SponsorUS Water Systems
LA Dodger Talk

110, or Bust!

I hear some Dodger fans write or say that the Giants are just having their way this year, that the Giants are just lucky, that they have the Dodgers number. I hear that some don’t trust Joe Kelly, Kenley Jansen, or several other pitchers. I say that they are a bunch of Negative…

By Mark Timmons3 min readJump to 159 comments

I hear some Dodger fans write or say that the Giants are just having their way this year, that the Giants are just lucky, that they have the Dodgers number. I hear that some don’t trust Joe Kelly, Kenley Jansen, or several other pitchers. I say that they are a bunch of Negative Nellies, to which they say “No, that is not true. I am positive… that I am negative.”

The Giants won the Division by 1 game! One stinking game… but they won… fair and square, I would not call them lucky, but sometimes the Baseball Gods just smile on a team for a time. They may not be the best team, but they act like it… for a time. I think it happened in 1988, when the ragtag Dodgers minus the MVP won it all. On paper, the Mets and Athletics were the better teams, yet the Dodgers won and their best player had just one at-bat. In case you have forgotten, here is that at-bat:

Well, the Giants are this year’s “Ragtag Team” but they are pretty dang good… even if they don’t look the part on paper. The fact of the matter is that one of these two teams will end up with 110 wins and go to the NLCS and the other one will go home with a mere 109.

Here’s what I know: The Dodgers could lose… but I don’t think they will. On any given day, one team can beat another one. If they do lose, so be it! I will just move on and wait until next year. One game may end the Dodgers season, but it does not define it! It won’t change my outlook on this team. I believe that the Los Angeles Dodgers are the best organization in baseball, from top-to-bottom. Look no further than the “Dodger Alumni Tree” which is producing Executives for other teams at an unprecedented rate. The Dodgers could again lose several executives and coaches this year. Possibilities to be hired by other organizations include Josh Byrnes, Jeff Kingston, Brandon Gomes, Brant Brown, Aaron Bates, Clayton McCullough, Conner McGuiness, and/or Billy Gasparino. They won’t lose them all, but they could lose a few, as other items want to hire people from successful organizations.

That said, the Giants are tough, but I also know that the Dodgers are great at adjustments… however, so are the Giants. Logan Webb was dominant against the Dodgers earlier. They will adjust… will the Giants re-adjust? Farhan Zaidi is building another great organization and he is doing a great job, but this is a magical year. The question is “will the magic run out today?” I think it will, but win or lose, this is my team. One game does not define you, but it can end your season.

We had Dodger fans quit after losing to the Asstericks. We had Dodger fans quit after losing to Boston. We had Dodger fans quit after the 2019 loss to the Nats… and we even had Dodger fans quit after the latest World Championship – they had met their goal. Whatever! You are free to do whatever you want and spin it however you want, but I will be watching the Dodgers tonight and rooting for them, and win or lose, life will go on. Don’t forget: It’s a game.

We know that Gavin Lux and Cody Bellinger will be in the lineup. We don’t know where… exactly. Seager, Betts, and both Turners will be there. What about Albert at 1B in this Championship Game? It’s worth consideration. Yeah, I know about the “splits.” Sometimes you have to go with your gut. Sometimes experience can win out.

Craig Counsell is a Bum

At least that is what many Milwaukee fans and the national press are saying. A few weeks ago, he was one of the best managers in baseball. It’s amazing how stupid you become when your players do not execute. Dave Roberts can attest to the same thing.

Discussion (159)

Disagree, not disagreeable

Be civil — moderation is real. Links may need a moment of review.

  1. TMOctober 15, 2021

    I would hate to pinch hit for Treinen. I’d let him go one more inning. The chances of a pinch hitter getting a hit are pretty slim.

    If Taylor gets on, he can bunt.

    If Taylor makes an out, he can hit, make an out, and then Mookie can hit one out.

    Edit: oh well, they didn’t listen to me. Pollock up. I hope he makes me look bad. Why not Beaty?

  2. norcaldodgerfanOctober 15, 2021

    Scherzer has to be in play if this game goes long.

  3. norcaldodgerfanOctober 15, 2021

    Horrible, absolutely horrible game by TT. Rookie pitcher, swings at first pitch with a lazy fly ball out. Horrible!

  4. norcaldodgerfanOctober 15, 2021

    The opener worked out, but I’m not sure why Julio was removed after only 4 innings pitched and 59 pitches. Using Treinen in the 7th and Jansen in the 8th seems odd as well. If the Dodgers do take a lead in the 9th who pitches the bottom of that inning or any other save inning?

    Relief pitcher has to pitch to 3 batters, I just don’t see Bickford or Vesia being used, maybe Joe Kelly.

  5. CassidyOctober 15, 2021

    BELLI SAYS “ TAKE THAT CASSIDY”!!!!!!!!

  6. BadgerOctober 15, 2021

    Bone. Head.

    I don’t know who’s idea that was but it was dumb.

  7. BulldogsandPenguinsOctober 15, 2021

    Let’s go Dodgers! Get ready to celebrate, Scherzer’s gonna close this out!

  8. EricOctober 15, 2021

    Dodgers win.

  9. QuasimodoOctober 15, 2021

    Yaaaaaahoooooooo!

  10. CassidyOctober 15, 2021

    EPIC SERIES!!!!!!!!!

  11. HawkeyedodgerOctober 15, 2021

    Karma!

  12. NorthmsdodgerOctober 15, 2021

    We did it.Kicked that Giants ass. Hell yes. You gotta love that Dodger Blue.

  13. DodgfanOctober 15, 2021

    Folks are going to try to discredit the Dodgers win because of the check swing that wasn’t, but the Giants were only allowed that AB due to the error by JT. Nonsense I say! The best team won this series. Go Dodgers!

  14. songpirateOctober 15, 2021

    Giants held to 2 runs per game average. That’s dominant pitching!

  15. OldBear48October 15, 2021

    Can Y’all breathe now? What a sleigh ride that was. I can say that because there is snow in our forecast. Big hit for Bellinger. That had to feel awesome. Celebrating on the Giants field is the best feeling of all. They tried to discredit last years World Series win. Dodgers do not care about that either. Rule is, at least this year, if it looks like an attempt to swing, it is a swing.

  16. norcaldodgerfanOctober 15, 2021

    So freaking happy to advance to the NLCS by beating the Giants and so happy for Cody.

  17. BobbyOctober 15, 2021

    The indica is flowing!!

  18. OldBear48October 15, 2021

    Mine was a Boston Lager Octoberfest,,,,,,,Cheers! And as Jackie would say, How sweet it is….and that is sweet revenge for 51. and 62.

  19. DodgerLoverOctober 15, 2021

    Suck dick, SF bitches.

    Full glass of pinot noir & full lungs of Oregon bud.

    Good night, ladies.

  20. DavidOctober 15, 2021

    Woke up in the Netherlands to watch Max get the final out. What a great feeling! To finally catch the Giants with, what is it, our 110th victory, is an unbelievable accomplishment. And give the oppenents respect. They were no Midgets. This was an epic series. And you have to feel great for Cody. That helps to wipe the slate clean. And all of Doc’s pitching moves seem to have worked out. If they hadn’t, we would have been blaming him. Just goes to show, it comes down to the players. Now on to Atlanta. You have to like our chances there. If the two Turners start hitting, we are going to be hard to beat. They are both too good not to break out.

  21. WilliamOctober 15, 2021

    What an exciting game! I was thinking, ” Treinen has to go two innings , and then Kenley one;” but then they pinch hit for him, and I thought, “Who are they going to pitch for the ninth? They can’t use Buehler?” I had forgotten about Scherzer.

    I thought before Taylor got to bat, that they were going to squeeze. That was not a smart move. Taylor has been hitting some long fly balls, why give up an out?

    And then I am already tired of hearing about the checked swing. Count was 1-2 if it is a ball, the odds are enormous, though not 100%, of course, that he would have made an out. Also, a lot of games end on questionable strike calls. From some of these national announcers, you would think that this was one of the most controversial calls in history. Actually, this makes up for 1951, when they were stealing signs, undoubtedly why Thomson hit the homerun. It sort of makes up for 1962, as well. And 1971. And some others.

  22. Jeff DominiqueOctober 15, 2021

    Well to those who were afraid the play SF in Game 5…To those who said that the Dodgers should have kept Gavin Lux in AAA and trade Cody Bellinger. To those who said that Dave Roberts should be fired. I know I am glad that you have nothing to do with the Dodgers. I hope the crow tastes very good.

    Logan Webb is legit, and will be a menace to LAD for a few years as was Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, and MadBum. The Dodgers beat a good SFG team. I do not care whether they will be good in 2022. They were good in 2021, and the Dodgers beat them. The Giants did not lose. They were beat. BTW, if the Dodgers were unlucky when Darin Ruff was not rung up on his “checked swing” were the Dodgers lucky because Flores was rung up on a checked swing? Or is it just baseball?

    Anyway, great win. My heart cannot take another one of these. Bring on the Braves.

  23. DodgerLoverOctober 15, 2021

    Dear SF,

    Close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades.

    VR,

    DodgerLover

  24. SCDodgerFanOctober 15, 2021

    Why do the Braves have home-field advantage? Dodgers have the best record.

  25. BoboOctober 15, 2021

    Wildcard teams can not have home field advantage to start series.

More from Dodger Talk

Dodgers Food Trailer

I did this interview a couple of weeks ago with Chef Mike, who runs the Dodgers Food Trailer for the Great Lakes Loons. They are there for every home and road regular season and playoff game. They prepare three meals a day for approximately 50 people (players and coaches). Since games end late most evenings, they do not prepare breakfast. Many of their hotels have a complimentary breakfast anyway. However,…

By Mark Timmons · July 17, 202673

Meet LAD 2026 Draft Picks 1-12

3 picks were High School players (2 SS and 1 OF). There was a college OF, college catcher, college SS, and 10 college pitchers. Of all the talk for a need for a catcher, the only catcher the Dodgers selected was Luke Bard, son of LAD bullpen coach Josh Bard. Bard was a 4th year senior from Houston Christian University. He is not a prospect, so the Dodgers are still…

By Jeff Dominique · July 16, 202674

Interview with Paul Beachy – Team Bus Driver For The Great Lakes Loons (LA Dodgers Minor League Team)

It’s been a few days since I did this interview. We have evidently been working my son-in-law (the video guy) like a rented mule at US Water Systems. However, I am taking him to London with me in a few days, so maybe Watford will buy him a pint as a tip, but he’s a dang Red Sox fan, so there is that! I thought that it would be interesting…

By Mark Timmons · July 15, 202652

Thanks for Your Service: Chris Taylor

I was going to do this post when Chris announced he was retiring, then he changed his mind, but since the chances of him ever playing for the Dodgers again are slim and non-existent, I will go ahead with this post. He unretired, went on the IL, then decided to call it quits on May 24th. Taylor was born in Virginia Beach VA on August 29th, 1990. He attended Great…

By Michael "Bear" Norris · July 14, 202676