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
Its a lot of presion for Machado
the Bultler’s tantrum cost was high
I think Murphy was at this game. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Bueller waking the pitcher with the bases loaded, Taylor swinging at ball 3 in what might have been a big inning, and finally Muncy swinging at what looked to be ball 4 with two runners on and only one out.
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And as much as I would like to see the Dodgers sign Machado, I’m getting sick of watching him swinging for the fences everytime he steps to the plate. Can’t tell me that other teams haven’t seen that and are pitching him accordingly. It’s just the opposite of what I recall seeing when he joined the Dodgers. If memory serves his first Dodger hit was a pitch that he went with to right field.
Why didn’t Machado run to first on his strike out with Pederson on third. Ball went to backstop, who knows what might of happened with throw to first. What am I missing?
I don’t think that removing Bueller had anything to do with this loss. After he left the Braves scored just one run, and the Dodgers failed to follow-up their early comeback by squandering oppotunities to get back even and take the lead.
This loss shouldn’t surprise us. We came back by the home run, but once again, could’t cash in with RISP, Like AC, Mark, and a few others have posted the last 3 or 4 months, this is how FAZ built this team, it’s who we are, warts and all. Feast or famine sometimes. After Joc and JT had great at bats in the 9th, same old song and dance with the strike outs. What really bothered me was Machado’s at bat after Turners walk. He immediately got in a swinging 0-2 hole, then looked like a rookie swinging at a pitch that was about a foot outside, didn’t even try to work the count like Turner and Joc. He actually looked kind of scared up there, not calm or confident. Wouldn’t break the bank for this guy next year. Great come back, we will close it out tomorrow.
Bobo, that occurred to me also. I thought maybe I was overlooking some rule that kept Machado from running. Probably would have been just a routine throw to first for an out, but like you said, there is no way to know what might have happened.
I guess reason Machado didn’t attempt to go to first is because he’s no Chase Utley.
2demeter2, I thought first was open, Pederson on 3rd, JT on 2nd.
I’m confident that the Dodgers can close it out tomorrow too, but I don’t assume anything. I’m sure that many of you recall the Odd Couple episode in which Felix Unger let us know why it’s not a good idea to assume anything.
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The Dodger website has the Braves throwing Foltynewicz tomorrow on 3 days rest. Maybe the Dodgers will light him up, but I think we all recognize that he has the stuff to shut any team down. I don’t know if 3 days rest will adversely effect him, but you never know. And although Rich Hill can be great, there are also days on which he can be awful.
I personally don’t think the Dodgers can win everything without some timely hitting WRISP. They can’t change who they are overnight (HR’s or bust), but ONE hit by Machado with bases loaded wins this game.
Thanks , 2demeter2 and campy for explaining Machado strikeout question.
Read all the above posts – all valid.
However, how come Bellinger gets a free pass?
Forget the error – what about his hitting or rather lack of?
Put him on the bench ASAP – looks totally lost