Breakthrough!
Well, Clayton Kershaw did not go 9 innings last night, but he was very dominant over 7 innings and he likely could have went at least another innng or two, but that is not how this new version of the Dodgers works. It was obvious before the game and during the game, that Clayton was intense, but not overly amped up. He said he treated it like any other start
Well, Clayton Kershaw did not go 9 innings last night, but he was very dominant over 7 innings and he likely could have went at least another innng or two, but that is not how this new version of the Dodgers works. It was obvious before the game and during the game, that Clayton was intense, but not overly amped up. He said he treated it like any other start and I think he did. He could have went 8 innings… maybe 9 innings, but why? With Morrow and Jansen in the pen with several days of rest, why push it? Maybe he will pitch deeper in game 5 (if it goes that far), but it worked. The Dodgers won, so there’s that. It was very hot at game time so there is that too!
Last night we again saw that the Dodgers have a plan and they work that plan.We also saw a team that would not be denied. You can want to win. You can have a desire to win, but do you have the will to win? The will to win starts with a want, a desire, but that alone is not enough. Sometimes less talented teams win because they simply believe that they will win. That belief becomes their destiny. I believe these are Destiny’s Dodgers. They believe and contine to impose their will on winning, no matter what.
Tonight, it’s Justin Verlander verses Rich Hill. This should be another pitchers duel. but you never know. This is eaxtly what FAZ had in mind when they signed Rich Hill over the winter. It’s time to deliver on the Big Stage. Justin Verlander has been lights out since he came to Houston, but these are Destiny’s Dodgers. They will not be denied!
Doc has said that Corey Seager will go back to his familiar #2 spot tonight. Who will catch and play 2B is the question? I am sure Andre Ethier will be in LF. I would roll with this lineup:
- Taylor CF
- Seager SS
- Turner 3B
- Bellinger 1B
- Puig RF
- Ethier LF
- Barnes C
- Forstyhe 2B
Utley can’t catch up to the fastball anymore – that’s my opinion. Pull up a chair… enjoy the ride. These guys are on a mission!
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Discussion (57)
Disagree, not disagreeable
blah…it’s annoying when you have a long post written and it tells you your reCAPTCHA verification failed and you lose everything you wrote. What I had written was so amazingly important.
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I just realize you have to wait for the captcha thing to give you a green check mark before you hit Post Comment
My favorite nugget of the post season: The Dodger bullpen has given up the fewest runs of any team this post season, including the Rockies and Twins one game.
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Good stuff from FanGraphs
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Longenhagen chat:
On Mitch White being a top 100 prospect:
I don’t. Was 90-92 for me during instructs and has had multiple injury issues dating back to college. He’s a good prospect, but probably a half grade beneath top 100 consideration.
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A question on Verdugo next year:
Is Alex Verdugo competing to be a starting outfielder next spring, or is he still looking at another year of seasoning in the minors?
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Eric A Longenhagen: The former.
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On Will Smith:
The skillset reads an awful lot like Austin Barnes. Same with Wong.
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FanGraphs also has a great look into Verlander and changes he’s made to encounter success:
The pitcher that exists today has a familiar-looking slider and the same old overpowering fastball. The changeup is gone and the curve is in the back pocket, but the two primary pitches have been effective, in part probably because of whatever Verlander got mechanically polished. Everything — everything — always has to work together. Verlander has it all working, and because of his rapid turnaround, he’s in position now to pitch a team to the World Series. Everyone, in some way, has gotten their wish.
Maybe Joc in left instead of Ethier? I’m not so sure Andre can catch up to a J.V. fastball. Joc would be better defensively, as well. We will soon see. Whatever the lineup, let’s win!
Is Barnes really that much better than Grandal? Is he playing because of his bat or his defensive/game calling ability? I thought Grandal was pretty stinkn’ good? Somebody help me out here?
Taylor
Seager
Turner
Belly
Puig
Joc
Barnes
Utley
Hill
I think I would have gone Forsythe but the Silver Fox is due.
Great read
We need 5-6 innings out of Hill. The bullpen has been awesome. We need the lefhanders Bellinger, Seager, Joc, and Utley step up tonight. Right now Taylor and Turner are just frickin tough. Taylor and Seager hit into double plays, but both balls were hit hard. If we can win this game against Verlander, I am not sure anything can stop the Dodgers.
I was hoping we would get a good umpire behind the plate, today.
Because sometimes in the past, we have had an umpire behind the plate, that just couldn’t see Hill’s curves, when they crossed the strike zone.
I just heard we are getting a hitter’s umpire tonight, so this umpire is going to have a very tight, strike zone.
But I still think we will find a way to win this game tonight!
I’m surprised to see Joc & Chase in there together.
Chase has really looked out of sorts so far in the Post Season, and Unless I missed something, Joc went back to AAA where he couldn’t hit either, and although he had a PH, it’s a big call.
You may be right Watford. I just do not think Ethier can catch up to a 93 MPH fastball anymore. So Joc is the better choice. I just think Doc wanted to start Utley one game. It may help him later on as a pinch hitter. He has not had many at bats lately. Grandal is the one that does surprise me. Doc is going to put the best catcher on the field and right now that is Barnes. Barnes is just forcing the issue. I just love it when Barnes, Taylor and Turner were utility players and they just got better and forced their way on to the field. Now look at Turner. He is an elite hitter and defensive third baseman.
Forsythe makes that play.
Lmao, Joc, unbelievable
Peterson !!!
MJ, clearly this umpire does not have have a tight strike against the Dodgers . Earlier in the game Joc has two breaking balls outside the box called strikes, and the same happened to Bellinger on a couple of fastballs.
But as I was writing this Joc ran into one. No one, including Verlander is unhittable. Now let’s just keep the Stros off the board.
Taylor IS the mvp !!!
Turner y seager hit hr. But Taylor make It posible!!
Boy, Doc is not messing around. stripling is gone after 4 pitches.
Morrow is pretty damn good.
That double play was 5-6-3 NOT 6-5-3.
Run prevention focus on positioning: Tonight the Dodgers have turned 5-6-3 double plays from each side of the diamond in this game. Welcome to the new world.
Love watching Rich Hill.
Love it.
A HR by a player not on the NLCS roster, and one who spent some of the 2nd half of the season in the minors.
Depth.
We knew it wasn’t going to be that easy!
Walk it off!!!
If the Dodgers lose this it is on Doc for going to the pen way too early.
Dumbass move to take out Hill in the 4th.
Fuck!!
This is all about the little things. Dodgers unable to push across a run in the 8th. Puig coming within an inch or less of making a great catch. Bellinger just missing a walkoff by a fraction of an inch off the bat. Even the foul ground ball that Seager hit past third in the 9th was close to being a double down the line.