Ten Takes On The Dodgers’ Spring Training Opener

Today the Los Angeles Dodgers opened their Spring Training Cactus League schedule with a 6-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox. While nobody likes to lose the first game of any schedule, it was a fun day for the Dodger Nation as the Boys in Blue finally took the field after a long winter’s layoff. Here are my ten take-away’s from today’s game:

1. Charlie Steiner is finally beginning to settle in with me as the television voice of the Dodgers. Sure, Vin Scully still occupies spot numero uno, but when Vinny isn’t behind the mike, we get Steiner. After some resistance, I’m becoming much more accepting of good ol’ Charlie bringing me the ballgame.

2. I’m still reserving some resistance for Rick Monday, though. Sometimes Monday’s slow-drawl, hound dog voice just bores me to tears – but I do appreciate when he brings the player’s point of view into the broadcast.

3. My out-on-a-limb prediction: Andre Ethier‘s woulda-coulda-shoulda, center field catch that popped out of his glove in the 3rd will either haunt or inspire the rest of his Spring Training.

4. It’s amazing the way a Dodgers baseball game immediately soothes me and how easily I can slip into mid-season form even if it’s just the first game of the year.

5. Pitch clocks suck. Even if it is only the Spring.

6. The kids came up big in today’s game. O’Koyea Dickson homered, Joc Pederson got two hits and scored a run, and Corey Seager smacked a big hit during a rally in the bottom of the 9th.

7. Watching the game from the outfield grassy knoll seems like one of the top three ways to spend an afternoon.

8. Joc Pederson had a great first day as the Dodgers’ DH. He had a walk, a single, a long double off the outfield wall, and he scored a run. Every time Pederson gets a hit, Andre Ethier’s Dodger career shrinks.

9. Did I hear Charlie Steiner make a reference to “shucking and jiving”?????

10. I sure wish I was there.

Welcome back, Dodger Baseball. We missed you!