I’ll deal with whatever happens after it happens. I know the Dodgers could be swept, and most of you think that will happen. I also know that they could win out. It’s hard to hold out that hope right about now, but it is still within the realm of probability. Many Dodger fans are blaming Andrew Friedman, Dave Roberst, Robert Van Socyoc, and anyone else who moves for being down 0-2 to the Diamondbacks. Feel free to blame someone – that is what we do. We attach blame to every damn thing. It’s somebody’s fault! Hang the MF!
By the way, RVS’s star pupil (JDM) is the only Dodger who is hitting. If the Dodgers are going to win Mookie, Freddie, and Max are going to have to hit their way out of the wet paper bag they are in. Someone said they are tired. Hell, they had a week off. They should be fresh as a daisy. You can rest in the offseason. Man up! It’s win or go home.
If life were only that simple! Some morons are saying that Andrew Friedman does not know how to build a pitching staff. There is no dumbass vaccine! Like he should have known that his former 20-game and 17-game winner would pitch like crap and then take it out on his wife. He should have known that Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May were going to have to have their arms surgically repaired and that Ryan Pepiot would miss most of the season with an “oblique injury.” He did build the best bullpen in baseball despite a boatload of injuries. You have to be a lunatic not to understand that when you sign a long-term deal with any starting pitcher, you are playing Russian Roulette. The Mets signed two of the best starters available (Scherzer and Verlander), and how did that end up? Cohen is still choking on the money he had to cough up.
Maybe he should have signed Tyler Anderson again, but the fact of the matter is that if you look at last year’s starting pitcher free agents, most were flat-out busts, including the pitcher formerly known as Thor. Ohtani’s arm already blew out (again). Look at the LIST: Do Sonny Gray (age 34), and Jordon Montgomery (age 31). Marcus Stroman, Alex Wood, et all inspire confidence… right? There are pitchers who have had Tommy John (once, twice, or more) and those who will. The Nats signed Stephen Strasburg for a billion dollars, and he effectively never pitched again, being a boat anchor on the team’s ability to move forward.
I went back and looked at some recent history in the playoffs and World Series. I can see some patterns. It is harder to get to the World Series than ever, but one thing is certain: you have to get out of the Division Series in order to advance. Even Ray Charles can see that!
2014- The last time the Giants won the World Series, they played as a Wild Card, beating the Pirates in a single Wild Card Game. They then beat the Reds three games to two in the NLDS and the Cardinals four games to three before sweeping the World Series. Madison Bumgarner was out of his mind, pitching 53 innings in the playoffs.
2017 – The Astros won the AL Division Series over the Red Sox three games to one. Then they beat the Yankees four games to three and finally beat the Dodgers to win the World Series four games to three. It is established that they cheated in every series along that journey.
2018 – The Red Sox were a juggernaut and played only three teams to win the World Series. They lost just one game in each series. There were rumors of cheating, but nothing was established.
2019 – The Washington Nationals won the World Series. They were the Wild Card and beat Milwaukee in the Wild Card (one game). They then played the Dodgers in the Division Series and beat them three games to two. Next, they swept the Cardinals four straight games and advanced to the World Series which they won four games to three over the Astros. They rode Stephen Strasburg so hard that he has never pitched again.
2020 – The Dodgers won the World Series for the only time in history that a team has had to play four rounds in order to win. There was no Wild Card Game. Instead, it was a three-game series, which the Dodgers won 2-0. They then beat the Padres 3-0 in the Division Series and the Braves 4-3 in the Championship Series. They finally beat the Rays four games to two. Some people think that this was somehow tainted, but the fact of the matter is that with four rounds, it was the most difficult.
2021 – The Braves won the World Series after beating the Brewers three games to one in the NLDS and the Dodgers four games to two in the NLCS. They went on to beat the Astros four games to two in the World Series.
2022 – The Astros won the World Series four games to two, after sweeping the ALDS and the ALCS. What is notable is that they did it with a 39-year-old pitcher and four youngsters. One was 28, another was 27, and two more were 25.
The times, they are a changing. The Wild Card round was initially introduced in 2012 as a single-game playoff between two wild-card teams in each league, with the winner advancing to the Division Series. With the adoption of MLB’s new collective bargaining agreement in November 2011, baseball commissioner Bud Selig announced that a new playoff system would begin within the next two years; the change was ultimately implemented in 2012. Under the format adopted in 2022, the Wild Card game became a “best of three series.” The Division Series is a best of five, with the Championship Series being a best of seven.
As we know, this means that the division winners have up to a week off before having to play a best-of-five series with the Wild Card Winner. The Dodgers came out flat last year against the Padres, and they appear to be doing the same this year… but as we all know, it is not over. Back in the day, a team played the regular season, and then the two League Winners played the World Series. It’s a lot more difficult now with all of the rounds that have to be played. However, none are as difficult as 2020 due to the extra round. Also, remember that the Asstros cheated their ass off in 2017 and stole a title that should have been the Dodgers.
I don’t know who will show up tonight – we know that the Dodgers can hit, but will they? You can talk about the pitching all you want, but with even a little hitting, the series should be 1-1. A lot of you are talking about pitching, but who would you get: Dotel? A lot of you wanted him. How did that work out? The long-term answer is to sign an occasional free agent, make an occasional trade and grow your own, which is exactly what Andrew Friedman is doing.
Next year, Walker Buehler will be back to go with Bobby Miller, Emmet Sheehan, Gavin Stone, Landon Knack, Nick Frasso and others. They do need a lefty, but I doubt Kershaw is the one. You just have to understand that most of the pitchers who will be on the market are ticking arm bombs – Signing a free-agent pitcher is truly a crapshoot!
Arizona Fall League
Yenier Fernandez continues to shine with a .353 BA and a 1.182 OPS. I do not believe he has caught a game as he is playing 2B and SS exclusively. Jake Pilarski pitched an inning yesterday and struck out two while walking none and not allowing a hit. Here’s what MLB says about Fernandez:
An infielder/pitcher on Venezuela’s 2015 Little League World Series team, Fernandez later moved behind the plate and developed into one of the best catchers in the 2019 international class. Signed for $717,500, he had his pro debut delayed a year by the pandemic and came to the United States in 2021, when he hit .355/.414/.488 and reached Single-A at age 18. He had to share time at that level last season with Diego Cartaya and Dalton Rushing, but showed his versatility by playing a nice second base while finishing sixth in the California League batting race at .292.
— MLB.com
Fernandez has an unusual profile for a catcher, with his hitting ability his standout tool and his athleticism outshining his physicality. A right-handed hitter, he recognizes pitches, manages the strike zone and puts the bat on the ball more easily than most players his age. He won’t ever be a slugger, but he did drive the ball in the air more frequently last season and has a quick, compact swing that could translate into 12-15 homers per season if he gets stronger.
Close to an average runner, Fernandez is quicker than most backstops and moves well behind the plate. He continues to improve his receiving and blocking with experience and his fringy arm strength plays up a tick thanks to his fast release and accuracy. He can develop into an average defender as a catcher and also handles second base well, a la Dodgers backup Austin Barnes, and there are scouts who think Fernandez might have more upside at the latter position.
More on Trevor Bauer
Finally, Trevor Bauefr has been exonerated! Period. Imagine how the team would look with him as a starter! The media has portrayed him as an asshole, and baseball players are fearful of being associated with him because of how all of this was handled… rather”Mis-handled!” The media mob is very effective at making you believe the narrative they propound. Sometimes it is true, Oft times it is a damned lie! Here’s more video about the scumbag who accused him:
Discussion (90)
Disagree, not disagreeable
It’s all good guys we won 100 games!!
One amazing fact is that Dave Roberts winning percentage as a manager is .630 – the best in the history of MLB managers. And he has won 100 games in 5 of his 8 seasons – only 2 managers in MLB history have 6 100 win seasons. The Dodgers have won the NL West in 10 of the last 11 seasons – and the one year they didn’t win they won 106 games (Giants won 107 that year). And the Dodgers run of being in the post season for 11 consecutive seasons is the 3rd longest streak in MLB history. Obviously, that speaks volumes about the organization. Yet, outside of Covid-shortened 2020, every October has been heartbreaking during those 11 seasons.
Rest assured fans, there will be some changes made this winter. Several players on this team will not return. I doubt they pick up Lynn’s option. Heyward has the best chance of being resigned. Peralta, Rosario, and Wong are pretty much gone. The bull pen will have some returnees. Brasier, Graterol, Phillips for sure. They have an option on Kelly, 9.5 million. That is fairly cheap for a pitcher with his experience. But there is a one million dollar buy out.
The one player who has his future totally in his own hands is Kershaw. Say what you will, AF will let Kersh make up his own mind as to whether he returns, retires or goes elsewhere for 24. The starting pitchers already on the roster who will be at Camelback come February, Buehler, Miller, Pepiot, Sheehan and Stone. Gonsolin and May will not be back next year.
So, they will either promote some guys who were at AA and AAA this season to join these guys, or they will check the free-agent list and see who fits their needs. They will need a lefty if Kersh moves on. I believe they need one even if he stays. The best will probably be Jordan Montgomery. Yarbrough is arbitration eligible, so the Dodgers might retain him as a long man or as a piggyback starter.
Lux will be back; Busch and Vargas once again will be the team’s top position rookies. Vargas has passed the rookie threshold, as has Busch. I know this might be unpopular with some, but I do not bring back Max Muncy. Even as a DH. His strikeouts went up for the third straight season. Watching Muncy flail away, homer or walk, is just not entertaining or very good baseball.
Re-set. And do a total re-set. Move Mookie to the infield permanently. There are going to be a ton of free agent outfielders. Deluca will get a good look this spring, see if he is one of those solid contact hitters this team lacks. I put Mookie at SS. Rojas is under contract for another year, so use him in the role he was acquired for, a backup SS. Lux can play second. He has showed that.
Give Vargas the first shot at third, if he does not cut it, then try Busch. Better yet, let them fight it out in spring. Loser gets traded. Taylor will stay since it is doubtful anyone wants to trade for that contract. Kike is gone again, and even though I like Barnes as a person, as a back up catcher, he is abysmal.
I am way too old and have seen this kind of thing way too many times to be upset. The blame is team wide. It was a total team loss. It is on the front office, the coaches, the manager, and the players. They did what they have done for the last 11 years. They played very well during the regular season, giving fans hope for a Championship.
Then fans get the rug pulled out from underneath them with mediocre, or in this case, very bad baseball played in the postseason. If the Diamondbacks can pull off the full miracle and win the World Series, they would accomplish what the Dodgers did in 2020. They would win four series and 13 games to become the Champs. Phillies have that chance too if they dump the Braves.
Your stars perform like scrubs, you are not going to win. Mookie, ofer, Freddie with one hit, and that is a dubious description of his one hit. The pitcher was late covering first. The team that had great at bats during the season, running up pitch counts and waiting for a hittable pitch, took the other route and was overly aggressive resulting in low pitch counts and a ton of atem balls.
No, I am not upset one bit. I was more upset when they blew a 2 run lead in the 9th inning of game three in 1962. That was totally demoralizing. This was expected after the first two games were played with not one look of urgency.
Oh well, it took me a good night’s sleep and about an hour to declare “I am over it!”
The Dodgers don’t put food on my table nor do they pay any of my bills so no need to get myself worked up about it.
Change is definitely needed but where that comes from remains to be seen.
I’d say Friedman and Roberts have to be seriously reconsidered. It doesn’t work anymore. I have never seen a team so unprepared for 2 years in a row.
Football season is officially here.
I will still be an avid reader on this site but I won’t post much until 2024, the offseason is not as fun for me as the regular season. I will pop in and say hi around the holidays but otherwise, sayonara my fellow posters.
Well, get ready for another year of having sunshine blown up our @sses, in the form of :
1. It’s almost impossible to win a WS, so don’t be disappointed after a postseason collapse.
2. Achieving 100 regular season wins exempts management from criticism for abject failure in the playoffs.
3. Incomprehensible managerial decisions never result in a team losing games. Only players lose games.
This year’s postseason was supposed to make us forget last year’s postseason fiasco. Unfortunately this year’s postseason fiasco actually achieved that, making this one of the most memorable postseason collapses in MLB History.
There should be a three run rule in the playoffs. If a pitcher gives up three homers in one inning, his team’s manager MUST give him the hook. That rule would relieve any Manager of the responsibility, in the event that he was brain dead on a respirator.
Get 2 star outfielders that can hit both RHP and LHP to go along with Outman as starters. Dump Peralta and Heyward.
Put Betts at SS and Busch at 2B. Dump Rojas.
Dump Barnes and bring up Feduccia.
Try to keep Martinez as DH, if not then move Muncy to DH and get a star 3B.
Use DeLuca as a back up outfielder/pinch hitter.
Use Lux as a back up infielder/pinch hitter.
Use Taylor as a back up infielder and outfielder/pinch hitter.
There’s your 13 position players.
Get a star starting pitcher to go with Beuhler, Miller, Pepiot, Sheehan. Stone is an option and May and Gonsolin are too if healthy.
Keep Phillips, Brasier, S. Miller, Graterol and clean out the rest of the relievers from this year. Get another dominant reliever. Treinen, D. Hudson, Feyereisen, Reyes are options if healthy.
This is all if possible.
WTF !!!!!!
Didn’t really expect to beat the D backs in a five-game series with our pitching staff. But I sure thought our offense would show up and not embarrass the great Dodger name.
Losing is one thing, but getting Punked? I understand it from a pitching perspective we didn’t have much. But our offense should be ashamed to look in the mirror.
Players that will be back in Dodger Blue next year.
Freeman
Betts
Outman
Heyward
Muncy
Kiki Hernandez
Miller
Sheehan
Stone
Pepiot
Grateoal
Phillips
Smith
Rojas
Ferguson
Miller
Yarbough
All other players will be free agent signings or trades. And Busch or Vargas oh please we need guys that can hit on a regular bases. Get rid of Taylor Peralta Barnes Kershaw are all gone Lynn and the guy in the bullpen that where’s the funny glasses get a manager who fires up this team. Walt Weiss was mentioned or a veteran guy look at the Phillies guy back to back years he wins in playoffs. Right now the best lineup for the dodgers would be move Lux to center field move Outman to Leftfielder to play every day being Kiki back to play every where sign heyward as the other outfielder and Deluca move Betts to second base Rojas at short stop Freeman at center field and you go get Arenado to be the third baseman and Smith at catcher. Bring up a young catcher to back up Smith so he doesn’t get worn down by playoff time. Sign a veteran pitcher to go with Buehler miller Shehan and Pepiot in the starting rotation Jordan Montgomery sure looked good.
So a lineup of
Betts
Freeman
Arenado
Muncy
Smith
Outman
Heyward
Lux
Rojas
That be a pretty good lineup in 2024 and they probably win 100 games again but what about the playoffs and who leads them tahta what matters.
Well could that be Dave Roberts last year as manager of the Dodgers. Choke in playoffs could be be the next manager for say the Same Francisco Giants. If so there got to be a better manager that can win in the playoffs after back to back losses in the playoffs to a lower seeded team. That was terrible no hitting and no pitching never lead in any games. Arizona deserves to win the series they hit the ball. And what do we do hit the ball to the second baseman every time or swing at bad pitches and didn’t swing at the good pitches. Again the lower seeded teams will advance to the playoffs again. That just keeps happening every year. Dodgers just played awful.
Nobody is discrediting the Snakes. Yes they played great and wanted to win. Dimply we didn’t. Pitching was a joke and hitting was a laugh. And it’s sure stunk up the place.
Clean house with the offense, get rid of the over the hill platoon hitters and go young with stars and superstars.
Go young with the pitching and add stars and superstars.
The aging platoon players and aging pitchers formula is not working.
Start with trading Vargas and Cartaya for needs.
I hear others opinions on RVS and Doc and I don’t disagree.
Utterly embarrassing, and yet not at all shocking
Used to it
Maybe, just maybe, we were outplayed by the better team. The .500 Diamondbacks as Posters here dismissed them.
It’s officially over you bums. Better luck next season
Year after year they play the stars with little rest and they are out of gas in the playoffs.
“Mookie shrinks”. Pure and utter nonsense. This is a team effort. In fact, doesn’t seem to me that Freddie’s done much better.
I don’t have the answers, but maybe the Dodgers have to sign Ohtani and that star pitcher coming out of Japan. Or they just have to play their best baseball in the post season.
See you guys next year. Take care.
OK, it is mercifully over, and all I can say is when you average two runs a game (like last year), you will never win anything.
We knew the pitching was suspect, but the lack of hitting cost them everything.
The moral of the story is that the hitting sucked and starting pitching sucked.
Either Mookie & Freddie are the premier choke artists in baseball, or RVS should be fired after the season is over.
When the pressure comes– Mookie shrinks
The last I checked a game lasted nine innings.
I’ll deal with whatever happens when it’s over.
Too many platoons Barnes had to hit for Peralta.
So far, the Dodgers have scored 2 runs a game.
Talk about the problem: Lack of hitting!
They still have time!
It still ain’t over, but she is warming up.
The fat lady.
What do you expect when your top two hitters have not shown up… at all?
This isn’t about the pitching. It’s the hitting, M_________.
Chumps!
Led by the biggest Chump, who loves to criticize Doc even when what he does works.
“Yeah, but it shouldn’t have worked.”
Like saying, “I saw Outman in 2021 and saw something I liked about him.”
What was it you liked:
His caveman swing that still looks wonky?
His proclivity to strike out?
His slightly above average arm?
The poor jumps he gets on ball hit to CF?
Maybe his hair? Mancrush?
I call BS!
No shame in getting shut out by Pfaadt and company! Right? Eric, is Doc doing this just to spite you?
Doc is playing with fire, using the holes in the bullpen.
Grove got lucky he got out of that inning because that last pitch was a ball.
Next year will it be the Rockies that humiliate us.
Oh boy, Eric is not going to like this!!!!!
It’s like clockwork. Any pitcher who can throw an off-speed breaking ball down in the zone..
WILL induce a swing ‘n miss from Muncy.
Most embarrassing playoff exit i have ever seen as a Dodger fan!! All 3 games no contest is an utter disaster!! Wouldn’t matter if we somehow won this series we would get destroyed by braves or phillies. I can go to bed early without having to watch this shit show
I can hear the Fat Lady warming up!
Doc, you better use those dominant relievers the rest of the game.
I’ve seen enough. WTF was Lynn thinking? Utter garbage. Four HR’s in one inning sums up the state of our SP. In a couple of days I’ll do a post mortem on the Dodgers with some Wild Ass Guesses as to what might happen in the off season, which probably starts in about two hours.
There will be many changes and it starts with RVS looking for work. Is this an emotional knee-jerk and moronic comment?………..yes it is, but 11 straight post season appearances with just one WS championship to show for it has to force ownership into changes. Window dressing perhaps, but changes will be made.
As I’m typing this our $50+ million duo #1 and #2 hitters just made two outs on three pitches.
If I didn’t believe in such things I would think we were cursed.
I think you could pitch a position player and that would never happen.
It’s just painful
If you cant hit AND cant pitch you aint gonna win in this game.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is an utter embarrassment. Getting swept by Arizona is not embarrassing but they get 4 and 2/3 innings out of their starters and give up 16 hits and 13 runs. Their hitters have scored 4 runs in 21 innings. To say they have been overmatched and look lifeless would be an understatement. Not over yet but it sure is heading that way. Going to be a very interesting off-season.
At least CK doesn’t have to embarrass himself again. But ends his career with his worst game ever.
Wait til next year!!!!
My vote says we don’t resign Lynn for next year.
How ridiculous. There are ways to lose. but this team is pathetic. Roberts left Lynn two batters. Later
Which of you did not anticipate the fourth home run? Robert’s didn’t.
Tip the hat their a better team then we are
how long are they going to leave him out there to throw batting practice?
What a joke!
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Getting swept and never even had a lead! Thanks for the memories! Worst starting pitching performance in the history of baseball! So proud!
There’s your home run allowing machine doing what he does best.
Déjà vu of Andrew home run allowing machine Heaney last year who gave up the game-winning home run in game 2 last year.
Lance Lynn. Sigh…….
So far, pathetic continues with the bats!
We’re not trailing after the first inning!! Maybe we can get our first lead of the series!
Go Dodgers. Please don’t end it.
If the Dodgers bats can’t chase Pfaadt off the mound early in this game, then they simply don’t deserve to win this series.
Good Luck Dodgers!!
Mookie, Freddie. Follow Harpers lead!
Off to the LA Kings opener, wearing my Kings beanie and scarf, but with my Dodgers #42 jersey.
Ill be streaming TBS the entire time
9:07 PM ET
Dodgers (100-62) 0-2
Diamondbacks (84-78) 2-0
SP Lance Lynn R
13-11 5.73 ERA
SP Brandon Pfaadt R
3-9 5.72 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
DH J. Martinez R
3B Max Muncy L
C Will Smith R
RF J. Heyward L
CF E. Hernandez R
LF D. Peralta L
SS Miguel Rojas R
In Domed Stadium
Hopefully this will NOT be my last lineup posting in 2023!!
My WINNING lineup for tonight to get the offense going:
1. SS KIKE’
2. 2B BETTS
3. 1B FREEMAN
4. DH MARTINEZ
5. 3B MUNCIE
6. C SMITH
7. LF TAYLOR
8. CF OUTMAN
9. RF HEYWARD
PERALTA TO PINCH HIT LATER
How many homeruns does Lynn give up tonight in Arizona ? How many innings does he last?
Also Freddie’s lone hit was an infield single
I think you got me in the stubborn department. Here’s to them pulling off three straight starting today. We can do it
Only thing 100 wins got us is two or three weeks with nothing left to play for. A five day layoff to mess up there timing, kill momentum and rock them to sleep. But if can’t overcome that and all the injuries and whatever else just means it’s not there year to be the best
Season on the line tonight. I’d rather have Kiki or CT3 in CF! Outman has just looked lost at the plate! And sorry Wat but Kersh is pitching game 4. And there will be a game 4!
Well for the dodgers it’s been harder to win three in the playoffs last couple years then 100 in reg season which is a silly comparison. Should ask is it harder to win 11 in the playoffs than 100 in regular season and the answer is yes very much so that’s what makes a ring so desirable. 100 is just a nice round number. Only number that matters in regular season is whatever one it takes to make playoffs that determines if a team got what it takes to be the best. One could say if our elite starter didn’t get hurt we’d be the best or we won more games in regular season than any other team so we’re the best but it doesn’t work that way. It’s really hard to win 11 games or whatever number it takes during that year against the best competition as it’s supposed to be and what team is able to accomplish that is a worthy champion and able to claim there the best. Because the best isn’t determined on paper with regular season stats. The best is the last team standing thru it all regular season and playoffs no matter what obstacles they have to overcome to say it’s a crapshoot is diminishing everything it’s all about
I really don’t want to come across as being negative because I really do want the Dodgers to win every game, especially when I get out of bed at 2am to watch the Post Season games live, but I’m finding it incredulous to read that posters are lining Clayton up for a game four start should we prevail tonight??
This was my point about having him around year after in the Post Season. His presence makes people make stupid decisions that wouldn’t be afforded to regular players in the same circumstances.
Did you not watch that first inning on Saturday night? It was an utter embarrassment. Yes Outman didn’t live up to his name, but c’mom – he was throwing batting practice.
If the name on the back of his jersey was Lynn or Yarborough, you’d still be hearing the booing now.
Yes he had pitched five innings previously blah blah, but to run him out there in game one was pure folly just as it was pitching him in game 2 last year instead of Tyler Anderson.
His Post Season performances havnt been great for some time – yes some very good, but also some very poor – and yet now he’s evidently our Ace again, despite having a velocity that barely touches 90 mph.
The picture of him slumped and despondent in the dug out could have been taken from any one of the past few years, and yet people here want him to have another try!!
Clayton Kershaw has been the best pitcher of this generation but he no longer is that guy. The sooner people wake up and realise that the better.
Everyone seems scared of offending him.
If it was anyone else this wouldn’t even be a discussion.
I was surprised that Yarborough was excluded from the NLDS as I thought he was a lock – not as an Opener, but as a piggyback guy – we could have used him.
Everyone is pointing at Mookie and Freddie but how about someone else putting their hand up and coming to the party. It’s a team game, how about some others standing up to be counted?
We win tonight – Larnce Lynn will keep us in it.
The team with the best league record shouldn’t face being eliminated in less than a four of seven matchup as it took that many games to eliminate them from a championship. A 2nd seed should only be eliminated also no less than four games. Any wildcard should be eliminated in all postseason matchups with a two game loss other than the World Series. It should take more for a wildcard to win the Pennant and only then face an even matchup.
Ex Dodgers Alvarez ( Houston),Seager(Texas) and Evoldi(Texas) all performing exceptionally well in the playoffs.
Yeah the crapshoot theory is just a excuse for losers if the dodgers did happen to win it all no fans would say they only won because it was a crapshoot. The cream rises to the top especially when it matters most. Someone let me know when they start having parades for winning 100 games. Of course lots of things have to go right to win it all they always have
And hopefully next year, the playoffs will start the day after the season ends, on Monday. maximum 3 games and the other teams start series on Thursday, that is, the Dodgers should have played on Thursday and not until Saturday. Why give an advantage to teams that were not leaders? Why give disadvantages to division leaders? On Sunday they would have to travel immediately to the city of the wild card, and once that series is over (assuming it goes to 3 games) to travel again to the city of the division leader
I read that Baltimore was swept despite winning 101 games, against whom? Any wild card team? Some mediocre team? Any team equivalent to Arizona? And what record did Baltimore have last year? in the last 10 years? It was a one-season thing, I doubt they will reach 100 wins next year, I doubt they will reach playoffs next year, there is no comparison!
Bauer has been exonerated and probably Urias as well, neither is returning to LA for any amount, it will be interesting to see them sign with SF or SD….
Deep breath.
The Dodgers can certainly win this series. Whatever happens, happens. If Mookie and Freddie lead the way, the odds of the Dodgers coming back increase greatly. If Lance Lynn battles and finds a way to keep the ball in the ball park, the Dodgers chances of coming out on top increases. If someone steps up and gets hot with the bat, again LA improves the chances of coming back.
If the Dodgers break out on top, it would be a big boost.
When all the dust settles, there will plenty of time to debate what went wrong or right, to discuss the future.
If things go wrong, all I will say is it’s tough to fix a crapshoot.
Lots of good info coming out here and on Jeff’s site. Jeff explained the monetary restraints and why LA just could not go out and grab any pitcher they wanted. If and when the D-Backs get that third win, and that has not happened yet, then fans can sit back and bitch all winter. It won’t change anything.
They win or lose, and it is on the players. Your stars do not perform up to star standards, you are going to lose. Unless the scrubs go nutso. In 2018, the Dodgers were beaten by the Red Sox. Who was the series MVP? Steve Pearce. A journeyman outfielder-first baseman who had 4 hits in that series. Why did he win? 3 of those hits left the yard and drove in 8 runs. Everyone needs to play better baseball.
Oh and Lindsey Hill should be in JAIL
LOCK HER UP
Dont let the Dodgers get HOT.
AZ doesnt win tonight, they get a Kersh revenge game in Game 4 after we just won game 3.
And then in Game 5 back at Dodger Stadium anything can happen.
AZ doesn’t sweep tonight we win this series.
BURN THE SHIPS
Houston Mitchell:
Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell and you have to wonder if Shohei Ohtani is watching and saying to himself, “Maybe I should rethink this whole Dodgers thing.”
Some random thoughts:
—That was not the start the Dodgers were looking for from Bobby Miller. He was throwing hard but had no idea where the ball was going. He had a look in his eyes that read as “The minors weren’t like this.”
—If nothing else, this will be a great learning experience.
—But it’s a lot different sending Miller out there for Game 2 compared to sending out Walker Buehler or Dustin May.
You have to appreciate Brusdar Graterol. Dave Roberts was booed by some when he removed Graterol from the game. While walking off the mound, Graterol motioned to the crowd to start applauding and support the team. And it did.
—While it’s always stylish to blame Roberts for postseason losses, you can’t really blame him for this 2-0 deficit. He’s not the one striking out in key situations, and he’s not starting any games on the mound.
—My only quibble might be hitting Kolten Wong for Miguel Rojas, since Rojas had some key hits down the stretch. But that’s assuming Rojas would have gotten a hit. If Rojas had made an out, we could say “Why is Kolten Wong on the roster if you don’t use him right there?”
—Dodgers starting pitching in the NLDS: 2 IP, 10 hits, 9 ER, 3 walks, 1 K. ERA: 40.50
—Mookie Betts this postseason: 0 for 7.
—Freddie Freeman this postseason: one for seven.
Dodgers with runners in scoring position this postseason: two for 12.
—Betts in his last three postseason series: six for 44. He led the Dodgers to the 2020 title but has been as responsible as anyone for the failures since then.
—You know, if James Outman doesn’t swing and miss at ball four with the bases loaded …
—Every season, the Dodgers offense works counts, rarely swings at bad pitches and punishes their opponent. And every postseason, all that goes out the window and they take bad at-bat after bad at-bat.
—Dodgers offense with runners in scoring position in their last five postseason games (all losses): four for 38.
—TBS announcer Ron Darling has a firm grasp of the obvious. I actually think he and Bob Costas make a pretty good team, but my favorite part is when Darling explains something, and then Costas jumps in and explains it a different way.
—Also, Costas complaining that they never should have gotten rid of the four-pitch intentional walk is a perfect example of “You kids get off my lawn.”
Who are those Penélope Cruz Air Emirates ads aimed at? I checked and the lowest price to fly in the cabin she mentions is $11,000. Too rich for my blood. I need to save my $11,000 to buy tickets to Dodgers postseason games.
—OK, here’s what’s going to happen. Lance Lynn vs. Brandon Pfaadt tonight. That’s 12-10 Dodgers. Then, Clayton Kershaw has one last brilliant start in him and holds Arizona to one hit in six innings as the Dodgers win, 4-0. And then, back home, the Dodgers offense wins in a laugher, 13-2.
—Also, if I flap my arms hard enough, I might fly.
The Athletic:
“The current, newish format gives the top two division winners in each league a bye through the Wild Card round and home-field advantage in a best-of-five Division Series. On paper, it makes sense. The better regular-season team can theoretically rest up and, if it protects home turf, needs just one win on the road to book a trip to the LCS.
The premise hasn’t worked as intended. Lower seeds have won five of these eight series in the last two seasons. You can win as many games as you want in the regular season, then sit through a weird layoff and run into two great pitchers on a 90-win team. Poof, advantage gone.”
Bauer’s accuser admits her intentions to damage Bauer for what could only be her financial gain as a motive. How much homework she did in the design of this matter probably won’t ever be brought to the public but she did enough to pick out who would be the simplest target. If there were no previous accusers she likely would find someone that would fit her plans. However bad her intentions were MLB criminally made moves that cost Bauer to a much greater extent. Perhaps the real agenda was motivated by MLB to hire/use her to damage Bauer. MLB used this issue far above what should be considered a standard. All of this is outside of Bauer’s element as he’s dedicated his existence to baseball only. Now he’ll be the poster boy of how one better behave themselves off the field. And probably made clear at the moment of signing any contract.
One thing for sure – It seemingly can’t get any worse for the Dodgers. They’ve sunk to all-time lows with their SP’s and batters, so they have nowhere else to go but up.
Now don’t misunderstand my next statement! I despise Alex Bregman, but the Dodgers need a 3rd baseman with his athleticism, hit tool and attitude similar to the cheater! I really admired him and wanted him as a Dodger before the truth came out. this team needs a fire starter! Agree this series isn’t over, but someone or ones has to pull their heads out of their ass’s and step up! Maybe Doc needs to explode for once! This is not on him, (excuse for the “Wong” hitter). but lite a fire and let’s go!
Here’s a look at the MLB Postseason Problems:
https://www.outkick.com/mlb-postseason-problem-ideas-how-to-fix-it/
It really illustrates how the best teams do not win, and it is obviously a “crapshoot.”
Here’s a snippet:
October is here, and with it, MLB’s postseason tournament. This season marks year two of the league’s new wild-card format, meaning we now have more information on what it means for the postseason moving forward.
And even though there’s a few more games remaining in the division series matchups, it’s safe to say that we know enough to form some conclusions. Especially with regards to what MLB’s decisions mean for the value of the regular season.
In short, it’s solidified that the 162-game schedule is almost entirely irrelevant past 84-85 wins.
Four teams, two in each league, were given byes into their respective division series, as well as home field advantage: the Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves.
Through the first two home games of each series, those teams, who won an average of 99 games this year, went a combined 2-6. And one of those two wins required a miraculous 4-run comeback from the Braves.
It’d be easy to pass that off as a one year aberration…if the same thing hadn’t happened in 2022. The 111-win Dodgers won one game, losing the NLDS 3-1 to the 89-win Padres. The 101-win Atlanta Braves lost their series 3-1 to the 87-win Phillies.
Between the two leagues, the team with the better record in the 2022 division series went 8-8 over the wild card teams. Including a three-game Astros sweep.
While there’s nothing wrong or concerning with upsets or underdogs making postseason runs, it’s become abundantly clear that MLB’s postseason changes have made the postseason even more of a random coin flip than it already was. And demolished the value of the regular season in the process.
The anemic performance of the 100-win, bye-having, home field advantage enjoying teams the past two seasons isn’t surprising. Not because of some inherent flaw, or because those organizations or players are “chokers,” or managerial flaws, but because that’s how baseball works.
It’s been estimated that in order for the better baseball team to enjoy the same likelihood of winning a postseason series as the better team in the NBA does in their playoff format, MLB would have to play best-of-75 game series. Each round. Obviously that’s not happening.
Baseball teams are too evenly matched, something that plays out frequently during the regular season. The Kansas City Royals won a series over the 100-win Dodgers this year. The division-winning Astros lost two consecutive series in September to the lowly A’s and Royals.
If you put either of the MLB-worst Royals or A’s in the playoffs, they’d win the World Series 5-6% of the time. The best team in baseball, this year the Atlanta Braves, wins it just 17-20% of the time.
There’s a lot more!
Next year’s rotation:
Buehler
Miller
Pepiot
Stone
Sheehan
Let ‘er rip
How many MFing catching prospects do we have?!
I have an idea: Win Tonight
And I now have a great new defense when I get in trouble with my wife. “Honey, that’s a super valid question!”
Oh, I forgot to mention that Baltimore (101 Wins) got swept last night!
We have to break out offensively against this guy tonight and then a Kersh redemption game 4 and we’re back in LA where Miller throws his breaking ball for strikes. Then we’re off to Atlanta! Easy!