Max Scherzer and Sweep of the Padres

A couple of observations for the weekend series sweep of the Pads.  The starting pitching was obscene.  Urias 7.0 IP – 0 runs, Buehler 7.0 IP – 2 runs, Scherzer 8.0 IP – 0 runs.  In 22.0 IP the Padres scraped together 10 hits and 3 walks against the three starters.  Two shutouts for the weekend.  The Padres were never ahead for the entire weekend.  Outside of Blake Treinen’s outing on Saturday, the bullpen was superb.  An occasional misstep is to be expected. 

With 18 games to go, the Dodgers have three starting pitchers with sub 3.00 ERA’s.  None are named Clayton Kershaw and all three are qualified for the ERA title.  In the NL, Scherzer 2.17 (#1), Buehler 2.32 (#3), and Urias 2.98 (#10).  There are a total of 13 ML pitchers with a sub 3.00 ERA.  The only other team with 2 sub 3.00 ERA pitchers is Milwaukee with Corbin Burnes at 2.25 (#2) and Brandon Woodruff 2.48 (#4).

Max Scherzer has been a game changer for the Dodgers.  He has started 8 games with the Dodgers, and the Dodgers have won all 8 games (Max is 6-0).  When AF traded for Max, I commented that I could see a Doyle Alexander run for Max. For those who do not remember, in 1987 the Detroit Tigers traded John Smoltz to Atlanta for Doyle Alexander.  After the trade, Alexander started 11 games, and the Tigers won all 11 (Alexander was 9-0) over those 11 games.  Max probably has three more starts, and could replicate Doyle Alexander’s post trade results in 1987.  True, Smoltz went on to a HOF career with Atlanta, but Alexander did what he was asked to do for the Tigers in 1987 who won the AL East.  Max’s ERA for his 8 LAD starts is 0.88, and an OPS against of .419.  His K/W ratio is 14.4. That is just plain domination.

Congratulations to Max Scherzer on becoming only the 19^th pitcher to accumulate 3,000 K’s, including his 3^rd career immaculate inning.  He has tied Chris Sale and Sandy Koufax for the most immaculate innings pitched.  Max got his 3,000 K in his 404^th career game, making him the 2^nd fastest pitcher to reach the milestone behind Randy Johnson who needed just 362 games.

Anything can happen in a one game WC game.  But in a 5 or 7 game series, the Dodgers starting pitching will be very tough to beat.  How tough is the LAD starting pitching when Clayton Kershaw is the #4 SP.  If Kershaw and Gonsolin can get any length over the next 18 games, the Dodgers are going to be able to rest the bullpen and could go on a monstrous winning streak.  I try to stay positive, and it is not unrealistic.

Justin Bruihl is pitching himself onto the playoff roster.  Right now, my 9 relievers would be: KJ, Treinen, Knebel, Kelly,  Bickford, Vesia, Price, Gonsolin, and Bruihl.  That would leave out two who were on the WS roster last year; Bazooka and VGon.  Thus far, Shane Greene has not shown nearly enough to make the roster over any of the other nine.  In all candor, I still would have liked to see what Neftali Feliz could have done with a larger audition.

Overall the offense was good enough to sweep.  It was rather anemic for the first two games, but the offense was timely.  I always get back to…Did the Dodgers win?  If the Dodgers do not win the NL West, it will not be because the Dodgers lost it, it will be because SF won it.  SF has been unbelievable this season, especially down the stretch.

I was at my grandson’s futbol game yesterday, and when I got back, I got to see Belli’s new batting approach.  His double in the 8^th inning was vintage Belli.  Gone was the violent uppercut with head pull into the 1B dugout, and a much more level swing in its place.  It was a controlled swing, and he looked comfortable.  I am not about to say everything is all better yet, but it is a good beginning coming at the right time.  How great would it be to have a classic Belli entering the playoffs.  I do not want to read that Belli will not adjust or will not listen to coaches (players or actual coaches).  With that 8^th inning swing, he showed that he has done both.  Bravo to Belli.  Keep it up, even if you are only going to hit against RHP when AJ gets back.

I doubt that there has been a bigger fan of Austin Barnes other than me for the last several years.  I have always believed that it was the catcher’s responsibility to control the pitcher first.  Any offense was an extra benefit.  I know most out there do no agree with that assessment, but that is my opinion.  I looked at last year’s WS box scores and was reminded that Austin Barnes was the catcher for all four wins, while the Fresh Prince was the DH.  I would expect much of the same if (when) the Dodgers do make the WS this year.  That being said, while the Dodgers are trying to catch SF, I am on board with Smith being the catcher for the vast majority of the final 18 games.  The Dodgers need his offense, and it is not that he is a bad catcher.  In fact he is a very good receiver, just not as good as Barnes (IMO)…yet.

The Dodgers have 18 games remaining, 9 at home and 9 away.  The Giants have 19 games with 13 home and 6 away.  The Dodgers have a bit of an easier schedule, even with three against the Brewers.  The Giants have 10 with the Padres who are fighting for their playoff life.  They need to win and hope the Dodgers beat Cincinnati to have a chance at the playoffs.  So I would expect the Padres to give the Giants everything they can handle.  The problem is that has not been a problem for SF this season.

I plan on doing a review of the MiLB season (and I am just as sure that DC will do as well).  But as the 2021 MiLB season is winding down (one week to go), it appears that the Dodgers have two teams that are in contention for the playoffs: both A teams…A+ Great Lakes and A Rancho Cucamonga. Rancho is in very good shape to make the playoffs, while Great Lakes is in a dogfight.  The Loons are entering their final 6 game series against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers) and are 1.5 games up on Lake County (Cleveland).