Padilla in Pittsburgh, Kershaw at the home opener…
Word is out now, but in case you check here before anywhere else, Vicente Padilla will start us off in Pittsburgh on April 5 and Clayton Kershaw will be the starter at the home opener on April 13 against the D’backs.
Joe Torre’s reasoning: “We just decided to line them up that way.”
That means the second game will be Kershaw in Pittsburgh, then Billingsley and then Kuroda.
More from Joe: “We have 4 guys you could put their names in a hat. I had no problem with Clayton starting the Home Opener.”
Meanwhile, if you didn’t see the Dodgers Media Network piece on Clayton and his boyhood friend, Matthew Stafford, check it out here.
Inside the Dodgers 
Brilliant surprise on Joe’s part! Lead with the unexpected.
We may even see Johnson in LF and Anderson in center, and, of course, Carroll at second. The Pirates will surely be unprepared for such a move.
I, of course, don’t have anything against Padilla. We need him to pitch like a #1 starter in order to bring this season off.
And maybe Frank and Jamie can sit together in the owners box on opening day at DS.
Good move. A hard nosed veteran to start the party and show the way, leaving the Kid to start the home opener.
I like it! The vet on the road and the kid at home! I am so looking forward to Opening Day at Dodger Stadium! I’ll be there with bells on! lol. Is going to be hard to work on that day since I can’t listen to anything at work but I can read so I’ll be looking for game threads!
Emma
http://crzblue.mlblogs.com
I don’t care who the opening day starter is, as long as we win the game.
I always thought that being opening day starter wherever you open was an honor generally bestowed upon (A) being the staff ace, (B) Having been longest service record with the team, or (C) Be deserving of the assignment by pitching head and shoulders above the rest in ST.
Congratulations Joe, you missed on all three.
Jeez that sucked gramatically. I must be overworked and underpaid…
Enchanted ~ your statement was just fine. But, for me, knowing, Joe, I expected him to do just what he did. He has no respect for Billz or Kersh.
Hi everybody
Good outing for Towers after a shaking start.
Missed the top of the first thanks to MLB.TV
I spoke too soon, I forgot that the starters are going deeper in games.
I felt that the opening day starter would be a tossup, so no surprise here.
I am not reading too much into the starter but I am glad that I get to see Kershaw at home!
Is going to be a great home opener! I can feel it! I was remembering when Fernando started the home opener in 1981. I still have my ticket (first game as a season ticket holder) from that opener.
Emma
http://crzblue.mlblogs.com
Ethier, Manny, Loney, Blake & Anderson, the way it order be.
Emma , that’s a great ticket to have.
enchanted – You need to tell your boss you need some time off or if you can’t get time off, at least ask for a raise. However, let me remind you, you are your own boss. BTW- the sentence was all good – LOL!!!
OBF,
Back then, they gave us special ticket for the Opener.
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When they had the 1980 decade luncheon celebration, i was going to have Fernando sign it. I was inline for the guys to sign different stuff (old Union 76 pictures from back then) then just a couple of feet away, Fernando gets up and leaves. We were told that he was leaving to prepare for the night game. BUT Monday was still there and he had to broadcast at night too! I gave it to Ron Cey to sign instead.
I’m happy with Kershaw getting the home start. I’m happy for Padilla too, even he sounded surprised at getting the Opening Day start.
Guess the only reasons the others might not have gotten it might be they wanted Kershaw to start at home (Torre mentioned it as a possibility back at the beginning of Spring Training), they don’t want to pressure Billingsley (if he’s stronger than last year, I think he could’ve handled it), and even with the strong 5.1 inning start last night, they might still be concerned with Kuroda’s consistency (I think he has the potential to have the best year he’s had with the club this season).
With Padilla, I’m sure Torre’s remembering his strong performance last October (until the last one). With all the talk of L.A. only having #2-5’s on their team throughout the media and ‘net, not sure any one pitcher could’ve impressed everybody / disappoint nobody around the news/’net.
Looking forward to that game in Pittsburgh. They’re starting Zack Duke, and I like our chances.
lol enchanted C option do you really want Ramon Ortiz to start game 1?
I knew Kershaw was going to start at home no surprise here.
I really hope Martin isn’t rushing thing.
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100325&content_id=8935282&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la
Good Morning ITD’erssssss!
I think KERSHAW will be great. The kid had tough games last season and starting out the season will be a BIG-HUGE test for him. HE CAN DO IT!
D12: Nomo among worst opening day starters of last 50 years.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/D12-Nomo-among-worst-opening-day-starters-of-la;_ylt=AuUIxFRIfoO2m5NkMamM2fOFCLcF?urn=mlb,230389
After Kentucky winning last night this had to happen in that state.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100326/ap_on_re_us/us_kentucky_fatal_crash#
SDT,
Oh I remember so well that Opening day in 2004 where Nomo got pounded! My friends and I sat in the right field pavilion that day. That was the day we met the guy Pinto that sits around there. Everyone knows Pinto. I’ve run into him at the phone booth park.
Emma
http://crzblue.mlblogs.com
There’s a really nice article about Andre in the OC Register today. Sorry, I don’t know how to copy/paste the links 😦
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BTW, he and Maggie are expecting again.
Hi Everybody
Nice to see Manny lean into one.
Hi, OBF ~ forgot to turn game on today….are we winning?
Nice choice for opening day starter there Joe. We’re just lucky Pittsburgh’s not the powerhouse that Kansas City is.
This will be my last day at age 71.
No.
Losing 7-3.
Obviously Padilla could not control his excitement at being named opening day pitcher and lost his concentration today. It happens.
Seriously, I don’t see anything wrong with setting things up for Kershaw to start the home opener. The weather should be better and he will already have a game under his belt. These guys all know what they need to do. No one on this staff “deserves” anything and I don’t think Joe’s choice has anything to do with lack of respect for anyone on this staff. I am sure he is hoping for the same thing we all hope: Bills gets it together, Kershaw continues to develope into the dominating pitcher we all think he can be and everyone stays healthy. The offense has to do its part and take some of the pressure off the pitching staff by driving in runs and limiting leaving guys on base in scoring position.
Make that 6-3, Kansas City.
Wow, it’s your birthday tomorrow, Olbrooklyn fan! Have great day and enjoy!
6-4 KC. Happy Birthday, OBF.
Happy b’day OBF.
Happy Birthday Brooklyn!!
Thanks all
Is this the same Saint Mary that Ethier went to? They playing Baylor and getting their butt kick.
Well, Oldbrooklynfan, we have to do it all over again tomorrow, when it’s official 🙂
Dang 72 wow hapyp bday OBF.
oops *happy
I hope we win tomorrow.
Joe,
Happy last day of #71!
and
Happy 72nd birthday!
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Manny Mota was also born in 1938 (Feb 18)
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Have a great Birthday Joe!
Emma
http://crzblue.mlblogs.com
Happy Birthday Oldbrooklynfan
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Enjoy your day tomorrow!!
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GO DODGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shad, the St. Mary’s Ethier went to is a high school in Arizona. The St. Mary’s in the NCAA is a college in the Bay Area in California.
Happy Birthday, OBF!!!!…. I don’t have any problem with Padilla as the Opening Day starter. I realize that there’s a certain amount of ceremony and cachet to the Opening Day start and it’s usually reserved for a staff ace but we don’t really have a clear cut ace at this point. Someone on Dodger Thoughts made the point that Torre may be trying to give Padilla a vote of confidence by giving him the start. There might be some truth in that. Bottom line, it’s 1 of 162 and, as long as we win, who cares who pitches. GO DODGERS!!!!!
I thought so would’ve been weird if he did go to St. Mary college and transfer to Arizona St.
I would like to wish two of our beloved ITDers a very Happy Birthday………..
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JHALL AND OLDBROOKLYNFAN!!!!!!!!
Have a wonderful day and best wishes always!!!!!!
Can’t go to bed without wishing a very Happy Birthday to two of the best Dodger Fans in the USA!
Pierreeastmeetswest and jhall, may you have one of the best birthdays you’ve ever had! God Bless you both!
Sell the team, Freak, er, Frank.
Glad you made it home safely too :)) BTW – you were comment #48………….coincidence – I think not!!!!
……………….and we were right. ITDFST is up to 50 minutes :))
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JHALL AND OLDBROOKLYNFAN !!!!!!! Have a great day and a wonderful year!!!!!!!!
Happy Birthday Jhall…………Enjoy your day…You too, OBF!!
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GO DODGERS!!!!
Good day to everybody!
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I just wanted to say Happy Birthday to OBF & JHall!
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I hope you both have a great day & a truly blessed year!
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Take care everybody…
This will work well in my opinion. Padilla needs to establish himself in this rotation righ away. Billingsley, Kuroda, and Kershaw could have all started the 1st game, but Torre is taking the pressure off of them, and the white-hot game 1 spotlight. Padilla is not going to be affected like the other starters would in a game 1 situation. Torre is doing a very smart thing here, and managing his pitching staff from game one. No regrets… Let’s get this season going.