The Homerun Derby

The Los Angeles Dodgers had a homerun derby yesterday against the Arizona Diamondbacks pitching yesterday in their home opener. The Dodgers set a Major League record with eight homeruns on opening day and won going away 12-5. Joc Pederson and Kike Hernandez hit two homeruns a piece to lead the way and Corey Seager hit a homerun in his first game action since last April 29. Max Muncy, Cody Bellinger, and Austin Barnes also homered.

Joc Pederson put on the most impressive display as he showed power to all fields. A double to left, a homerun to centerfield, and a monster shot to right showcased his different approach at the plate. The results were impressive.

Hyun Jin-Ryu put on an impressive pitching display giving up only one run in six innings. He located his fastball well and mixed in a slider and a curveball to keep the Diamondbacks hitters off balance. Ryu got bumped to the from of the rotation because of the injuries to Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler.

The least impressive aspect of the Dodgers win over the Diamondbacks was their middle relievers, Yimi Garcia and Brock Stewart. They gave up a combined four runs in three innings of work. They were the last two pitchers to make the pitching staff and it is good to have a ten run lead in the late innings of a game.

Yasiel Puig's Hot Start

Yasiel Puig has hit three homeruns in the Los Angeles Dodgers first five games and this was the kind of start he needed to the 2017 season. Maybe this is the season that Yasiel Puig puts it all together and realizes his vast potential for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Puig has always had the potential to be a five tool player but it is that unrecognized sixth tool- his attitude- that has always held him back. This sixth tool is what has been tempting the Dodgers to trade Puig since the middle of last season and he was at the center of a lot of trade rumors in Spring Training. The Dodgers never received a solid trade offer, all based on Puig's potential.

All Los Angeles Dodger fans know that Puig in only an implosion away from being benched, back in the minors, or traded. As a Dodgers fan, when Puig's head is in the game, he is one of the most exciting players in the game. When his head is not in the game and he is not running out ground balls, forgetting how many outs there are, or unleashing a wild throw from the outfield, as a fan it can be very frustrating.

Here is hoping Puig puts it all together this season, becomes a 30/30 player and leads the Dodgers to the World Series, where he leads them to the title.

Late To The Game

The Los Angeles Dodgers already have three spring training games under their belt and this year's camp is shaping up to be a very quiet one. Barring any injuries, the roster seems just about set with the exception of a utility position in the infield and one in the outfield and maybe a middle relief position or two. I do not foresee any rookies making the roster to begin the season but Alex Verdugo and Cody Bellinger's power have already been on display and gives a good glimpse into the Dodgers future.

Chemistry

In today's statistic-crazed baseball world, the statistics whizzes have yet to come up with a method in which to measure team chemistry. The Dodgers traded an important ingredient in that team chemistry yesterday when they traded backup catcher A.J. Ellis to the Philadelphia Phillies for backup catcher Carlos Ruiz. Ellis statistics have dropped off the past several seasons, hitting below the Mendoza line in two of the past three seasons, but his value to the team cannot be measured. He was drafted by the Dodgers out of Austin Peay State University in the 18th round in 2003 and this was his sixth season at the major league level.

Ellis was one of ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw's best friends on the team and I was stunned when I first saw the report that the Dodgers had traded Ellis. Baseball is a business but there are role players on every team that are revered for being great teammates and great for team chemistry.

The trade made good baseball sense. Ruiz brings a lot more to the plate offensively and the Dodgers have struggled from the right side of the plate this season. The San Francisco Giants are stacked with left handed starters and Andrew Friedman made a move that would help the team out as they go for the National League West title.

A Curtain Call On The Road

Los Angeles Dodgers fans and baseball fans got to see a rarity last night and that is a visiting player getting a curtain call. Former Philadelphia Phillies second baseman and current Los Angeles Dodger Chase Utley received a standing ovation that lasted for over a minute when he made his first plate appearance. He later homered and he received his first curtain call. Utley finished his return to Philly with a grand slam and received his final curtain call. The grand slam was the big blow in a 15-5 Dodgers victory and also helped the Dodgers take sole possession of first place in the National League West over the San Francisco Giants.

Philadelphia fans often get a bad rap as being extremely harsh and quite often a brutal environment for opposing teams but Philadelphia fans are very knowledgeable about their sports and they love their sports heroes. Utley spent his first 12 seasons in Philadelphia before being traded to the Dodgers last season. This curtain call was in recognition for his 12 seasons spent in a Phillies uniform.

The Trade That Didn't Happen

The Los Angeles Dodgers didn't make a splash at the major league baseball trade deadline; they barely caused a ripple. The got starting pitcher Rich Hill (who was even on the Disabled List because of a blister problem) and outfielder Josh Reddick from the Oakland A's and relief pitcher got relief pitcher Josh Fields from the Houston Astros and Jesse Chavez from the Toronto Blue Jays. All of these players were acquired for minor league players and the Dodgers did not have to empty out their farm system of the best prospects.

The biggest news on this day was that the Dodgers finally took a hardline stance with Yasiel Puig. When the Dodgers could not package Puig in a trade deal, the Dodgers decided to option Puig to AAA Oklahoma City. Puig is not having the worst statistical season of the Dodgers outfielders but Puig has always been cursed with a world of potential but appears disinterested most of the time and has spent his fair share of games on the bench with nagging injuries. The trade for Reddick, Enrique Hernandez and Scott Van Slyke making it back from injuries, and with Trayce Thompson due back soon made Puig dispensable. Puig may have finally wore out his welcome with the Dodgers and may have taken his last at bat with the Dodgers.

A.J. "Speedy" Ellis

Baseball keeps statistics for everything. They have lists for the greatest and the worst and everything in between. Catcher A.J. Ellis of the Los Angeles Dodgers stole his first career base against the Tampa Bay Rays in yesterday's 3-1 loss. Ellis had gone 1,904 plate appearances and 1,605 at bats without a stolen base. That was the fifth most in major league baseball history without stealing a base. It was a clean steal too. Ellis had a great jump and the throw went through into centerfield but I think he nay have had that base stolen. Manager Dave Roberts has obviously been working with Ellis on his stolen base technique. Bob Uecker always trumpeted the fact that he never stole a base but he only had 731 at bats in his career. You have to love statistics like those.