Dodgers News: Analyzing Three Takeaways from Game Two
By Evan Lovett
Final Thoughts
The season is a marathon, and to make any assumptions or proclamations after two days is irresponsible. But we are watching for trends – some positive, some negative. For the Dodgers, getting Logan Forsythe off to a hot start is a wonderful thing.
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Baseball is a game built on momentum and for him to get comfortable in the clubhouse and on the field, success plays a large part. Forsythe will be a major factor for the Dodgers in determining whether or not they can solve their Achilles’ heel of being able to hit left-handed pitching.
Day two was their first matchup with a left-hander, and though the overall verdict was “same as last year,” the fact that their two new acquisitions nabbed base hits is a net positive.
This is a new season and one game does not make a trend – but it is worth noting that this particular trend continues along a troubling line from 2016. They need to resolve this quickly before the entire story nags the offense in 2017.
Most troubling is the deeper look at Maeda’s performance and wondering if that second-half/playoff pitcher is really who he is. Based on the one start, that may be the case. For a pitcher like Maeda, there are only 32 chances to buck the trend and get back on track – that’s why each start is so important to analyze.
As the Dodgers head into the third game of the season, it is important to grab the series win and head into the more difficult part of their schedule with positive momentum. These three takeaways are minor in the perspective of the 162-game season, but each aspect plays a role in determining their long-term outlook.