The Cubs and Dodgers kicked off the MLB season in style, in the Tokyo Dome, on Monday morning at about 5:10am CST. Not quite the same as Wrigley, but it’ll do.
You know I got up early to watch. I’m typically up about 6am; what’s another hour? Well, I was feeling it later in the day, let me tell you. Was it worth it? The Cubs lost, but who cares; it was the first game of the 2025 season… I didn’t want to miss that. Out of 162 games, I will miss some, no doubt about it… but the first one??? OK, let’s get to the game itself.
The Cubs jumped out to a 1-0 thanks to a Miguel Amaya double into the gap; he would have been one of the last guys I thought would be responsible for the first ribbie of the year. Nice hit Miguel! The lead was short lived. For some reason, Counsell pulled Shota from the game after 4 innings pitched. The guy only had 69 pitches!!! I know this is the first game of the season, but this is getting a bit ridiculous. Shota hadn’t even given up a hit yet! Sure, he walked 4 guys, which lead to an increased pitch count, but for the love of God… he couldn’t go at least 5 innings?!?! Ben Brown came in to pitch the 5th inning, and promptly gave up 3 runs; he was “helped” by a throwing error by Berti, which I missed; I must have jumped in the shower at that point. Meanwhile, the Cubs managed to scratch across exactly 0 hits in the final 6 innings; you know what they say about first impressions. It is the Dodgers though… minus Mookie and Freddie btw.
When we jumped in the car to take my son to school, it was the 9th inning; Tanner Scott was in to close the game for the Dodgers. My son said “The Dodgers have him too?!?!”… Yes son, the Dodgers have everybody… haha. I guess I could be mad at that, and the whole way the MLB structure is setup between the haves and have nots… OR I can be mad at the fact the Cubs, who are in the haves category btw, have chosen to do just above the minimum again. You make the call.
I know it’s only 1 game, and yes, there are 161 to go, and maybe I’m just cranky because I got up early to watch this debacle, and maybe pissed because I threw a couple bucks on it, because you know, it was the first MLB game of the year, but man… if this is what we have to look forward to… Don’t get me wrong; Shota was great. I’m sure Counsell will let him throw more than 69 pitches in future starts. He may not run him out there to complete the no hitter (hate that shit), but he’ll keep him in… to at least 90. Based on the bullpen’s first performance, he’ll need to keep him in there longer. Based on the offense’s performance, will it matter? OK, it’s one game… it’s one game…
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