Well, the 800-pound gorilla in the room is Blake Treinen. Some fans question why Dave Roberts keeps rolling him out only to see him get bombed again. Well, all I can tell you is that fans obviously know more than Dave Roberts, Mark Prior, the training staff, and the front office. I’ll give you a hint as to why Dave Roberts keeps rolling him out there, and you choose the right answer:
- Dave is trying to tank games so that the Dodgers will not win the NL West. He’d rather get in by Wild Card; or
- The staff, including the pitching coaches, think that Treinen is close to being “fixed.”
But, I don’t know… the fans always know more than the manager. That’s why the fans are paid so much and why they are legends in their own minds. I mean, no fan EVER wanted to get rid of Max Muncy, or move Mookie back to RF, or get rid of Conforto, or Kershaw, or OK… cut the bullshit! Most of us have no clue. I think Treinens cord is growing shorter, but if he can get it together, he would be devastating in the playoffs. Nuff said!
Will Smith’s Hairline Fracture
Here is another case where fans think they are so damn smart, but if stupid could fly, they would be jets. “Why didn’t the Dodgers discover Will Smith’s hairline fracture earlier?” Like they are medical experts or some such thing. OK, smart guys, hairline fractures (also called stress fractures or microfractures) are often difficult to detect. Here’s why:
1. Imaging Challenges
- X-rays: Standard X-rays frequently miss hairline fractures, especially in the first 10–14 days after the injury, because the break is very thin and doesn’t always create a clear gap in the bone.
- CT scans & MRI: These are much more sensitive. MRI in particular is often the gold standard for detecting stress fractures because it can reveal bone edema (swelling) before the fracture line is even visible, but MRI’s are not given out like candy. An X-Ray is generally the first method.
2. Symptoms vs. Severity
- Hairline fractures often cause subtle symptoms — localized pain, swelling, or tenderness that gets worse with activity but may improve with rest.
- Because they don’t always cause obvious deformity or severe pain, they can be mistaken for a sprain, bruise, or muscle strain.
3. Healing Indicators
- Sometimes the first sign of a hairline fracture on X-ray isn’t the fracture itself, but the new bone formation (callus) that appears as the body begins healing — usually a couple of weeks later.
So, in practice, they can be missed early on unless advanced imaging (like MRI) is used, or unless the patient is re-evaluated after symptoms persist. This is consistent with what the Dodgers just discovered with Will Smith. Either way, he will be back for the playoffs… or he won’t! (P.S. ChatGPT at work)
Emmet Sheehan & Company
I have a sneaking suspicion that Sheehan will be a considerable force in the playoffs, not necessarily as a starter. Also, look out for Brock Stewart and Andrew Heaney. Maybe Kyle Hurt? The Comets got 10 hits on Sunday… and one run! Bobby Miller struck out 2 in his one inning.
Six games to go. Magic Number = 3
Discussion (34)
Disagree, not disagreeable
i’ve been asking for 3 weeks, where’s Ben C.? i guess he didn’t blow enough saves!!! lol. not a member of the BSC( blown save club) Seriously. is he hurt? i really don’t understand why he is not there and yates is! i’m just curious.
I would NOT have Scott on the roster….he has zero confidence.
Bring back Benny C at least he has conviction.
Hell bring Bobby Miller in….
i’m at a loss for words! we all knew when ohtani came out that there was a 90% chance that the dodgers would lose. Why not let Dryer finish the inning? probably should not have asked that! maybe they can hold on for the division? maybe not. I wouldn’t use scott or trienan again! but. they will.
Game 1: Ohtani/Sheehan
Game 2: Snell/Glasnow
Game 3: Yamamoto/Kershaw
BP: Vesia, Banda, Dreyer, Sasaki, Casparius, Treinen
Lets get unconventional……
Another wasted brilliant performance by our starting pitchers. Right now if the Dodgers don’t figure who can close out games innings 6-9 or maybe 7-9, it will a short post season. Can’t believe what I’m witnessing when the game is on the line. We praise AF for his great trades and roster building, but his signings of this year’s bullpen has been, nothing less than awful! Watch the body language of Yates, Scott and Treinen when they come into the game, they show NO confidence waiting for something bad to happen. Hope we can hang on and win the Division.
“Blake, hold my beer.”
Or something like that.
Tanner Scott reminds everyone that he, not Blake, is the go-to guy in the bullpen. Go-to-lose, that is.
How many blown saves for Scott is that now? Way too many. Surely more than Treinen and Yates combined.
Just when it seems like the Dodgers might be in good shape for the playoffs, the back end of the bullpen shows that nope, we’re not okay at all!
But hey, it’s not like AF could have added somebody better than Brock Stewart at the trade deadline… if we don’t count Mason Miller or Jhoan Duran or David Bednar and somebody I must be forgetting.
Did AF try to land any of these marquee closers?
Did he perhaps place a call to Anaheim and see what it would take to get Kenley back in Dodger Blue? Kenley, sporting a 2.68 ERA and 0.98 WHIP and .188 BAA, has saved 27 games in 28 chances this season. …And since I looked up Kenley’s stats, I can see that Tanner Scott has 4.75 ERA and has saved 22 games in 31 tries.
Meanwhile, Treinen’s ERA is 5.55, and he’s recorded on 2 saves in 5 chances.
Oh wait. Please pardon my impertinence! I read the Book of Moron and know that it is heresy to question the wisdom of AF.
Suit up, Roki. You are going to be needed.
El responsable de esta derrota es Tanner Scott. Si vamos a asignar culpa a alguien mas, deberia ser los que decidieron contratarlo como el cerrador de este equipo.
Roberts solamente esta usando los jugadores que fueron contratados por el gerente.
I don’t care what anyone says. This loss is on the offense. If we could score 9-12 runs per game we would be winning 75% of the games
Just go with a bullpen of Sheehan, Kershaw and Vesia.
The bullpen arms are beyond a clown show.
Está derrota es culpa exclusivamente de Roberts y su necedad de meter a ese pendejo de Scott,( sin dejar pasar ese error de Pagés en ese elevado al central en el octavo ining)
Jose Luis, por qué culpas a Roberts? El no está lanzando, o a quien habrias puesto a lanzar? Menciona un solo pitcher que haga su trabajo…
Managerial malpractice trotting out Scott.
Scott está cagado de miedo
Is this real?
Scott está cagando de miedo
Que pendejos son Roberts y Scott
Yeah, the bullpen is just fine.
9:40 PM ET
Dodgers (88-68)
Diamondbacks (79-77)
SP Shohei Ohtani R
1-1 3.29 ERA
SP Brandon Pfaadt R
13-8 5.02 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
SS Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
3B Max Muncy L
RF T. Hernandez R
LF M. Conforto L
2B Tommy Edman S
CF Andy Pages R
C Ben Rortvedt L
In Domed Stadium
Upon further review, the ABS Challenge System has been confirmed for the 2026 MLB season.
“The Joint Competition Committee voted Tuesday afternoon to bring the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System, powered by T-Mobile, to the big leagues following several years of experimentation in the Minor Leagues and use in MLB Spring Training and the All-Star Game this year.
The ABS Challenge System runs on a 5G private network from T-Mobile for Business’ Advanced Network Solutions.
Though MLB has had various iterations of video replay review going back to 2008, this will be the first instance within the championship season at the game’s highest level in which the home-plate umpire’s ball-strike calls will not be ironclad.
With Hawk-Eye technology running in the background and monitoring the exact location of each pitch, relative to the batter’s zone, players can request a challenge of a ball or strike call they feel the umpire got wrong.
When a call is challenged, the Hawk-Eye view is then transmitted over a 5G private network from T-Mobile’s Advanced Network Solutions and nearly instantaneously shown to those in attendance via the videoboard and to home viewers via the broadcast. The ball-strike call is then either confirmed or overturned, and the game goes on having only been briefly interrupted.
Here’s a review of how the ABS Challenge System works and the particulars of the system that will be used in MLB.
How many challenges does each team receive?
Each team will start the game with two challenges apiece.
Do teams get an extra challenge in extra innings?
If a game goes into extra innings, any team that starts the extra inning out of challenges will get one challenge for the 10th inning. If they exhaust that challenge, they will then get another challenge for the 11th, and so on. If a team has challenges remaining at the start of the 10th inning, they will not get an additional challenge for that inning, though they will for any subsequent inning if they are out of challenges at the start of the inning.
Will the ABS Challenge System be in use for every MLB game at every ballpark?
Yes.
And during the postseason?
Also, yes.
Who can issue a challenge?
The batter, the pitcher or the catcher can challenge an umpire’s call. No one else — no, not even the manager — may do so.
Challenges must be made immediately after the umpire’s call, without assistance from the dugout or other players.
How is a challenge issued?
The player taps his cap or helmet to alert the umpire to his desire to challenge the call.
How is the call reviewed?
An animated pitch result graphic is shown to those in attendance via the video board and to home viewers via the broadcast.
How much time does the review add to the game?
In 288 games with the ABS Challenge System during Spring Training 2025, there were an average of 4.1 challenges per game, and those challenges took an average of 13.8 seconds.
Are successful challenges retained?
Yes. A team only loses its challenge if the umpire’s call is confirmed.
Because challenges can be lost, it is incumbent upon the player to be judicious about asking for a challenge (i.e., not “wasting” it in a low-leverage spot so that it is available to his team in a high-leverage spot). So in that sense, the ABS Challenge System adds strategy to the sport”.
Houston Mitchell of the Times had an analysis of the Dodgers’ bullpen this year – it has the 6th worst ERA since the Dodgers moved to LA. It’s about middle of the pack for ERA plus. But Blake Treinen has the Dodgers’ last 5 losses.
The Dodgers’ bullpen has allowed 26% of inherited runners to score including Yates at 42%, Treinen at 40%, Scott at 38%. (the “aces”). They have blown 37% of save opportunities, including 9 for Scott, 4 for Vesia, 3 for Treinen.
The stars of last year’s bullpen were mostly wiped out by a season where they didn’t have a starting rotation. Treinen, Kopech, Phillips all missed most or all of the season and have been ineffective when they did pitch. I believe that the Dodgers knew that this would be a problem. So they went out and got Yates and Scott, which simply hasn’t worked.
So who will carry the load this offseason? Certainly not Yates, Scott, or Treinen. Sheehan? Sasaki?
In 2023, the Texas Rangers had an ERA of 4.28. That was good for 18th in MLB.
The starters had an ERA of 3.41 while the relievers had an ERA of 4.77 and blew 33 saves.
Oh, and they won the World Series.
This year, the Dodgers have a team ERA of
The starters have a 3.81 ERA, and the relievers have a 4.28 ERA and have blown 25 saves.
Overall, the Dodgers have a 4.02 ERA, which is good for #18 in MLB.
We all know how injuries have impacted this staff.
I like their chances in the playoffs… a lot!
It’s not how you start. It’s how you finish.
So here’s we go! 3 in the desert with the snakes! ohtani goes 5 and then hands it over to the bullpen! Enough said. …. I might be crazy, but i’m seeing little signs that Emmit will be a MAJOR piece in the bullpen. Does major mean closer?? Why not? i think he could easily be the number 3 starter if they so choose. But he may just be the answer to their problems! …. What a crazy year this has been! Toronto looks like they will win the AL east. Can the Guardians pull off one of the greatest comebacks ever and overtake the reeling tigers? Seattle is on the verge of unseating the aaaaaassssstros!!!! The mets have totally collapsed! The brewers have exceeded expectations and dominated the central! the cubs are extremely dangerous! padres? who cares! And the reds. they could be very dangerous in the wildcard! They can run out some dominant starters! the national league is wide open. i think the AL runs through Seattle! Very good lineup and excellent starting pitching. In order to win it all the dodgers need to avoid playing the cubs in the wild card . Which means winning the division! So going back to sunday’s game, they can’t afford to give games away! Should be fun,if not nerve wracking!
So, are the Dodgers going to celebrate once again in the Arizona pool? Aside from last season, I can’t remember the last time they celebrated at home after winning the division title.
They will only need 3 starters for the Wild Card round and the rosters revert to 26, so only 13 pitchers. If the 1st 3 starters are Ohtani, Snell, and Yamamoto then I can see Glasnow left off the roster to start Game 1 in the NLDS. Kershaw? Will he pitch out of the ‘pen or start Game 2 of the DS?
If Sheehan is moved to the bullpen that leaves room for 8 more relievers. If Kershaw is one of them that’s 7.
Locks – RH
Sheehan
Treinen ?
Henriquez
Locks LH
Kershaw ?
Vesia
Scott
Dreyer
Banda
Wrobleski
So do they keep Kirby (the propane torch) Yates, Will Klein, Ben Casperius, or maybe Brock Stewart returns from the IL? Boy do they need RH relievers
no more questions your honor!!!! the proof is in! i guess he’s just there for pinch running for the most part?
Someone asked about Kim. If he has a nagging injury, they are not going to disclose it. However, look at his recent stats:
make Tyler the closer!!! lol
Great read in The Athletic on the Dodgers’ Pitching for the playoffs.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6650800/2025/09/22/dodgers-pitching-october-playoffs/
Hint: Glasnow may not be on the roster for the Wild Card Round.
While it’s true i don’t claim to be a baseball genius, i do understand Doc has to use who he has at his disposal. Yesterday , the dodgers spoiled an excellent pitcher performance by Emmit! Now if the offense had been awake, we wouldn’t be having this conversation! A win yesterday would have been huge! Now the dodgers have to go to Arizona and try and win a series. the padres play a brewer team that has only one thing to play for, home field advantage. the dbacks do not fear the dodgers, just the opposite! Then they travel to seattle to play a team that rakes! And by the way, can throw the damn ball as well as the dodgers starters! So yes, yesterdays game wS important! But, as i said earlier, the offense has to share a lot of the blame for yesterday’s loss! …. Just curious, anyone know why Kim hasn’t played any lately? Injury? just curious.
Sasaki better not cost us this postseason. Roberts needs to be smart.
The above being likely true it does ignore the objective truth that the experts may be wrong.
Mark,
Colts at Rams Sunday, do you like their chances?
I think the Rams win going away…..they are going to be pissed.
It’s been obvious for a while now that Sheehan would move to the bullpen in the playoffs. He can save us from more appearances of Treinen and Yates.
Sheehan’s throwing so well, I wonder if he should be starter. He’s out-pitched Glasnow lately. Going with Sheehan would be a pretty bold move, and I don’t expect it to happen. But if this is supposed to be a meritocracy, well…
One big name was omitted from the candidates for the playoff bullpen: Sasaki.
He’s got his velocity back, and his talent is unquestioned.
Instead of relying on Treinen and Yates from the right side, perhaps we’ll see Sheehan and Sasaki.
And yes, Hurt and Stewart and Henriquez are options. Casparius too.
I haven’t seen anyone worry or wonder why the fracture wasn’t seen.
Is this a conspiracy thing to elevate Rushing?
Is this an anti-expert silliness?