The star-studded Los Angeles Dodgers are today to ramp up their bid for a rare World Series repeat on the MLB’s day of aces, with two of the best opposing each other in California.
While it would be Opening Day for the Detroit Tigers, the Dodgers are beginning their domestic schedule after a pair of victories against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo last week.
The Dodgers are aiming to become the first team to successfully defend their MLB title since 2000, when the New York Yankees won the last of a hat-trick of Fall Classics following championships in 1998 and 1999.
Photo: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / USA Today
Another big moment today would be when the Dodgers receive their World Series rings during a pregame ceremony.
Already one of the most lavishly talented teams in baseball, with a fearsome batting lineup led by Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers face the Tigers in their home opener looking even more formidable.
National League Most Valuable Player (MVP) Ohtani returned from off-season shoulder surgery to hit a home run during the Japan Series. The two-way star is to return to the mound later this season after elbow surgery in 2023, leaving him to concentrate on his offense until at least May.
“I know Shohei puts his pants on just like we all do, one leg at a time, but if there’s ever a superhero, I think Shohei just seems like a superhero,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Ohtani homered in Japan. “In the biggest of games or the biggest of moments, he seems to always deliver.”
After defeating the Yankees 4-1 in their heavyweight World Series showdown last year, the Dodgers wasted no time in bolstering their pitching resources during the offseason with the acquisition of several elite arms.
Two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell was brought in on a five-year US$182 million contract, while the Dodgers also snagged the services of Roki Sasaki, the Japanese prodigy who would link up with compatriots Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Yet the Dodgers’ recruitment has not come without controversy. Several rival teams and commentators have complained that the deep-pocketed Californian giants are “ruining baseball.”
The Dodgers appear to be indifferent about the criticism.
“I don’t think anybody in the clubhouse cares — haters are going to hate, right?” new pitching recruit Yates said.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman — the MVP of last year’s World Series victory — said the team was reaping the rewards of its success on and off the field.
“I’ve been told about the ‘ruining baseball’ and all this,” Freeman said. “Like I’ve told you before, to be part of an organization that puts a contending team on the field year in and year out, and what I mean by that is fans are pouring their hard-earned money into us when they come to Dodger Stadium, and to see an organization put it back into the team, I think that’s why everyone is so happy.”
“There’s a buzz around here. There was a buzz last year when we got Shohei, and there is a major buzz here now,” he said. “That’s a testament to our organization, our fans, our front office. Players want to come here.
DOMINATION: McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris took the first two spots as Mercedes’ George Russell and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen followed them Australian Oscar Piastri yesterday roared back from season-opening disappointment in his home race by winning the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix from pole position in a McLaren one-two with championship-leading teammate Lando Norris. George Russell finished third for Mercedes, ahead of Red Bull’s reigning champion Max Verstappen with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Saturday’s sprint winner Lewis Hamilton fifth and sixth respectively. Piastri’s win denied Norris a third victory in a row, including last year’s Abu Dhabi season-ender, but left champions McLaren unbeaten in two races so far this year. “Mega job guys. The car was very, very lovely,” Piastri said
TO FINAL FOUR: France had 22 chances and scored two goals, while Croatia could not manage a single shot on target in 120 minutes. Les Bleus won 5-4 on penalties France on Sunday overturned a two-goal deficit to qualify for the UEFA Nations League Final Four by eliminating Croatia 5-4 on penalties after a 2-0 victory in their quarter-final second leg at the Stade de France. Dayot Upamecano scored the winning spot kick in a nail-biting shootout in which France keeper Mike Maignan made two saves, sending Les Bleus into the semi-finals against Spain. Michael Olise opened the scoring and Ousmane Dembele doubled their lead 10 minutes from time to send the tie into extra time after their 2-0 loss in Split, Croatia, on Thursday. France had a total of
BRING THE NOISE: Brazil’s Fonseca attracted a boisterous crowd that brought such dominant soccer-style energy the referee switched to Portuguese to ask for quiet Australia’s Alex de Minaur on Monday put an end to Brazilian talent Joao Fonseca’s challenge at the Miami Open, outlasting the 18-year-old 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 in an enthralling contest. Attendance on stadium court had been sparse throughout the day, but the Hard Rock Stadium turned into a mini-Maracana Stadium for Fonseca’s match, complete with Brazilian flags and soccer-style chanting. Fonseca brought his energetic brand of ultra-attacking tennis, but De Minaur was up to the challenge, coping with blistering forehands and a partisan crowd. Such was the dominance of Fonseca’s raucous support that the referee switched to Portuguese for his appeals for quiet. However, De
The famously raucous Hong Kong Sevens are to start today in a big test for a shiny new stadium at the heart of a major US$3.85 billion sports park in the territory. Officials are keeping their fingers crossed that the premier event in Hong Kong’s sporting and social calendar goes off without a hitch at the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium. They hope to entice major European soccer teams to visit in the next few months, with reports in December last year saying that Liverpool were in talks about a pre-season tour. Coldplay are to perform there next month, all part of Hong Kong’s
RSS