Passing of the Torch

I am very bored quarantining at home and it has just started (this is my 3rd day), so I thought I would weigh in on the game last night, where we might have seen a passing of the torch for the closer role, but to who?

Josh Hader had a higher ERA than Kenley Jansen this year, and Aroldis Chapman was only slightly better than Jansen with a 3.09 ERA (3.33 for Jansen). Many of the comments yesterday are just knee-jerk reactions to an epic melt-down by Kenley. I am sure Doc will not say it, but Kenley is no longer the closer, however, he’s not off the team. There won’t be an “official” closer – it will be a committee. Jansen will again be on the team next year and maybe Bazooka will be ready to close sometime next year… but he’s not right now.

Let’s not forget that on September 4th, Kenley had a 1.06 ERA, then he got shelled in back-to-back outings and his ERA soared to 4.42. In his last six regular season performances, he did not give up an earned run. However, his ERA for the playoffs is 7.71 – that won’t work for a closer. He seems to be on or off, but from here forward, Dave Roberts will use him differently.

Joe Kelly was rusty, but he has the experience and he was not a Wild Man last night – he frequently missed by “that much.” However, he was not “Machine Gun Kelly” either. Joe Kelly got the Dodgers out of a huge jam and I am sure he will be utilized more, as will Floro and McGee. The next time Trienen is used it will be in the 8th and 9th and Beaz will take the place of Trienen in the 7th or 8th inning.

Just like Cole and Verlander, Clayton is going to give up some Home Runs because he pounds the zone, but his playoff ERa is 1.93 this year with a 0.71 WHIP. Gerritt Cole gave up 14 HR this year to Claytons 8. I am not worried about Clayton – he hit 94 MPH a couple of times last night. It was not his sharpest game, but it was dang good.

The bottom line is that they won against the team that many experts believe is the 2nd best team in the playoffs. Tatis and Machado are locked in and these young bucks are hungry. Machado did not do a bat flip when he hit a HR – it was a “bat throw,” That’s OK, but when Graterol shows some excitement, Manny goes off the rails? If you can do it Manny, the Dodgers can do it – You lost! Shut up and play!

Seager, Betts, Muncy and Barnes were the offensive heroes and Cody was my Player-of-the-Game for his HR and THE CATCH! Wow – We will be seeing that for a long time.

Maybe with another winter with Driveline, Kenly can recapture some magic…. maybe he can’t. I hear that he is fat. I don’t think so – he’s a big guy, but I would not say he is “fat.” Over the winter, the Dodgers need to decide on a closer – maybe he is on the staff – maybe he isn’t, but right about now, if I had 2 lefties to face in the 9th, I would still bring in Kenley – LH hitters only OPS .518 against him. That’s where I would use him… but it would not be in a 1-run game.

Doc brought him in in a 3-run game. I was fine with that – In the past, Kenley has earned the right to close with his body of work – he lost it last night. Unfortunately, a closer judged by his most recent performances and we have seen this too much recently. It’s not yet the end of the line, but it could be close. Now, Roberts has to re-shuffle the pen.

The bottom line is that the Dodgers are ahead 2-0 in this series against the 2nd best team in the NL. That’s something! What happens today? I would start Dylan Floro and try and get one or two innings out of him. Then I would go to Julio Urias and see if he could go 5 or 6 innings. I don’t know if that is anyone’s plan but mine, but I like that idea. Julio has playoff experience… not a great record, but experience counts.

2021

This has been a crazy year in so many ways, but here we are on the cusp of another NLCS where the Dodgers will likely play the Braves. The Braves are dangerous offensively, but lack the pitching depth. I think the Dodgers could add another pitcher for the NLCS.

In the off-season, the Dodgers should try and lock up Seager and Bellinger, but that may not be possible. On the other hand, it could be possible given baseball’s current financial climate. Like Betts, they will not take a “Hometown Discount.” Both will command around $300 million deals. Joc and Kike will be gone next year and I do not see any big Free Agent Signings. McKinstry and Reks or Raley will find a spot on the team and I have heard that they have big hopes for Cody Thomas.

Justin Turner will be 36 next month and will be the DH – I think he will get about $9 Million a year over 2 years and that might be high! Who is going to give him more? Choices will have to be made in the bullpen. Who to sign, who to let walk? Friedman will look for more salvage projects like McGee. He may return at the right price, but let’s not forget that David Price will be back and Josiah Gary will have another years’ experience. If it were up to me, I would make Dustin May the closer for a year, while I groomed Bazooka! Just my two cents!

Front page photo credit: Harry How/Getty Images

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