The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks will open the Major League Baseball season at the Sydney Cricket Ground tonight. Join us here from 7.30 for live commentary, scores and a chance to have your say on the action.
It’s been 100 years since the Chicago White Sox played the New York Giants at the SCG. A lot has changed since then – including the Giants moving to San Francisco. Tonight the wait for another Major League Baseball game is over.
A fair amount of Sydney’s attention has been diverted toward these matches over the last week. There’s a real curiosity about America’s original pasttime and whether it can translate into the Sydney landscape.
A lot of the media focus about baseball has been seen through the prism of cricket and the similarities. Indeed there are some, not just on the field. Their place in culture is similar too.
It’s a summer sport with the requisite breathers and run time to allow for hours spent in the sun (or under lights) with mates while the subtle, yet superhuman, skills are on display.
Just as Sydney-siders used to rush out after work or on the weekend to see Don Bradman do unimaginable things, so too did New Yorkers look forward to the exploits of their Babe Ruth. We have a ritual of switching the radio to hear ABC cover the cricket on long drives during the warmer months and Los Anglenos have been listening to Vin Scully call baseball games since the dawn of time.
Tonight a new generation of stars will bring that experience to Sydney.
Much has been made of Clayton Kershaw, the $200 million man. And fair enough. His contract would just about fund the entire Super Rugby salary base, the A-League too. However keep an eye out for Yasiel Puig, the dashing young man from Cuba who burst into the Majors last year. He’s a truly stupifying talent.
On the Diamondbacks side, Paul Goldschmidt has been lighting up the league since taking over as the every day first baseman.
Mark Trumbo is also an exciting outfielder and hasn’t been around for too long.
If you feel on the outside looking in when it comes to baseball tonight, try to focus intently on the pitching. As with cricket – again a parallel – the key to the game is understanding the nuances of the men trying to get the ball past the bat. Seam variations, speed changes and discrete misdirection is the key to this game.
Don’t forget to log on here from 7.30 to get all the action, live updates, scores and comments.
Realist
Guest
Perhaps I am too quick to judge. Even as a newbie to the sport I can see the pitcher uses subtle changes to deceive the batter. Only it is the batter pitcher and keeper that could possibly note these subtleties. Can't imagine being able to appreciate this game sitting in an 80,000 seat stadium. Even on tv it's blink and you will miss it. I suppose the love of the game develops from being exposed to it as a child
Elisha Pearce
Expert
I spose the game is a bit more about making the ball miss the bat than you expected. Appreciating good pitching goes a long way to appreciating baseball.
Ben Carter
Roar Guru
Hi all - watched from innings 4 onward on GEM. Terrific stuff. Never saw the opening titles/anchors etc but to have the real MLB commentators was a plus, and it all seemed presented just as it would be over in the US. Not too many superfluous comparisons with the cricket, etc, etc. And it looked to me like the D-Backs' late-game pitching simply was too inconsistent for the task tonight. But an enjoyable lounge-chair experience. Well done to the organisers :-)
Elisha Pearce
Expert
Yeo. Ill be there tomorrow. Ive gotta run now cause theres train trackwork to overcome on the way home. But tomorrow ill prob stick around for press conference too.
Tom Marlowe
Guest
I hope you are reporting on the game tomorrow. My niece works for the D-Backs and is in Sydney now for the games. I was at Dodger Stadium in LA a few days ago and everyone was excited about the opener in Australia. Hope to get back there again before too long.
Realist
Guest
I tried to watch this game on tv. First 30mins there was one bat on ball. The most boring spectator sport I have ever witnessed. What is with Americans and their obsession with dour sports. Gridiron is the same with all their stoppages. They are kidding themselves wasting time and money trying to grow these sports internationally
Elisha Pearce
Expert
If we did that your face would need to match the photo of me on the pass. I wouldnt wish that upon anyone!
Elisha Pearce
Expert
No problems mate. Saw a fair bit of Japanese media today. You should have some reiviews ro read tomorrow.
Tom Marlowe
Guest
I have really enjoyed the commentary here in Tokyo. Thanks a lot.
Elisha Pearce
Expert
Adam
Roar Guru
Good call Elisha thanks for the live blog. Feel free to give me tour tickets for tomorrows game, your view looked pretty sweet
Elisha Pearce
Expert
The Los Angeles Dodgers 3, have beaten the Arizona Diamondbacks 1 in the opening match of the 2013 MLB season at the SCG.
Elisha Pearce
Expert
Grounded back to the pitcher and he jogs to first to END THE GAME!
Elisha Pearce
Expert
Owings sprinter for a steal but the foul went back over the net...
Elisha Pearce
Expert
Walk! Ball down low again and the possible tie run is at the plate! Parra it is...
Elisha Pearce
Expert
Fouled up into the second tier.
Elisha Pearce
Expert
Watched and called ball down low...
Elisha Pearce
Expert
Then a ball.
Elisha Pearce
Expert
1 and 1 on Ownings.
Elisha Pearce
Expert
Hit into the ground. Bounces out to Ramirez at SS and he throws to 1st for the out. 2 down One away from a Dodgers win tonight.