At-Game Recap (sort of): SoSG Nomo @ the Seoul Series (March 21, 2024)

Sons of Steve Garvey is dedicated to covering the Los Angeles Dodgers from a fan's perspective, oftentimes with a healthy dose of sarcasm. Unfortunately, the Sons' business expense accounts are limited (journalism is a going through some rough economic times, man!).

So we were able to get SoSG Nomo over to Seoul for Game 2 of this series. Unfortunately, we couldn't afford to get him in the Stadium. So Nomo has sent these pictures from just outside Gocheok Sky Dome:

Waiting for the subway

On the crowded subway

At the stadium

Relegated to watching the game at the snack bar outside

Thanks to SoSG Nomo for the photolog! (Now is probably a good time to tell you that subway fares are non-reimbursable by our finance department without a receipt.)

Post-Game 2 Thread: Yamamoto Horrible, Muncy Disastrous, But Betts Gets A Car

Not a good MLB debut for this man.

PADRES 15, DODGERS 11

Yoshinobu Yamamoto picked up right where he left off in the spring, giving up five runs in his short 1.0 IP debut, in which the Padres batted around. Yamamoto now has a 45.00 ERA. (To be fair, Padres starter Joe Musgrove was also lit up, lasting 2.2 IP with 5 ER for a 16.88 ERA.)

Couple that with Max Muncy's two errors at third base, and the Dodgers were doomed to fall in Seoul in the second game of the Opening Day series. Muncy also had 3 Ks today, including a three-pitch K to end the game. Muncy now has 5 Ks in 9 AB this season. With Ohtani as the DH, there is no place for Muncy to hide on the lineup--and if he can't handle the hot corner, this is going to be a big problem for the Dodgers.

The one shining star for the Dodgers today was Mookie Betts, who went 4-for-5 (only a triple short of the cycle) and 6 RBI, including hitting the first home run of the MLB season, winning him a free Ioniq 5 electric vehicle. Betts will be able to bring this car back to the US, where it will likely get promptly stolen, but at least he can enjoy a couple months of driving before the inevitable theft. (I suppose in positive news, Betts' HR in the fifth inning blocked the car from going to Manny Machado, whose three-run HR in the ninth basically iced the game for San Diego.)

Betts, who wore Jordan 1 Griffey Freshwater cleats in the 2023 Home Run Derby as a hat tip to Ken Griffey Jr., got appreciation from the Kid himself:

Hit a homer, get a fist bump from Ken Griffey Jr. pic.twitter.com/OEjRq81s1h

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 21, 2024

Will Smith also had four hits with 2 RBI. James Outman, who logged an RBI today with a sacrifice, does not have a hit this year.

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.