A Dose of Reality
Yeah, I know it is still mathematically possible that the Dodgers will catch the Giants. It ain’t happening! Accept it… move on and get ready for the Championship Round. If the Dodgers win the Wild Card Game, the NLDS, NLCS, AND the World Series, no one is ever going to say, “…
Yeah, I know it is still mathematically possible that the Dodgers will catch the Giants. It ain’t happening! Accept it… move on and get ready for the Championship Round. If the Dodgers win the Wild Card Game, the NLDS, NLCS, AND the World Series, no one is ever going to say, “Yeah but you did not win the NL West!” Well, Giants fans may say it, but all Dodger Fans need to do is show them their 2021 Dodger World Series Championship shirts!
There was once a commenter – I think he called himself “Oldtimer.” He was from Canandaigua, NY and when it came playoff time, he always said that playoff baseball was different. He always said, “Some player’s sphincters get tight in the playoffs. Others don’t!”
The 2021 Dodgers are finally healthy. Bellinger, Taylor, and Muncy have been in slumps, but are all showing signs of breaking out. I think they have their swagger back. These guys are battle-tested and the cream always rises to the top. Sometimes it takes a while, but the cream always ends up on top. Go down the Dodgers and Giants lineups and compare. If you were building a team, who would you take?
- Catcher – You might take Buster Posey over Will Smith for one game, but Posey’s best days are behind him. I am riding Smith everytime.
- First Base – Based upon this year, Brandon Belt is having a better season, but is older. Would you take him over Muncy? Oh, and BTW, he is out for the playoffs,
- Second Base – Whoever plays 2B for the Giants can’t compare with Trea Turner. End of discussion.
- Shortstop – Brandon Crawford has had his career year, but would you take him over Corey Seager?
- Third Base – Bryant and Longoria (combined) may be close, but they are no Justin Turner.
- Left-Field – Darin Ruf or Pollock and Lux?
- Center Field – Maybe you would take Duggar, Dubon and Slater over Cody Bellinger, but if I had that choice, I would take Cody every time, as I believe he will be fine and his elite defense is huge.
- Right Field – Betts or Yas and Wade?
Statistically, the Giants are close to the Dodgers both in pitching and hitting, but if you line up the players, I do not see too many Giants players you would take over a Dodger counterpart. Yet, they continue to win. I can’t explain it. It’s an anomaly! Some things cannot be explained. Accept it and move on. The playoffs are a whole different animal. So, just be ready for that. Kershaw needs to pitch tonight so that it can be seen if he is ready for it. But no matter what, I would pitch Mitch White on Saturday and have a bullpen game on Sunday. Buehler and Urias need to rest.
Scherzer starts the Wild Card game and I would make sure to give several regulars Saturday and/or Sunday off to make sure they are fresh. Farhan Zaidi has to be the Executive of the Year as no one has done more with less. Gabe Kapler is the Manager of the Year… hands down. But, I am going to say that the possibility of not making the playoffs in 2022 is quite possible for the Giants. This has been a magical season and it leads me to believe someone sold their soul to the devil.
The World Championship is just a few wins away and this Dodger team is capable of going through the playoffs like a hot knife through butter. I have never been more confident than right this second! Let’s get ready to rumble!
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Discussion (91)
Disagree, not disagreeable
It’s crazy to think that this could be Kershaw last appearance on the mound as a Dodger
It’s difficult to see this happening to Kershaw.
CK looks to have lost 4-5 MPH on his FB and will need to most likely go to the BP in the post season.
I hope he comes back on a two year contract and retires as a lifetime Dodger but it’s fairly obvious his best playing days, like maybe all of us, are in the rear view mirror.
Love the guy and do not want to see him ever in another uniform but he needs to re-sign for maybe a two year $25 AAV and that would be recognizing who he is, what he has previously accomplished and what he means to the community and his Dodger legacy.
Regardless of how far we advance this year, there is a chance he just threw his last pitch. Ever.
If that elbow hurt, does he really want to go thru surgery at his age? And then miss all 2022 anyway?
It’s the UCL
Graterol sucks. He’s on my hope to get traded list.
Those games that Doc gave up on earlier in the season is haunting us. And those games that Doc rested multiple guys are haunting us.
Did you guys see Kershaw come out with the ball in his hands? do you think he knows something? or does it mean something?
So I do. Sadly
Chip away. The guys need to step up so Kersh doesn’t get the L.
I just saw the way the giants scored their second run. it’s amazing, pure luck
I hope nobody turned the game off.They done stepped up.
If it’s the UCL I don’t see CK going out this way. Mark just may be right and he will retire or maybe he gets the surgery, sits out a year and comes back. It’s doable.
The Dodgers haven’t quit but unfortunately the Padres have.
No to trading Trea.
The bottom of the fifth. Pretty cool TT. Lets hope it catches. Rally boys! Show it like you know it.
The Padres have to let Tingler go. They have basically given up and it appears he has lost the clubhouse.
Wonder if they’ll give Skip Schumacher a shot to manage or in the world of stranger things have happened how about Bochy to the Pads.
Now Giants can kindly lose the next three games while Dodgers win the next three. That would be the ticket! yeah, let the Giants play the cards and Dodgers get home field advantage the rest of the way.
Two down with two to go. Personally, the best thing for the Dodgers right now is play the wild card game and not have to play game 163 up in San Francisco. Because if they have to play game 163, Scherzer would most likely start that game. Giants play tomorrow afternoon, so the Dodgers will know if they have a chance to tie or are the wild card team before their game starts. Padres have done an excellent job of folding. That team is a mess. Who let that Giant fan on here and what the hell does he know about Dodger fans???? They said that CK left the game with forearm discomfort. In my mind, that puts him out of the playoffs. I also think it reduces the possibility of Kershaw returning next season if it turns out to be something that needs to be repaired by surgery. Urias, Buehler and Scherzer are a pretty formidable trio for any team to face. Felt happy for Beaty getting the PH homer. Albert comes through again. I absolutely love that guy. He gave Beaty a real bear hug. And I am an expert on those!
It will a shame if Kershaw’s career with the Dodgers ended last night that way. Hopefully we can get him a second World Series Championship if this was the final inning he will ever pitch. A true Dodger in every sense of the word. Class personified. Next move the Hall of Fame on the first ballot.