Pre-season v2.0 Gameday Thread #1: Diamondbacks @ Dodgers

Yes, that is Kole Calhoun batting lead-off for the Diamondbacks tonight. I’m not certain what the thinking is behind that, but we’ll see. He did bat there on occasion last season for the Angels. It is kinda weird to be facing a divisional rival in the two warm-up games before the season starts: I don’t recall that ever happening previously. But then, this is a weird season all-round. Note, for example, the presence of a DH in a game between two National League teams. That’s going to take some getting used to - and not just for fans, pitchers will have to remember they won’t have their opposing number at the bottom of the order.

It seems like forever since the last time I saw the D-backs in action against anyone apart from other D-backs. It’s actually only four months: feels a lifetime ago, considering everything that has happened since. Still, it’s another step towards normality - whatever that may mean - and can only be welcomed as such. This game is on Fox Sports Arizona, so tune in there.