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Nothing to See Here, Folks!

Move along… It’s just another trainwreck. Nothing to see here. I went to bed as soon as Phillips came in. I knew it was over. It had to be. It was almost 2 AM for me and when both Turners, Muncy, Betts, Smith, and Taylor are a combined 3 for 24 in 11 innings, you do not deserve…

By Mark Timmons2 min read48 comments

Move along… It’s just another trainwreck. Nothing to see here.

I went to bed as soon as Phillips came in. I knew it was over. It had to be. It was almost 2 AM for me and when both Turners, Muncy, Betts, Smith, and Taylor are a combined 3 for 24 in 11 innings, you do not deserve to win the game. The Dodgers All-Star lineup looked like a scrub high-school team. The Giants didn’t look any better, but they ended up winning. I don’t diagnose games, because I have seen enough of this team to know that they might score 18 runs tonight.

In a microcosm of one game, a lot went right and a lot went wrong. I don’t dwell on it. I look at the macrocosm of 162-games and that was just one they should have won but didn’t. The only thing I know for sure about last night’s game is that some fans will blame Doc. That’s the only constant: Somebody has to be blamed! Doc should have hit better… yeah, that’s the ticket.

The bullpen was outstanding and there will be two or four moves today. I haven’t seen when White and Jackson last pitched, but they could be in the equation. It sounds like Price will go on the IL and it appears he has been battling arm problems all season. I think we will find out he needs TJ and I am not convinced Kershaw and Duffy will be back. The Dodgers are close-lipped about injuries.

Tony Gonsolin could get called up soon, even though he is not stretched out. Vasquez certainly underwhelmed me, but it was one game. The silver lining in all of this is that the Giants will have back-to-back bullpen games tonight and tomorrow. That should bode well for the Dodger hitters. The Giants bullpen pitched 5 innings last night and have at least 18 more in the next two days.

Uceta pitched three innings last night so he won’t get the call. Quacks, Nunez, White, Jackson, and Jake Jewell could get the call tonight. Jake Jewell?

The Dodgers team ERA now sits at 2.99 while the Giants is 3.27. #1 and #2 in all MLB. The Giants bullpen has a slight advantage, 3.13 to 3.27, but let’s not forget that a lot of the bullpen ineptitude was early in the season. Since the All-Star break, the Dodgers bullpen has an ERA below 2.50. The Giants are heading in the opposite direction. Yet, they won last night. This is a magical season for them. It seems like when you give them s__t, they make shinelola!

Now, the Boys in Blue need to take the next two gams. No if’s, and. or buts!

Discussion (48)

Disagree, not disagreeable

Be civil — moderation is real. Links may need a moment of review.

  1. Watford DodgerSeptember 5, 2021

    Losing AJP is a massive blow.

    Especially given how poor we are v LH pitching.

  2. dodgerramSeptember 5, 2021

    So MLB extended Bauers leave for the 8th (!) time now and basically ending his season and putting a huge dent into the Dodgers chances of another title. That is totally inaccpetable. Where is the principle of being not guilty until proven otherwise ? Where is the right of TB to perform under his contract ?

    Not defending TB in any form here but how can it be that a guy like deShawn Watson is still playing and TB is not ?

    I really do not get that MLB politics.

    Dodgers are doing such a great job with 60percent of their opening day rotation out for almost all year.

    It is truly amazing how well they are doing. winning at a .630 clip without May, Clayton and Bauer plus long stints without Betts ,and Seager, Bellinger mired in an all time slump by a former MVP it is nothing short of sensational.

    Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  3. dodgerramSeptember 5, 2021

    Too bad AJ is out for 2-3 weeks now. Injury bug again bites the Dodgers. Belli has to step up at the plate now.

    I would call up Beaty or Lux to replace AJ. Busch is tearing up AA lately but probably too soon to call him up.

    Julio did not have his A stuff but battled like a warrior.

    WB going tonight. I like our chances to be in first place tonight.

    Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  4. MarciaSeptember 5, 2021

    Maybe the clubhouse should establish a fine for strikeouts policy. That might turn Taylor, Muncy, and Bellinger into contact hitters or, at least, more frequent walkers.

  5. MarciaSeptember 5, 2021

    If only we had a couple of clutch hitters at OKC to tap into. AJ is damn near irreplaceable.

  6. CassidySeptember 5, 2021

    Such a shame that bad base running leads to an injury! If ever there was a time for Bellinger to snap out of it!

  7. MarciaSeptember 5, 2021

    We’ll be fine as long as Will Smith doesn’t have to play first! Should have put Barnes there. At least he’s played infield before. That is the only bad move, as it turned out, Roberts made. Except for that stupid JT running on contact play…

  8. CassidySeptember 5, 2021

    Remember the days when many at LADT declared Julio a bullpen only guy

  9. BearSeptember 5, 2021

    Urias first to 16 wins. Butane goes tomorrow. Then it is on to St. Loo.

  10. Brooklyn DodgerSeptember 5, 2021

    I’m very happy to see Muncy hitting in the 2nd spot, which takes advantage of his ability to get on base. But quite frankly, when you’re dealing with the caliber of players like Seager, Muncy, and Betts, I’m not sure it makes a difference what order they hit in.

  11. Brooklyn DodgerSeptember 5, 2021

    I am convinced that Bellinger’s problems are solely due to his shoulder surgery which was probably similar to Matt Kemp!s. That was a two year recovery, as it was for Adrian Gonzalez before he came to the Dodgers.

    Remember, Bellinger began the season hitting the same way he is now, post-IL.

    My guess is that Cody will benefit greatly from offseason rehab and rest. But It may be that he won’t be 100% at the start of 2022, but will get progressively stronger as the year progresses.

  12. norcaldodgerfanSeptember 5, 2021

    Corey sending a message last night and tonight. Get on my back and I’ll carry you to the promised land. Sign this dude longterm AF. He cannot be in a different uniform next year.It’s one thing to see Joc, and Enrique Hernandez or even CT3 (next year) in a different uniform but Corey has to be a Dodger. Has to be!

    Don’t repeat the days of DePodesta when he let Beltre walk, in FA get er done AF

  13. Daniel EstradaSeptember 5, 2021

    Put Corey un the 2nd spot

  14. BearSeptember 5, 2021

    Guys I trust the most out of the pen. 1. Treinen 2. Vesia 3. Jansen 4. Knebel 5. Bickford 6. Kelly 6. Bruihl 7. Graterol 8. Greene

  15. BulldogsandPenguinsSeptember 5, 2021

    Vesia’s quickly becoming one of my favorite players.

  16. Daniel EstradaSeptember 5, 2021

    Looks like

  17. BobbySeptember 5, 2021

    Bellinger is now 2 for 43 vs the giants this year

  18. Daniel EstradaSeptember 5, 2021

    Thanks You ampayer..why Saeager justo did not take the 4 valla?? Cody look like a Mexican reguilete

  19. BearSeptember 5, 2021

    They just reported as a strained hammy. No other info. Kershaw is making a start on Tuesday at OKC. Depends on how bad the strain is, but he had to be helped off of the field. One thing I have noticed tonight, Dodger hitters are not making the Giants relievers work very hard. Except for the first inning they are again getting themselves out more than the pitchers are getting them out.

  20. Mark TimmonsSeptember 5, 2021

    Hopefully, it’s just a hamstring strain for Pollock.

    Still I see a IL stint.

  21. BulldogsandPenguinsSeptember 5, 2021

    AJ – Right Hamstring strain. F!

  22. Brooklyn DodgerSeptember 5, 2021

    I worry that we are going to see what we see all too often. The Dodgers score a bunch of early runs and then just STOP scoring. And I hope I’m wrong, but Urias looks a bit shaky tonight.

  23. Daniel EstradaSeptember 5, 2021

    Dodgers’s bats are getting cold again. Not good

  24. BadgerSeptember 5, 2021

    Max Muncy has turned himself into a pretty good defensive first baseman.

    Bellinger is going to run into one before this series is over.

    SF wears a few different softball jerseys.

  25. Mark TimmonsSeptember 5, 2021

    That is potentially year-ending,

    Next man up!

  26. BadgerSeptember 5, 2021

    Oh crap.

  27. Daniel EstradaSeptember 5, 2021

    Pollock cut a really. Oh My God he hurts

  28. Mark TimmonsSeptember 5, 2021

    Doc has unleashed the hounds

  29. RC RaySeptember 5, 2021

    Gonsolin just pulled after 2 1/3 at Quakes Stadium (LoanMart Field). He was scheduled to pitch 3 innings. He gave up one run. A couple of hard hit line drives plus a drive that was caught at the fence. Seems healthy. No radar readings a available .

  30. Daniel EstradaSeptember 4, 2021

    Put Seager in 2nd spot…..!!!!

  31. BearSeptember 4, 2021

    The Dodgers have won 10 of their last 14 games. They have done it with pitching. The offense is scoring 3.6 runs a game in that stretch. Their BA with RISP is .178. They are hitting as a team a paltry .228. Now tar and feather me, but it seems the vaunted best team in the majors cannot hit it’s way out of a wet paper bag right now. And one of the biggest culprits is Taylor. Yeah, he got a clutch bloop hit last night, but he is striking out a lot. So is Muncy. Bellinger looks totally lost at the plate, and very energetic in the outfield. He almost made a brilliant catch last night. I watched the entire game. Did not miss a pitch. And the bullpen was outstanding. Even Phillips did a great job. He made the right pitch, got Posey to hit a routine grounder, and Turner just rushed a throw on threw it too wide. Game over. But the onus is on the offense. When you go to extra’s you need a crooked number and not just the 1 that holds serve. They failed to do that and lost. Giants have some guy named Jackson going today. He is a starter called up from the minors. 30 years old and a strikeout type pitcher. Taylor in the last 2 weeks has played in 11 games, is hitting .158 and has struck out 17 times. Bellinger in 12 games is hitting .139 with 10 K’s. If you want to point fingers for bad offense, those two are big reasons for it.

  32. Andrew Vincent ForteSeptember 4, 2021

    Tonight’s winning lineup:

    2b Trea

    1b Max

    RF Mookie

    3b Justin

    ss Corey

    LF AJ

    CF Chris

    C Will

    P Julio

    No Cody

  33. EricSeptember 4, 2021

    The Dodgers better win these next 2 games, because relying on other teams to beat the Giants is a dangerous situation to be in. The Brewers beat them 3 out of 4, but they are the next best team in the standings.

    Why in the hell, with all the star power we have on offense is the offense so inconsistent?

    By the way, we lost yesterday but I didn’t blame it on Doc. I think the Doc loyalists need to relax. I or we don’t ALWAYS blame Doc.

  34. DodgerHorseSeptember 4, 2021

    https://www.dodgers2080.com/dodgers-prospects-andy-pages-a-name-to-familiarize-yourself-with/

  35. BulldogsandPenguinsSeptember 4, 2021

    I think there’s a lot of people who didn’t do well in math.

  36. Batman31September 4, 2021

    Unlike Mark, I would not classify last night’s tough loss as a “train wreck” and overall I am feeling good about the remainder of the season. First of all, it was a pen game for us. Our pitching, overall, showed a lot of guts and I admire how they left it all on the field. I think we we found another diamond in the rough (unlike Javi B. who is still looking for his) in Phillips. He came in, in a very high stress situation and made the pitches necessary to allow the offense a chance to redeem themselves. Now the Giants have to face 2 games in row with only their relievers to hold back the blue tide. I like our odds greatly with Juli and Kershaw’s little brother. I am about to give you a

    “post hoc” conclusion that I have been tracking for the past 1 1/2 years simply on my own. I understand the criticism that I am submitting myself to because I am giving you my opinion after the event(s) have already passed. I am totally ok with any doubts that readers may have. For better or worst, we come together here to exchange ideas, information, facts, perceived facts and our own biases which we may not even understand until we put them in ink.

    Very simply, as I mentioned earlier, I have been tracking for the past 18 months, what has been the outcome (scoring or not scoring) when the Dodgers have a man on 3rd base with less then 2 outs and the batter has hit a ball to one of the 4 infielders. One player has scored, one player has stayed at 3rd base and the other 13 base runners have been thrown out. In 14 out of 15 times, the player on 3rd base has taken off for home plate “at the point of contact” between the batter and the pitch. One player held his position at 3rd base. So there must be an “official” team policy that players have to try and score from 3rd even though there is only 1 out. This team strategy is just not working. I would rather have the player on 3rd hold his position and let the infielder throw the runner out at first. I know “Duh” so why does it keep happening. I understand that some people might not consider 15 episodes a great number to come to a conclusion that this is “team policy” . Many times it has been said that anything could happen just one, twice could be a coincidence but three time and there is a trending going on here.

    With 15…………….??? – Just keep this non scientific poll in the back of your minds when it comes up again

    ROLL BLUE !!!

  37. CassidySeptember 4, 2021

    If Betts doesn’t perform like a superstar and lead this team we won’t be the ones celebrating at the end of the year. There’s just way too much talent in this lineup to put up so many dud performances! If we’re not hitting home runs we don’t score enough to win. Can anyone hit off speed? Frustrating!

  38. dodgerramSeptember 4, 2021

    another tough loss to the Giants. We lose the one when the Giants OF robs Albert of a walk off hr, then the two blown saves by KJ on the home stand with the Giants and now this nailbiter.

    Why did Dino not sent JT on the Seager base hit in the 11th ? It was a clean single to deep enough center field to score from 2b even when you are not the fastest runner. On a night when your offense can do nothing you have to take that risk IMHO.

    And TT better clean up his 2b defense soon. Cost another game eventually. Was an easy throw to make. Shades of Steve Sax….

    Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  39. Andrew Vincent ForteSeptember 4, 2021

    I’m not trying to be political or prejudice, but as a Navy veteran this really bothers me and I hope I don’t offend anyone. ,but can someone explain to me how 13 Marines who gave the ultimate sacrifice gets less recognition than George Floyd ? This is the last I’ll mention it but I had to get it off my chest.

  40. BulldogsandPenguinsSeptember 4, 2021

    I just read this…

    “It was something he’s been dealing with but then it kind of came to a head more after his last start,” Roberts said. “We just want to be sure, just to reset him a little bit, too. You look at what David did last year [not playing] and what he’s done this year, it’s a lot as far as workload. To kind of give him a little reprieve and get him back, get some of that soreness out, he should be fine.”

    If Price has been dealing with this since his last start, why didn’t they IL him and have White up for last night’s game?

    Then I read this…

    “The next step for Clayton will be to throw a ‘pen on Sunday,” Roberts said. “Once he gets through that, we’ll figure out where he goes on a rehab assignment, which would either Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. After he gets through that — we would assume healthy and all goes well — then the next outing will be with us.”

    So much for getting Kershaw back by Tuesday. More bullpen games.

  41. sbuffaloSeptember 4, 2021

    Since the Dodgers and Giants came into the series tied for first, it’s only a train wreck if the Dodgers fail to take the series.

    If you look at the Dodgers on paper they should be a much better hitting team, far more consistent than they are.

    Looking back, the Dodgers were focused on the San Diego Padres being their chief rival, not the Giants. Built the team accordingly. Moving forward I suspect the Dodgers will consider the Padres, not the Giants, as the team they will have to beat in 2022.

    But Farhan Zaidi probably surprised himself wth the way this team has performed. Sign a few pitchers here and there, then get big seasons from a bunch of aging vets. A bit of luck in all that. But the Giants are in first today because they play well in the moment. This hasn’t been the best Dodger team in that respect for most of the season, extra inning victories in short supply. Better lately, but a diasaster for most of the year. Why is that? No idea.

    It would just be a rehash to mention that injuries have taken a toll. Even Mookie is still not right. But I’m guessing he will get hot again, hopefully this weekend.

    These next two games will help decide who wins the NL West and who gets to play in a one game playoff. Like the Dodgers chances with Julio Urias and Walker Buehler.

    The good news is that Clayton Kershaw had another good workout and expects to join the rotation in the next couple of weeks, likely for the series with Arizona mid-September. David Price is probably headed to the IL as a precaution, struggling with arm soreness.

    Max Scherzer went through his usual workouts yesterday, will throw a bullpen Sunday and make his Monday start. Tony Gonsolin will make a rehab start in Rancho today and is expected to throw three innings.

    Well, the big investment in Yasiel Sierra has come to an end. Originally signed to a six year, $30 million deal, he was released this week. Dreadful probably describes the better part of Sierra’s career. Sierra joins a list of other high ticketed signings (Erisbel Arruebarrena, Hector Olivera, Alex Guerrero, Yadier Alvarez and Yusniel Diaz) that yielded little to the Dodgers. Diaz, who I liked, is the only one still playing and was the key to the Manny Machado trade in ’18. Olivera was traded to the Braves with lots of money moving around and Alex Wood being the key player coming back to the Dodgers. Pretty much a lot of wasted money.

  42. BulldogsandPenguinsSeptember 4, 2021

    Desperate times, desperate measures. Price going down sure didn’t help things. It was a heartbreaker, but we have two more with good pitching and the Giants put a big dent in their own bullpen tonight as well. Seeing a three game lead by the end of the series was apparently too much to ask for.

    Like in the beginning of the year, we found ourselves in a position where an inexperienced pitcher had to pitch in an extra innings game. With a little luck it would have worked out. JT made a close play at the plate on Will Smith’s ground ball hit squarely to Brandon Crawford was the difference in the game. Instead of bringing home a second run in the ninth, it left the game tied.

    The pitching shuffle that we’ve been playing by optioning White and Jackson after their starts worked for a while, but you can only trick the baseball gods for so long. Today is the 4th, we have our 3 healthy starting pitchers lined up for the next three games and by then we might get Kershaw and Gonsolin back.

    Great job by Mitch White going 6 scoreless on just 60 pitches last night for the Low-A Quakes. With Price coming up with a sore elbow, at least he’ll be lined up to make a start after 4 days rest with Urias, Bueller, Scherzer, Kershaw/Gonsolin lined up before we’ll need him. With a little luck, it all comes together now.

    One of the fun parts of last night’s game was watching Big Al hustle on his groundout to first base and his subsequent dash to third on a sac fly in extras. He’s sure giving it his all even if it doesn’t look too pretty.

    Like Mark I went to bed right before the end of the game. When we failed to score in the top of the 11th, I just felt like even if we would have held them scoreless in the bottom of the inning, we didn’t have any pitchers remaining for the 12th anyways. As a result, I didn’t see Trea Turner’s throwing error that eventually sunk this game, which is exactly why I usually don’t stay up for extras.

    I figure, if I stay up and they win, I’m too excited to get to sleep and if they lose, I’m too mad to sleep. Better to be surprised to start my day on a high note in the morning and if they lost, I’m not too upset because I didn’t live it when it happened. If something good happens, I’ll pull up my MLB app and watch what I missed. I won’t be doing that today.

  43. Andrew Vincent ForteSeptember 4, 2021

    Andre Jackson started and pitched 4.2 innings this past Thursday for Oklahoma City and Mitchell White started and pitched 6 innings last night for RC. Both should be available sometime next week possibly Wednesday and Thursday next week respectively The rotation is in need of innings eaters. Hopefully Kershaw and Gonsolin can be help meet that need. .The bullpen will continue to shuffled until then.

  44. TMSeptember 4, 2021

    Oh well…..I had a bad feeling about this game so when I woke up to see who won, i was not surprised one bit to see we lost 3-2. I was surprised to see the play by play from innings 9-11. Wow….what a nail biter. Two guys thrown out at the plate and winning on an errant throw. You can’t write this stuff….

    I knew we had a bullpen game which is not a bad thing but you never know if one of those 7-8 guys is off that day and let’s in a few runs. Like I said, “ oh well.”

    This series, this race regretfully reminds me of the David v Goliath battle, and we all know who won that battle. (Closing my eyes!) The Giants, for the most part, have a team of nobodies minus star power, yet here they are….not going away. I’m afraid this race will probably go down to the last game with the outcome being decided on a weird game, much like last night.

    Well, I will be okay with us even winning 1 of the 2 remaining games this weekend. Being down one game with over 20 to go doesn’t upset me one bit. Of course I’d rather be up one game, but just saying….we can regain that one game Monday…it could happen that quickly.

    Keep hoping and believing. Maybe this time, Goliath wins.

    TM

  45. BadgerSeptember 4, 2021

    No hit no field no win.

    Picked a weird night to look that awful. giants didn’t look much better.

    Put it back together tonight.

  46. tedraymondSeptember 4, 2021

    Yeah, it was a tough loss and to especially to lose it on an short, errant throw. Both teams had multiple opportunities to score runs and weren’t able to do so. Even with what the Dodgers had pitching in extra innings they had a good chance to win. Of course, JT running on contact in the ninth had to have philjones screaming “nooooo”! If JT had stayed at third and with Seager at 2B they both might have scored on Taylor’s base hit. When JT wandered off 3B after the rundown I thought what was he doing? And why Posey tried to tag out Seager after he had already been called out at 3B was weird as well. Just a strange play.

    Anyway, things look good for the Dodgers in as the Giants have two bullpen games coming up. They had to use five of their relievers last night. Each for an inning. With Urias and Striker going we should see some success, but the team has to get the offense going. Good on Seager going 4 for 5.

  47. Duke Not SniderSeptember 4, 2021

    Oh, Charlie Steiner kept his screw-up streak alive.

    He said the Giants would be bringing in “Will Smith” to close, which had me wondering whether I’d missed a deadline trade. Then he corrected himself–that the new pitcher was Jake McGee.

  48. Duke Not SniderSeptember 4, 2021

    Factoids from the Steiner-Monday radio broadcast:

    –Giants are the MLB’s No. 1 team in limiting walks.

    –And only two teams have committed fewer errors than the Giants.

    So when we wonder why the not-exactly-star-studded and relatively-modest-payroll Giants have the best record in the MLB, those are a couple of unspectacular reasons why.

    And something else I just learned: While Dodgers were using 11 pitchers, down in Rancho Cucamonga:

    White pitched six scoreless innings, throwing 60 pitches to stay stretched out. Should the Dodgers continue the up-and-down with White, he’s eligible to return to the majors next Thursday.

    This is, of course, the same Mitch White who pitched about 8 innings just a few weeks ago as the “bulk reliever.” Why was he pitching for the Quakes when the big club could have used a guy like him? And why has the term “long reliever” fallen out of fashion? When did “bulk” become baseball lingo?

    Oh, I also learned that one of the Dodgers’ hottest prospects, Miguel Vargas, is said to be the son of a Cuban baseball “legend.” I don’t take the hyperbole seriously, but obviously baseball runs in a lot of families. Anyway, that was news to me.

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