Farhan Was Right All Along
It took 174 games, but the Dodgers are heading back to the World Series. As I stated yesterday, it seems like this team needs to have their backs against the wall before they kick it in gear. From the shouts that we are going to single them to death to come back to getting a 2 run HR and a 3 run HR to beat the Brewers in Game 7 .
It took 174 games, but the Dodgers are heading back to the World Series. As I stated yesterday, it seems like this team needs to have their backs against the wall before they kick it in gear. From the shouts that we are going to single them to death to come back to getting a 2 run HR and a 3 run HR to beat the Brewers in Game 7.
Before getting into all of the accolades, I just want to say how GREAT it is that the Brewer brown-nosing by Joe Buck and John Smoltz was just shoved right back at them. They were absolutely crushed that the Dodgers came on to win this.
Dave Roberts has been second guessed and fired so many times this year, but he seems to have control and RESPECT of this team. It might have been easy to second guess taking Joc out for Kike’ so early, but it sure paid out dividends with CT3 making maybe a series saving catch. That was as good as a catch as we will ever see. It was the right move to take Buehler out after the LoCain double. Yelich made great contact on young Julio, but CT3 saved it with the great catch.
IMO, the key AB had to be Manny Machado in the 2nd. A 2-strike bunt to get on base that brings Belli up, and he absolutely crushes a 2-2 fastball DEEEEEEP in the RF upper deck. His 1st HR in the series was a critical hit by a growing and maturing 23-year-old baseball player. I could not be happier for Cody.
Before CT3’s great catch, Manny also had a great defensive play on a 6-3 DP hit by Yelich. His throw to 1st to beat a speedy Yelich was also crucial. It saved Buehler who seemed to be struggling at times. Machado also gets a single off Hader, giving him 2 on the night. He hit .296 in the series. Hader is good, but he is not a God like Buck and Smoltz wants everyone to believe. Manny has taken a lot of heat for his antics. I was not crazy for his run in against Aguilar, even though I thought Jesus kept his foot on the bag too long. But I was not critical of his plays at 2B on trying to break up the DPs. He was trying to win. If not for instant replay he would have gotten away with it. He wants to win as much as anyone in the game. I am happy for him. He is probably the one player that can carry the adversity on his shoulders and take the pressure off everyone else. That is very important.
Striker Buehler was relying on his fastball a bit too much, but he is also very good. He was good when he needed to be. He gets 7 strike outs and many of them were in critical situations. The strikeout of Jesus Aguilar in the 4th after a Travis Shaw double and Kratz to finish the inning were fantastic. If this were a regular season game, he would not come out after the double by LoCain. He only had 71 pitches at the time. But as I said above, it was the right call. He may not have received credit for the win, but he was just as important as any other player in today’s game. How special is a 24-year-old rookie pitcher pitching in a Game 7?
I was one of the few who was happy with the Ryan Madson addition. It may have been more due to him being a friend of my son, but he had a history of being successful in high leverage relief roles, and that was needed by this team. It was good to see Ryan get the win. I got a text from my son who reminded me how good Ryan was for this team, especially in October.
Doc made another call that some may have questioned by bringing in Kenley with one out in the 7th. But why wouldn’t this be a great time to bring in your most important reliever. He was efficient in his 1.1 IP with only 15 pitches. He had Clayton if he needed one inning, and that is how it played out. Clayton comes in to face 4-5-6 of the Brewers and proceeds to get all three, two via a strikeout.
I thought for sure that Yasiel Puig was going to win the NLCS MVP. He gets the critical 3 run HR tonight. He goes 3-4 and ends up hitting .333 for the series. But Cody Bellinger was a very worthy MVP. Two key run scoring hits in the series (one a walk off, and then tonight’s HR to put the team up for good), a great run down the line to stay out of a DP before the Puig HR, a great catch in RF to save Game 3. I think this has to be the first time two LCS MVP’s hit .200 in the series, but they were crucial hits by Belli and JBJ.
There were certainly questionable decisions made by Counsell for the Brewers, but this game was all about how good the Dodgers are, and I do not want to spend any time questioning Counsell’s decision making.
Zaidi told us that the team was struggling in April and May because the team was not hitting enough HRs. Most of us have been critical of the team with a lack of scoring WRISP. But this team was built on power, and it was power that gets them back to back trips to the FALL CLASSIC. Okay at times they are infuriating, but they are our Dodgers, and we will take it any way we can.
Now the team is on to Boston. The team last played Boston in a WS in 1916 when the Dodgers were known as the Robbins. The Dodgers fell short in 1916, but maybe, just maybe, this will be the year we can stop be reminded by everyone that the Dodgers have not won a WS since 1988.
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Discussion (67)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Boston will be the best team the Dodgers have faced all season,let’s see what happens.
I absolutely love the resiliency of this club…. they never stop fighting. Similar to last year’s club… but this club has a slightly different vibe. I think they were a little starry eyed last year and seemed kind of just happy to be there.
This year it feels like they are a lot more determined… due to the painful way last year ended.
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And I also love how disappointed some of those in the media sounded last night… from Joe Buck… to the guys at MLB Network. Many in the media… sure seemed to be pulling for the Brewers and rooting against the Dodgers. Some of it was subtle, but some of it was outright blatant.
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It’s a weird world we live in when guys like Josh Hader and Ryan Braun are considered (by some) as the good guys.
Dave Robert’s right before the spraying started: “we haven’t achieved our goal yet. Four more wins. Let’s go.”
I like how our lefty starters are lined up agianst Boston, they have had their struggles against them. I hope we throw the Bishop at them, Hill still has some in the tank. Also, no more Ryu on the road, only throw him at home. We are going to dig the DH, your talking Muncy, Freese, Joc, etc. 4 games of that, I will take it.
Damn, another series with Joe Buck. Please… make… it…stop….
I think the times Dodgers played so damn lackadaisical was because they were not determined until the threat of them falling out of contention was 99 percent done. They only put their hearts into it when the necessity was absolute. While that isn’t actually true factwise it sure felt and still does feel this season’s MO at least subconsciously. Aside from the grayer hair from all the frustrations Dodgers heaped upon us fans, it’s been worth it plus. oh so sweet it is after being taken where any faith left inside of us had to be blind. If anyone says they never doubted dodgers winning the pennant this season’s end get away from them as lightning could strike them dead. How sweet it is though to lose faith and then victory rather than the other way round. But now please Dodgers, PLEASE DON”T FLIRT WITH DISASTER IN THE WORLD SERIES I might not make it through.
It totally blows me away that 22 yo Urias could even pitch in that situation having to face Yelich. This after learning just hours before that his Grandmother just died. Gods grace had to be with him.
A couple of thoughts, I feel you have to start Kershaw in 1 over Hill. The fact he could throw in game 7 overrides the extra day of rest. Plus, I feel game 1 is the one we have the best chance of stealing. Boston and Sale may come out a little flat, as team and pitcher have been off a little while.
I would pitch Walker in 3 and Ryu in 4. I feel Ryu needs as much rest as possible as he seemed flat in game 6, likely tired from all that he has been through. Also lines up Walker for a potential game 7 or maybe short rest in game 6 if Hill gets bombed in game 2.
Grandal seems done physically and mentally but no real replacement for him in house. Gale is a hard no and they seemed to have given up on Farmer ever catching. Grandal will be needed for game 4 or 5 and late inning pinch hitting. The Red Sox have there own catching problems, their backup Sandy Leon is a near automatic out at this point, something like 2 for his last 45.
Lost in everything yesterday was our yearlong struggle with getting runners over and in when they are in scoring position. We had golden opportunities in the 2nd( runner on 2nd and No out), 6th(runners on 1st and 2nd and no out) and 9th(runners on 2nd and 3rd and no out) and we failed to score even once. We will lose in 5 if we repeat this type of hitting. Just slugging will not beat Boston , they are going to score and that is why a few timely hits with runners on will help immensely to help support our inevitable slug. Really not too different then last year when we faced another offensive juggernaut.
The fact that Boston’s best player struggled last series and the won pretty easily is not lost on me but I like our chances. Got to get one of the first two, no way we come back from 0-2.
Eating my words about Robert’s, though he still struggled some yesterday with his decisions, he out managed Counsel. I still find him average and don’t like the matchup game he plays, but two consecutive World Series is an incredibly difficult accomplishment in today’s game and is deserving of a new contract, two years and an option.
Let’s go Blue, it is our time!!
If I were Doc, here would be my Starting Pitchers:
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Game 1 – Hill
Game 2 – Kershaw
Game 3 – Buehler
Game 4 – Ryu
Could Chicken Strip make the roster? At who’s expense?
Maybe Urias, I realize the kid has great stuff and is a future rotation piece but he is still not all the way back. The offspeed stuff and trust in it does not seem to be there and given his inability to pitch a ton or maybe the Dodgers unwillingness to press the matter, seems to make him a possible replacement candidate. Definitely had mix results in NLCS. But this leaves the lefty cupboard bare and that is why the pitching staff likely does not change.
I’m not sure and I do not have the statistics, but I think Hill, Ryu and Buehler are much better at home, besides Kershaw is not the same as before (I do not know if this is good or bad) but I know he needs more days rest, so I would go crazy and open the first game with Wood, Maeda, Urias and/or Stripling, 2 innings each, a bullpen game and that they use their best pitcher, knowing how the Dodgers have batted, it is very possible that they score 6 runs with 11 hits, or only connect 3 hits and 0 runs … I do not know, maybe I still have a hangover or it will be because I did not sleep enough last night !!
Don’t know how to embed this tweet but there is a tweet from baseball king of Kershaw working out today in the Fenway park bullpen. Saw it on dodgers bleacher report
On 4 days of rest, Kershaw has a 3.21 ERA this year. On 5 days of rest, it’s 2.56.
Starting Lineup I’d like to see for games 1 & 2
Taylor – LF
Turner – 3B
Freese – 1B
Machado – SS
Puig – RF
Belli – CF
Kemp – DH
Dozier – 2B
Barnes – C
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I’m sitting Muncy because it looks like we’ll be facing Sale and Price, but also because he had 13 strikeouts and looked very uncomfortable at the plate most of the NLCS. I would only bring Kike in as a defensive replacement in the first two games, towards the end of games and I would not play Yaz at all while we’re in Boston… for obvious reason. And if Joc’s hand is injured… I’d love to see the team replace him with Verdugo.