NL West Division Winner or Wild Card?
It s really as simple as that! The regular season is over and this is the Mini-Playoff to determine who wins the West. While everything is reset to Zero, I think it might be good if we list what this team did this year without Corey Seager, because frequently it was all about one of the following: What a stupid lineup Doc ran out (there were complaints yesterday and it turned
It’s really as simple as that!
The regular season is over and this is the “Mini-Playoff” to determine who wins the West. While everything is “reset to Zero,” I think it might be good if we list what this team did this year without Corey Seager, because frequently it was all about one of the following:
- What a stupid lineup Doc ran out (there were complaints yesterday and it turned out sorta’ OK);
- How the hitters can’t perform with RISP; and
- How bad the bullpen is.
The 2018 LA Dodgers NL Rankings:
- #1 in Runs Scored
- #1 in Run Differential
- #1 in Home Runs
- #1 in RBI
- #1 in Walks
- #1 OB%
- #1 in Slugging%
- #1 in OPS%
- #2 in Doubles
- #1 in ERA
- #1 in Starter ERA
- #5 in Reliever ERA (not bad for the issues that arose)
- #1 in WHIP
- #1 in Strikeouts
- #15 out of 15 in Walks by Pitchers
- #1 in Fewest Runs Allowed
This is a pretty damn good team with 12 players over .775 OPS, 10 over .800 and 3 over .900 OPS! AND (I am going to keep saying it until proven wrong), they are built for the playoffs! The guys they start, pinch hit or relieve with have mostly been battle-tested, been there, done that, got the t-shirt kind of guys. They had their hearts ripped out by their failures last year and my personal opinion was that they cruised through the season, waiting and looking-forward to this time. This time of redemption!
That their focus wasn’t always there is apparent, but it’s just as apparent what happened when they were forced to focus to fight for all the marbles. You saw total focus against the Giants (never mind their record – they were playing for pride and because they hate the Dodgers). Even Rich Hill showed total focus and pitched his best game of the season. By the way, it’s going to be good to see 22 year-old Julio Urias in the rotation next year. We can’t speculate what will happen but Buehler and Urias will for a strong #1 and #2 for years to come.
Forget the stats. Forget their record. If this team is who I think they are, they will come out and punch Colorado right in the face. They have singular focus: World Series or Bust! The 2018 season was almosta bust, but here we are… waiting and watching to see what they have in the Post-Season. Enjoy the ride…. because I think it’s going to take a while. “Are we there yet?” No, quit bothering your brother!”
Bring on Striker Buehler!
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Discussion (114)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Wow.Sign of the times. Roberts goes with the hot hand, Ryu over Kershaw for game 1. Pretty ballsey move, We all rag on Doc, but I think his biggest skill is communicating and getting his guys to buy in to the cause, Yeah, we rag on his in game decisions, but don’t forget, this is only his 3rd year He will get better with time, like all managers do.
NLDS Roster Prediction:
Starters: Kersh, Ryu, Hill and Walker
Relief Pitchers: Jansen, Alexander, Wood, Baez, Maeda,
Madson, Ferguson, and Fields.
Position Players: Puig, Machado,
Turner, Bellinger, Hernandez, Muncy, Taylor, Dozier, Grandal, Barnes, Kemp, Freese, and Pederson.
Last Position Player Out: Verdugo
Last Pitcher Out: Rosscup
Urias just not built up enough, and requires too much recovery time at this point. Floro must be hurt and Stripling just out of gas.
Thoughts?
quiet in here. last night the starting pitching was basically perfect, the set-up crew did their job, and the offense put some early runs on the board. two areas that need improvement are, obviously, the closer and also making sure we push across as many runs as possible and not leave runs on the bases. the game is never out of reach. as far as i saw, defense and baserunning were fine and the manager was too.
I think its advantage rockies tonight due to their rested bullpen. Cubs have lester and home field going for them but I think they are the first to go home. Ten will be nine.
Kersshaw, Jansen, Puig, and Ryu are the 4 players who were Dodgers for all 6 NL West Championships.
Bellinger hit HR #64 which ties him with Ken Landreaux, Wally Moon, and Wes Parker for #46 on the All-time Dodgers HR list. His first one next year will catch Eddie Murray and Jim Gilliam for 44th. Bellinger should move into the top 30 next season.
Braves have all RH starters. We should see lots of muncy and belli.
That last outing of Floro’s wasn’t very good either, but he’s kind of been the go to guy when they’re after a DP ball so it will be an interesting choice.
~
One thing that I like about a rotation of Kershaw, Ryu, and Buehler is that those three can handle the bat when it comes to swinging and bunting. Wood, Stripling, and Hill not so much.
Jon Weisman pointed out that Floro has pitched once since September 21st and i was Madsen warming up in the pen today. He thinks Floro is off the playoff roster and Madsen will be on it.
I know most are in a World Series Championship or bust attitude, but let’s not lose site on how difficult it is to win 6 consecutive NL WEST titles. I left this team for dead at least twice this year. While I agree with AC and some others that they shouldn’t have been in this position today. I also agree with AC that the Dodgers should have had added another arm bullpen arm, but the Dodgers don’t win the NL West with Chris Taylor playing SS the rest of the season. The Dodgers lost Seager and Turner, the front office added Machado and Freese while keeping the team under the luxury tax. Kudos! It was great to see this game not go the route of the Dave Goltz game of 1980.
Hot Damn, Sam. GO DODGERS. Great all around game and a true team effort. Bring it on, Braves…. we’re waiting to kick some southern booty. Would rather watch the Rox and Brew Crew wear each other out in a slugging match than the Cubbies v. Milwaukee so Good Luck, Colorado, tomorrow.
As Buzz Lightyear might say, to the World Series and Beyond. Dodgers can do.
Playoff Roster???
Catchers – Grandal, Barnes (2)
Infielders – Freese, Muncy, Dozier, Turner, Machado (5)
Outfielders – Pederson, Puig, Kemp (3)
IF/OF – Bellinger, Taylor, Hernández (3)
Starting Pitchers – Kershaw, Buehler, Ryu, Hill (4)
Relievers – Jansen, Maeda, Wood, Ferguson, Alexander, Baez, Rosscup, Floro (8)
Or do we swap out Madsen or Urias for Rosscup?
It has nothing to do with lack of focus. It’s been apparent all year that Kenley is no longer missing bats like he used to. It’s not just the HRs being hit against him. Just look at all the pitches that were fouled off against him in the 9th. I think Kenley is averaging about 9 K’s per 9, whereas in the past it was about 13 K’s per 9. This is no longer the dominant closer we’ve grown accustomed to.
What’s the story with Ferguson? Did I miss something? Haven’t seen him for a while.
Can somebody do something about a stupid manager using an incompetent closer?
This guy is the worst manager I have ever seen on a Dodger team——–and I have followed the Dodgers since 1950!
What a game by Buehler!
Cody and Muncy!
Everyone on the team had a hit except Grandal, who called an excellent game.
Way too much drama with KJ in the 9th. Do you trust the guy in tight games?
Great game from WB
It’s time to pass the torch. Hail to the new Dodger Ace Walker Buehler.
Roberts good to send relievers to get ready. It a good movement
Jensen is not the same closer. He makes me very nervous
Dodgers are not PHILADELPHIA or Nationals definitively
3 outs to go. Get ready for a lot of nervous 8th innings this october.
Alexander did fine. He induced a weak ground ball by a great player, but because of our shift the weak ground ball goes as a single. I’ll take that. Meanwhile, Baez gave up a line drive shot right to the 3b, and that goes as an out. Baseball is funny.
Maeda was his great self. I like him.
I think wood is a better choice than Alexander in the pecking ordet.
I was just about to say… please don’t bring Scott Alexander into this game.
Six outs to go