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!
More from Dodger Talk
Dodgers Food Trailer
I did this interview a couple of weeks ago with Chef Mike, who runs the Dodgers Food Trailer for the Great Lakes Loons. They are there for every home and road regular season and playoff game. They prepare three meals a day for approximately 50 people (players and coaches). Since games end late most evenings, they do not prepare breakfast. Many of their hotels have a complimentary breakfast anyway. However,…
Meet LAD 2026 Draft Picks 1-12
3 picks were High School players (2 SS and 1 OF). There was a college OF, college catcher, college SS, and 10 college pitchers. Of all the talk for a need for a catcher, the only catcher the Dodgers selected was Luke Bard, son of LAD bullpen coach Josh Bard. Bard was a 4th year senior from Houston Christian University. He is not a prospect, so the Dodgers are still…
Interview with Paul Beachy – Team Bus Driver For The Great Lakes Loons (LA Dodgers Minor League Team)
It’s been a few days since I did this interview. We have evidently been working my son-in-law (the video guy) like a rented mule at US Water Systems. However, I am taking him to London with me in a few days, so maybe Watford will buy him a pint as a tip, but he’s a dang Red Sox fan, so there is that! I thought that it would be interesting…
Thanks for Your Service: Chris Taylor
I was going to do this post when Chris announced he was retiring, then he changed his mind, but since the chances of him ever playing for the Dodgers again are slim and non-existent, I will go ahead with this post. He unretired, went on the IL, then decided to call it quits on May 24th. Taylor was born in Virginia Beach VA on August 29th, 1990. He attended Great…
Discussion (114)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Muncy proving he’s big time!!
This Buehler kid is pretty good.
Striker strikes!!!!
Just got home in time to see buehler hit. Love the enthusiasm coming off the field. That’s what “untouchable” looks like. You cant have him hes ours.
All this analysis leading to paralysis…
All the wailing and gnashing of teeth..
Let’s just say scoreboard…
And starting humming those words of Freddie Mercury and Queen, We Are The Champions…
Buehler is a stud, and quickly becoming the ACE of the Dodger staff.
Baez in. I’m not nervous. Gulp.
Six outs to go
I was just about to say… please don’t bring Scott Alexander into this game.
I think wood is a better choice than Alexander in the pecking ordet.
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.
3 outs to go. Get ready for a lot of nervous 8th innings this october.
Dodgers are not PHILADELPHIA or Nationals definitively
Jensen is not the same closer. He makes me very nervous
Roberts good to send relievers to get ready. It a good movement
It’s time to pass the torch. Hail to the new Dodger Ace Walker Buehler.
Way too much drama with KJ in the 9th. Do you trust the guy in tight games?
Great game from WB
What a game by Buehler!
Cody and Muncy!
Everyone on the team had a hit except Grandal, who called an excellent game.
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!
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.