The season had not but began, and the Dodgers already commanded the headlines.
On the day earlier than opening day, the Dodgers signed Mookie Betts for approximately half a gazillion dollars, and the chorus from coast to coast was this: Dodgers. Cash. Dodgers. Cash.
It’s good to be wealthy. However it’s higher to be sensible and wealthy.
The Dodgers confirmed why on Wednesday, after they moved inside one recreation of a spot in baseball’s closing 4. Their 6-5 victory over the San Diego Padres was constructed on high-paid stars and big-time smarts.
Betts, the 2018 American League Most worthy participant, had two hits and was robbed of a 3rd. Cody Bellinger, the 2019 Nationwide League Most worthy participant, hit a house run. Clayton Kershaw, the 2014 NL MVP and a three-time Cy Younger Award winner, delivered a high quality begin and earned the victory.
Bellinger produced essentially the most indelible picture of the sport — not along with his bat, however along with his glove.
Within the seventh inning, Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a ball 400 toes to middle area, and several other inches above the center-field wall. If the ball had landed over the wall, the Padres would have taken a one-run lead. However Bellinger braced himself by extending his left hand above the wall, leaped excessive above the wall, and descended with the ball in his glove. Bellinger pointed skyward along with his left hand, pitcher Brusdar Graterol flipped his glove and blew a kiss, and Manny Machado swore repeatedly at Graterol.
Nice theater, all of it, however take into account what made it doable: Bellinger arrived within the main leagues as a primary baseman, and an excellent one. The Dodgers may have thought-about themselves set at first base for a decade, however they love Bellinger’s athleticism, they usually hate gamers who restrict themselves to at least one place.
Bellinger moved to the outfield. He gained a Gold Glove there final season. And his versatility enabled the Dodgers to play cleanup batter Max Muncy at first base, his finest defensive place.
Take into account Betts. With the Dodgers nursing a 4-Three lead within the seventh inning, he stole third base. That put him in place to attain on a fly ball by Justin Turner, and the Dodgers had a desperately wanted insurance coverage run, deflating the stress minutes after the Graterol-Machado confrontation.
Or take into account Kershaw. Within the second inning, after Wil Myers doubled dwelling Tommy Pham, Kershaw hustled behind the plate and intercepted Chris Taylor’s wild relay throw. That stored Myers from advancing to 3rd base, from the place the Padres would have had two possibilities to attain him on an out. The Padres didn’t rating once more that inning.
The Dodgers’ teaching and recreation preparation staffs shined brightly as effectively.
Within the fifth inning, Tatis laced a floor ball that appeared headed into middle area for a single, however the Dodgers had shifted shortstop Corey Seager to that very spot. Within the eighth inning, Machado laced a floor ball that appeared headed into middle area for a single, however the Dodgers had shifted second baseman Enrique Hernandez to that very spot.
Seager doubled in two runs within the third inning, the second run coming when third base coach Dino Ebel alertly learn a carom and despatched catcher Austin Barnes dwelling, although Barnes had began from first base and Ebel risked the Dodgers interrupting a rally by operating into an out on the plate.
These are the little issues, and the cheap issues, for which the Dodgers get comparatively little credit score.
Taylor was obtained in a minor league commerce. Muncy and Turner had been signed as minor league free brokers.
Will Smith, who may blossom into an All-Star, was the third catcher chosen within the 2016 draft. The second catcher chosen, by the Angels, was Matt Thaiss, whom they moved from catcher and who has but to hit effectively sufficient to win an everyday job at another place.
Terrance Gore, whom the Dodgers signed as a pinch-running specialist, marveled on the digital actuality setup through which the workforce had invested to assist its hitters.
“You may have a lot stuff I’ve by no means even seen my life,” Gore mentioned. “After which I am actually blown away by the stuff and know-how you guys have over right here with the Dodgers.”
None of this issues with out profitable, in fact. Earlier than the Dodgers’ recreation Wednesday, the workforce that hit essentially the most dwelling runs in a recreation was 19-Zero on this postseason.
Make that 19-1. The Dodgers did it their approach, wealthy and sensible and one victory from the league championship collection.
This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Times.