I feel somewhat incredulous about the responses regarding Clayton Kershaw yesterday. I am not going to quote what many said word-for-word, but I am going to say that I don’t buy it. Many of you are talking like Clayton is just finished, and we should just accept that. To make that assumption, you simply have to ignore the facts, so I am going to serve them up for your consideration. Clayton Kershaw started 24 games this season and went 13-5 with a 2.46 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. He allowed 100 hits in 132 IP. The league hit .209 against him. He also struck out 137 batters. He was 2nd in ERA in the NL to Blake Snell.. He was an All-Star. Does that sound like a pitcher who is done?
“But he hurt his shoulder and was not the same when he came back!” I knew you would say that! Just like I knew a certain someone would stick up for his boy, James Outman, at the expense of the facts. I will discuss that later. Yes, Clayton missed a couple of months with an undisclosed shoulder injury, but in his last seven games, he was 3-1 with a 2.30 ERA (1.18 WHIP). He allowed 21 hits in 31 IP while striking out 28. He did walk 16 batters, which was a concern, but in his last start against San Francisco on September 30th, he pitched five innings, allowing two runs, and struck out five.
A month earlier, he also faced the Diamondbacks and also went five innings, allowing three hits and one earned run. Yes, he was not the same pitcher he was earlier in the season. The Dodgers were not counting on him to be any more than a “glorified opener,” going two, three, or four innings. He has shown that he is capable of that, and that was all they were asking, but he couldn’t deliver.
It wasn’t his velocity. In the eight games since he came back from the IL, his fastball was in the 86-89 MPH range. On Saturday, his fastball was in the 89-91 MPH range – he was actually throwing harder. It was his slider at 86-87 MPH (not enough separation from the fastball) and curve that was killing him. I think the problem was that Clayton was trying to be the Clayton of old instead of staying within himself and pitching as he did since his IL stint! He was trying to do too much.
Now, back to the Outman thing. Let me make it clear that I am in no way blaming James Outman for the loss. However, he had two balls that could have been caught with a high degree of difficulty. The one ball he did touch, and he even said that he should have caught it. He did not touch the other one, but he also said he was nervous and did not get a good jump on it. To think that it is a “reach” is beyond silly. If he had caught the ball that hit his glove, Clayton would have had double the outs that he did. He would have likely felt a little less “pressure” in knowing that his teammates had his back. Of course, it made a difference. Again, I know that James Outman is not a great centerfielder… probably not even the best one on the team, but this is not about “blame” – it is just about reality, and the reality is, “Even Ray Charles can see that!”
The Game 1 loss was a team loss because no one picked Clayton up. The Dodgers did not hit, pitch, or field, and Clayton bears the brunt of it, but tonight, they can right the ship. Last year, they won the first game and then got swept! Clayton will likely start Game 4, and even two innings will be great. Yes, he is not the pitcher he once was, and I believe that he needs shoulder and TJ surgery, but this is the hand he is given. Hopefully, the next start, he will not try and do too much.
Is Bobby Miller Ready to be the Ace?
He better be… We shall see!
Hopefully, Will Smith can stay hot!
Discussion (63)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Just a thought. Wonder how much Clayton getting rudely jerked out of very near perfect game in Minnesota got into his head? As a fan and attendee at Dodger games since 1969, I found it fundamentally un-American, insulting to the fans. The fans and Clayton deserved that moment. Oh yes………Clayton will tell ya it was “ok” by him. At only 80 pitches? Yeah right. Another demoralization wrought by the “Metric Nerds” and their minion “yes man,” Dave Roberts. I fully believe we would have seen history made that day. Clayton deserved the opportunity, and in my schooling on leadership, should have rebelliously walked back out there to mound in eighth. “You ain’t takin my moment from me.” The fans and Clayton deserved it.
Just a thought. Wonder how much Clayton getting rudely jerked out of very near perfect game in Minnesota got into his head? As a fan and attendee at Dodger games since 1969, I found it fundamentally un-American, insulting to the fans. The fans and Clayton deserved that moment. Oh yes………Clayton will tell ya it was “ok” by him. At only 80 pitches and six more outs?! Yeah right. Another demoralization wrought by the “Metric Nerds” and their minion “yes man,” Dave Roberts. I fully believe we would have seen history made that day. Clayton deserved the opportunity, and in my schooling on leadership, should have rebelliously walked back out there to mound in eighth. “You ain’t takin my moment from me.” The fans and Clayton deserved it.
This is going to be a fantastic story to tell when we come back from an 0-2 hole and beat AZ.
We will feel right at home at Dodger stadium East. We win game 3 and momentum shifts to us for game 4. Win game 4 than back to Dodger stadium in an anything can happen game 5.
Keep the faith we are winning this series.
Was it over when Germans Bombed Pearl Harbor??? Was it over at Globe Life Field when we were down 3-1 to mighty ATL???
Fly in Gibson to Arizona! I’d rather have him hit thuan Mookie! Plaschke spot on again!
Don’t blame Roberts. This is a veteran team, with playoff experience. They KNOW what to do
So far it’s on Kershaw and Bobby Miller, and the offense as a whole except Martinez.
As for the bullpen, the first game the bullpen didn’t matter. It was over from the get-go. Today my only gripe is using Kelly instead of Shelby Miller. Kelly’s result doesn’t matter because in a pretty much must win game only three of the four best (DOMINANT in the regular season)relievers were used. Shelby Miller was missing.
I knew jumping into that pool was a bad idea…
It won’t be easy, but I agree with Vengeur. Anything could happen as most of us have seen through the years. Dodgers may lose again, but it ain’t over till it’s over. Three in a row is entirely possible. I haven’t given up hope.
Next topic Rants and Raves ?
Interesting that after two comprehensive defeats, where we’ve been totally outplayed on both sides of the ball, not a single comment acknowledging that we’ve been beaten by the better team.
This is what happens in sport. It’s about execution when the lights are brightest.
So far as a team we haven’t performed where as the D’Backs have.
They are unbeaten in 4 Post Season games (as are Texas). Maybe time to give them some credit no?
Oh come on . Two wins and it’s up for grabs. Like the Dodgers couldn’t win two in a row ? I can’t believe the defeatism.
Same look as last year against the Padres. Absolutely no fight, no scrap, no growling. Plain and simple, poodles not junkyard dogs. It’s beginning to be a waste of time watching these guys in the post season.
What channel does the weather channel come on ?
Yes, the warts on this year’s team are well-documented. We know they’re flawed, ..but come on!….
For the second straight year, the whole vibe of this team in the playoffs… is soft.
Unquestionably, there is something fundamentally wrong with the Dodgers approach to “playoff baseball.”
Y’all can speculate on what it is.
This team is just too laid back from the manager to the players
4 runs in two games. Outman is a strikeout machine. Mookie and Freddie couldn’t hit a wiffle ball the last two games.
I don’t want to hear about Kersh. Even if he had gone 9 and given up 3, we’d have lost. Same tonight.
Our offense is gone. It’s on them. 5+ runs a game. Be we scored 4 in 2.
It’s not Roberts. It’s not the kids. We didn’t hit. And we have about a 10% (I’m being generous) chance of pulling this off.
Just facts.
Even with Miller’s early game struggles, the Dodgers pen kept them in the game, and the bats just didn’t come thru.
…especially the “big” bats.
We’ve seen this script before, …beyond tiresome.
Only 2 words come to mind…
CHOKE JOB!
Let’s hope Lynn can go 3 full innings in game three.
Looking like déjà vu of last year.
The playoffs have been described as a crapshoot. Well as Dodger fans all we’ve gotten is crap!
If the Dodgers lose, and it’s looking likely, there should be no bitching about Doc’s management in this game. All of his moves to include the use of the BP and pinch hitting of CT3 and Hernandez (scored 1 run) have been perfectly managed.
If we lose it’s a result of Miller not being able to land his off speed stuff and the absolute futile offense of Mookie, Freddie and Will Smith. While no other Dodger with the exception of JDM set the world on fire this game, Mookie, FF and Will had multiple opportunities to be a hero with a timely hit w/ RISP hit but came up zero on the big stage. Wash, rinse and repeat just like last year.
I so want to be wrong and have Mookie or FF get a walk off to win the game but to this point the Dodgers have played uninspired baseball.
Offense? Where’s the offense? The Dodgers offense have a long history of not scoring runs at Dodger Stadium in post-season games, especially in recent years. 1966 ws Dodgers only scored 2 run in the entire ws ; 1978 ws final game, Dodgers scored only 2 runs; in 2017 ws final game, Dodgers scored only 1 run in (5-1) lost to the Astros; in 2018 ws final game, Dodgers scored only 1 run (again, in another (5-1) loss; in 2019 nlds final game Dodgers scored only 2 runs in final loss. 2021 and 2022 very little offense in those post-seasons series and game 1 of the 2023 NLDS series 2 runs in game 1 and game 2 as of the bottom of the 7th inning. So, will someone please if you can expain why the Dodgers offense doesnt show up at Dodger Stadium in post-season games?
Doc goes to the mound to pull Kelly… Kelly while smirking says something to Doc as he starts walking off…
Doc disapproves and immediately turns around to get in Kelly’s face with a scowl…. and says something…
Interesting.
Dave Roberts need to get his thumb out of his ass and light a fire under these dam dodgers.
Kind of sense we need an Austin Barnes start behind the dish just like Doc did in 2020 when Grandal couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat. Smith has looked horrible.
Agree
The last three years our hitters have shriveled under the lights of the playoffs. Not sure why that is?
Lynn is going in game 3. Hold on to your hats. Same thing as last year, offense is stagnant. Not taking advantage of chances. I would not have hit for Rojas, he is hitting .500 and is more of a contact hitter than Wong.
When your two best starters and two best hitters are this bad, you won’t last long in October.
Betts and Freeman have been awful.
Outman is having a series for the ages, in a bad way. Error last night and failure to take the walk last inning when the pitcher was giving it too him.
And I am sorry this ump has been awful, he is giving both sides of plate and low to D’Backs but not us. Hard to hit when ump is going outside zone so much. Look at pitch track
Dodgers just don’t have a bench. Using Wong to pinch hit tells the story.
Too many platoons. Now the second pieces of the platoons might have to hit against the other armed pitcher.
Now Michael?
Stage too big for Mookie? Miss October!
The poor starts by Kershaw and Miller may overshadow the lack of hitting but these first 12 innings with two runs is reminiscent of struggles last post season. Miller was so composed in his first season as a Dodger but the stage looked too big tonight. It is understandable. Hope the bats can make it up.
Long term, I like Outman as a left fielder and not a center fielder. If the Brewers really like Lux, maybe the Dodgers can get Sal Frelich from the Brewers for Lux. I would love for them to acquire Alex Thomas but don’t think Arizona trades him to LA. But I agree with the need for a center fielder.
Braves were in the same situation that Dodgers were in now and they managed to tie the series with a huge win. When you consider the Phillies and the Braves 1 through 26, they are both more talented than LA. Dodger’s biggest advantage is in the bullpen but falling behind early makes the bullpen less impactful.
Mookie has not had a good post season since 2020. He needs to get off the Schneid. He is better than this, but considering the September he had, he has just continued his lack of slug and it has affected the whole offense. He is not squaring up any pitches. Get ready for spring training guys if this keeps up.
Gallen throws his off speed stuff for strikes. Miller can’t. Hard to tell what’s worse, our bats or our starting arms.
Reggie- Mr. October
Mookie and Kersh-Miss Octobers!
Miller has to learn to throw his fastball up in the zone for K’s!
WOW. JDM missed on 2 center cut fastballs
Lead off hitter Carrol works a 3-2 count into a BB in the first inning to set the stage while Mookie flies out on two pitches. As a lead off hitter you gotta work that pitch count. Mookie knows that but sometimes seems to shrink on the big stage.
Same movie!!
No Buehler in Miller! Up to the bats!
Gutsy comeback by Braves! Can we be as tough?
We’re gonna win tonight and this series. Chalk it up
9:07 PM ET
Diamondbacks (84-78) 1-0
Dodgers (100-62) 0-1
SP Zac Gallen R
17-9 3.47 ERA
SP Bobby Miller R
11-4 3.76 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
3B Max Muncy L
DH J. Martinez R
RF J. Heyward L
LF D. Peralta L
CF James Outman L
SS Miguel Rojas R
72° Wind 9 mph Out
I said a while back that I don’t trust James Outman in the field. He looks like he doesn’t have a natural feel for the position and does not get a good jump (see Joltin Joe DiMaggio for that)….. and unfortunately, this became so obvious in playoff game #1. So moving on, what can we expect in games 2 and 3?
I say, more of the same. I think the kid is throwing up as we speak and will be a total ball of nerves this entire series. I don’t expect he will contribute much with the bat but I hope his defense doesn’t hurt us like it did in game #1.
For the record, I also don’t have a warm and fuzzy feeling with this pitching match up tonight. I would be very surprised in a pleasant way if Miller can match Gallen in the first 3 innings. If we are tied or winning after 3 innings, i think our chances go up considerably. If we are down early again, i think Zona will be like sharks smelling blood, and our batters will be tense and too tight.
I believe Zona will probably win the game and then ultimately the series, but I certainly don’t wish for that and would love to be wrong. I only tell you what I feel, no sugarcoating, no holding back.
Happy Hunting LA….
TM
Glavine, Maddox, Randy Johnson all had losing playoff records. Verlander just a couple over 500 forget exactly how many. Might be surprised how many all time greats hover just a tad over 500 in playoffs
I just checked a stat that impressed me a lot. Kersh’s career WHIP is 1.004. That is fifth all-time. He is .001 behind Mariano Rivera. Only three pitchers in the history of baseball have WHIPs below 1.000. Addie Joss, Jacob deGrom and Big Ed Walsh. That is truly impressive. Pray for the victims and their families of the attacks in Israel.
Kershaw is like current Dodgers rosters, built to win the regular season.
I love Kersh and his heart. I’m guessing he keeps coming back to the Dodgers because he knows he can manage his work load, pick/avoid certain match-ups during the regular season, etc. There is no wiggle room in the playoffs, you’re ready or not.
Platooning all season wins games. It doesn’t typically in the playoffs. Rather, managing to L-R match-ups reduces the number of at bats your most clutch players have to make a difference. Instead players are squeezed into “roles” which can produce more stress and be counter-productive.
good point Mark! Barry (the head) Bonds widely considered the best player ever , won how many world series? Dan Marino won how many super bowls? give him a break! you’ll never. see another like him! oh by the way , what’s verlander s playoff numbers?
There was nothing fake about 20. Every team wanted to win it just as much as any other year
I love Kershaw but at this point it’s pretty obvious he just completely chokes in the postseason. I want that not to be the case but it’s the same movie over and over and over again. I hope the Dodgers move on, he can’t handle the big game spotlight that much is obvious. What I’ll remember most about Clayton is that look in the dugout after every playoff game choke job with his head down and nobody talking to him. Great regular season pitcher but just can’t get it done when it matters.
You mean just like Kelly?
In two starts at Dodger Stadium this year, Zac Gallen has pitched 10 innings, given up 15 hits, 6 walks and 11 runs. Have to feel a little optimistic about the outcome.
Glad I didn’t watch. Was taking a late nap, and didn’t check the score until it was 9-0. At that point…
I guess if you’d told me before the season that the Dodgers would have the rotation issues they’ve had (partially thanks to Julio), I’d be happy just to be in the playoffs. Before the season I figured they’d win 88-90 games. I don’t know if CK is done or not. It may be a non-issue for now, if Miller, the game 3 pitchers, and the offense don’t turn this around. If we’re up 2-1 (I can hope) then let CK go in game 4, but if they’re down 2-1 I think I’d rather see a bullpen game. Maybe CK’s pride and innate skill could see us through.
My friend, Elden who is the only other Dodger fan I know up here in the Green Mountains, claims that October in Vermont means fall foliage and the Dodgers getting eliminated in the playoffs. Hope he’s wrong.
* Those damn Nazis sure got around Matt
* It was tough to watch Kershaw give up 6 and not complete an inning. Pretty much a must win tonight for Bobby Miller. Losing the first two games gives an 11% chance to win that series. Certainly not impossible but a steep hill to climb on the road.
* The questions linger about the advantage / disadvantage of having 5 days off for the Division winners. And to make matters more interesting. the Dodgers had a day off following their egg laying on Saturday. The Division winners try anything to stay sharp but they can’t seem to find a way using scrimmages with fans, sim games.
Smoltz and Davis discussed it last night. Joe said he thinks teams will eventually figure it out. But I don’t know it there is a solution under the current format. I don’t know if there’s a way to can keep a team sharp while the competition is playing competitive games.
Smoltz made an interesting point that the the Wildcard winners need to be more “punished” for being a wildcard team. And the Division winners need to be more rewarded. He suggested, don’t give the Wildcard winner days rest after the Wildcard rounds to reset their pitching before playing the Division champs. It’s a perplexing question – rest vs rust.
All I know it that last year Houston was the only Division winner to not get knocked off and it’s started out that way this post season.
What ?
Was it over when the Germans Bombed Pearl Harbor!?!?!?
If the offense doesn’t get a lasting fire lit under their ass it’s all mute anyway
Yes I agree clay pulled off a minor miracle with the performance he had this regular season stat wise with a worm out arm and bum shoulder and all but can’t compare regular season to playoffs with its ratcheted up intensity. He looked worse then terrible. I truly don’t think it’s a good baseball decision to put him back out in this short five game series and maybe I’m just selfish in that I fear the hurt in possibly seeing one of my heroes get beat down again with the series and season on the line. I’m still hoping he decides his shoulder is to sore because to not start him in favor of someone else could hurt chemistry. I’m sorry mark that it really bothers me to see one of my top three all time favorites get beat down like that
Winter priority, pitching, pitching and more pitching.
All year starting pitching was a problem. So we won 100 games because of bullpen and HITTING. Sounds simple. We need to score some runs. If we fall short it will because of hitting
Let’s not forget what just one key hit can do:
Who will step up?
Your mindset as a hitter changes when you are down 6-0 that’s just human nature. Even worse when you go down 9-0.
These guys are humans not robots. I fully expect a different outcome tonight, but no its NOT a must win. Its not like Arizon has a HFA. Its Dodger Stadium East. Who is the Dbacks #3, Pfaadt?? Win that game and the momentum shifts way back to LA.
I certainly want to win tonight (and believe we will) but I wont throw in the towel if we do lose and neither will the players.
Need Mookie and or Freddie to be special tonight!
Hopefully Miller has some junkyard Walker Buehler in him! Wasn’t just Kersh who let us down in game one. Time for the bats to wake up or go home once again! I want to see some fire tonight!
I totally agree. No one knows how things might have been had Outman made the catch. But he didn’t. What happened afterwards was all on Kersh. He hung too many pitches, IE, they were very hittable. The Dodgers, who by all accounts beat Merrill Kelly like a drum, couldn’t even hit a loud fly ball off of him. Cmon guys, this pitcher was 0-5 with a plus 7 ERA at Dodger Stadium and they made him look like Gerritt Cole. 0-11 lifetime and you can’t score off of this guy? His teammates did not pick him up. How much different might things have been had they scored a couple of runs in the bottom of the first? The top six in the lineup went 2-20! Betts, Freeman, Muncy, Martinez, and Heyward were all ofer. Smith had the only two hits. The other two hits came from Peralta and Rojas. SO, what it boils down to now is this is a must win game. They go to Arizona down 2-0, and this series is over.