This is a Big-Time Offense
Joe Davis, the 29-year old replacing Vin Scully in the broadcast booth, spoke of today’s “Opening Day offensive display for the Dodgers” – and what a display it was, as the club broke loose for 14 runs on 14 hits, including at least one run and hit from every starter.
When the lineup was set, there was a moderate surprise. Second baseman Logan Forsythe, acquired to be the leadoff man, was slotted fifth as rookie-eligible left fielder Andrew Toles batted first. Toles, perhaps ticketed for AAA Oklahoma City until Andre Ethier’s herniated disc, picked up where he left off in 2016, slapping two hits.
The right-handed hitting Forsythe was moved to fifth to break up the lefty-heavy power duo of Adrian Gonzalez and Joc Pederson. Forsythe did the job, scoring two runs and notching a single.
Gonzalez allayed concerns about his balky elbow with an opposite field double, two walks and two runs scored. Pederson, continuing his upward trend, broke the game open in the third, tomahawking a high fastball from San Diego starter Jhoulys Chacín for a Grand Slam on his way to a five-RBI day.
Joc Pederson Grand Slam pic.twitter.com/RS05O6IKhi
— Brent Johnson (@Bj1Brent) April 3, 2017
More big noise came from Justin Turner and Yasmani Grandal. Third baseman Turner, signed to the big contract in the offseason (four years, $64 million), lashed three hits including a 105-mph screamer for a double. Grandal, the most underrated backstop in the league, launched two home runs, becoming only the third player in Major League Baseball history to homer from both sides of the plate on Opening Day.
Not to be outdone, 2016 Rookie of the Year and MVP finalist Corey Seager scorched a home run of his own in the fifth inning, one of two hits that led to three RBI on the day.
This is a big-time offense and contains exactly zero holes. The depth is outstanding, and the consistency of talent 1-8 ensures that the inevitable slumps will be offset by other hitter’s hot streaks. Other hitters, perhaps, like Yasiel Puig. . .