Many Dodger fans have lost what little of their minds were left in the past few weeks due to epic bullpen meltdowns, among other things. First of all, here the Dodgers are: winning another NL West Title 12 out of the last 13 years. Andrew Friedman has been involved in most of them. He just did it again! He did it despite not being perfect! Michael Conforto was a boat anchor most of the season… until he wasn’t. Teoscar Hernandez looked horrible in RF… until he wasn’t. As per usual, many fans wanted to get rid of Max Muncy – it happens every year. They said that Mookie was over the hill and that he should be moved back to RF, and the really dumb ones wanted James Outman and his .131 BA in CF! In the first half of the season, they questioned the starting pitching, and now they question the bullpen.
NO TEAM HAS WON BACK-TO-BACK WORLD SERIES FOR A QUARTER OF A CENTURY! It’s hard. Very hard. Dave Roberts has been questioned repeatedly for putting Blake Treinen, Kirby Yates, and Tanner Scott into games. Many Dodger fans have questioned Roberts’ managerial abilities and intellect. Of course, they know better because they are legends in their own minds, when if fact, they lack a basic understanding of the elements of baseball. Andrew Friedman is the President of Baseball Operations. Dave Roberts is the Manager. Most of these fans are also qualified to work for the Dodgers… as toilet bowl cleaners or maybe picking up sweaty uniforms and jocks.
Let me break it to you: AF is not perfect – every player move is a risk. The more moves you make, the bigger the risk. Hopefully, you make more good moves than bad moves. There is absolutely no question that Friedman has done that. His winning percentage is the best in baseball. So, just shut up about that! I am weary of listening to your drivel! Now, insofar as blaming Doc for putting in these relievers who are blowing games: I GuaranDamnFuckinTee that the Dodger coaches, Doc, Andrew, and the Front office were/are on the same page. This was the plan of the Dodger Brass, Coaches, and the Manager. That is how the Dodgers run this team.
Sometimes, you have to lose some battles… if you want to win the war. I KNOW, I KNOW… that second-guessing makes you feel smart. Perhaps you used to bully little old ladies or stomp on kids on your lawn, and you want me to commend you for stopping that and criticizing the Manager and the President of Baseball Operations, who both have the best winning percentages in their respective positions? SHUT UP ALREADY!
The Dodgers will do a lot of resting the next three games, and then the SHOW begins. Get a new hobby – criticism of excellence is just plain moronic. Here’s an example of a moronic statement from another website:
“I really wish Roberts would take a page from the Arizona manager. He manages to win every game.”
— What a Moron
Discussion (25)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Kike, Rushing, Conforto–All at .200. Will they sit out last game to guarantee they stay at this milestone???
Just noticed a cool stat….
The Guardians surged past the Tigers to lock up the AL Central–despite a negative run differential for the season. Minus 7, to be precise.
I’m happy that the Tigers–with ex-Dodgers Flaherty, McKinstry and Sweeney– have held on for a wild card spot. Their run differential is +68.
Heaney proves he belongs in the Dodgers’ bullpen, gives up goahead HR.
A few thoughts:
1) Sasaki has pitched under the bright lights in Japan, which to a Japanese player is great pressure. I could be wrong but I trust him. I see that killer competitive instinct in him that the best high leverage situation pitchers have. In the most critical situations in Japan he flourished.
2) pitching wins championships. I’d rather face the Mets.
3) count me in on thanks to AVF for his consistent input
fear the reds starting pitching more! the dodgers can handle the mets lineup and score on their starters. the reds can pitch. the dodgers starters can shut down the reds offense also, but i fear Hunter Green and staff more than the Mets!
A couple of things:
1. Sasaki looks like he can fill a high-leverage role, but how will he do in the bright lights of the playoffs/
2. I don’t see how Treinen can be on the roster… although Scott can. Treinens velo is way down.
3. Brock Stewart is under team control until 2028. I wonder if they might sign him to a 3-year team-friendly deal.
4, Insofar as Doc pitching Treinen and Scott: It’s not just his decision. It’s a decision from the Braintrust.
Mets or Reds?
With Soto, Lindor and Alonso, the Mets seem scarier.
But maybe Gavin Lux would come to LA bearing a grudge…
The good news is that Tanner Scott didn’t blow the save. Looked like he was trying to…. but couldn’t quite pull it off.
And Treinen, of course, had a rough outing as well.
I credit Roberts for using this pair at the end of this tune-up game, hoping that they’ll work through their struggles and reclaim some confidence.
My confidence is growing in Sasaki, with two more Ks in one inning of work.
sorry mr. porpoise! good day sir.
Brock Stewart having shoulder surgery. Won’t be ready for opening day. He only pitched in 4 games for LA so somebody missed something. You don’t need surgery after 4 games.
I love the idea that the Dodgers bullpen could be featuring three (3) new arms just for the playoffs!
Kershaw, Sasaki and Sheehan/Glasnow
This just in:
Conforto is a Bad left fielder!
I already sent the check!!! Ha…
Damn right… I am not paying you! You slacker!
😉
Actually, I want to thank you for all that you do. It is much appreciated. Very Much!
I am sure everyone else also appreciates it.
I hope your grandson does well!
Be safe.
Mark, I will unable to post the lineup for Saturday and Sunday as I will be travelling to New Jersey to watch my 12 year old grandson play in a baseball tournament. You don’t have to pay me this week. I will be back at it for Tuesday’s playoff game.
9:40 PM ET
Dodgers (90-69)
Mariners (90-69)
SP Emmet Sheehan R
6-3 2.86 ERA
SP George Kirby R
10-7 4.24 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
CF Andy Pages R
LF M. Conforto L
RF T. Hernandez R
SS Hyeseong Kim L
2B Miguel Rojas R
1B D. Rushing L
3B E. Hernandez R
C Ben Rortvedt L
In Domed Stadium
The Dodgers have a true Ace:
Yoshinobu Yamamto’s last 5 regular season starts including yesterday:
7 IP/ 1 ER/ 10 K/0 BB
8.2 IP/ 1 ER/ 10 K/2 BB
7 IP/1 ER/10 K/1 BB
5.2IP/0 ER/7 K/6 BB
6IP/0 ER/7 K/2 BB
34.1 IP
0.79 ERA
44 K’s
11 BB
#Dodgers #MLB
mr. porpoise, how many times have they scored early and not scored again? my point is was , or is they can go stone cold quickly . yesterday it was long ball day in arizona. right now it’s mookie getting all the line drive hits. would love to see some of the other guys hit the ball all over the field. oh i’m sorry, freddie does spray the ball to all fields. so yeah , i posted that! 2 innings of scoring and 7 innings of zeroes against not so great pitching. i’m not being negative about this team, i love it. just can’t sit around and wait on the long ball every time. good day sir! go dodgers!
We have three games to rest the vets. Freddie is 37 and desperately needs a break, as does Mook, Max and Rojas.
Also good chance to opposite platoon guys like Kim, Call and see how they do. Too bad there is no room for Freeland, a good defender and a switchie on the bench.
This team is a nice mix of vets and youth but our infield is probably one of the oldest. Maybe two years from a youth upgrade. Hope us old timers are around to see it.
Just a great testament to a great organization.
Hopefully everyone will be healthy going forward. Pretty much our worst record in the last ten years. In the end SD crapped out and let us win. I don’t think anyone in management gets credit for being a genius. But that being said. I like our chances going forward
Anyone see Glasnow during celebration? Laying low with Smith?
I am feeling optimistic. Play well on Tuesday, get hot, start rolling.
as sweet as it is to celebrate another division title, it’s a little sad to see clayton celebrate his last. i have to admit, i was a little nervous when Doc started taking his starters out early. An 8 run lead with the dodgers bullpen? But today was a different day for the pen. i have been impressed with Doc down the stretch. he’s tried everything he could to get Scott, kopech, yates, trienan straightened out. He doesn’t scream. he doesn’t throw things. he is who he is! and that’s a great manager. i didn’t always think that way. But if somehow some way they can win another championship this season, he will have to be considered as a top 5-6 of all time. This team can be scary to good! they can also go into an offensive coma! 8 runs today and great pitching. but all thei runs came in 2 innings. Now i know they substituted during the later innings, but this does concern me a little. But if the starters can continue to pitch like they have been, man is this team scary! Freddie,mookie, ohtani, teo, max, pages, tommy edman, rojas, it could happen!and let’s not forget about that guy Smith. you know, the best catcher in the game! that’s a lot talent, unmatched talent! .. And a big shoutout to Ben R. !! i believe he stays on the roster as long as they keep playing! so unless they carry 3 catchers, i believe he stays over dalton. he’s earned that spot!…. now let’s hope they can win at least one in seattle, no way in hell do we want to finish in a tie with the potres ! no need to let them feel good about themselves! right Jorge?
Yeah, I remember some folks on LADT arguing that the Dodgers shouldn’t and wouldn’t sign Shohei. That it would be a foolish move, and AF was nobody’s fool.
AF, some fans said, was way too smart to pony up the $$$ for Shohei.
Who were those fans?
But sure, now the brain trust should not be questioned. Criticism should be silenced.
How did you just put it?
SHUT UP ALREADY!
Calm down already. Have a cup of chamomile….
So the Dodgers, no surprise, have clinched another Western Division championship. A powerhouse team that many thought would win well over 100 games did not win enough to get a bye in the Wild Card round. They have to do extra work to repeat as champions.
The starting rotation seems rock-solid. So does the offense… but it sure would be nice for Will Smith to heal faster. The big question, of course, is the bullpen.
To me, the best news in recent days is Roki Sasaki showing that he could be a difference maker in the postseason. He finally is showing us that the hype is legit. And the elder statesman Kershaw, who has exceeded expectations most of the season, is embracing the relief role. Sheehan should be more than fine as well.
So which lefties will make the playoff bullpen?
Assuming good health, Vesia and Kershaw should be locks. That leaves a choice between Scott, Dreyer, Banda and Wrobleski, probably for two spots.
From the right side, I’d say that Sheehan and Sasaki are locks, and Treinen is likely. Casparius, Klein and Henriquez are in the mix. Who else?
Congratulations to the 2025 Dodgers Organization and the best fans in the world for yet another Western Division Championship ! It’s fun to win!