10 to go
It all comes down to that, insofar as the Dodger players are concerned. Nothing less than 10 more wins will satisfy them. They want that World championship. It s just that simple. That s the goal and that s is all they are focused on. So, it was no surprise to see the Dodgers show up with their lunch pails and systematically dismantle the Nationals pitching. It was also no surprise to see
It all comes down to that, insofar as the Dodger players are concerned. Nothing less than 10 more wins will satisfy them. They want that World championship. It’s just that simple. That’s the goal and that’s is all they are focused on.
So, it was no surprise to see the Dodgers show up with their lunch pails and systematically dismantle the Nationals pitching. It was also no surprise to see Striker Buehler allow just 1 hit over 6 innings. The Nats aren’t chumps. They have the second-best offense in the NL to the Dodgers… and they make Striker work! Then the bullpen did their job. Adam Kolarek was evidently put on the roster to pitch to Juan Sota and he did his job. He may only face 4 or 5 hitters in this round, but if he does that, I guess it’s worth it. It certainly was last night.
Next, Maeda was filthy and then Machine Gun Kelly mowed them down in the 9th inning. I would have to say that last night’s game was a “pitchers’ duel” as the Dodgers only got 7 hits and the Nats got 3. But the Dodgers got 7 walks to go with those 7 hits so they manufactured most of their runs. Rookie Gavin Lux and Joc Pederson hit the only bombs for the Boys in Blue. The cool part was that neither player started the game.
Last night’s heroes were on the bench. I give a ton of credit to Robert Van Socyoc and his team and to Rick Honeycutt and Mark Prior. These guys knew that they would have to make the most with the least and they did. The Nat’s bullpen deficiency was really magnified. The Dodgers were patient and worked the counts. Of course, Patrick Corbin is a very good pitcher and so they had to work for what little they got.
Winning game one was huge but the Dodgers were subdued in their celebration – they want to celebrate after 11 playoff wins. That’s their plan. They are only focused on the “Next game!” They have been here before, only to stumble and fall. There will be no big celebration until their goal is realized.
It was a satisfying win, but the Nationals are not just going to lay down and die. Their starting rotation is good, even if the bullpen isn’t. Stephen Strasburg goes tonight and the silver lining for the Dodgers could be that Strasburg has logged 209 innings while Clayton Kershaw sits at 178 innings. Max Scherzer also is not 100%, but these guys don’t give up. The Dodgers are going to have to “take it.” They did last night – now they have to keep it up.
When the players execute, Dave Roberts is a genius – when they don’t, he’s an idiot! Are you starting to figure out that it’s the players, not Doc?
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Discussion (95)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Kershaw again stinks in postseason losing the game. Did kept the game within reach but historically he is just an average postseason pitcher that does not come through on clutch and pressure. Once again he has proved that. Offense did not help him or defense. Turner should have had the first hit of the game but was not ready and playing offline once again and looks to not have legs anymore out there and seems to have lost range . Pollock also seems to not have anything on his throws from left field. But Kershaw look terrible the first 2 innings.
In hindsight, it’s easy to make a lot of statements that can’t be supported. Let me try a few finger-pointers.
Most agree that Kershaw is a fine pitcher, but not when it comes to the post season. The stats back this up. While the 3 runs he gave up lost the game, he did control the rest of his start. Often, CK will give up runs early and then settle down. However, there was little to no help from the bats. Do we point the finger at CK? or, do we point the finger at the lack of run support, mainly from RBI guys called Belli, Seager, and Pollock. Two games in a row, Belli & Seager have not got a hit. Muncy is playing like our MVP.
Ryu would have been my choice to start at home, especially after Buehler’s great win. Now, Ryu will start in D.C. He is 4-4 in away games. This doesn’t bode well for the blue. I’m not predicting he will lose, but this was the issue that made me want to start him in either game 1 or 2, 10-1 at home!
I agree with William’s comment about Doc leaving May in for too long. I also said it to myself that May should not have pitched more than that initial inning. We had plenty of arms waiting.
Strasburg is a MONSTER pitcher! A couple of days ago, I wrote that he is the one thing I fear from the Nats. He blows us away. My hat is off to him.
We have lost the momentum in this series. I’m not predicting anything as I know things can change in one at bat, but I’m not liking what I’m seeing, especially from the bats, as they must support any pitcher that takes the mound. While Ryu is 4-4 in away games, hopefully he will pitch well. But we’ve got a not very physically fit Rich Hill with probably not too much stamina, at this point, coming in game 4. I’m not crazy about our chances in their park. Dodgers better address some issues lickety split.
RVS not working his “so called” magic so far. 17 K’s between AJ, Belli, Corey, Lux and others. If AJ is in the line-up over Matt Beaty on Sunday I’ll eat my shoes. He is absolutely horrible with a slow bat, poor approach and makes zero adjustment from one AB to the next.
Should have started Freese 1B Muncy 2B Beaty LF. OPS splits in the regular season points in that direction.
Our host has opined in the past that our offense has been ineffective in the past 2 World Series. And it’s largely true. The Dodgers haven’t hit either Corbin or Strasburg. they have had several non-competitive AB. Bellinger looks like he did in the Series against Houston and all of 2018.
Muncy is clutch. Joc seems to be. Too many are not.
Oops… I didn’t hang this out there… I just like looking back at these as the series progresses…
It isn’t over, Is It???
“Strasburg is a guy with a 3+ era. You mean we can’t score three runs off him with the best offense in the NL! If we can’t do that against him and Scherzer then pack up and go home!”
Lux K’d on a non-competitive pitch.
The team that has swung at more balls out of the zone has lost both games!
“Then we shouldn’t even show up if we play Houston! An elite offense has to be able to put up runs against elite pitching!”
“Well we didn’t do anything against Corbin last night either. The big issue with this team is we can’t hit elite pitching in the playoffs This is 3 post seasons in a row! The NL MVP is hitting like .150 and striking our three quarters of the time in the post season. Somebody has step up and produce!
“Well we didn’t do anything against Corbin last night either. The big issue with this team is we can’t hit elite pitching in the playoffs This is 3 post seasons in a row! The NL MVP is hitting like .150 and striking our three quarters of the time in the post season. Somebody has step up and produce!”
Just thought I’d hang these Cassidy-isms out there to ferment…
Strasburg followed by Scherzer…Damn Sam… That aint right…
Does Kelly only come in when we have a six-run lead in the ninth? If so, why is he on the roster? Can Urias only pitch to lefthanders? This looks like retrospect, but I would not have put May in for another inning, and certainly not left him in after the first two batters got on base. Does Roberts have any instinct for this kind of thing? This game is absolutely crucial, and assuming we now lose it, we are likely not playing any more home games this season. It is not best of 15, it is best of 5 . May did a nice job getting the one out in the 7th, that should have been it. You play 162 games to use a non-reliever rookie in the most important game of the year with a one-run deficit, and let him finish the inning when he is struggling?
Strasburgbis a guy with a 3+ era. You mean we can’t score three runs off him with the best offense in the NL! If we can’t do that against himnand Scherzer then pack up and go home!
I may also have been rendered stupider. Isn’t elite pitching also supposed to get out elite hitting?
If you’re rooting for the hitter, he’s a bum if he gets out and a clutch hitter if he gets a hit. And vice versa if you’re rooting for the pitcher.
M.T. – They’re trolling and pushing your buttons..
Let it go…
Very good managed 7th inning by Dave Roberts with the pitching. Regular season OPS splits.
We can do this!
Then we shouldn’t even show up if we play Houston! An elite offense has to be able to put up runs against elite pitching!
Matt Beaty = Professional Hitter!
Well we didn’t do anything against Corbin last night either. The big issue with this team is we can’t hit elite pitching in the playoffs This is 3 post seasons in a row! The NL MVP is hitting like .150 and striking our three quarters of the time in the post season. Somebody has step up and produce!
Kershaw certainly hasn’t looked all that good, but there’s only one of him.
We have 8 hitters who have looked just as bad.
The Fresh Prince breaks up the Perfect Game. Now, make them pay!
Strausburg is filthy tonight. Good pitching always stops good hitting and he is EXTREMELY good tonight.
Clayton struggled in the beginning but righted the ship. He hasn’t had control of his curve or fastball.
I’m very surprised at how impatient our hitters are. They’re lunging at every curveball that’s low.
It’s as if we’re already down 1-0 in the series, and 3-0 in this game, and the guys are pressing.
Just sad to see Kersh fail once again in the post season. He just has no command of his fastball and it just gets punished. I just don’t see a solution with him going forward.
Be patient and hope that we can hold the fort until the offense kicks in. Gotta feeling that Doc might have a short rope on Kersh if he cant stop the bleeding.
Several important Dodger hitters haven’t shown up yet – Bellinger looks bad in the post-season again. Turner looks like he hasn’t played in about 3 weeks – oh wait, he hasn’t. Pollock didn’t do anything yesterday.
Smith hit them on the nose yesterday; Muncy came up big.
Will Dodger hitters who disappeared the past 2 World Series show up this year?
Will Bellinger be the offensive version of Kershaw?