Can The Dodgers Sweep the Braves?
Sean Newcomb is left-handed and almost no-hit the Dodgers once this year. The other time the Dodgers faced him, they lit him up. Which Newcomb will they face today? Maybe it s not which pitcher they face maybe it s what approach the hitters take and you will see a different approach because there will be different hitters tonight. Most likely this will be the lineup: C Grandal (You don t take
Sean Newcomb is left-handed and almost no-hit the Dodgers once this year. The other time the Dodgers faced him, they lit him up. Which Newcomb will they face today? Maybe it’s not which pitcher they face… maybe it’s what approach the hitters take and you will see a different approach because there will be different hitters tonight. Most likely this will be the lineup:
- C – Grandal (You don’t take out a guy who has caught back-to-back shutouts… especially when he is a switch-hitter)
- 1B – Freese
- 2B – Dozier (Here’s your chance, Brian)
- SS – The usual
- 3B – The usual
- LF – Kemp
- CF – Taylor
- RF – Kike
The lineup is more problematic, because you have to think like Doc, but this is likely the lineup:
- Taylor CF
- Turner 3B
- Freese 1B
- Machado SS
- Kemp LF
- Kike RF
- Grandal C
- Dozier 2B (But Bull could lead-off – with Doc, you never know)
There’s really no right answer as to where players hit, in my opinion because, like I always say: “Bloom where you are planted.” It’s up to the hitters to hit whereever they are. I am not a big fan of the All Righty lineup, but there are some potent and patient bats there. They should be able to handle Newcomb. Newcomb is often called “a horse” because he is 6′ 5″ and 255 pounds. Good, let the Dodgers RIDE him! Make no mistake, Newcomb is a very good pitcher – he was the 15th pick in the 2014 draft (that’s how bad teams get good again) and can hit triple digits. He has four pitches, although none as good as his fastball.
Striker (I refuse to call him Walker) Buehler
It’s easier said than done, but to beat Newcomb, the Dodgers need to make him throw strikes and then hit THEIR pitch. Simple to say – Hard to do! Newcomb is of the same ilk as Striker Buehler. When is he going to change his name? I will pay for it! Walker may have been his great grandafthers name or maybe his parents were Chuck Norris fans and named him Walker after that Texas Ranger. At any rate, baby Buehler was not born a pitcher, but he evolved and developed into one. Walks are bad for pitchers. Strikes are good. Get rid of all the negative influences on the mound – Change your name to Striker. I said I would pay for it! If you were an opposing player, who would you be more afraid of, a guy named Walker or a beast named Striker? I rest my case! Striker Buehler goes today!
This Team is Built for the Post Season
The pitching is dramatically deeper than last year with the health of Ryu and the arrival of Striker. That alone makes the bullpen deeper with Wood and Maeda being pushed there. Forget the stats: that’s history, this is what counts. Pedro Baez has been unhittable, Caleb Ferguson is very solid and Dylan Floro has a superior ERA. Ryan Madson and Scott Alexander are the mop-up guys. Even though last years bullpen included Brandon Morrow, I think the playoff version of the 2018 Dodger bullpen is better than last years version.
The bench is much deeper, no matter if lefties or righties are hitting. Matt Kemp, David Freeze and even Brian Dozier are dangerous, experienced hitters. However, the biggest differece in this 2018 version of the Dodgers is that they are battle-tested, they have scars and they have experience. They are determined and galvanized to win this all. Sean Newcomb is capable of shutting them down, but Striker Buehler is also capable of the same. Tonight’s game could very well be won by the bullpen. It might be 0-0 going into the 7th inning. Both of these young pitchers are destined for greatness… but I think the Dodger’s experience and determination will win out.
Other News
- The Astros are about to finish off the Indians and the Brewers are about to do the same to the Rockies. However, this is baseball and it ain’t over until you squeeze that final out.
- David Price again shows he can’t be trusted in the post-season where he has a 2-9 record with a 5.28 ERA. This is a classic case of why you should not sign aging pitchers to a long-term contract. I would not be the least bit surprised to see the Yankees beat the Red Sox. Again, I think the Yanks are built for the Post-Season… much like the Dodgers.
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Discussion (90)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Now that is an impressive comeback. Buehler has settled down and let’s see if he can keep them at 5. Pressure is right back on Atl.
I agree… definitely a learning lesson for him. As Smoltz said on the broadcast though… with the bases loaded, he should have been told by Yaz or Honeycutt to go back to the windup… I think it would have helped him out a lot.
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Also agree that they’re going to make a comeback. I’m think they’ll probably hit at least two home runs… and I’m feeling Machado and Kike tonight.
You’re right Mark. He lived up to his given name today. He totally forgot that you re-named him.
The Dodgers will come back and win this game.
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This is an overconfidence lesson for Striker. He needs to change his name.
Bueller just has to hang on, and Dodgers offense just has to rise to the occasion. Six more innings for the Dodgers to make up a 3 run deficit. All it takes is two bloops and a blast.
Peck away. The Braves pen isn’t good.
Machado is consistently unimpressive
Fuck Machado..well better is losing for 3 than losing for 5 ”.. go Dodges we need runs
A little surprised they burned Freese that early after the second run scored.
Aw, let the braves win one for their fans. Rich hill can be a hero tomorrow. Rotation can reset for NLcs. Interested to see bullpen use tonight. Feels like a Madson night.
Well he’s gonna be a great pitcher but he’s gonna have some blips before he fits the #1 ace that many have declared he is. Yips galore dammit to hell. Sure hope the offense kicks this into gear and rescues the kid. Dammit!
Things sure snowballed right from Bellinger’s error.
Fuck..now la presion is on Dodgers
Glad I got a message on my phone that the game was about to start. I believe that I saw earlier that the game wasn’t supposed to start until 9:30 pm ET. Was I wrong, or was there a change?
I posted a guess the other day that Kike’ would start at 2B tonight. I also thought it was possible that Doc would ignore Puig’s reverse splits, and start Puig in RF, if only for his defense. I guess 1 out of 2 ain’t bad. But given that I expect Bueller to pitch well tonight, I would have gone with the defense. Maybe Doc is punishing Puig for his baserunning mistake the other day, or just wants to get Kemp into a game (I suspect it’s the latter).
I’ll admit, I’m quit stunned Milwaukee’s pitching is causing these Rockie hitters to lay down like dogs! We need to match the Brewers today and end this.
See the ads, but they are a very little nuisance to put up with for all the pleasure and benifit this sight brings.
FEEL THE BLUE
GO DODGERS
Great lineup for a close out game. Love Freese in the 3 hole behing JT. Watch out for him to come up with a dagger hit tonight. Like having Belli in there too, and riding a hot Kike doesnt hurt either. Looks like Roberts may be going with hot hands instead of match ups this series. Hope he keeps it up. I know Kemp in RF is a risk, but he is money with guys one base. Good veteran line up for an away game.
Sorry about the ads. They are a nusiance and I did not authorize them. I will see that they are gone soon…
I like the lineup overall… the only thing that makes me nervous is Kemp playing RF, he hasn’t looked comfortable out there this year. I much prefer him playing in LF if he’s going to be in the starting lineup.
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I love Kike staying at 2B though… If it ain’t broken, don’t break it!
Taylor-LF
Turner-3b
Freese-1b
Machado-SS
Kemp-RF
Belli-CF
Kike-2B
Grandal-c
And here it is …..
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Game 3 lineup:
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Taylor LF
Turner 3B
Freese 1B
Machado SS
Kemp RF
Bellinger CF
Hernandez 2B
Grandal C
Buehler P
It’s like a tale of two managers… the one who managed the first 162 games and the one who managed the last 3 games. I much prefer the one who managed the last 3 games… just not sure where he’s been all year.
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As for the lineup today… this would be my guess.
Kike LF
Turner 3B
Freese 1B
Machado SS
Kemp LF
Grandal C
Taylor CF
Dozier 2B
Buehler P
Uribe! Uribe! Uribe! Uribe!
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It was five years ago today that the Dodgers finished off Atlanta in the NLDS, thanks to Juan Uribe’s two run home run in the 8th inning… then KJ came in to close it down in the 9th. It was a great game to be at… the stadium was shaking.
Buehler tonight, end this series tonight. The Braves will not go quietly.