It’s one of those sayings we learned as kids, probably in elementary school:

“You never get a second chance at a first impression.”

Fortunately for five-time All-Star, AL Cy Young award winner, two-time AL ERA leader, 2018 World Series champion and Dodgers newcomer David Price, Spring Training games are often considered ‘meaningless games.’ As such, the 34-year-old Murfreesboro, TN native and 2007 first-round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Rays out of Vanderbilt University will indeed get a second chance at a first impression, because his first first impression may have fallen a bit short of expectations.

…Dodger fans’ expectations, that is.

As for his own expectations, even though he has 12 major league seasons, 321 games (311 starts), and an incredible 2,029.2 major league innings under his belt, the extremely polite 6′-2″ / 215-pound hard-throwing left-hander blames, of all things, nerves on his less-than-ideal Dodgers Spring Training debut.

“It’s been a while since I faced hitters wearing a different jersey,” Price told reporters after his brief outing. “Where I’m at in Spring Training, two live BPs and first outing, it’s very positive for myself. First time I’ve been in a game for six, almost seven months. My legs were shaking out there. If you love what you do, you’re going to have nerves and I definitely had them out there today. It was fun. I enjoyed getting back out there. Wasn’t missing by much. For the first time, I’m OK with it.”

“It” was allowing two runs on three hits, with two walks and three strikeouts to the nine Cincinnati Reds batters he faced in his 1.1 innings of work and 39 total pitches he made at Goodyear Ballpark on Monday afternoon. “It” also led to the eventual 6-2 Dodgers loss and a lofty 13.50 ERA after his first game in a Dodgers uniform – meaningless or otherwise.

“He was just missing,” echoed Dodgers manager Dave Roberts in his postgame media scrum. “I thought the ball was coming out good. Just to get him out there for a first outing, Dave’s going to be just fine.”

When you consider that David Price has a career record of 150-80 (.652) with a career ERA of 3.31 in ‘meaningful games’, he most certainly deserves:

“…a second chance at a first impression.”

…or a third, or a fourth, etc., etc., etc.

Play Ball!

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