TOKYO — After taking his remaining query within the Tokyo Dome press room Wednesday evening, his Dodgers having achieved all they hoped to throughout their season-opening collection in Japan, supervisor Dave Roberts grabbed the mic for one final unsolicited quote.
“Last thing I want to say is, to the city of Tokyo and the country of Japan, on behalf of the Dodgers and Major League Baseball, we just want to say thank you,” Roberts stated. “You guys were all such great hosts, and hopefully we put on a good show.”
The Dodgers actually did, each on the sector with a two-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs and off of it with their well-documented efforts to develop their fan base within the nation.
In each video games the overwhelming majority of followers wore Dodgers gear. On the streets of Tokyo, ads together with their largest star, Shohei Ohtani, dominated the panorama.
For a crew that’s making an attempt to defend its World Collection title and amplify its model on a world stage, it marked a profitable voyage. Now, because the Dodgers return residence for the remainder of their season, listed here are 4 takeaways on the place they stand.
Freeman, Betts anticipated again quickly
Maybe probably the most wonderful a part of the Dodgers’ 2-0 begin is that it got here with out Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman on the sector.
Betts was dominated out days earlier than the opener, despatched residence early Monday after shedding virtually 15 kilos whereas battling a abdomen virus. Freeman was a late scratch from the opening lineup due to rib discomfort and was held out once more Wednesday.
The Dodgers managed with out the 2 former most useful gamers, scoring 9 runs over the ultimate 14 innings. They’re anticipating the pair to be accessible as soon as the season resumes subsequent week with their March 27 residence opener in opposition to the Detroit Tigers.
In each instances Roberts stated the Dodgers wished to be aware of defending their star gamers early within the season. With Betts, crew medical doctors frightened in regards to the elevated threat of a comfortable tissue damage given his lingering dehydration and fatigue. With Freeman, the Dodgers wished to make sure that his rib difficulty — which is in the identical place he suffered torn cartilage final postseason — wouldn’t worsen earlier than they will absolutely look at him in Los Angeles this week.
“He lobbied hard, like he always does,” Roberts stated of Freeman, who went to the batting cage earlier than the sport earlier than being dominated out. “But ultimately, [he] conceded to myself and the training staff. It’s just too early in the season to potentially put him in harm’s way.”
Depth already shining
Given how a lot the Dodgers spent establishing an almost $400-million roster, it could have been troublesome for depth to be any form of concern.
Nonetheless, over two video games, the sheer quantity of expertise turned rapidly and abundantly clear.
With out Freeman, the Dodgers began Kiké Hernández at first base and watched him lead the crew with three RBIs, together with a key two-run homer Wednesday that put the finale out of attain. At shortstop, Miguel Rojas changed Betts along with his typical defensive excellence, highlighted by a sliding backhand play for the ultimate out Wednesday.
Elsewhere within the lineup, loads of different names chipped in. Michael Conforto had two hits, together with a double, in his first two video games as a Dodger. Andy Pages reached base in half of his at-bats from the No. 9 spot. Will Smith walked a staggering 5 instances whereas additionally recording two hits and an RBI. And Tommy Edman continued his slugging surge from late final season by whacking the primary residence run of the 12 months.
Bullpen’s first impression
Talking of depth, the pitching workers has that in spades — from a rotation that featured Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki impressing in Tokyo and possibly will flip to two-time Cy Younger winner Blake Snell and 2024 opening day starter Tyler Glasnow for subsequent week’s homestand, to a bullpen that dominated the Cubs with out utilizing any reliever twice.
Tuesday the Dodgers trotted out what must be their typical late-game mixture, with Blake Treinen pitching the eighth inning and offseason acquisition Tanner Scott getting his first Dodgers save within the ninth.
With the Dodgers staying away from repeat reduction appearances, the bullpen depth was on full show after Sasaki’s three-inning begin, with 5 pitchers combining for the ultimate six frames. That procession included Jack Dreyer, a left-hander making his MLB debut, Landon Knack, the breakout rookie from final season who served as a swingman this week earlier than being optioned to the minors after Wednesday’s sport, Kirby Yates, one other marquee signing, and Alex Vesia, who earned the save in lieu of Scott or Treinen.
A connection in Japan
Clayton Kershaw wasn’t capable of take part as he continues to get better from offseason toe and knee surgical procedure. Since he wasn’t on the 31-man journey roster, he needed to fly to Japan on his personal along with his household.
Nevertheless, the veteran pitcher and future Corridor of Famer was decided to be there. And as he packed within the clubhouse to return to Los Angeles on Wednesday evening, he was left struck by one thing he’d all the time identified however by no means seen.
“Just how much people love baseball here,” he stated. “I think that was something new. I knew they liked baseball, but I didn’t know the passion they have. It was just really cool to see.”
Way more postgame dialogue was centered on the ambiance raucous Japanese crowds created than the outcomes of the video games.
“It’s always cool to experience different baseball cultures,” Max Muncy stated. “They cheer all the good plays. When a ball gets hit hard, you hear the whole stadium go ‘Ooooooo!’ even if it’s just an out. They’re here to watch good baseball.”
“It’s great how it’s pitch silent while the home team is pitching, and then it’s just like a party when they’re hitting,” Hernández echoed, evaluating it to the thrill of Latin American baseball. “That’s my kind of party.”
“The passion and the engagement was amazing,” Rojas added. “And hopefully, the game is in a better place now than before we came here.”
