns the save. Urias Ks 6 over 7+ innings.

Steve Sax said...

Scoreboard watching AZ @ SD right now, T9, AZ up 3-0. Don't choke, D'backs!

Steve Sax said...

AZ wins 3-1!