Inside The Dodgers

Dodgers New Lights an Issue with D-backs, Umpires on Opening Day

The league may come calling about the Dodgers' new light show.

Clint Pasillas

Dodgers New Lights an Issue with D-backs, Umpires on Opening Day
Dodgers New Lights an Issue with D-backs, Umpires on Opening Day /
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The Dodgers got their first victory of the season under the lights at Dodger Stadium. You know, those lights the Dodgers have really been hyping over the last few weeks. Undoubtedly, the technology is a massive step forward for the venerable ballpark in Los Angeles. But also... it was kind of a lot.

Apparently too much for the Diamondbacks and the home plate umpire at one point.

Arizona was changing pitchers late in the game -- the club went through five on Thursday. The home plate umpire apparently had enough of the lights down shenanigans.

Here's a good look at what it was like during one D-back pitching change.

Here's more from the LA Times.

...Diamondbacks reliever Carlos Vargas complained to home plate umpire Marvin Hudson about the lights flickering as he warmed up on the mound before his major-league debut. Hudson immediately signaled to have someone turn the lights on.

“I wasn’t too pleased about that,” AZ manager Torrey Lovullo said. “It’s the first game for everybody. Hopefully they figure it out. I’ll definitely bring it up with my group here in the front office here and just see what they think about doing. I don’t think anything was done maliciously. I just think they hit the wrong button at the wrong time and they need to be better at that.”

The Dodgers very, very much love their new lighting system...

... but there's a chance they may hear from the league if things remain dark for the visiting team.

Here's a good video from Doug McKain at Dodgers Nation of the entire Opening Day festivities:

For what it's worth, on a home run, the show was incredible. Much of it can be found from the highlights here.

What are your thoughts on the new lights?

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Clint Pasillas
CLINT PASILLAS

Clint is the lead editor of Inside the Dodgers and personality on Dodgers Nation's network of programming. His work has been published on SI, DN, and Bleacher Report over the last decade.

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