I was worried about the Dodgers after Game 1. But after today's loss, starting our 2022 campaign with a series loss in Colorado, evidences why all this talk of dominance is pretty premature.
The Dodgers' bats have been entirely mortal in the first place. But they aren't anywhere near as good as necessary to compensate for weaknesses in starting pitching, when neither Tony Gonsolin nor Julio Urias can reach the fourth inning. Yesterday was Catman-doodoo, with Gonsolin giving up one earned run and five hits in 3.0 IP and 62 pitches. His subpar performance didn't doom the game though, not when Austin Barnes (a) drops a pinpoint throw from Mookie Betts in right to allow a Rockies run; (b) fails to advance on the basepaths on a Freddie Freeman deep fly to center, costing the Dodgers a critical run in an eventual 3-2 loss; and (c) calls for a Blake Treinen cutter on Connor Joe in the eighth, which was crushed to left for a game-winning HR. Barnes hit a solo HR earlier in the game, but whatever.
And then today, Urias gave up six runs before the Dodgers even got on the board (in the top of the fourth). Sure, five of the Rockies' nine runs were unearned, thanks to errors galore by the Dodgers, suffering in the gusty winds on the field. But it was those same gusty winds that led to the majority of the Dodgers' runs, as three of those runs were gift-wrapped by Kris Bryant, who dropped a Freeman fly out, clearing the bases. The score really wasn't as close as it appeared.
So let's look at the batting averages of this dominant Dodgers lineup, through three games:
- Mookie Betts .214
- Freddie Freeman .167
- Trea Turner .231
- Max Muncy .067
- Justin Turner .231
- Will Smith .167
- Cody Bellinger .182
- Chris Taylor .571
- Gavin Lux .375
Aside from CT3 and Gavin, we look awful. And Cody got two hits today--call for the parade--but those were his first of the year (he also has 3 Ks in 11 AB). Small sample size. But if there was anywhere I'd expect more output, it's in Colorado.
Monday is a day off, and then we play two at the delightfully frigid Target Field in Minneapolis (projected to be 54 degrees with a high chance of rain).
2 comments:
I am a little torn here. I have heard this lineup compared to the '27 Yankees and on paper they do look damn good. But I can't help but to think back to last season where our solid lineup sometimes couldn't have hit out of a paper bag. Sure, we did get to the Post Season but it seemed like such a struggle. I'm hoping this 2022 version of our Los Angeles Dodgers can live up to their potential but I'm not feeling it yet.
I’m with you, Karen!
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