Hi, I am Ian E. Nielson, Lead Beat Writer and Contributor for Dodgers LowDown. This is “Weekly Roundup”, published at the beginning every week this MLB season. You know the drill. I address the biggest story lines, answer fan questions, give insight and of course, some hot take(s) of the week. Without further ado, let’s get after it.
Dodgers Slaughter Diamondbacks in Opening Series
We’re going to get right into it. If you are a fan of offensive onslaughts, which most all fans (even the ones who claim to like a “good pitching matchup”) are, this was the weekend for you. The Dodgers exploded in the season opener with, count em, eight home runs. Following a rough extra inning loss on Friday night, the Dodgers took out their aggression on the D-Backs once again, tallying 18 runs against them Saturday night.
The series finale was easily the most intriguing game of all four, featuring Walker Buehler in his first start of the season. After jumping out to a four run lead, it all came crashing down in the fourth inning, when Arizona hung a seven spot in that inning on the Dodgers. The Dodgers bullpen held it’s own however, keeping the Diamondbacks from crossing home again the rest of the game. In the eighth inning, newest Dodger and former D-Back, A.J. Pollock slapped a triple down the first base line and later scored on a sacrifice fly. Kenley Jansen shut down Arizona in the top of the ninth and the Dodgers secured a series win to open the season.
I know, I know, a game in April is not a big deal, there are over 150 more to play, it can be made up. However, the difference of a 3-1 start to the season versus a 2-2 start is massive. The best Dodgers team in recent history was that 2017 team that came up just short of a World Series title; that season, they were characterized by being so good that they could never be counted out of any game, as they would trail or be tied late in games and find ways to win.
I had a special feeling about this team coming into 2019, much different than the vibe I got from the 2018 team. The Dodgers have already flexed their muscle as an offensive powerhouse, capable of hanging crooked numbers. We all know they are loaded in arms, with enough depth and talent to not only keep them afloat but actually thrive in the absence of Kershaw and Hill. If this opening series is any indication of what to expect this season, which I believe it is, the Dodgers will once again be making their postseason plans by August and resting up for October down the stretch.
Clayton Kershaw Throws Sim Game
Ah yes, amidst all the fervor of Opening Week, it is easy to forget that Clayton Kershaw is not even a part of the team right now. After a spring in which Kershaw spent most of the time nursing shoulder discomfort, he takes another step forward, this time throwing a 50 pitch simulated game.
Kershaw pitched to Dodgers hitters Kike Hernandez and Joc Pederson as well as some minor league players. This is a significant step in the right direction for Kershaw, as he is once again facing batters.
Clayton Kershaw threw 50 pitches in his 3-inning sim game and a 4th inning in the bullpen. Roberts said he’ll throw his standard side session in a couple days before going to OKC or Tulsa for a rehab start. That’ll be 4 or 5 innings. They’ll then decide if he needs another one.
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) March 30, 2019
Once again, there is still no indiction for when Kershaw will pitch once again. He will make at least one minor league rehab start before the team makes a decision for his return. Right now, he is still in the process of regaining the feel for his bread and butter pitches, the slider and curveball.
With no timetable to return and an abundance of pitching, the Dodgers are going the conservative route with Kershaw. As I have said before and will say again, the worst thing the Dodgers can do in this situation is rush Clayton back into action. The chances of ineffectiveness and injury are much more substantial in that instance.
Dodgers Stadium is a Place We All Love, It’s on Us to Keep it Safe
On a serious note, there is something bigger than baseball we must all acknowledge and learn from. Over this past weekend, not one, but two violent incidences that we are all aware of, took place at Dodgers Stadium.
First and foremost, and I am aware of how cliche this sounds, not one fan should ever enter a stadium or arena, with security, and be uncertain as to whether or not they will leave the stadium in the same condition that they arrived in. I am aware of the stereotype surrounding the stadium and fans of the Dodgers, it is one that I have contradicted and vehemently disagreed with for the fact that it is not true. I go to Spring Training as well as several Dodgers games both day and night, every season. Not once have I been involved in a violent encounter and everybody that I have met at the stadium has been nothing short of pleasant. It is because of this reality that countless Dodgers fans, myself included are so disturbed when incidents like the ones occurring over the weekend happen.
Emotion causes people to conduct themselves irrationally and often times the actions are reflective of this. Substances such as alcohol, conflated with an aggressive confrontation only increase the chances of somebody walking away with an injury. While good people are capable of making poor choices, alcohol or “my emotions got the best of me” are invalid excuses for inflicting pain on not only the person on the receiving end of the action but the people who love and care about them.
Problems like the ones this past weekend or the infamous Brian Stow incident do not fall on the shoulders of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Police Department, security or anybody else. It is our responsibility, as fans to conduct ourselves in a way that is simply non-criminal; it’s really not that difficult. Making the choice not to assault somebody is quite simple and it is maddening to most of this fanbase to hear how awful “we” are because an “adult” was incapable of simply walking away from a situation.
Not only Dodgers fans, not only sports fans, but anybody going to a sporting event, concert or convention, ask yourself this one question in a potential confrontation, is my pride and ego so fragile that you must satisfy it through assault of another human being? Is my pride and ego is fragile that I am content with traumatizing countless innocent people? Is my pride and ego so fragile that I am willing to throw my future away over one stupid disagreement? If the answer is yes to any of those questions, stay away from events, stay away from other people and get some help.
And to those who would rather stand idly by and record a violent confrontation in hopes of gaining notoriety online, why? What component of life has gone down such a slippery slope that a minute of Twitter fame is worth somebody’s livelihood. This is a pervasive issue in our society and incidences of it happen far too often. I’m sure many of you have seen the videos in recent weeks in which a defenseless person is viciously attacked by somebody else. The most disturbing part of it all is that not one person decides to aid the victim, instead opting to record on their devices with the dream that they may be retweeted or liked a bunch of times. Who knows, maybe even gain a couple followers.
You don’t have to be the hero, you don’t even have to step in at all. Calling security is one option or simply fleeing the violent scene is another. But maybe just rethink the judgement if capturing such an incident is the knee-jerk reaction.
Hot Take of the Week
Clayton Kershaw does not return this month.
For the first time since his arrival, the Dodgers winning is not reliant on Kershaw being in the rotation. After carrying the Dodgers through countless seasons, signs of wear and tear are showing, as Kershaw is spending time on the injured list for the fourth consecutive season. This time with a shoulder injury.
I don’t doubt that Kershaw’s injury is a minor one and that once he returns he will be among the best in baseball. With that being said, the Dodgers in the Friedman era err on the side of caution. Why? Because they have built a team comprised of at least ten people who are capable of not only starting a major league baseball game but winning it, and that doesn’t even include minor league prospects like Dustin May and Dennis Santana.
Kershaw is going to come back sometime in May, with the Dodgers already ahead in the division race. This is somewhat of a treat to Kershaw, who after carrying the team on his back, is now in the best position to enjoy the fruits of his labor and be part of a championship team with less pressure.
Of course, we all know he wants to be the man on the mound when it counts. If the Dodgers continue their approach to rest him in April, he will have his best October yet.
Ian Nielson has served as a writer and contributor for @DodgersLowDown since 2018. Follow him on twitter @ianenielson