GDT(1/2): LA Dodgers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks - Kershaw vs. Miley - 4:00 AM ET

[fatcowxlive]

http://i.imgur.com/cLU3Ryg.png

HD Stream!!!

 

Pitching Matchup:

 

http://i.imgur.com/uJg3SjD.png

SP - Clayton Kershaw (2013: 236.0 IP, 52 BB, 8.85 K/9, 1.98 BB/9, .192 BAA, .251 BABIP, 2.39 FIP) [L]

 

http://i.imgur.com/yBJRIYO.png

SP - Wade Miley (2013: 202.2 IP, 66 BB, 6.53 K/9, 2.93 BB/9, .259 BAA, .296 BABIP, 3.98 FIP) [L]

 

Lineups:

http://i.imgur.com/432I8d3.png

 

Dodgers Batting:

 

Team Batting:

http://i.imgur.com/F8PZSy8.png

 

Team Pitching:

http://i.imgur.com/0WlsNXM.png

 

Diamondbacks Batting:

 

Team Batting:

http://i.imgur.com/8ZYyOrh.png

 

Team Pitching:

http://i.imgur.com/0RyzYof.png

 

Notes:

 

MLB:

• No Important Notes Today.
  

 

Dodgers:

• Taking the mound for the Dodgers is none other than Mr. Consistency himself, Clayton Kershaw. It's his 4th consecutive season getting this honour - the most since Ramon Martinez. The 215 million dollar man has won two CY Young Awards in the past (2011 and 2013) and owns a 2.22 ERA in 17 career starts (105.1 innings) against the Arizona Diamondbacks and 116 strikeouts.
  
• Justin Turner has made the Dodgers cut as a non-roster invitee. The ex-Met managed to put up a slashline of .355/.447/.484 and have 5 walks to his 4 strikeouts in 16 games in the spring, along with great defence at both third base and second base. Dee Gordon, however, is expected to start against the righty Tim Cahill in the 10pm game.
  
• In the 19 meetings between the two teams, the Dodgers outscored the D-Backs 83-77.
  

 

Diamondbacks:

• Wade Miley was called to be the Opening Day starter in Australia against the Dodgers. Wade Miley was a highly touted player in the D-Backs system and backed the hype with a solid 2012 first-full-season campaign putting up a 3.33 ERA and a 3.15 FIP, good enough to give him a solid 4.4 fWAR. Last year though, it was a story about control; his walks-per-nine went up from a mere 1.71 BB/9 to a much worse 2.93 BB/9, and although his other telling stats (ex. K/9, BABIP, xFIP, etc.) stayed the same, his HR/9 went up from 0.65 to 0.93 HR/9. A positive is that he saw a 9% increase in groundballs. Regardless he's hoping his 2014 season can be a solid one, and his walks will be a determining factor. He's put up a 3.59 ERA against the Dodgers in 7 career starts, striking out 30 while walking only 12 in 47.2 innings pitched. (Also for the lolz he has a fear of flight, he actually is fearing the trip back already, poor dude).
  
• Addison Reid was announced officially that he won the closer position over ex-Arizona closer JJ Putz. Putz will fall back to 8th inning duties to start the season.
  
• In the 19 games between the two teams last year, the D-Backs edged out the Dodgers 10-9 to win the season series
  

 

2013 Standings:

 

http://i.imgur.com/MU3b9kh.png

 

Venue:

http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/photos/scg3.jpg

 

I hope you guys enjoy the 2014 Opening Series in Australia and the GDT! Please leave feedback and ideas/improvements for future GDTs!

[G-Snarls]

For once living in the AT zone is beneficial. I could get up at 6 and watch 2/3 of this.

[fatcowxlive]

f*** it. I think I'm gonna go to bed early and get up at 4 to watch this. I need my fix.

 

YES BTS!!!!!!!!!

 

z

[G-Snarls]

Would like to see how they converted this for baseball

[G-Snarls]

FCXL: remove the ST standings. This one is for real. Both teams are 0-0.

[fatcowxlive]

FCXL: remove the ST standings. This one is for real. Both teams are 0-0.

 

I put it there to reflect 2014 performance thus far . Do you want me to remove it?

[G-Snarls]

I actually sort of "get" cricket.

 

We have these Australian friends who taught us to play and these other fiends with a massive backyard along a river. We play cricket with the kids when they have summer parties. It's fun. And I've nailed people by hitting the wicket from a distance on several occasions. #BeastModeCricketStyle

[G-Snarls]

I put it there to reflect 2014 performance thus far . Do you want me to remove it?

 

Yes. So it feels like a real reg season game yo.

[ElNik2013]

I hope they give these people some exciting games, my sources tell me ticket prices are through the roof.

[G-Snarls]

I hope they give these people some exciting games, my sources tell me ticket prices are through the roof.

 

Cool. Cause right now baseball only seems to hold interest in US, Canada, a few Latin American countries, Japan and Korea. Not bad but more world interest would be nice.

[Boxcar]

f*** it. I think I'm gonna go to bed early and get up at 4 to watch this. I need my fix.

 

Me too. I work at 7am afterwards too, lol.

 

Just paid up for my MLB.tv sub! Woo hoo!

[fatcowxlive]

Me too. I work at 7am afterwards too, lol.

 

Just paid up for my MLB.tv sub! Woo hoo!

 

YES BOXY!!!!! The more the better!!! This is going to be one hell of a thread and game haha

[ElNik2013]

Should be a good show with Kershaw on the mound, though he probably won't go much higher than 90 pitches. Hopefully Miley keeps it close.

 

 

 

Hopefully Puig puts on a bit of a show....and I don't mean driving his toy cars...lol. I'm thinking one of the games could be a blowout for the Dodgers, unless Gibson ball takes over.

[John_Havok]

Cool. Cause right now baseball only seems to hold interest in US, Canada, a few Latin American countries, Japan and Korea. Not bad but more world interest would be nice.

 

There's an Australian winter league that's getting more popular every year. Some Jays minor leaguers went down this offseason.

[jaysfan2014]

Better hope Kershaw pitches a shutout.. the Dodgers are going to be hard pressed to score runs with that lineup. I mean, Justin Turner? Scott Van Slyke? Where's Kemp, Crawford, and a decent 2B?

[G-Snarls]

I don't think Greinke went with the team to Australia?

 

ESPN:

 

The opening series at the Sydney Cricket Ground was planned between Australian officials, MLB, the players association, the Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks. The teams open their seasons more than a week before the other MLB teams.

 

Zack Greinke recently said that there was "zero excitement" for the Dodgers' season opener against the Diamondbacks in Australia. Greinke, the Dodgers' No. 2 starter, presumably would pitch one of the games.

 

"I would say there is absolutely zero excitement for it. There just isn't any excitement to it," Greinke told ESPNLosAngeles.com. "I can't think of one reason to be excited for it."

 

The Dodgers responded to the uproar from Australia by explaining that the team, as a whole, is looking forward to the excursion.

 

"Zack has this endearing, contrarian quality to him that we all know and love about him," Dodgers president Stan Kasten said. "He's famously focused and meticulous about his training regimen. It's what makes him so good and such a great teammate. This is clearly going to alter his routine. I understand that aspect of it.

[G-Snarls]

MLB.com:

 

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Dodgers manager Don Mattingly reluctantly conceded Monday that injured pitcher Zack Greinke won't have a sufficient foundation of pitches to start in Australia later this month.

 

Greinke played catch Monday and reported improvement in his strained right calf, but Mattingly said Greinke's return to a mound remains unknown.

 

"From a standpoint of having 90 pitches, he won't be there," Mattingly said.

 

Greinke was injured four pitches into his first start on Thursday. The Dodgers leave for Australia on March 16, and Mattingly said Greinke needs to throw a bullpen session before he returns to game action, and he needs to have his arm strength built up to throw 90 pitches in order to start a regular-season game.

[ElNik2013]

ESPN:

 

The opening series at the Sydney Cricket Ground was planned between Australian officials, MLB, the players association, the Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks. The teams open their seasons more than a week before the other MLB teams.

 

Zack Greinke recently said that there was "zero excitement" for the Dodgers' season opener against the Diamondbacks in Australia. Greinke, the Dodgers' No. 2 starter, presumably would pitch one of the games.

 

"I would say there is absolutely zero excitement for it. There just isn't any excitement to it," Greinke told ESPNLosAngeles.com. "I can't think of one reason to be excited for it."

 

The Dodgers responded to the uproar from Australia by explaining that the team, as a whole, is looking forward to the excursion.

 

"Zack has this endearing, contrarian quality to him that we all know and love about him," Dodgers president Stan Kasten said. "He's famously focused and meticulous about his training regimen. It's what makes him so good and such a great teammate. This is clearly going to alter his routine. I understand that aspect of it.

 

 

 

LOL. Some on this board seem excited about it!

[G-Snarls]

Better hope Kershaw pitches a shutout.. the Dodgers are going to be hard pressed to score runs with that lineup. I mean, Justin Turner? Scott Van Slyke? Where's Kemp, Crawford, and a decent 2B?

 

LA Times:

 

While the Dodgers were preparing to land in Australia on Tuesday, back at Camelback Ranch some of the players they left behind were back at work Monday.

 

Right-hander Zack Greinke tested his sore calf, apparently without problem against a Class-A Padres team. He threw four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. The Dodgers said he used all his pitches, had one fielding play and covered first base on another. He threw 42 pitches, 32 for strikes.

 

Matt Kemp, recovering from foot surgery, is still trying to find his stroke. He went 0 for 3 with a pair of strikeouts and a walk. He played four innings in center field.

 

Carl Crawford, who remained behind on paternity leave, had a single in three at-bats. He also stole a base after reaching on an error. He played five innings in left field and reportedly ran well.

Brandon League and Dan Haren also remained behind, but neither pitched in the minor league game.

 

http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgersnow/la-sp-dn-zack-greinke-carl-crawford-matt-kemp-action-20140317,0,4470727.story#ixzz2wekk03GE

[G-Snarls]

Aust fans getting ripped off a bit by the missing star power

[G-Snarls]

@jonmorosi: Dodgers announce 25-man Opening Day roster, with Beckett, Billingsley and Kemp all on the DL. Figgins and Mike Baxter are on the team.

[aselvana]

for those that dont know, rogers is giving a free preview of mlbtv. pretty sick channel

[Dylan]

Baseball is back!!!

 

http://gifatron.com/wp-content/gallery/baseball-gifs-for-opening-day/ozzie_flip.gif

[fatcowxlive]

 

I'm hitting the bed, talk to you guys in about 4 hours!

[NorthOf49]

I think I'm going to go to bed now and wake up in four hours. Can't wait!

[Dylan]

Probably smart to get a few hours in now

[fireballW]

This will be the one time living in Asia helps, baseball-wise.

[Stangstag]

Who goes to sleep before baseball. Game will be over by 5am for me, just gives enough time to sleep before my 1pm class.

 

It starts at 4:00am here...

[over500]

Holy s***. Didn't even realize it was season opener.

[fireballW]

Oh great now I have a meeting at 4pm today. Game starts at.... 4pm my time. Ugh.