Let s Get Ready to Rumble
Today s the day we have been waiting for. It seems like forever. It seems like 30 years to me But, today the Dodgers statrt the final leg of the journey to the World Series. Did I mention that 30 years was enough already? We have had so much analysis that we now feel paralysis. I m ready to wach the games. I m ready to see what the roster is. I ll keep
Today’s the day we have been waiting for. It seems like forever. It seems like 30 years to me… But, today the Dodgers statrt the final leg of the journey to the World Series. Did I mention that 30 years was enough already? We have had so much analysis that we now feel paralysis. I’m ready to wach the games. I’m ready to see what the roster is. I’ll keep the roster updated.
Thank You
I do want to take a minute and thank all our loyal readers and commenters – I really appreciate your input, passion and support. I started this blog back in the early 2000’s and then shut if down for a year around 2016 because it wasn’t fun with all the in-fighting and arguing. I finally figured out that I had to get rid of the bad actors and when you have a site full of straight-up Dodger fans, it becomes a joy again. I think this site is unique because we have a very diverse group of people all over the World who come together as a community and it is a joy for me to be here again. Additionally, there is a whole lotta’ knowledge here with this bunch. As we start this very important chapter in Dodger Lore, maybe you can take a minute out of your busy day and post Go Dodgers! and tell us where you are from. I think this could be pretty cool. You can say more if you like. I know that thousands read this blog every day, but don’t post… and that’s OK. Just let us know where you are. Godspeed!
Arizona Fall League Report
The Glendale Desert Dogs lost 10-9. Cody Thomas hit #3 and was 0-4, but scored a run. Keibert Ruiz hit #5 and was 1-3 with a run scored, and RBI and 2 BB. . Errol Robinson was 2-4 with a double and 2 RBI to go with a run scored. Andre Scrubb started the 10th inning and was the losing pitcher as he gave up two runs, neither earned, on an Errol Robinson throwing error.
Bowman Hitting Challenge by Dodger Chatter
The sixth annual Arizona Fall League (AFL) home run derby is scheduled for Saturday, October 13 beginning at 6:35 MST at Sloan Park at Mesa, the spring training home of the Chicago Cubs. Fans attending the event will be treated to the Bowman Hitting Challenge.
The event was born and raised by Bowman Baseball Cards back in its inaugural season in 2013. This year’s sponsors include Bowman Baseball Cards, Rawlings, Sprouts Farmers Markets, Big AZ Promotions and Zinger Bats.
To call it a home run derby is perhaps a misnomer although home runs are certainly important in the final tally in the contest. However, the challenge is to do much more than hit home runs.
The Bowman hitting Challenge features 30 young sluggers, one from each of the 30 MLB organizations participating in the Arizona Fall League.
Like the MLB all-star home run derby the hitters face live pitching but unlike the annual slugfest prior to the MLB all-star game the home run is not the be all and end all. The contest includes some twists and turns as well as other opportunities for the hitters apart from the home run. In theory, at least, the contest could be won without hitting a home run although that might be most unusual.
- Each batter has two minutes to hit off live pitching.
- Points will be awarded for home runs on a sliding scale of difficulty valued between 100-500 points.
- Participants also can accumulate points by hitting a variety of targets placed around the playing field with a batted ball.
- Hitters will be penalized for foul balls.
- Batters must bunt the first four pitches at targets.
- Following each two-minute hitting period, the batter will be given one free swing at the Bowman Bonus Ball placed on a batting tee.
- The Bowman Bonus Ball is worth double points.
The hitting targets include:
- Bunting targets
- Bowman oversized baseball trading card targets (3)
- Eye Promise Batter’s Eye
- Moving human sphere (Zorb ball)
- Pepsi Power Alley triangle
- Rawlings Factory Store ball bucket pyramids
- Sports Chalet trampoline (jumping outfielder)
- Title Boxing inflatables sponsored (3)
- Zinger Bats vertical bat targets
Fans pay $8.00 to not only watch but participate in this hitting challenge. When targets are struck by batted balls, fans in the stands have the chance to win prizes. These prizes include baseball cards, gift bags, autographed items, event tickets, gift cards from area merchants and Arizona Fall League merchandise and admission tickets. Once inside the gates of Sloan Park, fans pick up their entry in the Lucky Number Booth and are then entered for a chance to win a prize as targets on the field are struck by the various players.
Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager represented the team in 2013 and responded with 1,050 points including a monster shot on his last swing. He did not win the competition taken by catcher Pete O’Brien with 1,575 points.
During the 2015 challenge Dodger outfielder Jacob Scavuzzo emerged as the winner by scoring a 50-point bunt hit, a 200-point home run and a 300-point home run. He also hit two balls off the 300-point Bowman cutout in the infield, a 700-point knockerball in the outfield and the final 800-point shot off the inflatable target in right field.
Oddly enough players find hitting the final ball off the tee the most challenging part of the competition and it sometimes comes down to the bonus ball on the tee to win the contest. Jacob Scuvuzzo did just that in 2015 striking a 400-point target for double points.
“That money ball, everybody’s trying to be the guy that hits the home run because it hasn’t been done before,” Scavuzzo said of the tee shot. “I luckily hit it off the end a little bit and it wound up hitting the target, and that wound up sealing the deal for me. I’m pretty happy with the way that worked out.”
I would expect Cody Thomas to be the Dodger player but would also be more than happy with Jared Walker. I will keep this updated – D.C.
UPDATE #1
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic has a piece that is a very interesting read, entitled: Rosenthal: Get ready for managerial chess matches unlike any other in postseason history
UPDATE #2 – NLDS Roster
PITCHERS (12)
Pedro Baez
Walker Buehler
Caleb Ferguson
Dylan Floro
Rich Hill
Kenley Jansen
Clayton Kershaw
Ryan Madson
Kenta Maeda
Hyun-Jin Ryu
Julio Urias
Alex WoodCATCHERS (2)
Austin Barnes
Yasmani GrandalINFIELDERS (6)
Brian Dozier
David Freese
Enrique Hernandez
Manny Machado
Max Muncy
Justin TurnerOUTFIELDERS (5)
Cody Bellinger
Matt Kemp
Joc Pederson
Yasiel Puig
Chris Taylor
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Discussion (187)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Down 5 runs and Joc is swinging at 3-1 breaking ball off of a lefty. Poor discipline there. They need base runners. They look like the inexperienced team.
Are you kidding blue?
Horrible calls out there all night,
Is this guy calling more games
This series?
Here comes the Dodgers!
I know Kersh was not on, but Damn he got squeezed by the ump on crucial at bats.
JT 0-5 with 4 K’s………….ouch!
Nice comeback. We’re taking this series. They shot their wad and barely won.
Smoltz was right. Turner was swinging at pitches up and out of the strike zone all night. I think he also did some of that in the Atlanta series. Need him to return to his normal disciplined self.
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Win tomorrow and go home 1-1. At the very least we got to see their entire bullpen, and if anything they were not invincible.
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Wade Miley has pitched well against us this year, but somewhere in the deep, dark recesses of my mind I recall that there have been times when the Dodgers had his number.
Moral victories mean nothing at this point in the season, rarely mean anything during the regular season.
Bottom line Our best hitter needs to show more discipline, our catcher needs to catch the ball, and Robert’s needs to show more patience with Mr. Clutch, his bat might have helped late. I say must win tomorrow, obvious statement of the year.
Finally good news is we do t get homer plate umpire Berry until game 5, hope he is cashing a large ticket right now on Brewers +170, Vegas Dodger please get footage of this so we don’t have see him ever again.
Sorry I’m late to the party.
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Born in Burbank, 1st Dodger game at 3 in 1959. To Orange County at 5, Sacramento at 14. Live in Rocklin (the suburbs of Sac) now.
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Dad was from Brooklyn – his Dad and uncle took him to his 1st game at Ebbets in 1938. His Dad was a fan before him so our family has been Dodger fans for almost 100 years.
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Possible silver lining to this game – the Brewers blew out 2 important bullpen pieces (Hader and Woodruff) and they probably won’t be available tomorrow. But – if the Dodgers’ advantage is in starting pitching then the starters have to pull through for the team to win or there’s no real advantage at all.
In retrospect, Doc should have started Ryu or Buehler. Clayton pitches better when he has a chip on his shoulder or is under siege. He has been my favorite Dodger for 10 years, but (I hate to say it) I hope he opts out and the say “Goodbye.” To win it all, the Dodgers will have to do it in spite of him. I would give Ryu to Qualifying Offer and maybe he will take it, but I let Clayton walk. There are too many good arms in the system to tie up $35 million on a guy who can’t carry a team. If you pay a pitcher $35 million, he better be able to win the Cy Young. Back when Clayton was capable of Cy Young, he still couldn’t carry the team in the playoffs. I am sad about it, but it is true.
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Now, let’s move on and win this series in spite of Clayton.
I agree Mark, he has been my favorite Dodger for years. Like I posted earlier, I think he cant get out of his own way, and refuses to change his approach like Maddux did later in his career. The hitters obviously have a book on him, and have adjusted. Kersh for some reason is not adjusting back and it’s killing him. With that said, we played horrible last night,(who would have that the JT would strike out that much?), and still almost pulled one out of our butts. We showed that the Brewers bullpen is hittable, so give the damn ball to Ryu and let’s get one today. I think we might see a pretty pissed off Dodger team today, knowing how bad they all played.
This has got to go down as one of the worst team performances by a supposedly experienced and talented team. Horrible defense, pitching, and hitting(turner) and front office (urias). You can’t play much worse, the whole team has got to be furious at their total ineptitude. I totally agree with mark on Kershaw and said so a long time ago. Roberts didn’t have the balls to start his best pitchers. Having said all that I say turn the page and due to the embarrassment(if they are) they should refocus and be determined for game 2. However, listening to some of the Kershaw, Grandal, Taylor comments I don’t know if they get it. I didn’t see anything on turner but he should be most embarrassed because he is better than that. Kershaw nah he is just who he is.
In my opinion Clayton won’t opt out. Who else will pay him $35M a year for the next two years? He may get a much reduced contract for a longer period of time but that is questionable now. I would not be surprised with early retirement for him. I really admire him as a person and have appreciated his work over the years. He no longer is “the guy” and has not truly adapted to his changing skills. He is young enough, smart enough, and still has “stuff” so he could become a new pitcher still capable of good work.
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For whatever reason he can’t handle postseason play when the pressure is on. When his team scores 4,5,7 runs for him a win should be automatic. I am not sure why the rotation for the Atlanta series was not followed with the Brewers. Maybe it was the ego thing.
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When the discussion was held regarding Clayton and Sandy and who was the greatest, I always asked who would you sooner have start a WS game for you? Would it be Clayton in his prime or Sandy in his prime? Don Newcombe had the same difficulty in postseason play as does David Price. As Johnny Cash would say, “I guess things happen that way.”
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No good to dwell on it now. As you say, the Dodgers now have to win the series without Clayton as the #1 horse in the stable. I hope there is still time for Clayton’s redemption this postseason. I truly hope I can say in the end that I was wrong about him.