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This week on the podcast we delve into the record-setting April by Cody Bellinger, the major league leader in several categories. We contrast that with the slumping Dodgers, though with perspective we note the relative merits of Bellinger and Justin Turner combining for 14 home runs so far.
Also the Dodgers are back at full strength for the first time in 2019, 30 games into the season. Rich Hill and Russell Martin are back.
If you have any questions for future podcasts, please send them to tblapodcast@gmail.com, or tweet us at @ericstephen or @jacobburch.
Dodgers rewind
With Bellinger rewriting the Dodgers April record book, we look back at April 1977 when Ron Cey set the world on fire with a then-record 29 RBI in April, in just 20 games. Cey’s torrid beginning fueled the Dodgers’ hot start on their way to the World Series.
Cey and Bellinger along with Wally Moon and Matt Kemp had arguably the greatest offensive Aprils in Dodgers history.
Red-hot Dodgers Aprils
| Player | Year | G | HR | R | RBI | BA/OBP/SLG | OPS | OPS+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Year | G | HR | R | RBI | BA/OBP/SLG | OPS | OPS+ |
| Moon | 1961 | 17 | 8 | 12 | 14 | .417/.485/.883 | 1.369 | 285 |
| Cey | 1977 | 20 | 9 | 18 | 29 | .425/.543/.890 | 1.433 | 289 |
| Kemp | 2012 | 23 | 12 | 24 | 25 | .417/.490/.893 | 1.383 | 281 |
| Bellinger | 2019 | 30 | 14 | 30 | 37 | .434/.508/.916 | 1.413 | 267 |
Podcast links
Episode link (time: 58:22)