The Dodgers started the 2018 season in record-breaking fashion. That doesn’t necessarily mean it was good, though. The Dodgers are the first team in MLB history to allow only two runs in an opening four game series. Still, they only managed to split the series with their rival San Francisco Giants.
I decided I would take a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of the first series of the season.
THE GOOD
The pitching was not to blame for the losses. In fact, aside from two mistake pitches from Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen, the pitching was stellar. While Kershaw, Kenta Maeda and Rich Hill did work themselves into jams a time or two, they were able to work themselves out of them. In typical fashion, most of the Giants’ hits were bloop singles. Alex Wood only allowed one hit in eight innings of work. The bullpen has scattered five hits across a combined 11 innings of work. Very good, indeed.
Kyle Farmer, who probably only made the team because of the injury to Justin Turner, had been showing off some incredible defensive skills filling in at third base.
Kershaw went 2-for-2 at the plate, once again showing why he is the best at everything he does.
THE BAD
The offense sure was slow to wake up. Farmer, Logan Forsythe and Joc Pederson have yet to collect a hit. Corey Seager and Yasiel Puig‘s first hits didn’t come until the fourth inning of the fourth game. Cody Bellinger‘s didn’t come until the sixth inning of the fourth game, a home run, which was the first homer overall for the team. A lot of batters struck out looking at called third strikes down the middle of the plate. There’s much to be worked on as far as batting goes.
The ESPN crew still leaves much to be desired. Sure, it’s probably petty to complain about them, but having to endure them for two of the first four games added a bit to the misery. Not being permitted to listen to Joe Davis and Orel Hershiser, especially for Opening Day wasn’t optimal. The only highlight was Alex Rodriguez picking Puig to be a dark horse to win the NL MVP. Wouldn’t that be something?
THE UGLY
The defense, at times, was atrocious. Forsythe committed three errors in one game at third base. He is an excellent defenseman at second—finding ways to keep him there, instead of at third, would probably be beneficial. Matt Kemp made some bobbles in left. But, these were expected, and the Dodgers are good enough to have players that can step up/in and do a better job—e.g. Farmer at third.
Kershaw and Wood deserved better, and to not take the losses in their starts. To think that the Dodgers couldn’t muster even one run on either of those games just makes you shake your head.
Of course, fans and the team would like to start the season 4-0. The way some fans were ready to abandon the season after two games could have been put into the Ugly category. And I get it. Coming off the season that was, starting 0-2 with no runs just seemed like rubbing salt into old wounds. But an 0-2 start does not a season make, nor does it break one. The Dodgers started out a bit sluggish, but will find their footing and be the team we expect them to be.
A-Rod’s comment about Puig was definitely interesting. Say what you will about Alex, he does know his baseball. It’s really nice to see the rest of baseball (non-Dodger fans) slowly waking up to the fact that number 66 isn’t the over-hyped showoff who built has rep on unfulfilled promise and doing stupid stuff. Puig is still young enough that he could have a great career. Time will tell if that actually happens and if it happens in a Dodger uniform.
I don’t think many people realize that his contract expires after this season. I wonder what he and his agent are envisioning for a starting point. He gets a little over $9 million this year.
Don’t they have him for 2019 as well? It’s just that he gets to opt in to arbitration for that year?
http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/yasiel-puig-11575/
Spotrac is usually the most dependable, but there seems to be conflicting information everywhere you look. If I get some free time, I’m definitely gonna do some digging.
Looks like there may be a difference of opinion.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/puigya01.shtml
If you scroll down to “Salaries”, they show Arb Eligible 2019, Free Agent 2020
Do you know anyone in the front office who could verify one way or the other?
Yeah, I could check with Jon Chapper or Dai Sugiura. They both work in PR, and I think they would know.
Actually, after comparing the two, I think the B/R page is accurate. He’s only signed through this year, but he’ll still be under team control through next season, which means they’ll need to offer him a deal over the winter. If he doesn’t agree with the deal, he can go to arb. Based on his service time, he can’t become a free agent until after the 2019 season. Makes total sense now. Thanks for sharing that link.
Thanks for drawing that ultimate conclusion. Happy to have him for the extra year. 🙂
Confirmed: Will Smith and Keibert Ruiz set to split the catching duties at Double-A Tulsa.
Looks like they’re listening to you instead of me with our catching prospects. 🙂
Any complete list yet of all the minor league rosters?
Drillers: https://www.milb.com/drillers/news/drillers-opening-day-roster-announced/c-270532890
Rancho notes: https://www.milb.com/quakes/news/2018-roster-announced/c-270516370
Sopko started 23 games for Tulsa. Anderson started 12 at Tulsa.
I can see why you were surprised to find them at RCM. Not a great career path.
Andrew Sopko opening the season in the Single-A Rancho rotation. That’s quite surprising. Isaac Anderson’s gonna be throwing in relief for the Quakes, too.
Where did Sopko pitch last year?
Based on the number of guys that are starting with the same teams they finished with in 2017 I think there may be some fairly rapid promotions, assuming that they get off to good starts.