It's Not the Time to Fight!
Who could script all this? This is a Crazy, Amazing, Iconic, Maddening, Awesome Game. The Giants are showing no sign of letting up or falling down in this Magical Season. Their starting staff is decimated and their relievers are a mess, but they just keep winning. Last night…
Who could script all this? This is a Crazy, Amazing, Iconic, Maddening, Awesome Game. The Giants are showing no sign of letting up or falling down in this Magical Season. Their starting staff is decimated and their relievers are a mess, but they just keep winning. Last night their starting pitcher was paid by the Dodgers to start for the Giants and despite being out of baseball for about 20 years, he did not give up an ER in 4 innings. Does anyone here want Scott Kazmir back? Of course not, but he’s part of the juggernaut that is the Giants.
I believe that it is time for the Dodgers to concede the battle… so that they can win the war! What I mean by that is I believe it is time to concede the division to the Giants and gear up to win the playoffs. Sun Tsu said this in The Art of War:
He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.
Is the goal to win the NL West… or the World Series? I would say that the latter is the goal. Forget the consecutive NL West Championships. Let’s get laser-focused on the ultimate goal: The World Series! Max Scherzer may be fine (although I would pitch him 5 or 6 innings in his next two starts). Clayton Kershaw probably needs to build his pitch count, but it appears that Julio Urias and Walker Buehler are running out of gas.
They need some rest in order to get revitalized for the playoffs. It might be wise to let them rest seven or eight days and then have one final “tune-up” before the end of the season. Stack the rotation so that if there is a Wild Card Game, Max Scherzer is the starter. It’s time to rest… not fight. Get AJ Pollock, Justin Turner, Chris Taylor, Max Muncy, Cody Bellinger, Corey Seagar, Mookie Betts, and the Catchers healthy. The Dodgers are already in the playoffs. They should gear up for the playoffs… not the NL West Championship.
STAND DOWN!
If they keep trying to win the division… and God knows they have tried – they have the best record in baseball over the last 30 to 40 games – they may flame out early in the playoffs. Phil Bickford and Alex Vesia are also gassed. They have pitched a lot. Give them some rest. Let’s forget the NL West Championship and focus on the World Series. Rest the players who need to rest and keep everyone else sharp. Then come back with your guns blazing!
Yes, that is easier said than done. Sometimes when you pull it back, you can never get it back, but right about now, the Dodgers have some pitchers who need some R & R. Right about now, the focus should be on the ultimate goal, not something you think would be really cool to accomplish. That is a slippery slope, but it is something I would absolutely do right about now.
I know that it is difficult to pitch in Colorado, but I can also see that some pitchers are tired. They call it Dead Arm Syndrome. Urias and Buehler have pitched more innings than they ever have in a season. The same is true with Vesia and Bickford, and even Treinen could benefit from some rest. It’s time to win the war… not the battle!
Pack it in! Live to fight another day.
The Giants are in the midst of a magical season. No one thought they could even finish .500 and they will win over 100 games. It’s the Baseball Gods I tell you! Maybe this run will carry them to a World Series win (I threw up in my mouth as I wrote that), but if the Dodgers re-group for the final battles, maybe they can steal the Giants magic… and make no mistake about it: it is magic… smoke and mirrors. I would not be surprised to see them play below .500 next year. But, here we are and it is what it is.
There’s nothing to be ashamed of – there have been a lot of injuries and the Bauer Debacle, but there are no excuses. Play Ball! The Dodgers will win over 100 games and not win the division. Someone should look up the last time that happened. Get a little R & R, boys, and then let’s get ready for the Real Battles!
Finally, I have noticed that Trea Turner makes some really avoidable knuckleheaded plays. Mookie and JT need to speak with him privately and tell him to stop acting like he is “too cool for school – Don’t worry what it looks like – just do it!”
Waterloo
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Discussion (126)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Muncy and JTurner have killied some rallies lately
Welcome back AJ!
Rokis have been hitting the other way seems it works
RUH RO…….
New Dodger killer? C.J. Cron 10 for last 15.
News from Internet:
JAY JAFFE CHAT
Lots and lots of great stuff here.
Tom: Hi Jay. I know it’s early, but any thoughts on what the NL West is gonna look like next year? You think we’re gonna get another season of three “superteams” mixing it up?
Jay Jaffe: I don’t think we can characterize the Padres as a superteam after what happened to them this year, particularly with a rotation that was projected to be among the game’s best just falling apart, and I suspect we’ll see some changes. Would they fire Preller and/or Tingler? I’m not sure, but a lot blew up in their faces this year. I think the Dodgers will remain a powerhouse but could look different depending upon how they approach the free agencies of Seager, Kershaw, and possibly Scherzer. I expect the Giants could look different as well given their aging core and the number of free agents they have, but we know this new regime is pretty smart and I expect they’ll be in the mix going forward
Mrs Phanatic: I know this is a player you probably forgot about, but which team do you think could fix Vinny Velazquez? Or is he so bad not even the Rays could fix him?
Jay Jaffe: Probably not the Padres, alas. The Giants have done very well fixing pitchers during the Zaidi era, the Rays are probably a good bet. Maybe the Dodgers.
Corbin Burnes: Do you think Chase Utley deserves a plaque, and do you think he will get one?
And the active second baseman with the greatest Hall of Fame odds is ___.
Jay Jaffe: I think he’s definitely worthy, but his late start, modest counting stats and reliance upon defensive stats will make him a tougher sell for voters. See https://blogs.fangraphs.com/utleys-chase-for-cooperstown/
Altuve, but I’d put his odds at maybe about 30-40%
Maddoning: Can you think of another healthy player that has dropped off as much as Cody Bellinger? What is really going on there?
Jay Jaffe: Either he injured his shoulder and leg and has had trouble getting right since then, like many players before him, or he woke up one morning and forgot how to hit. Which do you think it is?
Roberta’s Piazza: How would you compare Julio Urias’ most likely outcome now to what it was six years ago?
Jay Jaffe: I think it’s pretty miraculous that he’s become the pitcher the Dodgers hoped that he would given his precociousness and the severity of his shoulder injury. He’s still only in his age-24 season and he’s on the fringes of a Cy Young race, crowded out by two of his current teammates.
mookie magic: what do you think ends up happening with scherzer this offseason? his comments after his 3000K game about hoping to be kershaw’s teammate when he gets to 3000 sure make it sound like he wants to stay in LA, and granted he won’t be as otherwordly as he has been since the trade because nobody’s that good but it seems like he’s making quite the case that the dodgers should try and get that done.
Jay Jaffe: I saw that quote and my eyes just about jumped out of my head. I would have to think the Dodgers saw that as well
I think they’ll work to keep him if that interest is genuine. Between re-signing Kershaw and figuring out what happens with Bauer — whom I suspect will get a lenghthy suspension and free up some money — they’ve got a lot of balls in the air, though.
Mr. Burrito: Kenley Jansen: Potential HOF candidate or Hall of the Very Good?
Jay Jaffe: I think he needs a few more good years to get to the Hall but I don’t know if he has it in him
Ben: According to DRS, Trea Turner is the better shortstop, but UZR thinks Corey Seager is better. Do you think the Dodgers agree with UZR that Seager is better there or did they just move Turner to 2B out of loyalty to Seager?
Jay Jaffe: i think it had a lot to do with Turner having major league experience at 2B and CF
Local news website Michigan Live did a nice piece on Andy Pages:
Open on www.mlive.comhttps://www.mlive.com/sports/saginaw-bay-city/2021/09/great-lakes-loons-dodgers-prospect-andy-pages-cap-historic-season.htmlDodgers Farm System back in the top 10! Farm System Standings via Baseball America ($$$$). This isn’t rankings in terms of talent, but aggregate W/L records
Open on www.baseballamerica.comhttps://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/rays-yankees-red-sox-top-final-2021-minor-league-baseball-organization-standings/Paul Casella on Prospect Michael Busch:
Open on www.mlb.comhttps://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/los-angeles-dodgers-michael-busch-taps-into-power?t=dodgers-pipeline-coverageNice Article out of St. Louis calling Will Smith the best Catcher in the NL
Open on www.wdrb.comhttps://www.wdrb.com/sports/bozich-former-card-will-smith-the-best-catcher-in-national-league/article_e1e00edc-10d1-11ec-a487-17bed8754dd4.htmlWho is the Dodger Prospect who best improved themselves in 2021? According to Baseball America? Answer at the bottom, but link ($$$$$)
Open on www.baseballamerica.comhttps://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/30-mlb-prospects-who-improved-their-stock-in-2021/From @FutureDodgers on Twitter:
A group of prospects are coming stateside from the Dominican Summer League, likely for fall instructs. The group includes
SS Wilman Diaz (17)
C Jesus Galiz (17)
SS Rayne Doncon (17)
RHP Maximo Martinez (17)
C Thayron Liranzo (18)
SS Miguel Droz (19)
RHP Jorge Gonzalez (19)
Jay Jaffe on Scherzer:
Open on blogs.fangraphs.comhttps://blogs.fangraphs.com/max-scherzer-chases-perfection-and-collects-milestones/Old Friend Alert, MLB.com made this selection for the Washington Nationals “late blooming prospect”
Nationals: Donovan Casey, OF (No. 19)
Acquired from the Dodgers in the Max Scherzer-Trea Turner deal at the Trade Deadline, the 25-year-old outfielder was more than a throw-in in a blockbuster. Casey has been known for his plus running and arm tools since his days at Boston College, but he showed promising offensive gains at Double-A in 2021, hitting .303/.361/.483 with 14 homers in 85 games between Tulsa and Harrisburg. He hasn’t been able to replicate those numbers at Triple-A Rochester of yet, but the tools are still there for him to be a fourth outfielder at the top level in his late-20s.
As for the Dodgers, the pick was:
Dodgers: Andre Jackson, RHP (No. 7)
Jackson was a two-way player at Utah, one who hit more than he pitched and who needed Tommy John surgery in 2017. The Dodgers rolled the dice and signed him in the 12th round that summer, and he didn’t throw a professional pitch until May 2018, when he generated mixed results. He took off in 2019, striking out 11.1 per nine in two levels of A ball, and his 2021 has included pitching at four levels, including the big leagues, while also appearing in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.
Bill Plunkett reminds us about Kahnle:
When the Dodgers signed Tommy Kahnle to 2-yr, $4.75m contract in December there was some hope that he might return from TJ surgery late in 2021 season. Dave Roberts said today that Kahnle’s rehab timetable changed in spring. He has only progressed to playing catch. Won’t pitch in 21
Ben Clemens Chat
Larry: Who wins the NL West?
Ben Clemens: My heart says the Giants, my head (and now our playoff odds) say the Dodgers… It’s a true toss-up though. I just think it would be a lot more fun for the Giants to win (plus I live in SF so that would be cool)
Scherzer: I’m unsure if Ruiz and Gray was a light return on July 31, but it sure feels like one now with the way Scherzer has pitched. Is it fair to judge the Scherzer trade differently now than it was when it happened, given the short-term boon for LAD?
Ben Clemens: Not really, in my opinion. I don’t think they were likely to get more. Teams knew who Max Scherzer was. It’s not like we’ve learned some shocking new information that changes the value, and he was gone after this year anyway
Marko from Tropoja: Assuming he re-signs, should the Dodgers just schedule Kershaw for say two 10-day IL stints at each third of the season even if he’s healthy? This would be akin to “load management” in the NBA; maybe he can get to 30 starts with a couple of breaks. His peripherals are excellent—2.80 FIP is his lowest in five years—and translate to a six-win pace over a full season.
Ben Clemens: Why not? Seems like they get to that point one way or another anyway
TomBruno23: If you are a BFIB for the Cards do you root for LA to win the WC b/c it might be easier to beat them in 1 game than 3 out of 5 compared to SF?
Ben Clemens: Definitely yes! The only complicating factor is that the ace differential is large btw. Gausman and Scherzer/Buehler, but I totally agree
Inaccessible Rail: How insane is it that Jacob deGrom is still tied for 6th in FG WAR for pitchers, even though he’s pitched like half the innings of the other guys? And that’s not even counting his batting WAR, which is 2nd-best among pitchers.
Ben Clemens: He’s truly ridiculous
Answer:
Eddys Leonard, SS
Arguably, Leonard has done more this year to raise his own status than any player in the Dodgers’ system. His 22 home runs tied him for fifth in the system, and he finished the season hitting .296. His .929 OPS was second in the system, too, just behind Andy Pages, who also went through a breakout season of his own.
Umpires are horribles
Mark,
You realize that while we may be preparing for the playoffs, our playoffs may only be one game and done. Scherzer could easily lose the game 2-1. I just don’t have the confidence, probably because I haven’t seen it much, in believing our guys can overcome a deficit in the very late innings.
As hot as St Louis is, they could very easily beat us in the one game Wild Card playoff. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if they did. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not dissing our boys…but rather this whole year just seems out of sorts….one thing after another. I know we have a great record, but even still, it just seems like we’ve been fighting a battle that we just can’t win. Plus, the Giants do seem like the team of destiny, not us. The fact that they get far more late inning clutch hits than us confirms with me their “destiny.”
Having said all that, of course I hope the above paragraph doesn’t become reality and I am very hopeful it won’t…….but if it does……sigh….that won’t surprise me one bit.
TM
Trading Cody Bellinger?
Seriously? What would you get in return?
Deep breath, step back and move on. I’m keeping Bellinger. Incredible athlete. I’m guessing he has a great 2022. Yes, the injuries, first the shoulder issues during 2020, then the World Series arm slam in the series, shoulder surgery, then the leg fracture, now the rib issue. Write it off.
But I remember when some on this site wanted to trade Gavin Lux. The Dodgers certainly have lots of money coming off the books, probably including Trevor Bauer’s contract, so they have enough money to sign Corey Seager and Max Scherzer.
I agree they need to rest some arms. Maybe it’s over, maybe it’s not. But it’s hard for winning athletes to throw in the towel.
Friars up 4-0 bottom of the 1st
Padres are head 4 -0 but it means nothing, becouse
surely Giants are going to tie it next inning.. crazy…Saeager is the only who hits the ball, by the way….fuck Justin Turner
JT and Muncy kill another rallye.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!
Scherzer being hit hard today. 2 run shot Tapia. Wow, Rockies are killing our aces back to back.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Game over??? Hope not, but Dodgers does not hit….Colorado have won 3 for the last 5, thats the reason Dogers are still in second place
The Dodgers have had a case of Cron’s disease and our two aces have shit the bed.
Apparently Scherzer read Mark’s blog post this morning and decided that conceding may not be that bad of an idea.
Stretch “dive” in full flight. Well you wanted them to give up and they have!
One inning left. Padres handling the Giants so far. Need to wake up the bats. Muncy needs a influx of energy juice.
It ain’t over but ……… OH HELL YES! Max to the rescue. Maxwell’s silver hammer.
cheers
pb+
Well I guess he found some energy! Can someone pass me some Dijon to help with eating my words!
All I can say is wow, thank God because I don’t think I could take it anymore
Season
Altering
Win
A little luck and some resiliency. It’s worked for the Giants all year. Good to see it work for the blue today.
I love the PAdres
Way to Go PADS