JeyHay: Oh No

The Dodgers designated Jason Heyward for assignment, in order to make room for Chris Taylor. This comes one night after Heyward hit a pinch-hit HR to give the Dodgers the victory over the Mariners:

But worse than that, it replaces a left-handed .208 batter (91 OPS+, 0.8 bWAR) who has had strokes of brilliance this and last year, with a right-handed .167 batter (55 OPS+, -0.9 bWAR) who has been largely disastrous the last two years. Taylor has been screwing around with an ineffective swing for over a season and a half now, and we're activating that guy?

Not to mention, we also have right-handed .210 batter Kiké Hernandez (70 OPS+, 0.4 bWAR) sitting around taking up space on the bench (and on the roster).

And that leaves Kevin Kiermaier as the only other lefty off the bench. And Heyward did pretty well in a reduced role: 6-for-15 with three home runs in 14 games as a non-starter.

I don't know, man. This sucks.

Thank you, Jason. Wish we had DFAd someone else.

Post-Game 1 Thread: Dodgers Comeback Based On Cronenworth's Porous Glove

Okay, I get it, autocorrect. Thanks for ruining my crappy photoshop illustration.

DODGERS 5, PADRES 2

Prior to this game, most of the talk about the defense of the two players on the team revolved around Dodgers shortstop-turned-second baseman Gavin Lux, whose errant throws to first during spring training mandated wholesale infield changes going into Opening Day 2024. But the Dodgers were error-free in this first game of the season, and on the other side of the table, Jake Cronenworth's fielding error opened up the floodgates for the Dodgers in a four-run eighth inning that sealed the victory.

Cronenworth had only three errors last year, and only 20 across four years in the majors. But the webbing on his glove allowed a Gavin Lux dribbler to get past him Wednesday in Seoul, causing him to botch a potential double-play ball, and allowing Teoscar Hernandez to score, giving the Dodgers the 3-2 lead. That lead expanded to 5-2 on a Mookie Betts single to left, followed by a Shohei Ohtani single to left that scored Lux.

Jason Heyward got the Dodgers on the board in the fourth with a sacrifice fly to right that tied the game at 1. But the Dodgers' 1-2-3 batters went 4-for-11 with 2 RBI (Betts 2-for-4 with a walk; Ohtani 2-for-5; Freeman 0-for-2 with two walks). More concerning in the order is Max Muncy, who was 1-for-3 with 2 Ks, including a huge strikeout with the bases juiced in the third in which Muncy was very late.

Lux was also 0-for-5 in the game, and all the defensive positioning machinations can't have helped his confidence, coming off a lost season with a torn ACL last year. Lux and Muncy are two guys that will have to produce for the Dodgers, and fast.

Tyler Glasnow went five innings and gave up two ER, 4 BB and 3 Ks. Daniel Hudson got the win with a scoreless seventh inning; Joe Kelly got a hold for a scoreless eighth, and Evan Phillips picked up where he left off with a scoreless ninth.

Post-Game 6 Thread: Jason Heyward Starts 2023 Like A Wrecking Ball

DODGERS 5, ROCKIES 2

Jason Heyward mashed his second home run of the year, a third-inning solo shot to right that was absolutely crushed with a 112.7 mph exit velocity. Holy smokes, that was a violent swing. And with that, the Dodgers took a 3-0 lead (Will Smith had homered in his third straight game to notch the Dodgers' first two runs), and were sporting a 84.8% win probability.

Heyward also brought his wrecking-ball ways to his defense, however. He undercut a retreating Mookie Betts on a fly ball to short right for the last out of the seventh inning. And then Heyward let a double go off his glove to score the Rockies' first run in the ninth. Suddenly, that pendulum we saw in the series with the Diamondbacks had turned into a two-way wrecking ball, for sure. But fortunately for the Dodgers, Evan Phillips was there to shut the door on the Rockies, and the Dodgers sweep both games from Colorado and take the lead in the NL West.

Max Muncy also hit a home run tonight and went 2-for-4 in the cleanup spot to raise his average to .150. Chris Taylor is still struggling, 0-for-3 tonight and batting .071 on the year. And Julio Urias had a clean 6.0 IP, 5 H and 0 ER, with 0 BB and 6 Ks, halving his ERA to 1.50 in his second performance.

The Dodgers go 4-2 on this opening homestand, but there's still work to be done. Off-day tomorrow, and then four in the Arizona desert starting Thursday.

Post-Game 5 Thread: The Dodgers Pendulum Keeps On Swinging

Simple Pendulum Pendulum GIFfrom Simple Pendulum GIFs

DODGERS 13, ROCKIES 4

One day after 0-fer-ing with RISP, the Dodgers lit up the Rockies with a 4-for-9 with RISP performance, including what MLB.com's Juan Toribio called "one of the best two-out rallies you’ll see all season long." Apparently, the Dodgers are a pendulum swinging from feast to famine on successive games. If this continues, I'm going to be sea sick. Or hypnotized.

The Dodgers had just given up a 2-0 lead in the top of the fifth, and were trailing 4-2. And then Chris Taylor popped to second, and Mookie Betts Kd swinging, to make it two out and no one on. And then:

• Freddie Freeman doubles to right.
• Will Smith walks.
• Max Muncy walks. Bases loaded. Rockies go to Jake Bird to relieve starter Ryan Feltner.
• JD Martinez narrowly misses a grand slam, then singles to left to score Freeman and Smith. Muncy to second. Tied at 4.
• James Outman triples (his first of two triples in the game!), scoring Muncy and Martinez. 6-4 LA.
• Miguel Vargas singles to left, scoring Outman. 7-4 LA.
• Jason Heyward homers, scoring Vargas. 9-4 LA.
• Taylor grounds to second for the third out.

What an inning, and the Dodgers didn't look back. So now we have blowout victories in games 1, 3, and 5; and bad 2-1 losses in games 2 and 4 (both of which showed 0-fers with RISP).

So I guess we know what's in store tomorrow, right? Maybe that's why they're giving away hooded sweatshirts to the first 40K attendees.

NLDS Game 3 Thread: Oct. 6 vs. Barves, 5p

Hyun-Jin Ryu (0-0, 0.00) vs. Julio Teheran (0-0, 0.00).

Joey: Wait a minute. I know you. You're Don Mattingly. You manage the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Roger Murdock: I'm sorry, son, but you must have me confused with someone else. My name is Roger Murdock. I'm the co-pilot.

Joey: You are Donnie Baseball! I've seen you play. My dad's got season tickets.

Roger Murdock: I think you should go back to your seat now, Joey. Right, Clarence?

Captain Oveur: No, he's not bothering anyone. Let him stay here.

Roger Murdock: All right, but just remember, my name is Roger Murdock. I'm an airline pilot.

Joey: I think you're the greatest but my dad says you're a slave to lefty-lefty righty-righty matchups. And he says that lots of times, you don't even get the difference between REED JOHNSON and FREAKIN' JASON HEYWARD, especially during the playoffs.

Roger Murdock: The hell I don't! Listen kid, I've been hearing that crap ever since spring training. I'm out there busting my buns every night. Tell your old man to juggle tired relievers while your offense isn't hitting for jack shit.

Dodgers tickets

Thanks to SoSG Nomo for the graphic and theme!

Touch of Class from Jason Heyward

At the depth of our pain of being burned by HRs the past two games, the best we can do is look for little bits of sunshine in otherwise dark days.

Here's something you don't see a lot these days in sport, at least during a game. After Matt Kemp robbed Jason Heyward of what looked to be a HR with an amazing, well-timed catch, Heyward rounded second base and looked to Kemp in the outfield to pay his sportsmanlike respect for the feat.

Hat tip to Kemp for the web gem catch, and to Heyward for his class.

Now, back to being surly and feeling the hate.

Post-Game 122 Thread: Sunday Bloody Sun-Day

A glimpse into Jason Heyward's nightmares tonight.

DODGERS 5, BRAVES 0

Today's game had the earmarks of a Dodgers performance you'd like to forget: Matt Kemp, Hanley Ramirez and Andre Ethier combined to go 0 for 13, and the Dodgers stranded eight men, leaving the bases loaded in the third and eighth innings.

But! The Dodgers got contributions from other parts of the lineup:

• Chad Billingsley continued to go all BEARD MODE, pitching seven innings of three-hit, scoreless ball. He's won a career-high six straight and is acting like that dependable Number Two everyone's been expecting him to be.
  
• The bottom third of the order killed it, going 7 for 10, led by a clutch solo homer in the fifth by Luis Cruz, who's now homered in consecutive games. As for his leg: "Cruz had a cramp and expects to play Monday," tweets Ken Gurnick.
  
• In the eighth, interim manager Trey Hillman (2-0) called a ballsy hit-and-run play with Juan Uribe (!) at first and Shane Victorino at the plate. Uribe eventually scored, thanks to Jason Heyward (see below).
  
• After wasting earlier opportunities, Mark Ellis finally broke the game open with a bases-clearing double in the ninth.
  
• Heyward lost not one, but two high fly balls in the sun, both times eventually leading to Dodgers runs.

Can you imagine what would happen if everybody showed up on the same day? Hopefully we'll find out what that's like during the upcoming stretch run. Dodgers complete a successful 7-3 road trip (their third this season) and return to Dodger Stadium tomorrow locked and loaded to take on the Giants!

Game 17 Thread: April 18 vs. Braves, 7p

Spit take!

Ted Lilly (0-2, 6.00) vs. Tim Hudson (2-1, 3.48).

The Braves and Dodgers, both owners of 7-9 records, meet with a little bit of momentum on each side. The Braves just took two of three from one of the few teams that makes the Dodgers look good, the Mets. The Dodgers, although losing three of four to the Cardinals, are riding high on yesterday's combined heroics of Chad Billingsley and Matt Kemp.

The Braves have a heroic duo of their own, their ace Hudson and the young phenom Jason Hayward, who leads the team with four homers. Meanwhile, Lilly has yet to make it past the sixth inning this season, so it's good Bills gave the middle relievers a rest yesterday. (Jonathan Broxton is another, hair-tearing concern.)

Oh, and it's time for some irrational hope. From @Dodgers:

Today the #Dodgers called up Jerry Sands and designated Xavier Paul for assignment

photo by Harry How/Getty Images

You Never Forget Your First...

SoSG extends a hearty congratulations to Jason Heyward . First professional at bat - three run homer. Today - the considerably more valuable GOLDEN SOMBRERO (known around these parts as an Andruw Jones.. wait, that's our nickname for the Mendoza Line) Either way, welcome to the majors, Mr. Heyward. Golden Sombrero is the Bar Mitzvah of the "0-for" world.

Local Product

Heyward adds to legend in first at-bat (MLB.com)

Another amazing play today: Mark Buehrle makes unbelievable flip with glove through his legs (Big League Stew)