The Dodgers Bullpen has pitched 36.2 innings in the playoffs this year. The Braves bullpen has pitched 23.2 innings. The Dodgers bullpen is tired. Let me remind you that many of your mocked and ridiculed me when I suggested resting the pitchers the last two weeks of the season and concede the division to the Giants. I wanted to win the WAR, not the battle. Well, they did not do it my way and the Dodgers staff is gassed! I TOLD YOU SO!
Eric says that Doc doesn’t always pay attention to splits, and reverse splits. What do you wanna’ bet that Doc has access to about 100 times more info on splits than we will ever have? We are rank amateurs while the Dodger analytic staff makes him a professional.
About two weeks ago, Dodgers Nation wrote this:
Believe it or not, this is Julio Urias’s fifth postseason with the Dodgers. The 25-year-old was dominant during last year’s championship run as both a starter and a reliever. Urias could once again be used in a dual role in the 2021 playoffs.
No one – I mean NO ONE thought that was a bad idea at the time. In fact, Julio did not throw a bullpen session over the weekend so that he could be ready, in case he was needed. If Julio would have struck out the side, no one would have said a word, but the fact that it didn’t, enabled some people to feel that they were smarter because they could use their circular thinking to make them feel that they are actually more qualified than a major league manager, who happens to work for a guy who has what is probably the best analytics department in baseball with a thousand times more information at his fingertips than any fan.
By the way, if anyone wants to debate that, give me your point and I will give you my counter-point. I can do it all day long. There are reasons not to pitch Julio and they are reasons to pitch him… unless you are blinded by circular thinking!
If you hate your life or feel underappreciated, it is also a way to give yourself a false sense of being intelligent… more intelligent than the manager. Of course, it was circular thinking that led to that conclusion, but who cares? Well, I do. I did not like the move either, but if it had worked it was not an issue with me and if it didn’t I would be a miserable second-guesser… and yes, second-guessers are a miserable group. It was a decision that was made. That’s all it was!
The fact that any move works does not necessarily make it a smart move. Sometimes it’s just luck or chance. The same is true if a move doesn’t work. The fact that it doesn’t work does not necessarily make it a bad move. Again, chance and circumstance are involved. I may be a little different from many of you in the fact that I have to make many decisions every day. I try and get a consensus of my managers and employees, I gather all the data and analytics and try and make rational well-reasoned decisions, but on any given day, half the people think I am dumb! It comes with the territory.
Sometimes the result of that decision is not readily apparent. Sometimes it takes weeks or months for the results to be known. I make some right decisions and I make some mistakes. The same is true with Dave Roberts. Does the fact that you disagreed with his decision make it a dumb or wrong decision? It’s more likely that if you think it was dumb, that you are the dumb one. Why? Let’s deal with the instant “dumb move” – putting Julio Urias into the game in the 8th inning. I guarantee you that Dave Roberts talked to Andrew Friedman and the Front Office about it. Dave talked to Julio about it and Dave talked to his staff about it. THAT’S WHAT THEY DO. THat’s how they operate. There is no right or wrong to this move. It’s a move! Feel free to disagree, but it’s not always right or wrong. It’s subjective.
It was not a flip, off-the-wall move, but it was reasoned out by a group of people, not just Dave Roberts. The Dodgers do not do things like that. So, the fact that you think it was a dumb move is circular reasoning that has no basis in fact. It was dumb because you are mad the Dodgers lost and you think you know better because you are unhappy with your lot in life at work (home, wherever) and that causes you to want to excel at something. So you criticize the decision and your misery gains company because there are lots of miserable people like you. Maybe…
By the way, even though the Dodgers bullpen has been exposed by the number of innings pitched, their ERA is just 2.21. I know that many of you think they should have a 0.00 ERA if it wasn’t for that “stupid Roberts.” A 2.21 ERA is really, really good for that number of innings. You can’t be a dumbass and manage a bullpen to that ERA… and the bullpen WHIP is 0.79!
The real problem is the hitting… or total lack thereof. However, yesterday, most of you focused on blaming Doc. Doc does not hit… and of course, his players did not either. Among the four teams left in the playoffs, the Dodgers have the worst batting average (.215) of all the teams. They have scored the least amount of runs and are tied with Atlanta for the fewest HR’s. They have the second-best OB% of the four teams and lead all teams in Walks. They just can’t hit. You people are losing your minds about subjective pitching choices while the offense is the issue. Quit Fiddling while Rome is Burning!
Of course, some other morons will post articles or blogs saying the same thing that you are saying, and rest assured: The World is FULL of Circular-Thinking Fools! Thank you, but I have a brain and will think for myself. This lack of offense is troublesome and something will be done if the season ends prematurely. That said, these guys can still go off! Right about now, my idea of resting the pitching staff the last two weeks of the season looks pretty good. Actually, that was just my opinion. There is no right or wrong to it. People second guess and engage in circular thinking because they have been conditioned to think there are right and wrong answers to everything. Life is not like that, but the sports world and this nation is full of people who think they have the right answers and if you disagree, you are wrong. It’s black and white, up and down, left and right, red and blue, and evil and good. There is no middle ground.. and that is very foolish! I suggest we focus on reality and quit inventing strawmen.
That said, it is a free country and you can do what you want. I will silence those who are vulgar, nasty, and obnoxious, but if you want to use the circular thinking that “Everyone knows Dave Roberts is a bad manager and the fact that he put in Julio Urias proves it” Lunacy, then expect to be called out for that kind of circular BS.
People criticize others for many reasons, such as the following:
- Because of Jealousy – When someone feels jealous of someone else, he might feel like putting him down. People might criticize others just because they are jealous of them.
- To Feel Good About Themselves – Some people criticize others to feel good about themselves. The desire to feel better than others can motivate psychologically unbalanced people to criticize others.
- Because They were Criticized as Children – If a person grew up in a home where he was always criticized, he will do the same to people. The voices inside that person’s head will keep repeating themselves and as a result he will spit his thoughts out in the form of criticizm.
- Because They are Mean – Mean people criticize others with the goal of making them feel bad about themselves. Mean people know that criticism hurts and so they use it to hurt others.
- Because They want to Show Power – Sometimes a person will criticize another person just to demonstrate his or her power.
- Because They want to Demonstrate Their Knowledge – Some people criticize others to demonstrate their knowledge and to prove that they know more.
- Because They want to deny Their own Flaws – Some people accuse others of things they themselves do, in order to deny their own flaws. It’s very common for a hypocrite (racist, bigot) to say that other people are hypocrites, racists or bigots. By saying so he prevents himself from ever seeing his own personal flaws.
- Because They want to Release Hatred -When a person hates someone he might criticize him in order to release some of the hatred present towards that person.
There. I have said my piece and I guess I am guilty of criticizing the criticizers. I am sorry- it is not for the purpose of offending. It is to help you grow. I realize most of the criticizers will blow this off, but if it helps just one to see the folly, then my job is done.
Now – Let’s Roll!
Discussion (76)
Disagree, not disagreeable
On the Dodger website it says Urias is pitching tonight. Very quietly, Seager tied Turner for the all time lead in post season HR’s by a Dodger with 13. Bellinger’s shot was his 8th. And his fifth that tied the game or put the Dodgers ahead.
I turned the game off in the 6th inning. I was totally frustrated and pretty pissed off. They seemed like they did not care. Bad at bats, leaving runners on base again. After watching some regular TV for a while I switched back to the game to see how bad it was, and low and behold it was tied. Taylor steals second, and Mookie scorches one in the gap and they are ahead. Now I see a really fired up bench and fan base. All that sword waving the Braves were doing earlier in the game was gone. Then Jansen comes in and absolutely blows three hitters away. WOW. What an ending. And I think that game serves as a catalyst and momentum changer for the team. The baseball gods smiled down and they responded.
UN BEE LIEVE ABLE
Not much more I can say.
But onto the next one. The Turner boys need to get it going and I believe they will.
That HAS to put a jolt into the guys.
Think Blue
Man oh man, I had to get up early this morning so I could not watch the game to the end yesterday and just finishe up the last 3.5 innings. Had not much hope after witnessing how the Dodgers offense went down inning after inning after the CS homer.
To see them come back and eventually win this game I had to pinch myself to see if I am really awake or dreaming.
What a monumental comeback at a most critical time! And how about Cody Bellinger ? All year he swung and missed on that high cheese and now he belts it out for the tying HR! If that is not Hollywood scripted I dont know.
Can be a huge momentum swing in this series if you come back from the dead like that.
One thing for sure: it never ever is easy with our Dodgers. Win or lose, you better have your heart pills ready any time.
Good to see that guys like Phillipp and Bruihl came threw for us too in pressure cooker situations. Should give DR confidence in them .
Lets hope Julio can give us a solid 5,6 innings today before the bullpen game on Thursday. Need to tie this series up today and ride that momentum. DS will certainly be shaking to its grounds today.
BTW, did you see that game in Boston ? RedSox brought in their game 2 starter Eovaldi in relief to get them to the bottom of the ninth and he imploded after he thought he had strike 3 to end the inning.
Same strategy DR used with Julio in game 2 and it backfired for Boston too.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The brewers won early in September and then they dedicated themselves to just floating in the water, they lost a lot of games and they got cold, when they wanted to start the engines they could no longer, they were already cold and the season was over for them; There is a plan, a script, a script but this changes according to the circumstances, the brewers did what you wanted the Dodgers to do and they are already eliminated, while so many Dodgers are fighting for the championship.
The pitching of the dodgers, mainly the relievers are not gassed, Buehler left early today and they did the job again, they only allowed one run, it is the pitching that has sustained this team since the all-star game, the same players They have mentioned it, and they are the ones who are going to lead us to victory if the offense supports them with some runs, they will not need many runs scored, just enough and they will take us to the championship.
I would sit Lux, play Taylor in CF & Pollock in LF.
Bench is Pujols, Beaty, Barnes, Lux, Caveman.
Graterol & Treinen rested for tomorrow.
Vesia
Bruihl
Bickford
Phillips
Who are these guys?!?!
Buehler showed some real class and maturity. This was his quote after the game:
“Gavin’s confident enough and talented enough to handle that kind of stuff. That inning is on me, not on him, not on the umpire.”
You puff out your chest when you have a great outing, and you take responsibility when you have a poor outing. That’s how the good ones react to adversity. Good on you Walker!
Carson Taylor with a HR tonight too 🙂
Great comeback.
Overcame some bad breaks in 4th inning.
And found a way to win.
Don’t forget Will Smith and Pollock putting the ball in play and getting hits.
And that HR from Bellinger was shocking but amazing!
Fantastic win!
Now let’s get a win tomorrow!
I want to go get three or 4 pints of Häagen-Dazs but the wife won’t let me because I’ve had too many beers. Which is smart I wouldn’t want her to react in any other way but I thought she feel sorry for me and go get them herself.
She said she won’t do it because she’ll binge herself and then she’ll blame me and we’ll get into a fight.
So I guess it out to the back porch and burn one until I can’t stay awake any more go Dodgers , go Cody, go dodger fans and LADT
JT and TT are going to have to show up at some point aren’t they? Happy for Pollock’s base hit in the 8th and can we now proudly proclaim Will Smith just might be the best catcher in MLB. Dude is a stud.
I’m sure it’s been talked about here but Bellinger is definitely 6 or more inches off the plate now and choking up so I guess he’s not so stubborn and not listening to coaching.
{LADT Family Hug}
Talking to the grandkids:.” ….. And that, children, is how the Dodgers started an epic comeback and went on to win the World Series”
Wow! What a game. I’m sure Lux is happier than anyone. I’m glad he got let off the hook. He’s been put in a tough spot.
I think Roberts really F’d up game 2 but I will say I like the way they have run more this postseason.
And I’m a huge Lux fan. Kids gonna be an all star. That sun was brutal today. So happy Belli took him off the hook!
Call the parmedics!! Gdam baseball is gonna kill me!! Holy Cow!
Could not be happier for Belli. High, hard fb ……… BUHBYE.
cheers
pb+
Lol. When I saw those fans leaving top of the 8th , that was a sign from above Dodgers would pull it out.
We hit, we win.
Never give up.
Bellinger and Jansen! All the doubters line up behind me!!!!!!!
CIRCULAR Baserunning!
ON A HIGH FASTBALL!!!!!!!!
Oh My God!!!!!!
It may be time to move Belly to 4 or 5 in the lineup.
Ohhhhhhhhhhhh My goodddddd….Bellinger for Presidente!!!!!!!!!!! Hope series changer Home run
Lux was to blame for that play, but not that they are losing neither this game nor the series. it’s obvious the Braves have been better.
I hope things change, but please don’t start with the tiredness argument. Accept that Atlanta’s hitters and relievers have been better.
Maybe it was my perception but I saw Walker delivered after Joc’s hit and walked and he didn’t mind getting out of the game.
go Dodgers there is still time
do not mention starters because I think the Dodgers have been better, a little
Man, Lux is devastated somebody needs to go over there and put their arm around the kids shoulder and tell him everything‘s gonna be OK it’s not his fault. Every shot in the dugout the kids just got a painful look on its face it’s hard to look at
Trea Turner just refuses to take what they’re giving him. In the shift, they pitch him high and away, yet he refuses to go with the pitch.
Betts and Seager are 2=4 combined. Rest of the team is 0-10.
Something’s gotta break the Dodgers way.
I’m not a fan of Gavin lux. Maybe later he will turn into a good baseball player but for right now I’m not a fan. And this opinion is before he dropped that ball.
Something I harp on all the time. One bad call by the ump costs possibly 4 runs & chases our starter. ROBOUMPS anyone?
Not our year . I retire for today.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!
I will now be the one to question Lux at center & not Mookie or CT. MANY have mentioned that, and I defer to all of you. You were correct.
And that mis-play in center seems to have really shook Buehler
Man, man,man, what else can go wrong ? First Lux misplays it in CF, then the ump misses strike three and then another broken bat falls in for an rbi.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am convinced that the Baseball Gods are against us.
The inning should be over with no score. Instead, it is tied.
Well, that was Roberts’s fault anyway.
Well we got the early two runs out of the way. Time for the offense to resume its slumber. I hope that Buehler can resume his ace status quickly. Before I finished this, he gives up 2, so looks like maybe Ace Buehler is taking the day off.
Still, if the Dodgers hit, they win. If they don’t, they won’t.
And that sports fans is one of the reasons we miss Max. Belli would have caught that ball. Lux is not a CF yet. Yep Watford, take the lead and then to not pile on.
I’ve seen this script before.
On top, chances to really make a statement, but not converting.
Let’s hope for a different outcome.
I gotta say, and okay that it is just me, but a dude wearing a “pearl necklace” IS NOT a good look. Bad haircut & a pearl necklace.
Two runs, great!!! …..but 3 more runners left …that’s not good. As the last 2 games with need more runs
Man, once again we can not get the big hit to cash in. Had Morton on the ropes early and let him off the hook.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Boston does Granny’s in the first. Why can’t LA?
2 out 2 on.
This is where legends and winners are made!
I have always said that they are capable of just flipping the switch.
Could that double play with 2 on , no out be the momentum changer we are looking for ?
Go Dodgers!!!!!!
Buehler, tired arm too?
edit ….. buehler owes lux a beer
There’s a lot to be decided between now and then, but Trea Turner is the contingency to Seager leaving. If Seager goes to the Yankees, Andrew Friedman will make sure that Cashman overpays just like with Cole. I am fine with that. It’s not a given that Scherzer is signable by the Dodgers – someone may really overpay.
I think that the Baseball Gods frown on teams who try and sign everyone.
With Buehler, Urias, Gonsolin, May, White, Pepiot, Miller, Knack, and others on the staff, Kershaw, Bauer and Scherzer being gone would not be the death of us.
Mark, you’re all right in my book, but including commenters in your main posts seems a bit petty and beneath a man of letters such as yourself.
It’s good to be king.
Yankees extend Boone for 3 years. Yankee fans not really happy about that. The head football coach at WSU, Nick Rolovich and 4 of his assistant coaches were fired for refusing to get vaccinated.
Life always intervenes. I found out this morning that a good friend and a great musician passed away earlier this month. Music and baseball, my two passions. Bonnie’s passion was country music, and he was playing it right up to the end at age 79. He self taught himself how to play lead guitar. He had always played rhythm before that, and he did that at age 70. He was a fun guy to be around and even more fun to pick with. He had a great sense of humor and could be counted on to tell a few really bad jokes. At a Pickin on the Porch get together he made me totally lose it one time. I was singing Seven Spanish Angels and in the middle of the chorus he said, you sure they aren’t Italian?? He will be missed. RIP Bonnie Bond.
Interestingly, 538 still gives us a 36% chance of winning the LCS, and Fan Graphs gives us a 30% chance. That tells you how talented this team is, based on prior performance. We still have a 1 in 3 chance of taking the league championship, despite being down 2-0. My personal take on this is that it is extremely hard to repeat as WS-champions, because baseball often hinges on the little things, especially in a limited number of games, like a playoff series. Having said that, we still have a shot at winning this.
I think that it is legitimate to criticize a manager’s decision. It seems short-sighted to have used Julio. I do agree, though, that the big problem here is the dismal hitting except for Mookie, Will, and, amazingly, Belli (to a lesser degree).
The big question for tonight is will they hit Charlie Morton, who is probably the Braves’ best pitcher? I am still optimistic.
Today’s 5pm ET Lineup:
Career vs C. Morton
HITTERS H-AB RBI HR K AVG
M. BettsRF 7-24 1 1 1 .292
C. SeagerSS 0-2 0 0 1 .000
T. Turner2B 1-9 1 0 5 .111
W. SmithC 0-2 0 0 1 .000
J. Turner3B 4-10 2 0 1 .400
G. LuxCF 1-2 0 0 0 .500
C. Bellinger1B 1-5 0 0 0 .200
C. TaylorLF 1-3 0 0 1 .333
W. BuehlerP 0-2 0 0 2 .000
BTW, I didn’t take today’s post personally, and I hope most didn’t and I understand that you need to prod a little and put stuff out there that’s …. out there … to generate a lively discussion. I would make a request, however. I would avoid using the race card, especially to even obliquely suggest someone’s opinions on Roberts are in any way motivated by racism. The obsessive cultish fixation on racism everywhere is so socially destructive. You should know this better than most people based on your own personal experience.
Me: “Although I can understand the reasoning behind why the Dodgers opted to put in Urias in that situation, I think the front office and Roberts are overthinking things to a fault. The bullpen has been incredibly solid for the past 2.5 months and Roberts had lots of options. Why change things up now just to be cute?”
Timmons: “You are a hateful, mean, jealous person who wasn’t hugged enough as a child by your mom and you’re just trying to deny your own flaws and racism and misogyny by projecting your knowledge as a means to demonstrate your power as a compensatory mechanism to try to feel good about yourself.”
Me: “Huh?”
Timmons: “… and anyone who disagrees with the above is obviously guilty of the above …but, just to be clear, this is definitely NOT circular reasoning … at all.”
Oh well! I guess you got me! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
LOL … btw, I realize it wasn’t directed at me specifically, but … really? Anyway, let’s have fun with it.
“What do you wanna’ bet that Doc has access to about 100 times more info on splits than we will ever have? We are rank amateurs while the Dodger analytic staff makes him a professional.”
I’m sure he does. Does that make his decision making infallible? Does that mean, as knowledgeable fans, we are not allowed to question potentially fallible decisions? This is what’s called the Appeal to Authority fallacy. Being in a position of leadership or authority or having a credential does not guarantee a person is right. It usually helps that a person is an expert or is knowledgeable about a certain subject and conveys credibility, but lay people still need to hold them accountable. It’s why it is wise to get second opinions when you get medical care. It’s why, IMO, no one should be listening to word from Fauci anymore. It’s why, IMO, the near religious veneration people have for Tony Baloney is another great example of the Appeal to Authority fallacy …and also a hefty dose of group think.
And actually, your whole post today, if I may respectfully opine, is one big giant fallacious argument. The important point – and this is they key – is that you’re NOT attacking the ARGUMENT with which you disagree. You are attacking THE PERSON making the argument with which you disagree. You operate on the foundation that the opposing argument is already naturally wrong, so you’re ascribing motivations and reasons why your interlocuter has such naturally wrong arguments. It must be because he was criticized as a child or is racist …or whatever.
This is a great example of circular reasoning, or more accurately ad hominem used to create a circle. I would add this kind of argument is the single most destructive thing that is contributing to the social polarization we are facing in this country. It’s not just that those people from that other political party are wrong on policy, it’s that they are racist, misogynist, want to kill grandma, hate science … and on and on. No one addresses that actual substance of the disagreements. Ever. …. and it will destroy us.
So, back to baseball, as disappointing as the results the last two games, I don’t really blame manager decisions. If anything, you could argue that the Braves were the team doing stupid stuff. Advancing to 2nd base on a flyout was pretty reckless …. but it worked b/c Pollock didn’t execute the throw. Sending Albies home was a pretty reckless move, but he made a perfect slide and What’s-His-Name in right field took about 10 seconds to uncork his throw to the plate. He didn’t double clutch. I think he quadruple clutched. Betts would have nailed him …probably … but you never know with playoff baseball.
This is playoff baseball, and why it’s so different from the regular season. It’s single plays, either executed or not executed, that decide the outcome.
Of all the players in this Post-Season, Kike Hernandez has the most At Bats (36). He also has the most hits (18). If you are mathematically challenged, that is a .500 BA. He has a 1.541 OPS and is slugging 1.028. He has 5 HR and 4 doubles. Freddy Freeman is 4 for 21 with 11 strikeouts.
Go figure.
I have seen a lot of baseball; some have seen more, some less. For my part, this was one of the strangest decisions I have ever seen in the playoffs: taking out your best or second best relief pitcher after nine pitches , to put in the pitcher who was going to start Game 4, so he could pitch one inning, ostensibly because there were lefthanded hitters coming up; and then leaving him in after giving up two hits, and and with a righthanded hitter coming up, who drove in the tying run.
And saying that ‘Urias was the best option at the time,” is both questionable, plus it ignores the other factors about the rest of the game, the series going forward, what you are going to do in the next inning. It exuded desperation, though they certainly did not look at it that way. We have a two-run lead, two innings to go, and we now have to put a starting pitcher, the Game 4 starter, in to pitch the eighth? And when he gives up two hits, and obviously does not look near his best, you leave him in–because it was the preconceived plan? The end result was that our so-called set-up man pitched one inning, nine pitches, and our closer pitched to one batter. And we lost a 4-2 lead and the game. If that is considered good managing, then I don’t know what so-called bad managing might look like.
Do people come into things with preconceived opinions, and then look for evidence to support them? Of course, and it goes both ways, for and against. But to propose that every perception is hopelessly biased because of preconceptions, would mean that there was no empirical reality, just a bunch of opinions, none better than the other. I don’t think that is true.
Well, we have a game to win today, and we can certainly still win the series; though if Urias is not ready for game 4, that is a hindrance, but I guess we can start the opener again, and throw Gonsolin in for a few more bad innings, and go from there. Teams have certainly rallied from down 2-0, we did it against the Braves last year. But I will still think that Roberts made a ridiculous, because unnecessary, decision in the last game, and I felt that way the minute I realized that he was going to take Treinen out and put Urias in for a whole inning.
So, no one wants to bench TT….
How about move him down in the lineup to either 7 or 8?
He is not doing well with RISP and poor Mookie is not able to score many runs. We need our 3 hitter to hit and have RBIs.
So, are you still comfortable with TT batting 3rd?
As for me personally, I’d move him to 8 to take some pressure away….or I’d bat him first and put Mookie at the 3 hole.
Thoughts?
So Atlanta gets to play two home games under the lights before sell out fanatical crowds doing that ridiculous chop thing – and we get to play at a half empty Dodger Stadium at 2pm.
So much for home field advantage.
Thanks again Bob
Mark , I was one of those who vehemently disagreed with your strategy of conceding the West to the Giants in the final weeks of the season. I believe that the Dodgers showed great CHARACTER , FIGHT and DETERMINATION in refusing to concede, even though they barely came up short. This is the same character, fight and determination they need NOW, being two games down , and these guys have shown they ain’t gonna quit . It’s way to early for ANYBODY to crow about I told you so’s. As a Dodger FAN , I RESPECT the way the Dodgers refused to concede the division, and ultimately ELIMINATED the Giants. As far as the Urias thing, why is it so monumentally difficult to admit Roberts made a move that didn’t work out??? Game two of a seven game series , with a team that has shown time and time again the ability to overcome adversity . As has been pointed out many times here by smart people, it was a TEAM LOSS and I would appreciate it if Roberts would take just a little little bit of responsibility when his decisions don’t work out. JUST SAY IT. All that said we are one win away from regaining momentum and going on to win this thing.
The Dodgers are now saying that Julio may not be ready for game 4. How does that make you feel about the decision to use him in game 2 and bypass relief pitchers who have been effective were rested and ready??
Every day I come to the blog anxious to see who Mark is going to criticize that day. It’s as predictable as the sunrise. Start out by building a straw man and beating it to death. Then on to something related to baseball. I come here for the information about the Dodgers and there are many really good and interesting comments. However, if you don’t express the “correct” opinions you get to be the headliner in the next lead article. It is the reflection of our “woke” society. If someone disagrees with me I have the duty to criticize and attack them, and then silence them.
All of us express opinions. They are just that, opinions and should be debated and discussed. Funny how the chief criticizor loves to citicize the other criticizors
Fan short for Fanatic. So logic need not be part of the equation
TT will play and will have a big game…just a hunch. Pollock will sit the bench the rest of the series. That guy can’t hit a slider nor can he lay off one. I’ve seen enough of his futile AB’s this post season where he just seems to go into “swing at all costs mode” and looks horrible. He looks nothing like the player we saw during the season which brings me to JT.
He has to step up now! Other than his HR against Wainwright in the WC card he has done nothing. He’s showing his age with a very slow bat and some poor defense (Chris Bryant should have never been on 1b in the game #5 of the DS). They said he had a “stinger” and I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, but he’s now had two full days of rest sans a PH/HBP AB and he has to put the team on his back and be the captain.
My line-up:
Betts RF
TT 2b
Seager SS
Smith C
Cody 1B
JT 3B
Lux CF
CT3 LF
Striker. P
Am I circular reasoning here or just being a passionate fan with some insight? Label me as you see fit, but I don’t need to show my superior critical thinking skills on a baseball blog. I often watch baseball with my heart and perhaps not my brain like most Dodger fans and I’m OK with that!
Oh Mark you are always right and can’t wait to tell everyone how WRONG they were. Poor guy I think you need to be cuddled. If Julio can’t pitch game 4 was it still a good decision? It doesn’t matter if he would have gotten out of the 8th unscathed was it really worth it to possibly lose your game 4 starting pitcher when our closer has pitched a total of 4 innings all postseason?
TM,
I like your thoughts. But I don’t think TT will be benched. I would like to see ‘no hit in post season Pollock’ benched. But don’t see him starting Beaty. More likely Lux in outfield.
And yes If Mark just stuck to posting about baseball…… But must be something from his youth that makes it necessary that he must always be right.
Well, at least I hope Mark feels better now. It’s always good to vent.
But I’d rather talk about baseball….
What do you think of my suggestions to:
1. Bench TT since he is 1-9 with 5 Ks lifetime against Morton and is clearly slumping? Play Lux at 2B
2. Do not play Pollock. He is 0-11 against Morton and can’t hit the slider from a good pitcher. Play CT, Beaty and Mookie out there.
Thoughts?
TM
Mark, that was some wild ride there. I think it’s safe to say that none of us here have access to facts concerning decisions made by the front office and the coaching staff. When Urias came in I thought it was an interesting move, but didn’t understand the thinking behind it. Enlightened by Roberts after the game he said “He hadn’t thrown a bullpen and he was the best option at that point in time,” Roberts said. “He was prepared for it. It was a perfect spot for him, and getting him through that eighth to go to to finish the game.” What a pile of BS. The best option? The perfect spot? Please, just stop. A move like that had probably been made before the game started and Urias was going to come in to pitch if the game was close. I doubt that Roberts and the coaches had made that decision on their own. But, that’s just my opinion. Reflecting back to last year and Urias’s success out of the BP in the playoffs I thought OK, but why when you had Treinen who could have gone another inning, Graterol, and Kenley available? There wasn’t a “what the hell?” moment we’ve all had with some of Roberts past BP moves in the playoffs. It was more of a “OK it’s not something I considered, but let’s see what happens”. Again, reflecting on Urias’s success in the playoffs last year. It didn’t work out. The move deserved criticism. But, just the right kind of criticism.
Getting back to your rant Mark it was all over the place. The blog is a place for the expression of opinions. Logical opinions, nonsensical opinions, fantasy opinions, factual (in their own mind) opinions, and all other types of opinions. And, again, opinions you don’t agree with the poster is a moron, idiot, etc because they didn’t use your thought process when coming to their opinion. All your reasoning behind your “opinions” are well thought out and correct in your mind. Isn’t that what most people who post here think as well? That’s what I think about most of the opinions I include here. But, other people might read them and think I’m a moron or idiot or just plain uninformed. I know I do with some of the posts I read here. But, who cares. They took the time to contribute and make this site interesting. This site is far superior to other Dodger sites and I think better than most of the local and national media who cover baseball and/or the Dodgers.
If this bounce off the wall, all over the place rant was to stir up conversation, well you got me again. With the demographics of this site to be mostly likely to be +55 I don’t think what you wrote is going to change anyone’s approach on how they express their opinions. But, nice try.
Carry on.
Oh yeah. If the Dodgers don’t increase their offensive production then all the opinions on how our outstanding starting pitching and solid BP are used is irrelevant.
“Eric says that Doc doesn’t always pay attention to splits, and reverse splits.”
Sometimes his pitching decisions go against the splits.
“What do you wanna’ bet that Doc has access to about 100 times more info on splits than we will ever have?”
I bet his info comes to the same conclusion that my info comes to. Stats are stats. 99% of the time they all line up with the same conclusion. It is VERY rare they don’t.
I’m not blaming Doc for game 2 loss. Let me make that very clear. It was a team loss from not hitting with runners in scoring position to certain defensive plays (yes I did just say defense) to the bullpen.
Julio Urias has reverse splits not only this year but also in his career. There were better options such as Corey Knebel who has reverse splits this year and his career, and Justin Bruihl. Although Bruihl’s stats are a small sample.
But again it was a team loss, not a Julio Urias loss.
Also Julio Urias bailed out the bullpen last year in the postseason and in my opinion should have been co-MVP with Corey Seager.
Lets win today and see what happens. I like our chances, We played bad the first 2 games and could have won both easily.
I dont like the 2PM local start time why not have Red-Sox Astros play a 5PM local start for them and 5PM local start in LA…
Oh well, win the day!!!
Speaking of fallacies…
“Eric says that Doc doesn’t always pay attention to splits, and reverse splits. What do you wanna’ bet that Doc has access to about 100 times more info on splits than we will ever have? We are rank amateurs while the Dodger analytic staff makes him a professional.” is an “Appeal to authority” fallacy. Just because Doc has access to the information, doesn’t necessarily mean he’s making the right decision using it, or that he fully understands it.
“Let me remind you that many of your mocked and ridiculed me when I suggested resting the pitchers the last two weeks of the season and concede the division to the Giants. I wanted to win the WAR, not the battle. Well, they did not do it my way and the Dodgers staff is gassed! I TOLD YOU SO!” is a slippery slope fallacy. Just because the Dodgers didn’t fold and rest pitchers doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the reason they’re gassed. Remember what Orel did in 88. The Red Sox had to battle for a Wild Card all the way to the end and they’re doing pretty well and the Dodgers have the second lowest ERA of all playoff teams.
“The real problem is the hitting… or total lack thereof. However, yesterday, most of you focused on blaming Doc. Doc does not hit… and of course, his players did not either. Among the four teams left in the playoffs, the Dodgers have the worst batting average (.215) of all the teams. ” is a Cherry picking fallacy. Yes, the Dodgers have the worst batting average of all teams remaining, but they’ve also faced the best pitching since the playoffs started. MLB.com has their team post-season batting ave listed as (.233) whereas the Braves are listed as (.237).
Wow, that was almost as fun as my logic and reasoning college courses. Can you do some Venn diagrams next? Those were my favorites.
I’m not sure the point of all this. You say that people make good moves and bad moves. This is reasonable since no one is infallible. At the same time, I can hardly remember you calling out a bad move by Roberts this year. But, you sure call out everyone who criticizes any move he makes.
However, I agree with you about Julio, in a sense. He’s done this before, and Max was used in a similar fashion with success to close out the Giants series. But, you say all the pitchers are burned out. Knowing that one of your starters has dead arm after recently being used in the same role, how can you defend doing it again with Julio and at the same time say the reason the pitching is faltering is because of the lack of rest down the stretch? Talk about circular. What about winning the war? Is that not applicable to a postseason series?
I think the last game was a case of Doc managing with his data instead of his eyes. Graterol was just fine, why not close out the inning? Treinen looked great, why not use him for two ahead of an off day? Why can you trust Bickford and Bruihl in the beginning of a bullpen game, but not at the end of a game?
In the end, the worst move wasn’t anything related to the pitching. It was having Souza in RF with a two run lead in the 8th.
It’s a 2PM day game at Chavez Ravine today in a must win game. Big game Bueller is on the hill against the Dodgers favorite punching bag, Charlie Morton. A couple of TBD’s are scheduled for tomorrow. Does it make more sense to do the bullpen game tomorrow or on Thursday after we even up the series?
R-E-L-A-X
It’s just baseball. All those guys are millionaires and most of them wouldn’t piss on you if you were on fire.
84% chance Atlanta wins this thing. There was a better chance we win Game 2 leading after 7 and look how that ended.
We need to get even first. That can happen IF we start hitting. Hitting is what we do. We don’t field we’ll and we don’t run the bases well. But we can pitch and we can hit. We do both those things well a base running blunder or a defensive gaffe won’t matter.
Dodger pitching and Dave Roberts decisions were good enough to win these two games.
Kind of ironic; after a whole season of complaints about the bullpen being bad, it’s the starters that are causing problems in post season.
People can change.