Instant Karma

New look Lakers are 0-6 in the preseason. They are scoring just under 104 points a game and giving up 118. Not too impressive so far. 9 of the 16 players on the roster right now are over 30. But so far, the big 3, James, Davis and Westbrook have only been on the court together once. Dodgers playoff roster should be announced by noon.

Asterisks pulled it out, 5-4. Altuve and Correa again. Kike set a record for hits in the first 5 games in playoffs. He had a very good night and made some fine defensive plays in CF.

I sure would love to have Joc and Kike instead of Souza and McKinstry.

Go dodgers!

Love Kike!

My only predictions are this, both Turners and Corey Seager have much better series against the Braves. Seager will have another monster NLCS against their pitching,.

Castronivice of ESPN says the Braves will win the NL pennant because the Dodgers will be on an emotional high and not play to a higher level after the emotional series against the Giants. He is nuts and obviously has not watched this team very much. They will approach the Braves series with a lot of intensity. They are on a mission to get back to the series. And win it in a full season for the first time since 88. He also says Joc Pederson is going to reek havoc on the Dodgers as revenge. What a croc.

Picks:

Boston in 7

Dodgers in 5 [Betts MVP]

Dodgers in 4 [Smith MVP]

Why do the Braves get home-field advantage? Dodgers have the best record!

Can someone comment on this ? Where was mr Price 16 million man or what is his role on this team. Will he pitch next round. I dont see any confidence by FO or Roberts on him to be anything more than a mopup or inning filler. Will he picth again this year ? I mean i would put him on . Is he hurt. Does he simply has nothing left ? Why dont use him for a few innings. He does have experience

I apologize if this has been reported here, but did you know Wilmer Flores, the dude who struck out to end the game is 0-17 lifetime against Scherzer, with 8 Ks.

Everybody crying about the call….so what? He struck out one pitch early. Sheesh!

TM

We have all discussed how the Giants were a perfect combination of resilient and lucky. The luck turned to the Dodgers last night. The balls Ruff and Posey hit in the first inning were gone pretty much anywhere else in baseball. The narrative about the opener would be much different today if those balls had left the park. 6-0 in elimination games. The Dodgers resiliency showed up as well.

Players aren’t robots. Throughout baseball history postseason performance has been a crapshoot. Some of the game’s legends have fallen on their faces while a Scott Brocius or a Bucky Dent has their moment in the sun. A 5 or 7 game stretch gets magnified out of proportion. I read concern about Trea Turner being 3 for 22 the last 5 games and JT being 2 for 24.

Trea Turner since coming to the Dodgers on August 6 had only 6 games where he failed to get a hit. Only 2 back to back games. He had a 4 game stretch in September where he was 2 for 17 and nobody noticed. Justin Turner went 2 for 29 in Mid May. Did anybody notice?

For the season, TT hit .338 / .950 as a Dodger. JT hit .278 / .832. Nobody is trying to underperform. Shit happens. It’s just how the game goes. Winning teams pick each other up. I’m not worried one bit about Trea Turner or Justin Turner.

Last nights win was sweet. No better feeling than beating the Giants. And they did it playing small ball. I loved that Bellinger got the game winning hit. I also loved Lux’s at bat and single. But Turner getting hit on the first pitch was key. Doval has some nasty stuff, and his slider is particularly nasty, but he threw it once too often. I was surprised Taylor tried to bunt and then did not pull the bat back because there was no way he was getting that pitch down. I really like Matt Beaty. He usually comes up clutch when it counts the most. But last night, that was the worst at bat I have even seen Beaty have. He took two pitches right down central and swung at the next 3, all of which were balls finally hitting a weak grounder to first. He would have easily walked because none of those pitches was anywhere close to the strike zone. It ended up not mattering. No way I use an opener in game one. I go with Max. He made 13 pitches on a day he would usually throw anyway. He will be ready.

Who do I want in the World Series? Easy, Houston. I would like for the Dodgers to beat the crap out of the cheaters. When the Red Sox beat LA they were clearly the best team in the majors and they proved it. Beating Boston might be sweet revenge for that, but I would rather beat the cheaters. The reason is simple. They have never stood up, not once and admitted what they did was wrong. They have all been holier than thou and feigned innocence while their GM and manager got punished. The only player who lost anything was Carlos Beltran who lost a managerial gig due to the scandal. Their are guys on that team I despise. Correa, Altuve, Bregman, and a few others.

Bobby MIller goes today in the Arizona fall league.

Over at the great TrueBlue site, they have a nice overview of the Dodgers prospects in Arizona;

I cannot feel sorry for the Giants and their fans, though they certainly now have a great organization which we will have to contend with. The Giants beat us in 1951, because they stole signs from centerfield. They beat us in 1962 because Alvin Dark had the groundskeeper turn the field into a lake so that Wills could not steal bases, and they swept us in a three-game series late in the year. They beat us in 1971. Joe Morgan hit a homerun another year to cost us a potential pennant which the Giants’ couldn’t win, but their fans were understandably thrilled to knock us out, as we were in another year when we knocked them out the same way. So this time we beat the Giants in a playoff series, and they will have to accept that. Now, if we can win the title, we will have two in the last twenty years to go with their three, much closer than when we had none, an d they mocked us.

I was irritated, but not enough to spoil anything, at the national broadcast team going on and on about the checked swing. One said that it will be talked about for years. Two outs, man on first, 1-2 count; if it is a ball, what rare the chances of the Giants winning the game? Not zero, not with that team, but certainly not enough for the broadcasters to act like it was a devastating call. We see many games which end with a questionable strike three calls, it is not uncommon.

I don’t think the squeeze play was a good call. Before the new pitcher came in, I said, he’s going to call a squeeze on the first pitch, don’t do it! But he did. It just seemed too obvious, though that’s not why it failed. I wanted to see Taylor have a a chance to hit a fly ball to score the very fast Lux. Besides, we might have scored two more runs in that inning. I was worried that the failure to get the extra run might well cost us the game The squeeze should only be used when there is a real element of surprise, or a great bunter. Fortunately, we won, anyway.

It was a courageous series played by the Dodgers. No Muncy, no Kershaw. W e won two games in San Francisco. After the first game of the series, we held them to six runs in four games. It was a series which will be long remembered–and not for a questionable check swing decision on the last pitch.

The Dodgers are favored over the Braves, but of course they have home field, just beat the Brewers in four, have been playing very well for a month. And our starters have had to be overworked. And Fried has been phenomenal of late. So it will not be easy, and who would expect it to be?

I was touched to hear that Vin Scully had sent a text to Dave Roberts before the game, saying that this was the most important Dodgers-Giants series ever. When asked if he were nervous going into the game, Roberts said,no, but after he got the text, he was!

Give me your vote for game 1 of the NLCS:

Max after his game 5 heroics without normal rest or a combo of TG/ DP to shoulder the bulk innings?

My vote goes to TG/DP , I think we do better with our big three for games 2-4 all rested up. However if we chose to go with Max we would make sure all 3 guys would get two games if the series goes 7.

Tough decision.

Go dodgers!

My last word on luck. Baseball is a game played by humans, umpired by humans, rosters constructed/developed by humans, and coached/managed by humans. Humans make mistakes. It is not by design or luck. Umpires make bad calls. Sometimes it is for the benefit of your team, and sometimes it is for the benefit for the opponent. Sometimes the wind comes up for your team, and sometimes it comes up for your opponents. It was not lucky the Dodgers pitchers just shoved it to the Giants, and it was not luck that Logan Webb shoved it to the Dodgers. It was not luck that Alex Wood shut out the Dodgers, just like it wasn’t luck when he was doing the same thing for LAD in the playoffs in 2017 and 2020. It wasn’t luck that Belli got four straight sliders and left #4 over the plate to line into right-center for an RBI single. It wasn’t luck that Mookie got a great break on the pitch to steal 2B. It was not luck that Seager hit a good changeup breaking away into LF for a run scoring double. It was not luck that he did not try to pull the pitch. It wasn’t luck that Ruf hit Urias for the HR. It wasn’t luck that Scherzer got the call from the 1st base umpire on a Wilmer Flores checked swing. It is baseball. A beautiful game played by, umpired by, managed by, and built/developed by humans. If it makes people feel better to say the Giants were lucky, I am not going to try and dissuade you. You just cannot convince me that they won 107 games and shut out LAD in two NLDS games by luck. I prefer to believe that the Dodgers beat a good team; the second best team in MLB.

I have seen more than a couple of dozen Giants fans this AM at Starbucks and everyone of them have been smiling and congratulatory. Most every SFG fan I encounter up here in the Sacramento foothills have been great. Not all, but a vast majority. They love their team, and I am sure detest LAD, just like LAD fans love their Dodgers and hate the Giants. I am wearing my Bellinger jersey, and I get a lot of laughing…”You have to rub it in?” Most say good luck, but I know they do not mean it. I grew up hating the Giants, but Giants fans are not nearly as horrid and obnoxious and NYY fans. I have grown to hate SD and their fans more than SF.

How many times have the fans on this site complained that the Dodgers do not bunt enough. They complain about the lack of a squeeze when the batter swings and misses at a 3rd strike trying to lift it out deep in the OF (if not over the fence). Now they complain about the bunt that did not work. It was not bad strategy, but bad execution. If it had worked, how many would have come on and said that they disagreed with the call.

Now the person who has banged on Lux, Belli, and KJ all year wants to bang on Trea Turner. To your specific question…No I am not worried about TT. I fully expect TT to be a huge plus for the Dodgers in the NLCS and WS. Yes I am counting on the WS. Just like I was not worried about a game 5 in the NLDS, I comfortable that the Dodgers will beat Atlanta to get to the WS.

I too have concerns about the lack of LHRP against the likes of Freeman, Joc, and Rosario. Even RHB Duvall is horrible against LHP. The downside is that Switch-hitting Albies is much more productive against LHP. However, during the season, the Braves were better against RHP than LHP. Against RHP (#6 OPS) – .245/.321/.440/.762. Against LHP (#20 OPS) – .239/.314/.418/.732. The Dodgers were #7 against RHP – .245/.334/.425/.759 and #9 against LHP – .243/.319/.439/.757. The Dodgers splits are fairly equal vs RHP and LHP, while Atlanta is better against RHP. So it does seem to be a consideration for more LHP against Atlanta. But I would rather have good RHRP rather than mediocre LHRP. So for me, it is the pitcher more than the matchup.

Finally for today, Mike Petriello (a fine MLB analyst) did his player matchups for LAD and ATL. He gives the advantage to Atlanta for 1B (Freeman over whomever), 3B (Riley over JT), LF (ATL platoon over LAD platoon), and starting pitching. While he gives LAD the advantage at Catcher (Smith over D’Arnaud), 2B (TT over Albies), SS (Seager over Swanson), CF (Belli over ???), RF (Betts over Joc), and RP. He did not rate the benches, but neither bench has a clear advantage. If the Braves start two LHP (Anderson and Smyly) that puts Pujols in the starting lineup and he is a clear advantage. Also, Soler may not be available for Atlanta. Joc and Duvall power bats can give Atlanta a plus over Beaty and CT3. Barnes is a better backup catcher than is Contreras. All are MLB players and are capable of a big game.

However Petriello does condition the Braves SP with the advantage due to being able to setup their rotation and the LAD as unknown. While he does acknowledge that the Dodgers trio of Scherzer, Buehler, and Urias are better than Atlanta’s trio of Fried, Anderson, and Morton, he opines that it will be a Gonsolin bullpen game for Game #1. I doubt that will be the case as Scherzer should be just fine as Game 1 starter, followed by Buehler and Urias. Throwing 13 pitches between starts is normal. Maybe more high leverage than a bullpen outing, but 13 pitches are not going to keep Max out as Game #1 starter. However, the Braves do hit Max pretty well in the past. The Dodgers have hit Fried much harder than the Braves have hit Scherzer. The Dodgers have also hit both Morton and Anderson much better than the Braves have hit Buehler or Urias. It actually is not close. I think that I would give Starting Pitching advantage to LAD.

GO BLUE – BEAT ATLANTA!!!!

So the baseball Gods are sitting up there laughing their asses off. They just love to screw with your emotions. They convinced the Giants they were a team of destiny only to shatter that dream at the last minute.

We’ve all been around the game long enough to know the path to a Championship usually takes a break or 2 to go your way. It seemed like the Giants had more than their share of breaks. But weren’t we all taught that “It All Evens Out?” Players say that just to keep them hopeful. But last night, it did all even out.

It’s remarkable how this year went so similar between the Dodgers and the Giants and it was only fitting it came down to the last inning of the last game.

I’m actually sad it ended on that call. But not that sad.

Maybe it does all even out after all, if you just keep believing.

I’ve said all along, We’re going to win this thing.

Wow! What a great win for the Dodgers. Although it would be easier on my nerves if they scored 6 or 7 runs. 🙂

I guess you could call Belli the hero of the game. But he wouldn’t have had the opportunity if Lux didn’t get that base hit that put Turner in scoring position. It’s great to see the team manufacture a run. Way to go team!

If we can beat the Giants we can beat anyone.

If we hit we win and even if we can’t hit that good, we can still win because of our great pitching.

Great article @theAthletic by McCullough about the process that led to the Dodgers going with an opener and then Graterol.

It’s an interesting indirect look at what the team’s Front Office thinks of how the Giants exceeded expectations and how the Dodgers could emulate even though both team are constructed differently.

Highly recommended.

Sobre la baja en bateo de Trea y Justin, creo que se enfocaron a estudiarlos especialmente en los 2 y su pitcheo ejecotó bien, sin embargo deberán despertar de manera inmediata.

We’re going to need Gonsolin to eat some innings this series.

Concerned about Trea Turner? Not really.

Was the safety squeeze a bad idea? Not really, just executed poorly. But I did think they should have waited to do it allowing Bellinger to steal second, easy to do with the first baseman crashing so early.

The Dodgers used the Giants strategy of match-up hitters against them, forced their hand early. Never really liked the strategy. Sooner or later going to bite you. But the Giants did well with it. Andrew Friedman outsmarted Farhan Zaidi this time around.

After a long and difficult season, Cody Bellinger came through again against the Giants. Biggest win in the history of the rivalry.

Loved today’s musical selection. That was a fun video. Great job Mark.