It’s likely safe to say that Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has heard enough of the mocking tone used to describe the Dodgers’ offseason approach of acquiring “depth.”
Then again, after a 15-0 win against the San Diego Padres on Opening Day — largely powered by that “depth” — maybe Friedman is in so good of a mood that nothing could irritate him.
Despite setting a Major League Baseball record for most players on the disabled list on Opening Day (10) — including their presumed starting second baseman, left fielder, catcher and four rotation-caliber starting pitchers — the Dodgers cruised to yet another record: largest Opening Day shutout in MLB history.
And it was all behind the depth. It was Chase Utley starting things off at the top of the lineup with arguably his best game as a Dodger.
It was three RBIs from backup catcher AJ Ellis. It was two runs and an RBI from the team’s No. 7 outfielder, Trayce Thompson. Something about all that had to make Friedman feel pretty good.
Almost as good as the feeling he probably got when he began to imagine what this team will look like once everyone gets healthy. The same depth will remain intact, but with Andre Ethier, Yasmani Grandal Howie Kendrick back in the middle of the lineup.
Yes, it was just one game. But it’s also the only game we have to look at, and so from a narrative perspective, Opening Day is always important. (Not that narratives are important, but they’re a reality).
The Dodgers won and they won big, but better yet, they won exactly according to plan: with depth.
Now, on to game No. 2.
