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.

Game 1 Thread: March 20 @ Padres, 3a

Tyler Glasnow vs. Yu Darvish.

Hey, Seoul Series! Ain't that frickin' early on the radio, stereo; I can't afford Spectrum, you know?

The starting lineups haven't posted yet, but MLB.com has been kind enough to post matchups. For the Dodgers, players who have fared well against Darvish include Freddie Freeman (.286 BA and .926 OPS with 2 HR in 28 AB), as well as James Outman (.333 BA and 1.166 OPS with 1 HR in 6 AB); not to mention new Dodgers addition Teoscar Hernandez (BA .333), who batted .414 in spring training this year.

For the Padres, the only regular to face Glasnow is Xander Bogaerts, who has a .167 BA and .583 OPS against Glasnow in 12 AB. Glasnow is new material for the rest of that lineup, which is still formidable with Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Ha-Seong Kim.

I'm going to try and make it up early for this one...but we'll see.

Dodgers Go With Oscar Winner for Opening Day; Japanese Film Debut Pushed To Night 2

Opening Day for the Dodgers is set, and for the seventh year in a row, it's a different choice from the prior year. Tyler Glasnow gets the nod for Game 1 (against the Padres' Yu Darvish), with Yoshinobu Yamamoto getting the start the next day (vs. Joe Musgrove).

Glasnow is coming off a year where he went 10-7 with the Rays, with a 3.53 ERA (118 ERA+). He also just won the Oscar for Best Actor.

I was secretly hoping for Yamamoto to get the Opening Day nod, after Sarah Langs reported that "If Yamamoto starts the first game, he would be the first pitcher to make his MLB debut as an Opening Day starter since Al Gerheauser in 1943" (and there have only been two others in the live-ball era). Alas, it's not to be, but maybe the diminished spotlight will benefit Yamamoto, who was not as sharp in his most recent Cactus League start.

Game 1 is set for Wednesday, March 20, with first pitch at 3am.