It was good to see Kershaw out there, and even better that he did well. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:
“I think there’s a lot of things involved,” Kershaw said. “First time pitching in eight, nine months of a game that actually mattered. There’s some relief, some thankfulness for sure. Just grateful to be back out there again.”he went 5.2 scoreless innings, with six strikeouts and no walks to win in his first outing of the season.
Photo above @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:
- This Day in Dodgers History: In 1959 a second All-Star Game of the year is played at the LA Coliseum. Don Drysdale gave up a third inning two-run homer to Yogi Berra to lose the game, 5-3. In 1980 Duke Snider, along with Al Kaline and Chuck Klein, are inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1997 Tommy Lasorda, along with Phil Neikro, Nellie Fox and Willie Wells, are inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In 2013 the Dodgers set a franchise record when they won their 13th consecutive game on the road by defeating the Cubs, 3-0.
- Happy Birthday, Gus Getz, Jim Gott, Sid Bream & Kevin Elster!
- Good sign. Via a tweet from Eric Stephen:
If you’re keeping track, Clayton Kershaw threw 20 pitches clocked at 92+ mph in 5⅔ scoreless innings today, per Baseball Savant (https://t.co/G3D9JMgvFT)— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) August 2, 2020
In 2019, totaling 178⅓ innings, he threw 19 such pitches (https://t.co/GodEnpFmkj)
- What Jon says. Per Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts -- "A people too defiant for masks."
- FYI: Dodgers Option Tony Gonsolin, Recall Mitch White, via George Miller at MLB Trade Rumors.
- This mornings Baseball America Prospect Report makes note of both Tony Gonsolin and Edwin Rios:
—Tony Gonsolin made his first start Friday, pitching four shutout innings, allowing a hit, walking one and striking out one. The Dodgers No. 5 prospect sat 95-97 mph on his fastball while mixing in his plus-plus split-changeup, curveball and slider.—Dodgers No. 14 prospect Edwin Rios on Saturday hit his second home run in the team’s win over the Diamondbacks. The corner infielder has had trouble finding a spot in a crowded Dodgers lineup, but is hitting .273 with two home runs and four RBIs in 11 at-bats.
- Not that this really matters, but we're no. #1 here. Per ESPN -- "MLB Power Rankings: Our first impressions of all 30 teams."
Let's see, Clayton Kershaw made his first start on Sunday, Walker Buehler has made one abbreviated outing, MVP Cody Bellinger is off to a terrible start and didn't hit his first home run until Sunday, Joc Pederson and Justin Turner haven't homered, Will Smith is struggling ... and the Dodgers still have the best run differential in the majors.
- Via Jake Reiner at Dodgers LowDown -- "Inside The Clubhouse: Former Dodger Shawn Green Reveals The Genesis Of His Quirky Batting Glove Tradition."
“Vin Scully said on-air, ‘it must be something that the new guy does after home runs,’” Green recalled.Except it wasn’t something Green had always done. In fact, he had never done it before. Prior to being traded to the Dodgers for fellow outfielder Raul Mondesi and pitcher Pedro Borbón, Green spent seven years with the Toronto Blue Jays. He hit a total of 119 home runs for the Jays and threw zero pairs of batting gloves into the stands.
“It happened naturally, and whatever Vin says is gospel in L.A. and in sports,” Green said.
- Per Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider -- "The pride of Nayarit, Mexico, Victor González has made it to the big leagues."
“Thank God I have Julio,” González said....
“He would tell me I have a lot of potential to play good baseball. Now we’re together here on the same team,” González said. “It’s very emotional because he’s my best friend. It’s a big thing — very emotional to share this moment with him.”
- Dodgers are taking it seriously, via a tweet from Alanna Rizzo:
In case you’re wondering how serious the #Dodgers are taking the safety & health of everyone. They WANT to play this season. This is straight from @redturn2: pic.twitter.com/DJjDZCQsqf— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) August 1, 2020
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