The Dodgers’ payroll is $271 million, spending $50 million on players who aren’t on their roster. That total is more than double what the Reds are spending ($115 million). One view of that gap is that payroll spending isn’t correlated much with winning. The other view is that the difference of $156 million would pay for six $25 million players. Joey Votto is making $14 million this year.
Reds 3 Dodgers 5 | FanGraphs | The future, Mr. Gittes, the future.
John Lamb, who went to high school 50 miles from Dodger Stadium, looked good the first four innings. He gave up one walk – to the Dodgers’ pitcher – and struck out six. He regularly had the L.A. hitters off balance.
The fifth inning was Lamb’s undoing, although he got a little unlucky with Justin Turner’s bloop single that would have ended the inning if caught. It landed about ten feet from Marlon Byrd. A faster LF would have caught it. Lamb rebounded in the sixth, retiring L.A. in order and finishing his six innings with his seventh strikeout. A positive debut.
Joey Votto had his knuckles aligned tonight, knocking in all three Reds runs with a double and home run. It was the first homer Alex Wood had given up to a left-handed hitter this year.
Brayan Peña made an athletic play (video) fielding a botched bunt attempt in the air and firing the ball to first base for a double play. Peña also threw out two Dodgers at second base attempting to steal.
Eugenio Suarez had one hit and two walks. The walks were a good sign since Suarez has been poor in that area so far. The Reds shortstop was on base for Votto’s double and home run.
Todd Frazier and Jay Bruce were a combined 0 for 8.