It has been widely discussed all over the blogosphere that Dave Roberts is making much better decisions than he did in previous playoff games or the World Series. You can spin it that way, but you can also believe that the manager looks like a genius when a move is made, and the player executes. If the player does not execute, the manager “needs to be fired.” That’s what most fans believe, or at least what they attempt to believe.
In Game Two, why did Dave Roberts leave Blake Treinen in so long and let him load the bases? He’s really stupid, right? There’s probably a reason, and you need to realize that the Dodgers have an analytics department the size of Pasadena, and that does not even include their game planning and AI’s role in this. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are gaining traction in the sports analytics revolution. These technologies have some incredible use cases in sports, from talent scouting and player development to injury prevention and game strategy. Predictive models can now forecast player performance trends, optimize training programs, and even predict the likelihood of injuries, changing how teams are built, how players are conditioned, and how games are won, but I don’t have access to that sort of thing, and neither do you.
Last week, I mentioned the Dunning-Kruger Effect, which is a cognitive bias where people with limited knowledge overestimate their competence. Was Doc Stupid to leave Treinen in and Smart to bring in Alex Vesia? If Trevino had hit the single pitch Vesia threw just a 1/8″ higher… maybe a 1/16″ higher, it would have been a Grand Slam. We will never know all the reasons involved, but I do know that sometimes the Baseball Gods just smile at a team, and sometimes they don’t. We all like to blame the manager because… well… we have to blame somebody.
I think what has REALLY happened is that Fernando has been persuading the Big Dodger in the Sky to smile on the Boys in Blue. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it! Doc has always been smart… even of the results were not always there. This is baseball, where anything can (and will) happen. This is only the third time in thirty years that the teams with the best two records in each league play each other for the World Championship, so when I say that the best team does not always win, I am speaking fact. That said, the best team will win this year! Bet on it!
Dodger Notes
- The playoffs have overshadowed the Arizona Fall League this year, but Sean McLain is on fire, hitting .346 with a 1.077 OPS. He has 2 HR and 5 RBI in 26 ABs. Is he feasting on weak pitchers, or has he really improved? Time will tell. Zyhir Hope has 53 ABs and is hitting .264, while Jake Gelof is at .200 in 30 ABs. Eriq Swan now has a 5.19 ERA, and Jerming Rosario is at 10.29. Yawn.
- MLBTR says that the Dodgers will be in on Juan Soto this winter… if Soto is interested. He is!
- Ohtani will allegedly be in the lineup tonight… Let’s steamroll them. A leadoff HR would set the tone.
Discussion (24)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I have enjoyed the last three games.
A little bit.
Game 1 and 2, at my friend’s establishments (two different ones) where my friends not only own them but are massive Dodger fans. It was great. The crowd. Hearing a mass of humanity come together like a symphony of pent up stress released in a moment of joy. It was special.
Game 3? My friend’s garage. Just a couple adults and a bunch of kids. By kids I mean teenagers who have all grown up together and are literally a rag tag family. Thick as thieves.
And man was that awesome too.
I don’t talk trash. Just don’t. I am not religious but somehow, in sports, karma is a thing. I know that. Learned the hard way.
All the game 3 commentary? I watched it. A-hole (sorry Rod), big Pappy and Jeter. Was really good. Especially when they interviewed Walker. But Doc said something when he was asked about his expertise about coming back from down three. We all know the reference. When he played for the Red Sox. His answer was a bit political. Avoided the question a bit. But he said “we don’t want to let them come back up for air”.
Perfect answer, by Doc. And it reminded me a scene from one of my favorite movies. Not just because it was about a business started in my home town of San Bernardino CA. But because it was about an answer to a question about winning.
You don’t let them some up for air.
https://youtu.be/_6N-4k1N9Hc?si=wpsdxx2JzhqIz3_y
Gangster
Soto looks like he’d rather be on the other side.
Plenty of bad call behind the plate tonight going both ways.
On the bunt, he put it in the only spot where they had a chance to get the out, and was probably safe. So with the score the way it was…why not
Buehler, coming off the worst regular season of his career, has now pitched 12 consecutive scoreless innings in the postseason. He pitched five scoreless innings on just 76 pitches in Game 3
During the pre-game program Jeter, A-Rod and Ortiz picked the NYY o_O
Awesome to see vintage Walker Buehler strike again! Dude is a big game pitcher.
Go Dodgers!
All the years the team had a full healthy starting rotation and the starters under performed. This year in every round we hear how the rotation is a liability and in the series they’ve given up 3 runs in 3 games. Baseball
This is what Mark is talking about. When thing work out Roberts is a genius. When it doesn’t, we’ll, there you have it.
The call could’ve gone either way though.
ESPN is giving Roberts a lot of criticism about the bunt decision, but I say it was good, so why not try it? Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.
Good start, just what we needed to do.
I’m by no means a superstitious person but the Ruth/Ohtani and Gibson/Freeman comps are a bit eerie.
Go Dodgers!
There is so much new bs posted everyday trying to get our attention to read that crap ,it is upsetting, to be nice.
I have the feeling that what has been happening with Ohtani lately is some kind of mental game, I don’t know, to take the pressure off his teammates and put all the attention on him.
I’m really concerned about all these news reports about some Dodger players are being considered to sign with other teams while the world series is underway. Is this some kind of deliberate attempt to cause distraction?
8:08 PM ET FOX
Dodgers (98-64) 2-0
Yankees (94-68) 0-2
SP Walker Buehler R
1-6 5.38 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
LF T. Hernandez R
3B Max Muncy L
C Will Smith R
2B Gavin Lux L
CF E. Hernandez R
SP Clarke Schmidt R
5-5 2.85 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B G. Torres R
RF Juan Soto L
CF Aaron Judge R
DH G. Stanton R
3B J. Chisholm L
1B A. Rizzo L
SS A. Volpe R
C Jose Trevino R
LF Alex Verdugo L
56° Wind 6 mph In
Have to score early and keep the crowd out of the game,
Ohtoni is in the lineup for Game 3. Will post the full lineup soon.
When the money’s on the line, Striker has proven to be nails. Make it happen! Landon Knack 3 shutout innings to finish it off. Ok. Ok. I’m a dreamer but it’s frickin fun as hell. Up we go 3-0.
By the way Mark. Damn good article. You’ve been on a roll.
Book em
If Trevino gets the hit and we lose the game, plus Roberts ‘letting’ Ohtani get hurt….Not to mention if Banda gave up some runs…..I think people would have been calling for Roberts to be fired BEFORE game three!!!
The Dodgers are playing like this year is their year. There is a difference of some kind – can’t quite put my finger on it. I don’t really have any confidence in Buehler but I think that they will win this year. They have a deeper lineup, better team defense, and a better bullpen.
And I’ve said it before – this year may be Roberts’ best job as a manager, working around all of the injuries to get the team to where it is right now.
And the front office has done a great job at the deadline – where would the Dodgers be without Flaherty, Kopech, and Edman?
The Buehler of his last 2 starts should hold the Yankees into the 5th/6th. Then IF Dodgers vaunted bull pen can continue as smoothly as a sewing machine the win should be (relatively) assured. Expect Judge to be trying extra hard. Which may work or make him look even worse – and he’s looked very bad so far
Sometimes the simple answer is the true answer. I just figured Vesia wasn’t warmed up and ready yet. Then when the bases were loaded they honestly didn’t have much choice.
Buehler, be a bulldog tonight!!!!
Yesterday I watched the miniseries on Netflix about Boston winning the 2004 World Series. It’s very interesting, it made me think about this Dodgers team this season. If you can, watch it, you’ll like it.
Don’t see the Soto fit financially.
Next year when Taylor and Muncy come off the books seems much likelier for the next big move.