My quick answer is NO! The Dodgers are going to make the playoffs barring a horrific collapse. These next three games with Colorado are the Rockies’ World Series, so watch out. I talked with a friend of mine who is a big baseball fan (not the Dodgers), and we came up with some engaging scenarios. He thinks that the Dodgers are “sandbagging.” Here’s what he means by that: We all know that the Dodgers’ Analytics are among the best (if not THE best) in baseball. Other teams are gaining ground, but they are not there yet.
He thinks they are sandbagging in that each hitter and pitcher has a “book” on them:
- What is their go-to pitch in certain situations of the game, or where they are in the count?
- What patterns do hitters and pitchers have?
- The Dodgers and other teams have been compiling this all season, knowing that they can “flip the script” in the playoffs.
It sounds pretty far out and dangerous to me, but we shall see. I did question him on the fact that the Dodgers are the only MLB team that pushes DEI, and they have lost 30% more time to the IL than any other team. His response was that “maybe it’s a shocking coincidence.” Could be…
At any rate, what if the Dodgers hitters and pitchers change up their patterns in the playoffs? It’s worth considering… Batting average (.236) in 2025 is on pace to be the lowest in MLB history—lower than any full season since records began in 1871.OPS (.698) is the weakest since 1989 and ranks among the bottom 40 seasons in over 150 years of professional baseball. Here’s a comparison of the past several years:
Maybe it makes Michael Conforto’s stats look a little better. Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge are the only players with an OPS over 1.000. There are only six players with an OPS over 900.
Several factors contribute to the declining offense, namely, enhanced pitching depth and velocity: Bullpens are loaded with high-velocity pitchers, and hitters rarely face the same arm multiple times in a game. Hitters aren’t seeing the same pitcher 3-4 times … facing a guy who throws 100 mph and a splitter in the 6th … is incredibly difficult.
There is still time for Yates, Scott, and Treinen to “find” themselves… or maybe Ohtani becomes the closer.
Dave Roberts is receiving a lot of criticism (all unwarranted in my opinion, as he is not going to the whip, but I am certain that is an organizational decision). They are saving the best for last!
P.S. Anyone who thinks Andy Pages should have caught that home run should seek help.
Discussion (48)
Disagree, not disagreeable
yes a sad day. sad in colorado too.
FYI,
I am slightly better today. My fever broke last night, but I still feel bad.
This is the fifth time I have had it. The second time, I ended up in the hospital for a week. The 3rd and 4th times were like going on vacation. This one is worse than the last two.
Great Dodgers win…
But what a sad sad sad day in America Yesterday.
Godspeed Mr. Kirk and Family. RIP
SD loses again
hope Deane enjoyed his time with the big club! i think he may have gotten 4 AB’S. seems like a great young man! But it’s good to see Tommy back! .. i called Emmit going 7 last night. tonight i say Snell also goes 7 with 10 K’s. my offensive pick? Andy and ohtani go deep!
10:10 PM ET
Rockies (40-105)
Dodgers (81-64)
SP Kyle Freeland L
4-14 5.10 ERA
SP Blake Snell L
3-4 3.19 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
SS Mookie Betts R
C Will Smith R
1B F. Freeman L
RF T. Hernandez R
CF Tommy Edman S
2B Miguel Rojas R
LF Andy Pages R
3B E. Hernandez R
73° Wind 10 mph Out
News from Internet:
Davy Andrews writes about how Ohtani is the greatest leadoff hitter ever:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/shohei-ohtani-is-almost-the-best-leadoff-hitter-ever-again/
“The last fact is the most fun: As good as Ohtani has been as a leadoff hitter, he’s been even more generous to opposing leadoff batters…. Small sample size or not, he’s turned opposing leadoff hitters into a batter who’s better than Shohei Ohtani, and that’s only barely a thing.”
Three days. Three Homers for James Tibbs: Since being acquired from BOS in trade he’s slashing .241/.386/.420, with a 17 BB%
https://x.com/MLBPipeline/status/1965602143223849295
MLB.com’s Joe Trezza on Kendall George:
https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-prospect-kendall-george-chasing-100-steal-season
“”Going out there and being fearless and understanding that I am capable of doing this was really all I needed,” George told MLB Pipeline in a phone interview. “I just put my head down and kept running.”
Baseball America looks at AFL rosters ($$$$)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2025-glendale-desert-dogs-arizona-fall-league-roster-analysis/
George, DePaula and Jang all get mentioned.
Jay Jaffe had a chat:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/jay-jaffe-fangraphs-chat-9-9-25/
Guest: Is Tanner Scott cooked?
Jay Jaffe: The stuff is still good enough, and he’s getting batters to chase, but… it’s not working out in general. i think it’s very hard to live as just a two-pitch pitcher; he probably has to add a third offering to avoid falling into the same patterns.
A Different Guest: Is Shohei truly a unicorn? He may be doing it better than Babe Ruth, but he’s not unique in being a MLBer who has hit and pitched in significant quantities.
Jay Jaffe: Yes, he’s a unicorn. It’s not just that he did both well, it’s that he’s done them contemporaneously. Ruth’s double-duty days didn’t last very long, and he was doing it all pre-integration against farm boys who pumped gas or ran the general store in the offseason. Ohtani has been kept on a short leash because of his latest injury but he’s already had more seasons with 100 innings and 500 plate appearances than Ruth (3 to 1); you’d have to go down to 151 PA to get three seasons where Ruth pulled such double duty.
ProspectSavant interviews Paul Gervase
https://prospectsavant.com/article/9
“I treat every baseball game the same. Like whether it was my major league debut, which obviously was a huge deal, or another game here in AAA… ”
Josh Norris picks 12 interesting AFL players to keep an eye on ($$$$$)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/12-interesting-players-to-watch-in-the-2025-arizona-fall-league/
Jakob Wright, LHP Los Angeles Dodgers:
“At his best, Wright mixes mid-90s four-seam and sinking fastballs with a cutter, changeup and sweeper.”
Longenhagen Chat:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/eric-longenhagen-prospects-chat-9-5-25/
E. Sheehan: My buddy and I were discussing Kendall George‘s 70 speed grade in association with his recently breaking the 100 SB milestone (albeit in single-A).
He argued that writers might be wary about giving out 80 grades for fear that handing out too many might undermine the writer’s credibility. I countered that fear of objectivity was a slippery slope wherein 70 essentially becomes the new 80.
Does fear of over-hyping a player or skill set ever factor into your final analysis? And, in the case of George, what factors might separate a 70 grade from an 80?
Eric A Longenhagen: Does fear of over-hyping a player or skill set ever factor into your final analysis? Yes, for a number of reasons. And, in the case of George, what factors might separate a 70 grade from an 80?
It’s all about my stopwatch, basically. If you’re a lefty hitter and I’ve got you in the 4.1 area, you’re a 70 and not an 80
Alec: It looks like their prospect ratings are pretty similar, so with both debuting this year do you have greater confidence in Luis Mey or Edgardo Henriquez establishing themselves as a legitimate bullpen threat?
Eric A Longenhagen: Edgardo’s strikes have been semi better lately while Mey’s have backed up (and imo his conditioning has slipped)
A look at how the Dodgers are working to develop Will Klein:
https://x.com/RBunikiewicz/status/1961511762953638096
Baseball America looks at the 10 best performing Minor League FBs ($$$$$)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/the-10-best-performing-fastballs-in-the-minor-leagues-for-2025/
Aidan Foeller, RHP, Dodgers
Strike Rate: 62.2%
In-Zone Rate: 49.4%
Whiff Rate: 37.8%
“Foeller, an 11th-rounder out of Southern Illinois last year, is the latest in low-cost, high-upside arms lurking in the Dodgers’ system….”
Baseball America Hot Sheet ($$$$$)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/ranking-the-20-hottest-mlb-prospects-hot-sheet-9-8-25/
DePaula and Quintero mentioned:
“there are just two players in the minor leagues this year who are 20 years old or younger and have 15 or more doubles, 10 or more homers, 80 or more walks and 30 or more stolen bases. The kicker? They both hit in the top third of the Great Lakes lineup…”
As expected the Dodgers activated IF/OF Tommy Edman and optioned OF Justin Dean.
Dodgers assigned to playing in the 2025 Arizona Fall League
Josue De Paula OF 20 Double-A Tulsa
Kendall George CF 20 High-A Great Lakes
Logan Wagner 3B/2B 21 High-A Great Lakes
Justin Chambers LHP 19 Class-A Rancho Cucamonga
Hyun-Seok Jang RHP 21 Class-A Rancho Cucamonga
Alex Makarewich RHP 23 High-A Great Lakes
Jakob Wright LHP 22 Class-A Rancho Cucamonga
Payton Martin RHP 21 High-A Great Lakes
Was last night just a case of the Dodgers playing the team with the worst record in baseball? Or is it really a sign of resurgence? We are hopeful for the later but the next 2 weeks will tell the tale. They are getting healthy at the right time. Mookie is hitting like Mookie. But lots of guys still aren’t hitting.
And who do you really trust with a 1 run lead coming out of the bullpen? I can’t think of anyone.
I suspect that the front office knew the toll that last years push to the title placed on the bullpen. It’s no coincidence that Phillips, Kopech, and Treinen have missed most of the season. So that’s why they signed Yates and Scott. It’s just that neither guy has been that guy. So – they can’t rely on Scott, Yates, Treinen, Kopech and Phillips is out. That leaves Vesia and who exactly?
you need to stay away from those hospitals! you get sick every time you go to one!!
the dodgers have as good or better starters as almost every team in baseball. Blake Snell needs to get back on track tonight. Not that he’s been bad, but not really as sharp as his last couple of starts. Will Roberts put Edman right in the fire tonight? Lefty on the mound for colorado so conforto sits! Maybe i’m a little crazy, but last night’s lineup gave me a confidence boost! Simply put. the dodgers need to finish off the rox tonight and get ready for the Giants. i assume clayton, yamamoto, and ohtani are going for the dodgers this weekend. i would also assume robbie ray and logan webb will be part of the giants rotation. Giants are playing good baseball and they are hungry, Dodgers need to step it up!
I now have COVID-19 for a world record 5th time.
Beating up on the woeful Rockies given the team’s recent lethargy against other weak teams is a relatively minor accomplishment. Good to see however. The starting pitching has been superb against the weak Colorado lineup, let’s buckle up and see how it goes for the rest of the season when the Phillies, Giants and Mariners are on the schedule.
The trade with Boston for Dustin May for two quality outfielders looks even better:
“Dustin May, a right-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, was placed on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to September 6) with right elbow neuritis. The Red Sox made this move on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, just before his scheduled start against the Athletics. Connelly Early was called up from Triple-A Worcester to take May’s spot in the rotation.
May first experienced soreness and numbness in his forearm during a game of catch and an MRI revealed no structural damage. He described the IL stint as precautionary, hoping to be ready for a potential playoff run as there are only three weeks left in the regular season.
This injury comes after May has been inconsistent in his time with the Red Sox, posting a 5.40 ERA, 1.69 WHIP, and 26:13 K:BB over 28.1 innings. He has a history of injuries throughout his career, including Tommy John surgery in 2021, and flexor tendon surgery and an esophageal tear in 2024, which kept him out for a significant portion of the 2024 season”.
didn’t want to bury Teo! i was one who screamed for the dodgers to resign him! it was good to see him take good swings, had 3 good ab’s! the home runs were great, but the overall at bats were the most impressive thing. he’s vital for the team to win! But, he can’t continue to swing wildly and chase non competitive pitches. the entire lineup had quality at bats last night. well almost (conforto). Could we start to see more from this lineup? Now it was the Rockies, but it sure felt like the 2024 dodgers! .. Emmit was great! Vesia was very good considering he had been on the dl for 10 days. Yates? same old same old! starting pitching has been fantastic! if the bullpen gets straightened out, it’s possible that they can be who they were supposed to be! …. Although one game doesn’t mean Teo is cured, it’s a great sign! Pages? dropped to the 8 hole. one good AB. like Doc showing him he still has work to do to be the player he needs to be. there’s a little attitude there. Hopefully Doc keeps his to the positive side. He seems to feed off Teo. He could learn a lot about how to handle himself on and off the field.
Based on the MLB playoff picture as of September 10, 2025, if the season ended today, the Los Angeles Dodgers would be the No. 3 seed in the National League. In the first round of the playoffs, the Wild Card Series, the Dodgers would face the No. 6 seed New York Mets. This would be a best-of-three series, with all games played at the Dodgers’ home stadium as the higher seed.
Yall wanted to bury Teo…..as Lee Corso would say….Not so fast my friend
We had this conversation years ago and more plate appearances matter. The leadoff spot gets the most PA over a season—typically ~15–25 more than the #2 spot and ~60–80 more than the #5–#6 spots. More PA = more chances to help. Rule of thumb
If your best hitter is also your highest-OBP table-setter and you’ve got depth behind him → Leadoff is great.
If your best hitter is a pure run-producer and the lineup behind him is thinner → Bat him #2 (often optimal) or #3.
However, the issue also is where in he most confortable?
While monitoring whether Sheehan will throw a no-hitter, Teo’s HR had me wondering about the Dodgers lineup, and it occured to me that AI might have an answer. (Does AF use AI? Inquiring non-artificial minds want to know.)
Understand that I mostly enjoy the forays into ChatGPT and other AI programs. A friend of mine who dabbles in songwriting asked Chat (I think it was Chat) to write lyrics based on the theme “too late for love in the style of Bob Dylan.”
Damn but AI delivered good faux Dylan.
Anyway, it occurred to me that maybe some AI program could be employed, as an experiment, to maximize the Dodgers lineup based on players’ performances in 2025.
Should Shohei really bat 1st or would he produce more runs in the middle of the lineup?
Should Mookie bat 2nd?
Should Teo continue to hit ahead of Pages?
Should Conforto be in the lineup at all?
I assume that perfecting a lineup might be a bit tougher than perfecting a song. But maybe not. I don’t know enoug h about the various AI programs and how, say, Statcast data could be funneled into such a project.
But wouldn’t it be fun?
10:10 PM ET
Rockies (40-104)
Dodgers (80-64)
SP German Marquez R
3-12 6.19 ERA
SP Emmet Sheehan R
5-3 3.59 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
SS Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
3B Max Muncy L
RF T. Hernandez R
LF M. Conforto L
CF Andy Pages R
2B Miguel Rojas R
71° Wind 10 mph Out
UPDATE!!!!
09/09/25 Los Angeles Dodgers activated LHP Alex Vesia from the 15-day injured list.
09/09/25 Los Angeles Dodgers optioned RHP Ben Casparius to Oklahoma City Comets.
The Dodgers activated pitcher Alex Vesia off the injured list on September 9, 2025,and they optioned relief pitcher Justin Wrobleski to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
wasn’t meant to be! but the starting pitching is really starting to jell. i’m afraid Teo doesn’t get to a ball 95%. of right fielders in baseball catch. love the guy’s smile. we just have not seen it enough lately!
Many Dodgers fans are still saying that Pages should have caught the Home Run that broke up Yamamoto’s no-hitter.
Yeah, he would have caught it had he been a foot taller with a 65-inch vertical leap.
They are seeing with their hearts… not their eyes.
just having fun. there are rumors he will end up in la. i don’t see teo in right field next year. Maybe left, but not right. He probably needs to DH from now on. i’m not kicking him to the curb, just want him to get right at the plate! he can be a monster offensively!
kyle tucker is coming to chavez ravine next year! teo probably ends up back in toronto i would guess.
Teo still has value with his power. Maybe a trade could be made for a few prospects in the off-season. After the lack of solid D this year, it may be a Dodgers priority next year, but I doubt they will sacrifice dingers for defense.
Big set of brass ones for doc to send out the two guys who blew the last two games.
175 games a year the last three years for most of this team plus spring training. They could be a little gassed.
If the lights out starting pitching continues, this team will go far.
wrobleski should stay . sample size says he’s more valuable. he can pitch short or long. Henriquez is lucky to make it through 1 inning lately. 101 is nice, but give me Wrobleski and his 98-99.
I know you’re not talking about it, but I agree 100% with you Mark about the DEI subject. Someone mentioned earlier in this thread that the last out last night was only inches from being a double…. I’d like to add that Tanner was hit pretty hard by everyone he faced last night. I’m very happy he got a save and we won, but he was far from the dominant lefty he used to be. Tyler was masterful pitching last night… even though he wasn’t real happy with his catcher. ( tough spot for the young guy). Who goes down when Vesia comes back tonight ?
Glasnow, while he had a few too many 3-2 counts, was dealing last night. it’s become a common practice for pitchers to throw 100 pitches and not reach 7 innings. is it pitch calling? probably some as pitchers look for chase. patient hitters won’t chase. like say Teo and Pages sometimes do. Does umpiring have anything to do with it? absolutely! extended at bats, more base on balls, ABS. could help there. Defensive miscues? absolutely. especially dodger outfield defense. throws to the wrong base, missing the cutoff man. Nibbling? yes. Point? there are no more Graig Maddux’s around anymore. Teams don’t want to risk hurting the arms of their “prized “ possessions. Yamamoto 112 pitches saturday. Glasnow 105 last night. you can bet they probably won’t get close to that next start. Strange that The dodgers limit Clayton to 75-80 pitches at 37 years old. he’s never had arm issues! Snell? great stuff ! As good as anyone in the league. But Blake doesn’t seem to mind the base on balls even though it cuts into his game longevity. I guess i just yearn for the days of 7-9 innings with 90 100 pitches the norm. Great job last night Tyler! if you do things like that , you’re worth every penny you signed for! ….. is it possible Teo could find more ‘Bench “ time when Edman returns? He looks absolutely horrible at the plate ! Pages in right field. Edman in center field. a platoon of conforto and call in left? The Dodgers still looking for big hits with runners in scoring position and less than 2 outs. Mookie was money last night! Teo is awful right now and time is running out for him to get his groove back! …. Felt sorry for the dodger catcher last night. Tyler was obviously aggravated with him last night. Tough position for him! …. Dodgers starters are really dealing right now now! Perfect timing right? Bullpen? Very scary! … Emmit goes 7 tonight! Book it, right Dano?
In the win, the Dodgers still got just four hits.
The offense is offensive.
Hopefully Max and Tommy help.
The Padres beat the Reds to stay a game behind in the NL West.
Lux took the collar and is now at .268/.719 OPS
Boy, are people upset when you challenge the use of DEI.
“Circle the wagons – this heretic must be stopped.”
I will acknowledge that DEI started out as a noble thing, but you have to consider that it may not be that in practice.
If you are so inclined, then check out Professor Glenn Loury of Brown University on the subject.
I am not going to discuss it any more because if you were rational, you would not think it.
BTW, I think Mark’s theory as to why offense is in decline is spot-on.
The evidence shows just so much velocity in the game today. Meanwhile, batting coaches like RVS are emphasizing power over contact.
Perhaps the pendulum could swing back a bit. Mookie credits his recent surge to a change in his swing to emphasize line drives over loft. Down the road, maybe a guy like Kendall George can benefit with his contact-first approach.
The matter of velocity brings to mind a YouTube video I stumbled upon a while back featuring the old “Game of the Week.” Todd Stottlemeyer was pitching, and announcer Keith Jackson intoned that he could “throw 92 and 93 miles per hour…. So he brings the heat!”
Funny, but it seems to me that “sandbagging” and a heavy use of the “IL” actually fit hand in glove.
And you’ve presented zero evidence that DEI is a factor. Seems like pure speculation. Or maybe, worse, wishful thinking.
At any rate, isn’t “slow-playing” a form of sandbagging?
With their money and depth, the Dodgers don’t have to put their best team on the field to make the playoffs. They want to keep players healthy and save their best for last– for this final push.
On a small-market team fighting for a playoff spot, a star catcher with a bruised hand might be needed on the field.
Whether we call it sandbagging or slow-playing, the plan seems to be falling into place.
Max and Vesia are back, and Edman should be soon, followed by Rushing. Very soon Smith will be back behind the dish.
Today, Glasnow was superb, and followed Yamamoto and Kershaw in reminding us just how formidable the rotation can be. (Given Glasnow’s apparent fragility, I was fine with Roberts taking him out.)
Tanner Scott, in blowing the shared no-hitter, reminded us of just how shaky the bullpen is. I was half-expecting him to give up a homer to tie the score–but the batter lined it into Max’s glove. That’s maybe a millimeter on the barrel away from a double down the line. This time, Scott may have simply dodged a bullet.
To my mind, the optimal lineup hasn’t changed much from early season. Mostly we’ve learned that Kim can play and that Conforto should be on the bench.
Let’s go to the whip with this:
Shohei DH
Mookie SS
Freddie 1B
Smith C
Max 3B
Pages RF
Teo LF
Edman CF
Kim/Rojas 2B
Bench: Rushing, Kike, Conforto, Call
It’s been obvious for months that Pages should play RF and Teo could move back to LF. Plus, he has been out-performing Teo on offense, and the math says he should be batting ahead of Teo in the lineup.
Edman’s return should take care of CF, with Kike and Call as options as well. I was tempted to just go with Kim at 2B, but Rojas has been playing so well that a platoon seems like a good idea.
On another topic. You have to give Roberts credit for throwing Treinen and Scott out there again after their last debacle. So it goes down as a bold move showing that he has confidence in his players. If they failed again, there would probably be a lynch mob at his door. So in the end its up to the players to perform
Holy shit, now what? He’s gone 7 but is up to 105 pitch count, wouldn’t want to be Roberts right now,
Well, now, we certainly see what Tyler Glasnow brings to the table…
My initial take is that – that sounds far-fetched.
Why would any hitter do that?
Although I could see pitchers doing something different then their normal sequences to set up future scenarios.
I agree that Roberts is not blame for the majority of the problems over the past 2-months, but he has made some mistakes also.
While I know that the Dodgers will go with experience over youth – the combo of Yates and Scott scare the crap out of me.
I am not buying the DEI as each player mentioned would be welcomed on 90% of the other teams out there. – saying “coincidence” but reserve the right to change my mind:)
I am undecided on Ohtani – pitcher/DH vs. DH, as the sample size is too small at this time.
While Treinen was the main reason for the debacle the other night I still have faith in him based on his performances in the playoffs.
That was quite the string of comments on the prior thread. Well done.
Vesia (oblique) expects to be activated from the 15-day injured list before Tuesday’s game against the Rockies, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
Manager Dave Roberts stated he’s hopeful Smith (hand) will return to the starting lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Rockies, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Edman (ankle) is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list Wednesday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
09/08/25 Los Angeles Dodgers activated 3B Max Muncy from the 10-day injured list.
09/08/25 Los Angeles Dodgers optioned C Chuckie Robinson to Oklahoma City Comets.
The Braves have claimed RP Alexis Diaz off waivers from the Dodgers, according to David O’Brien of The Athletic. Atlanta has space available on its 40-man roster, so no corresponding move is necessary to bring Diaz into the organization.
The Los Angeles Dodgers promoted their No. 1 and No. 2 prospects, Josue De Paula and Zhyir Hope, to Double-A Tulsa on Monday. De Paula ranks as the No. 12 prospect in baseball, while Hope is No. 19.
10:10 PM ET
Rockies (40-103)
Dodgers (79-64)
SP Chase Dollander R
2-12 6.76 ERA
SP Tyler Glasnow R
1-3 3.41 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
SS Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
3B Max Muncy L
RF T. Hernandez R
LF M. Conforto L
2B Hyeseong Kim L
CF Andy Pages R
C Ben Rortvedt L
74° Wind 10 mph Out