Sunday was an off-day in the Dodgers pursuit of a World Series championship. Among other things I took a few moments to see what I could remember from each of the Dodgers 12 appearances in the World Series during my time as a Dodger fanatic. For some I don’t recall much, but for all I have a moment or two that I do.
I became a Dodger fan on April 19, 1952. I know that for sure as it was not only the first time I picked up a Dodger broadcast out of Brooklyn with Vin’s voice calling the first play I ever heard on my little RCA Victor radio, but all three Dodger outfielders hit a home run against the Giants. It was the only time that Andy Pafko, Duke Snider and Carl Furillo all homered in the same game and I not only heard it but remembered it so could later confirm the date on Baseball Reference. Duke’s was the first I heard, and I imprinted like a chicken on him.
Since then the Dodgers have gone 6-8 in World Series appearances and were 0-5 prior to 1952 so we have some catching up to do. Below are some remembrances of each. Although I recall the name, the play, etc. I do have to look back for some additional data.
1952 – Rookie pitcher, Joe Black, was the Dodgers #1 starter in the series. I expected it to be Carl Erskine or Preacher Roe, but it was the 28-year-old Black. He won one game and lost two to the Yankees, one of those losses by a 1-0 score. He had a 2.53 ERA over 21.1 innings pitched. Some Dodger faithful will not have to look this one up. Dodger first baseman Gil Hodges went 0-21 in a devastating series for him. Another memory – George “Shotgun” Shuba was the first player to hit a pinch-hit home run as a National League player in the World Series. Duke hit four home runs.
1953 – Carl Erskine started three games and lost two. The memory is his 14 strikeouts in one appearance, at that time a World Series record. At bat I recall Jim Gilliam, another Rookie of the Year, surprisingly hitting very well. A check of the World Series stats reveals he was tied at eight hits with Carl Furillo, Duke Snider, Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella. It was also the first season I grew an appreciation for right-hander Clem Labine, a true reliever able to do it all.
1955 – Need I say more. We won!!! Left-hander, 22-year-old Johnny Podres won two complete games. Clem Labine appeared in four games with a win and a save. Jackie Robinson stole home. We listened to the games at my home with Dodger and Yankee fans alike and Mom providing food for us. My favorite player Duke Snider hit four home runs. I recall Duke and Campy laying down consecutive bunts in game seven leading to a Gil Hodges sac fly. Duke’s caught the Yankees so by surprise they threw it away.
1956 – My memories are still obscured by the Don Larsen perfect game. Well not totally. Everyone remembers that game but not so many that reliever Clem Labine pitched a 1-0 complete game in 10 innings the next day downing Yankee fireballer Bob Turley. I do recall that Newk’s postseason woes continued and the Dodgers got trounced in game seven and former Giant Sal Maglie pitched well for the Dodgers.
1959 – I recall being blown out in the first game of the series with the White Sox but coming back to win in six games. The next Clem Labine had moved in as right-hander Larry Sherry stole the show with four appearances in which he had two wins and two saves. Another youngster, infielder Charlie Neal, led the way at the plate. Second baseman Nellie Fox and left-hander Billy Pierce were two of my non-Dodgers favorites. I was OK with them doing well but not too well. Duke had his last homer in postseason play.
1963 – If any revenge ever felt good, this one did as we swept the Yankees. Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, and Johnny Podres held the Yankees to four runs in four games. Outfielder Tommy Davis was coming into his own and former Yankee first baseman Moose Skowron had significant hits.
1965 – Facing Harmon Killebrew, Bob Allison and Tony Oliva Sandy Koufax again dominated winning two complete game shutouts and losing a game giving up one run over six innings. Don Drysdale picked up a complete game win as did much under-appreciated Claude Osteen who turned out to be one of the better Dodger trades over the years. Sweet Lou Johnson had two home runs, one to give Sandy Koufax a 1-0 lead in the seventh game. I recall first baseman Ron Fairly hitting really well as did Maury Wills. The reason I remember Fairly so well is that I had watched him play in Edmonton, Alberta in the summer of 1957 in the Western Canada Baseball League. I actually had the opportunity to chat with him in 1957. The next season he was with the Dodgers.
1966 – A painful memory indeed. The Dodgers were swept in four games scoring a total of two runs and losing two 1-0 games. My memory this time is of an Oriole, right-hander Moe Drabowsky who won a game limiting the Dodgers to one hit in 6.2 innings. I had watched him played in the Halifax and District League back in the early fifties with the Truro Bearcats before I moved to Edmonton.
1974 – Also painful as the Oakland Athletics overmatched the Dodgers never allowing more than two runs in any of the five games. Don Sutton won the only game for the Dodgers. The pitching staff did quite well but lost three games by a 3-2 score. Garvey, Lopes, Cey, Russell, Buckner could not generate enough offense.
1977 – Tommy’s first year as the Dodgers manager. The Dodgers lost 4-2 to the hated Yankees. My most painful memory is Reggie Jackson hitting five home runs, three in the final game.
1978- Another try at the Yankees. The Dodgers won the first two games in the series. I can recall talking with Kevin Vickers, a Yankee fan, in front of the post office in Lunenburg. He was a bit down and I was upbeat. Next time I saw him the table had turned over. I can also recall that Davey Lopes hit with unexpected power and that rookie right-hander Bob Welch struck out Reggie Jackson to record a save. The next time they met Jackson hit a home run to hand Welch the loss.
1981 – Ah, the Rick Monday home run against the Montreal Expos to get us there and sweet revenge against the Yankees. The Dodgers turned the tables, losing the first two games and then taking four straight, three of them by one run. I can recall the Yankees taking Tommy John out of a game in which he was pitching very well and bringing in George Frazier. I gave a big sigh of relief. Frazier, who lost three games, gave up two or three runs right away. The fab four hit well as did Pedro Guerrero.
1988 – Who can forget Kirk and Orel. I also remember Mike Scioscia who hit that decisive home run off Doc Gooden in the ninth in the fourth game against the Mets in the NLCS knotting the series at 2-2. In the WS I remember contributions by right-hander Tim Leary, Mickey Hatcher and that all important walk before Gibson to the much-maligned Mike Davis.
2017 – it is still too much etched on my mind to be a flashback.
Discussion (148)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I want the Dodgers in the WS and think a Dodgers vs. Red Sox WS match-up would be one for the ages. I am, however very skeptical the offense can get it done. The AB’s are often without a game plan, swing and miss way too much, fail to go the opposite way on many outside pitches and consistently putting the ball in play on the pitchers pitch rather than staying competitive and hitting “your pitch.”
A good example of a great offensive approach was when Aguilar fouled off what seemed like four or five of Ryu’s pitches in the first inning until he got a pitch up and took it to right field for a double scoring two runs. It seems to me the Dodgers get the count to 2-0 and rather than using a smart approach they swing at pitch #3 that is down and away or up in the zone and either swing and miss or put a weak ball into play. They’ve got to stay competitive in the AB, taking balls and sit on their pitch. extend the line-up and pass the baton to the next guy.
Where’s JT been this series? Yes, he had a big HR in game #2 but otherwise he’s not come up big when the team needed him most, but then again the same could be said for Muncy, Machado Hernandez and others.
I would love to see Buehler pitch the game of his life but I’m quite concerned the offense will let this team and the fans down and the narrative will be that Chacin did enough to get the game to Hader who will shut us down for three innings. This would be my line-up tonight.
Joc LF
JT
Muncy 1B
Machado
Bellinger CF
Hernandez 2B
Puig RF
Barnes C
Buehler
Wow watching all the press game comments I see a very relaxed Brewers team and a tense Dodgers team. Who exactly has been there before?
The game tonight reflected those comments, Brewers played relaxed and the Dodgers not so much. The hitters had so much anxiety in the box, chasing quite a bit.
Thank god for the unpredictable nature of game 7’s, if not for that I would say we have little shot at advancing. But as we have seen throughout time, almost anything can happen and probably will, thank god becaue we seem a bit rattled!
You watch some of these swings and wonder how this team is in the NLCS. It’s baffling.
I would like to know if Manny’s RBIs in the post season have been off mostly lefties or righties, since we are going with these platoon advantages, all the time.
Tomorrow’s game is very simple. Buehler shuts down the Brewers, and the Dodgers offense shows up, and scores enough to make the Brewers bullpen irrelevant. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
And the coming retort by Zadi – we just need to hit more HR’s.
That’s one guy I hope gets hired away, and is replaced by a baseball guy – balance is a good thing.
Agree with Bobby, I am not really even upset about tonight, because this years team doesn’t do anything easy. Game 7 just feels like a foregone conclusion. Seriously guys, did you really think it would be this easy with us this year?
I think we all knew deep down there’d be a game 7. This team has been frustrating all year long; why would we stop now?
And how will we do tomorrow? Maybe win 9-2. Maybe lose 7-1. Maybe lose 5-4 wth 13 guys left on base. I can believe any of these scenarios plus 20 more. It’s how it’s been so it’s how it will continue to be.
This was a terrible showing across the board, couldn’t even get their best reliever in the game, our pen was more worked then their and they were facing elimination. Wake up, 88 keeps getting farther and farther away!!
Pressure means a lot we had a chance to really apply some however Ryu’s outing and our offense have allowed them to play a relaxed ball game. We gave them a gift one that also might allow them to not pitch their best pitcher, saving him for at least 3 tomorrow.
I guess we are going to have to likely beat the best to be the best.
Maeda is the guy I trust the least in the pen right now.
At least they could have worked Jeffers a little, to force Hader into the game. We are letting them possibly save him for three innings tomorrow which would be a loss all around tonight
7 batters in and all the pressure was relieved of them playing in an eliemantion game.
I would have just left Wood in there for this inning. Instead he brings in two pitchers with the pitcher due up in the next half inning? I’m not sure I understand… maybe I’m missing something.
He wants ALL hands on deck for tomorrow
Hawkeye
I just wish Manny would have just tried to get a hit, when we had those two runners on base.
He was over swinging there.
Seems to be pulling off the ball a hair.
I DON’T GET WHY ROBERTS TAKE OUT FREESE
Roberts feels they have better option vs righties nor the bat speed to hand Hader according to ALana Rizzo
I would think Freeze would do well against Hader, because he goes the other way better, then most on this team.
Puig’s first at bat, exit velocity was 100.
But his last two have been 70 and 98
Nothing wrong with 98. Just missed. He’s been RCF both times to the track.
Puig just missed twice now.
Hawkeye
That was only Puig’s second second pitch.
That doesn’t bother me as much as swing 2-0 down three runs like Bellinger has a couple of times this series. After Puig the Dodgers have Barnes so Puig needs to hit his pitch.
I think Jocs hand is broke.
Mark
It did hit the bat too, but you might be right!
This is who the Dodgers are – that’s the reality of this season. Lots of talent but Jekyll & Hyde when it come to hitting.
They still might win, but the lack of hitting is no surprise
Bellinger take a damn strike!
Hawkeye
Both Cody and Puig, were not patient enough.
Brilliant take out your best hitter Robert’s come on
Do you think Freese hit on Roberts’ wife or something? How do you take him out of any game… but especially, how do you take him out of this game?! What does he have to do… hit a grand slam every time he gets up to stay in the game?
300 million dollar man strikes again(out again). If we cannot come back Freese has earned a start tomorrow likely will be on the bench against Chacin
Our best two hitters do nothing. Both chased pitches high during the AB too. They had their chance. Need to make their pen work.
In Milwaukee, it used to be Harvey’s Wallbangers. With these Dodgers it’s Hardly Wallbangers.
There we go, Miley is gone now!
This game is not over yet, if our guys can be patient and stop trying to pull everything.
If Dodgers LOOSE they have to tired BREWERS
Our offense has really been awful the entire series, minus a few innings here and there. Their pitching deserves a little credit but overall we are just missing hittable pitches and impatient.
Thx Ryu, the Cubs have a three year deal waiting for you stage left.
I AM NO ENJOYING THE GAME
Muncy wasn’t bad but I would of liked to see a shorter swing. It looks like everybody is trying to kill the ball instead of put it in play.
Mark, I seriously doubt if the Dodgers would give Ryu a QO, which is $17.9 million. The only way Ryu wouldn’t take that is if he were offered a lucrative multi-year deal.
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We need a few bloops and a blast. Simple. 🙂
Ryu would have to decide before hitting the open market.
Three really bad at bats there. Apparently they are not going with the “single them to death” theme tonight
Muncy didn’t have a bad AB but the other two did.
Machado with his usual patience in the box, 300 million dollar man
These guys have to stop trying to pull everything.
Hawkeye
It sounded like Tom Verducici was insinuating the Brewers knew which pitches were coming, either by stealing signs, or tipping pitches.
He is a very smart baseball guy.
Or just good scouting and film work. I don’t think they have any signs. He could be tipping pitches but we all know Ryu likes to use his change up vs righties. So do the Brewers. Aguilar did a nice job sitting on that pitch. Then it was first ball curve ball over and over and they were ready.
Hawkeye
Thanks!
Yeah…. something seemed off for sure. Too many of their hitters in a row were perfectly balanced and timed the curve ball perfectly… and it wasn’t always on the first pitch. I’m assuming they found something when they were watching tape on him. We should have noticed too though and reacted quicker.
We only have 13 pitchers, we better save them.
Yeah. Who said Roberts is a genius?
DODGERS need put runs so BREWERS have to use relivers so they get tired tomorrow
Why is it that the opposition seems to wait on a pitch, or know what’s coming and the Dodgers rarely do – very frustrating. At times it seems laced with some level of incompetence on scouting reports. Very different from the WS scouting on Eckersley and the back door slider to Gibson.
Maybe stop making their garbage starters look like cy young’s wake up offense
Ryu, you get no QO. Goodbye !
The Brewers, the announcers, and even bloggers on twitter realized 1st pitch curve balls were getting hit before Barnes did.
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Poor AB’s the second time around by Freese, JT, and Machado. They have to know to lay off that pitch.
Let his damn arm fall off
Leave him in and let him give up 100 runs and win tomorrow.
DR needs to pull Ryu
Call me on Doc. Ryu has nothing.
Get Him outta there.
The have to lay off the cutter up and in.
Ryu with a better at bat than the regulars – go figure
Got to dig out of this hole.
Fuck this start
This is a surprising inning by Ryu. He’s been so solid the last month. Hopefully Dodger hitters will stay with the approach they took in game 5 and chip away a the score.
Wow, Ryu crapped the bed on a night he could have put his team in the WS with a shut down start. Looked horrible, nibbling, 4 runs, 9 batters and 31 pitches. Bring on the BP
I’d be warming up Hill, he threw what 74 pitches and has had 2 days rest. All hands on deck and move the line against Miley.
That wouldn’t surprise me.
Fuck !!! 4/1
Good piece of heating by Aguilar but I’m not a fan of pitching around the bug-eyed cheater in the first inning. They let a cheap infield hit snowball into a big inning.
Get him out of there before a 3 run HR
Wow! What a meltdown by Ryu.
It looks very strange… like many of their hitters know what’s coming.
Do you think he might be tipping his pitches?
Frese!!!
Roberts just when rightie leftie, except with Puig, and Taylor.
I’m not sure if I saw well, but I think Freese did not shake hands with Roberts when he got to the dogout, after the homerun?
I replayed it and you are right he walked right by Doc or really way around him.
Kaboom!! Freese baby! Doc is a genius! (Today so far)
Doc is a genius!!
Now that is how you start a game 6.
Great at bat by Freeze!
Lol Awesome comment, that perfectly describes Counsel, and after the manager comps his meal, he states the restaurant miscounted on purpose. Let’s get this done tonight, with Machado coming up big.
Let’s single them to death… again!
Craig Counsell reminds me of the kind of guy that yells at the waiter because he only received 7 mozzarella sticks instead of the 8 that was listed on the menu at the local TGI McFundays.
And then as he becomes even more frustrated, he tells the waiter that he’d like to speak to the manager.
I wonder if it bothers him that he still gets carded.
Ha!
This could be the game the wheels come off for Counsell and the Brewers. They have used every gimmick in the book and written another chapter besides whining, appealing and generally behaving like wussies. I lost some respect for Aguilar and Yelich and they probably lost some for Manny. Tough crap, play the game! Ryu battles for 6 and the bats go big and small today for a perfect storm of champagne in the locker room after celebrating on their field!
Name me someone that’s not a parasite,
And I’ll go out and say a prayer for him.
Your right Val9000, Aguilar was the guy ata crowded game walking towards you and expects you to move out of his path, but instead you bump into him. Yeah maybe the correct move his to move out of his lane, or maybe once in awhile it is okay to prove a point.
Exactly!
And again… I don’t like that he did it, but I can kinda see why he did.
I was watching MLB TV earlier… they really can’t stop talking about the Machado play at first base.
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I agree that it was a bush league move by Machado to drag his foot. But for almost nobody to point out that is was equally bush league for Aguilar to hold his position as long as he did and essentially pose on the bag with the back of his foot blocking almost half of the bag is crazy. My feeling is that Aguilar didn’t make much of a stink of it after the game because he knew that he was being a bit of an asshole there too.
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All you have to do is watch him or any other first baseman after they catch the ball… they usually take their foot off the bag immediately… for obvious reasons.
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Anyway… definitely an asshole move by Machado… but Aguilar isn’t as innocent as he’s being portrayed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5VoBcO0258
Val
I agree, if you watch most first basemen, they get their foot off first, as fast as they can.
Not a big fan of pitching around Braun in the 1st inning.
I will say I am somewhat concerned about us coming out flat, we have done that the entire series. I think falling behind today could be problematic and would likely lead to a game 7 tomorrow.
That being said we need to put quality at bats together early on against Miley, take what he gives us, and get in their heads from the gate.
I love the lineup today and take my hat off to Robert’s as he seemingly incorporated both matchups and his eyes. I imagine FAZ contributed to it, but DR seems to be the final say and nice work. Leading Freese off is a statement to not only matchups but his history against this team as well. The small things can be the deciders in even matchups on paper.
I don’t really have anything other than lets not see a CS game seven. At least not a 2018 NLCS game 7!
Report from the AFL on the Athletic:
Glendale Desert Dogs
Manager: Dave Anderson (Orioles)
Pitcher of the Week: Ben Holmes, LHP, Dodgers
2.57 ERA, 7 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K (2 games)
Coming out of Oregon State as the Marlins’ ninth-round pick in 2014, it’s taken Ben Holmes some time to progress. Making his money off a high-80s cutter, Holmes is able to balance his secondary offering against a low-90s fastball.
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While Holmes hasn’t been dominant in Arizona, he’s done his job to the tune of a 2.57 ERA and according to one scout, will “pay the bills” with his offspeed arsenal.
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Holmes carries a touch of intrigue
Is that Manager Dave Anderson the former Dodger shortstop Dave Anderson?
Yes
I just saw this, the Dodgers are 5-1 when taking a three game lead to 2, in a best of seven post season, series.
Brewers lineup goes R L R L R L R L
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Craig Counsell’s lineup changes today were designed, in part, to make it more difficult for the Dodgers to mix and match relievers: “Their bullpen’s done a really nice job and we’ve had trouble putting rallies together against their bullpen.”
I love Muncy, but I didn’t like when Roberts hit Muncy second instead of Turner before, and we didn’t win that game.
In that same game in the bottom of the ninth, both Turner and Manny got on base, but no one else was able to hit them in, because our run producers Turner and Manny, were already on base.
I like Muncy leading off, because he will get good pitches to hit, and he has walked almost as much as Trout and Votto, but he strikes out to much, to hit him second.
We want Turner getting more at bats then most anyone on this team, but in this line up tonight, Muncy and Freeze, will be getting more at bats, then Turner.
And no one else on this team can handle their bat, better then Turner.
And even though Roberts has taken Freeze out early twice in this series, Freeze has hit in 3 runs in the post season, and that is fourth on this team.
Freeze is very good at driving the ball to the right side, and hitting behind runners.
I would lead off with Muncy, and do the regular order of Turner, Freeze, and Manny.
Because those three guys Turner, Freeze, and Manny, are very capable of coming up with big hits, when runners are on base.
As Al Davis used to say, “Just Win Baby”!
Hawkeye
Exactly!
I am looking forward to playing the Red Sox, if we can win this!
Tonight’s lineup is out:
Freeze
Muncy (2b)
JT
Manny
Belly
CT3
Puig
Barnes
Ryu
Aren’t you supposed to open the wine AFTER you play the game?
We’re going to be sneaky and pinch hit for Freeze after 1 pitch. That’ll show em!!!
So, bench is Kemp, Joc, Keekay, Dozier, & Grandal.
I was hoping Dozier was going to get the start for this one. Muncy at 2B makes me a little nervous, he didn’t look real comfortable out there the other day.
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I like Dave putting Freese in the lead off spot though… I’m sure he expects Councell will take out Miley before he faces him for a second time. But I hope Dave can hold back the urge to take Freese out of the game again.
If you’re lucky enough to have a guy like that on your team for a game 6 in the playoffs… you need to keep him in the game as long as possible.
Yahoo Sports doesn’t even try. Their headline is “Dodgers lineup looks funny.”
I didn’t know that Ralph Wiggum was working for Yahoo Sports.
So, its the second the group that I listed. No one could have predicted Freese as leadoff. I guess they’ve got their reasons for that.
I think Joc comes in for Freese when Miley leaves and CT3 moves to 2B, Muncy to 1st and Joc to LF and Joc will be at leadoff where he normally is.
I know the hot stove is the last thing on anybody’s mind but goddammit we have over four hours to go here before the game starts and hopefully we get a lineup within the next couple of hours.
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In a Fangraphs chat someone asked what a fair trade package for James Paxton would be. Paxton has two years of arbitration eligibility left, is excellent, and can be injury prone. The answer was: two young major league ready players and a prospect.
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So just for fun, here’s a partial/imperfect list of players who could be on this list: verdugo, ferguson, santana, toles, urias, stripling, muncy, joc., barnes, stewart. As for prospects–I’m leaving off lux/may/ruiz–I have: white, alvarez, heredia, kendall, w. smith, sheffield, estevez, rios, c. santana, wong.
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Let’s say Kershaw opts out and we look to swing a trade for Paxton, what would a competitive trade package look like given the parameters of this framework? (I’ve left off Wood & Puig because I don’t think Seattle would be interested in adding anybody one year away from free agency.)
Using your names, how ’bout Joc, Stripling, and Stewart (can we pretend he’s still a prospect?).
Starting lineup should be interesting tonight. The Dodgers had an idea something was up Game 5 and put Belli and Funky Muncy in the starting lineup. You have to believe the Brewers want Miley to go at least 4 or 5 innings so we can expect to see Taylor, JT, Freese, and Manny at the top. We know Barnes will be batting 8th and catching. After that who know? I’d like to see Belli or Muncy in the lineup somewhere just to give that greasey Miley a different look. Dozier or Kike at 2B? Puig or Kemp in RF? The lineup I predicted for Game 2 did nothing until Miley was out of the game so they need to change it up a bit. I’d go:
Taylor -LF
JT-3b
Freese-1b
Machado-SS
Bellinger-CF
Dozier-2B
Puig-RF
Barnes-C
Or
Taylor
JT
Freese
Macho
Muncy -2B
Puig/Kemp
Belli
Barnes
Might be tough to play Muncy at 2B on such a crappy playing surface.
Good questions. I don’t don’t the answers. I have to think Bellinger will be in there based largely on his defense and speed. i also think Puig is deserving of a start based on his recent good at-bats. i’d also side with keekay over dozier just for athleticism alone. kemp and muncy as first two pinch-hitters would be nice to have in reserve. dozier is the wild card.
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actually, i think kemp could elevate a moon shot out of the stadium. tough call on him vs. puig . . .
A lot of tough calls. Kike is really struggling right now. He’s trying to do to much and is pulling off the baseball again. Every time I count him out though he comes up big.
Every time I try to draft a defense-first lineup like I think you should do when in doubt and with a pitcher with excellent command on the mound I get bogged down with having to move Bellinger. I think Bellinger will be in there and I KNOW that Freese will be in there so that means RF & 2B are the toughest calls. I guess I’d put Puig in RF on the condition that he calm the f@#% down. Assuming Dozier is healthy, I might play the hunch and put him at 2B. That leaves a pretty loaded bench of Muncy, Kemp, Keekay, Joc, & Grandal. Muncy just has to wait one more game until he has a new, more fitting, position 😉
Hawkeye
I would like to see both Freeze and Muncy start this game, but I never thought about the Brewer’s infield.
I think Kike needs to sit like Puig did, so he can change his approach, because he has done nothing in this series, and he had a pretty bad at bat, in that last game.
I think Roberts taking Puig out early in the game before the last game, and not starting him in the last game, gave Puig more focus.
And that is why I think Puig came up big off the bench, and hit that ball up the middle for a big RBI, in that last game.
I think Kike needs to sit and watch, and maybe bring him up to hit later in this game, so he will have a better approach up at the plate then he has, lately.
Puig and our righties, should think about going oppo against Mikey tonight, because we have practically did nothing against Miley, this year.
And that includes the regular season this year, too.
Good journey down memory lane DC. 1959 is the first WS I remember. I thought Chuck Essegian’s two pinch hit home runs were really cool. Larry Sherry pitching multiple innings in the final game was equally as masterful. 1963 was fun watching Ford and Koufax duel it out. Frank Howard’s big home run in the final game sticks out as well. 1965 was special in that I was designated as the student who could listen to a transistor during school hours and give after inning reports on the game. Probably the only significant thing I was allowed to do by the teachers in my school career, as I was usually in trouble the rest of the time. As to the series, all I can say is Sandy Koufax. Back then I thought what he did was outer worldly. Looking back on it now, it is even more so. Hard to fathom any pitcher today, doing what he did in a three day span. One of the greatest clutch pitching performances of all time in my book. The 88 series is also special, not just because we won, but that was the first Dodger series I enjoyed watching with my sons, who were 8 & 6 at the time. They were already hooked on baseball, but watching that series, put them over the moon in love with the game. Now, they are enjoying watching the series with their sons.
2demeter2 – Thanks for the reminder. I forgot about Chuck Essegian.
My first real memories of actually watching, caring, and remembering would be the 1974 team. I had just turned six. I was already a Dodgers fan and my first favorite Dodger, Willie Davis, was no longer a Dodger. I still have a Willie Davis poster.
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The Dodgers took out the Pirates in the 1974 NLCS. My two biggest memories of the 74 series was the great collision at the plate where Yeager held onto the ball and Bill Buckner once again being a goat trying to stretch a double into a triple and getting gunned out. Not necessarily the better team but the more experienced team won.
Joe Ferguson stepping in front of the Toy Cannon Jimmy Wynn, and throwing an A’s player out at the plate, has to be the play I most remember, from the 1974 series.
I can still hear Howard Cosell going on and on, about Fergie’s throw.
That series loss was not as bad, because we were the underdogs, and our infield guys were still pretty young at that time, and I was even younger.
I don’t know how anyone can mention those series in the late 70s against the Yankees, and not mention Reggie Jackson cheating us out, of one of those two series.
We always have to see his three HRs in one of those series, but he purposely stuck his hip in front of a throw from Russell to Garvey, and broke up the sure double play, and the umpires did nothing.
He should have been called for obstruction and that double play, should have ended that inning.
Those teams in the 70s were very good teams, and the 81 team had much of the same guys on that team, too.
Greg Nettles catching everything in the 77 series I believe and Reggie cheating in 1978 is what I remember. I also remember Reggie Jackson butchering a flyball at Dodger Stadium during the 1981 series and that ahole Steinbrenner getting mugged in an elevator. Jay Johnstone also hit a big HR. Of course Ron Cey getting beaned and Fernando’s gutsy performance.
Wish folks would quit saying “going back”. Can’t help it. My superstition/mythology kicking in. Think we have the right pitcher on the mound. Think Ryu will have a very good game.
The NLCS, while far from over, has been a complete team effort. To illustrate this point, here are the ten individual performances that have stood out in the first five games of the series [in no order and highly subjective]:
Taylor–.333/.400./.444 8 Total Bases
Machado–.316/.409/.526 10 Total Bases
Puig–.308/.357/.462 6 Total Bases
Turner–.238/.304/.381 8 Total Bases
Bellinger–.235/.270/.294 5 Total Bases
*
Baez–4 G 1 W 4.1 IP 2 H 0 ER 1/7 BB/K
Floro–4 G 3.2 IP 2 H 0 ER 2/4 BB/K
Jansen–3 G 2 S 3.1 IP 1 H 0 ER 2/4 BB/K
Maeda & Ferguson have thrown 1.2 & 1 scoreless innings respectively
*
If you’re placing a bet on who tonight’s hero might be, I suggest going off the board with Ryu, who could put his stamp on this series with a dominant performance. He has a full rested bullpen (can you believe Maeda hasn’t even thrown 2 innings in this series?) and a closer itching to be the man. Of course, if anyone wants to imitate Keekay and his 3 HR performance in last season’s 12-1 clincher/laugher over the Cubs, that’s just fine too.
just for fun, the ALCS MVP this year ended up with 3 hits and a .200 BA in the series. and he was a no-brainer 🙂
NLCS MVP is certainly still up for grabs.
My first WS game was in the 1959 series. But my favorite WS was the 1963 series against NYY. Not only did the Dodgers sweep the hated Yankees, but they did it with 3 complete game starts by Koufax (2) and Drysdale (1) and a near complete game by Johnny Podres 8.1 IP). Ron Perranoski was the only other pitcher to make an appearance for the Dodgers in that series. Quite a difference from where the game is today.
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I was at Game 3 of the 1963 World Series and watched Big D beat Jim Bouton in a great pitcher’s duel. Drysdale pitched a complete game 3 hit shutout in a1-0 game. I was wearing a #19 jersey at the game and sure enough Junior Gilliam draws a one out walk in the 1st inning, goes to 2nd on a wild pitch and scores on a Tommy D. single for the only run of the game. I believe Ron Fairly caught a long fly to end the game.
yeah, now that you mention it, that ’85 series might be when i really start remembering everything about following the dodgers. willie mcgee’s weird face, tommy herr’s 100 rbi with single digit HRs, vince coleman’s superhuman speed, tom neidenfuer’s whiplash. is that the same series when they put up the graphic about ozzie smith not homering in X games then he did?
ya that was the 9th inning of Game 5 in StL. Horrible. I still think that 1985 Dodger team was the best Dodger team since I’ve been a fan (1983 onwards) . That trade acquiring Bill Madlock at 3b was genius.
The ’74 World Series was my first baseball memory. Just turning 7, I started my first year of Little League the next spring. ’77 and ’78 were right at the prime of my childhood. Oh how I wished that Tommy John was still a Dodger. Bob Welch was a young phenom. ’81 was sweet revenge and ’88 was the miracle year with magic game in and game out all year long and 59 in a row at the end of the season. Team comeback, team determination. ’17 was the year I’ll always remember as being over-managed to bitter disappointment. Pulling Rich Hill too early and over using the bullpen. This year I’ll remember Walker’s heat and a lot of lefty junk. Hot bats from Puig, Belly and Taylor. Clutch hitting from Machado and Turner. Machado leaving ala Steve Sax for the Yankees. Here’s to number 7 and back to back championships next year behind the dominant pitching duo of Urias and Bueller who will be compared to Koufax and Drysdale for years to come.
couldn’t agree with you more about pulling Rich Hill but i need to let that go. we have a game in 8 hours!
@dionsysis Unfortunately, I don’t thing I’ll ever let that go. @Always Compete I was in the left field pavilion watching Vida Blue vs Bob Welch as a kid. Not sure which year it was. A homer was hit and a guy a few seats over caught it. I remember it being a high scoring game, not the pitchers dual we were expecting. My brother used to take me to games as a kid and we were always in the left field pavilion.
Bringing up Bobby Welch brought back memories for me. We went to the final home game of the 1978 season against the Padres. Bobby Welch pitched a complete game shutout (7-0) against the Padres. It was my oldest son’s 1st baseball game; not that he remembers it because he wasn’t quite 3 yet. I got tickets at the last minute because I wanted to see Bobby Welch pitch, and it was fan appreciation day. We ended up at the very top row behind the plate. We normally would have been out of in LF Pavilion, but those tickets were all sold out. I had that ticket framed (along with all of my WS tickets). Unfortunately, they were destroyed in the Northridge earthquake, and were tossed by a clean-up crew.
Ron Cey was on 570 sports talk yesterday around 4pm. He’s quite insightful. When Walker Buehler was brought up, Ron mentioned how he thinks Buehler reminds him the most of Bob Welch.
Outstanding comparison.
Here is the link providing current Winter League statistics for all of the Dodger farm hands playing winter league.
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http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/org.jsp?id=la
Nice. A few things stand out [SSS warning]: K. Ruiz has a 2/0 BB/K ratio in 15 ABs; C. Santana is 4-for-6 with a 1/0 BB/K ratio; J. Sheffield has appeared in 3 games, thrown 3 innings, and given up only a hit with 3 Ks.
I remember the 74 WS against the A’s. I think not was Von Joshua who made the last out. 77 and 78 were heartbreaks as I wanted to see Tommy win his first WS but 81 was the year he got it as Ken Landreaux caught the last out.
88 who can forget that and last year was a freaking nightmare. 2018? Has to be our year. Let’s go Dodgers- clap, clap, clap!
Stolen from a commenter at TBLA:
Past Dodger opponents in World Series–Red Sox, Indians, Yankess [11 times], White Sox, Twins, O’s, A’s [twice], Astros
Even though I was 9 years old in 1981 I have no memory of that World Series. Of course, 1988 is forever seared in my consciousness and will forever be. 2017 I survived partly because I took my family to Disneyland during it and never saw one solitary pitch of Game 5. This is a new year and a new chapter in our story. Let’s win tonight and see where the chips fall from there. At some point we will do it. Why not now?
Same. I turned 10 during the 81 World Series, didn’t even know what a World Series was, and the first time I ever heard the name /saw the face of Tommy Lasorda was when he was on an episode of “CHiPs” in 1982. Yes, Tommy was on an episode when he got pulled over by Ponch and Jon!
I’ll share one more memory of ’88. After we won the division I walked down to the corner of Clune and Washington where I bought three daily LA newspapers with stories about our clinching in it. Immediately after Gary Carter hit that pop fly single to win Game 1 I threw away all the papers in a fit of anger 🙂
Thankfully, I still have the LA Times “Gibson’s Shot in the Dark Stuns A’s”
haha. I was stunned after that hit; couldn’t move. Unlike 1985, when I punched the wall after Jack Clark’s HR off of Neidenfuer.
Wow. Great stuff. Thank you.
’59 was the first Dodger series I remember. I was hooked from then on.