When you look at the box score of Korean superstar pitcher Hyun-jin Ryu’s MLB debut it appears that he pitched exceptionally well, but if you watched the game live on TV or in person, you realize that the eventual 3-0 loss could have very easily been a lot worse.

Hyun-jin Ryu’s first MLB pitch (it was a ball).
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Were it not for the four double plays turned by the Dodger infield (including one that was nearly a rare 5-4-3- triple play), the game could have been a complete blowout. Simply put, the 26-year-old left-hander didn’t really fool anyone. He allowed 3 runs (albeit only one earned), but gave up an alarming ten hits in his 6.1 innings of work. He even allowed a single and a two-run fielders choice error to his counterpart Madison Bumgarner, who went 1 for 3 with an RBI.

All things considered, Ryu didn’t pitch all that bad and his change-up was as advertised, helping him collect 5 strikeouts and a very impressive 8 to 1 ground-out to fly-out ratio. In fact, had the Dodgers been able to mount even a slight offensive attack, Ryu very well could have won the game – something that did not go unnoticed by fans who gave him a loud ovation when Dodger manager Don Mattingly lifted him with one out in the 7th inning (with runners at second and third).

Unfortunately, both of those runners scored on the aforementioned Bumgarner fielders choice when Dodger shortstop Justin Sellers’ unloaded a wild throw to the plate that missed A.J. Ellis by a wide margin. But here again, the Giants were already ahead by a score of 1-0, so the game was basically already over with due to Madison Bumgarner’s stellar Kershaw-like pitching performance. Bumgarner allowed no runs on 2 hits while striking out 8 and allowing no walks in his 8 innings of work.

The boos that Ryu received were the result of his hitting, of all things.

Having personally witnessed Ryu take hours of batting practice during spring training, it was blatantly obvious that he had never had a single at bat during his 7-year professional career in Korea (which uses the designated hitter rule). However, as spring training wore on, he actually began hitting the ball rather well and, in fact, collected a base hit during one of his spring training games. And while you might think that Ryu wouldn’t stand a chance against a pitcher of Bumgarner’s caliber, he put the ball in play in both of his at bats. Where things got ugly was when he hit a slow roller that Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval had to charge and field barehanded and then make an off-balance throw to first. The problem was that Ryu was slowly jogging (if you can even call it that) and turned what should have been a close play into an embarrassing laugher – although it wasn’t funny at all being that the Dodgers had collected only one hit at the time and were training by a 1-0 score.

Now certainly the 45,431 fans in attendance didn’t have high expectations of Ryu’s batting skills and most were surprised that he even made contact in both of his plate appearance, but his pathetic jog to first base was extremely unprofessional and projected an “I don’t give a damn” attitude – something that I hope that Don Mattingly, Mark McGwire and Davey Lopes did not let pass without comment. I will admit that I was absolutely furious at Ryu for this bush-league stunt and even considered joining in on the boos, but I refrained from doing so and instead uttered an expletive under my breath (I think).

Putting Ryu’s lapse in judgement aside and, as previously noted, he pitched quite well – especially when you consider that he was undoubtedly quite nervous in his MLB debut; and there is little doubt that he will have a great season if he remains healthy. I just hope that we have seen the last of Ryu’s apathy and that he becomes more of a team player.

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April 2, 2013 game notes

• While many are calling for Justin Sellers’ head for his two throwing errors in Tuesday night’s game, they are overlooking the fact that he was involved in two of the four double plays turned by the Dodgers. And while Sellers is the only Dodger regular who has yet to collect his first hit of the young season, he is still the best defensive option for the Dodgers at shortstop.
• Adrian Gonzalez’s 16-game hitting streak came to an end on Tuesday night when the power-hitting first baseman went 0 for 3 on the night. He did, however, hit the ball very hard including a warning track shot to the left field gap. It is my opinion that AGon is going to have a great season on both sides of the ball.
• Although Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner only allowed two hits to the Dodgers, both were doubles down the right field line – one by Andre Ethier (who can’t hit lefties, of course) and the other by A.J. Ellis.
• The good news is that the Dodgers left only two men on base in Tuesday nights loss. The bad news is that they were the only two Dodgers to reach base.
• The Dodgers never had a runner reach third base on Tuesday night.
• Madison Bumgarner allowed only one three-ball count in his eight innings of work – a 3-2 count to Adrian Gonzalez in the bottom of the 7th inning. Gonzalez eventually flied out to center.
• Bumgarner threw first-pitch strikes to 21 of the 25 batters that he faced and at one point retired 18 consecutive Dodgers.
• Through 18 innings, Dodger pitchers have struck out a combined 14 while allowing only one walk (by Kenley Jansen).