Playoff Roster & Beyond
In case you have been living under a rock or in some other unfortunate situation, you probably know that the Los Angeles Dodgers are never going to tell what is going on behind the scenes. They say that Clayton Kershaw does not need Tommy John Surgery, which is most likely…
In case you have been living under a rock or in some other unfortunate situation, you probably know that the Los Angeles Dodgers are never going to tell what is going on behind the scenes. They say that Clayton Kershaw does not need Tommy John Surgery, which is most likely untrue. They say that Max Muncy “may” be back. Yeah, and I might be Martha Stewart. The Dodgers under Andrew Friedman will never give you the straight news. What’s the deal with David Price? We have no idea, but there is “something.”
The point is: How can you predict a playoff roster when the Dodgers withhold all kinds of information from us? Something is wrong with David Price… what is it? What about Victor Gonzalez? Is there something bothering him? Muncy? Kershaw? We already know. For the record, I would do exactly what Andrew Friedman and Dave Roberts are doing. I would not tell anyone “jack.”
That said, some things are pretty clear, so I will make a stab at the NLDS Roster:
- Scherzer
- Buehler
- Urias
- Gonsolin
- Bickford
- Graterol
- Kelly
- Treinen
- Vesia
- White
- Knebel
- Jansen
- Smith
- Barnes
- Beaty
- Pujols
- T-Turner
- J-Turner
- Seager
- Pollock
- Taylor
- Bellinger
- Betts
- Lux
- McKinney
- The last spot boils down to Souza, Jr. and McKinstry, depending upon whether you want a LH or RH or a utilityman.
Of course, many of you predictably wanted to get rid of Cody Bellinger, but he will start every game of this series.. His defense is especially important in San Francisco. It’s clear to me that Cody had a big hand in Wednesday’s Wild Cardinal Victory. Cody’s head is in the right place, and he said this about the playoffs:
“I think at this point, it’s time to forget the season and just move on to the postseason, and try to help this team win in any way you can, offense, defense, baserunning. There’s a lot more aspects to the game. I feel good and I’m feeling healthy. Any way I can impact the game, I’m trying to impact it.”
Doc summed it all up: “My thing is that he’s going to be better going forward as a ballplayer and as a person going through this adversity this year. He’s getting to the other side, and the at-bats that he took [Wednesday], take the walk, base hit, a couple stolen bases, that’s what we need from him, to be that dynamic player, not that one-dimensional home run hitter. He’s embraced that, and he helped us win a ballgame.”
I think it will be hilarious if Cody Bellinger is the NLDS MVP! Belli Bashers, be ready to eat a heaping helping of crow!
What’s Next ?
If you have read this blog for any time at all you know that I am a busy person. I am 68 years old, in very good health, and we run a very fast-growing water treatment business. We are one of the leaders in our industry and I love what I do. I love building and growing things… and most importantly, I love helping people improve their lives (and sometimes we even save their lives) by fixing their water. I do not know “exactly” when I started LAdodgerTalk.com, but it was around 20 years ago.
You also know that I have tried to quit this gig a few times… so many times, that people think I won’t, but let me assure you that it is going to happen. This blog has been both a blessing and a malediction. It is fun and I love it. It is a burden and I hate it. I think I am done, but I can do it in my sleep, so I will not be REALLY done until after the Dodgers win the World Series. It is going to happen sometime before 2022. There is no hard schedule, but I have a book to finish, six granddaughters to help raise, a company to run, and life to enjoy.
I love the Dodgers. I used to go to Spring Training every year… for a week or two. I haven’t been in five years! I was the first blogger to sit in the press box at Dodger Stadium. Since Andrew Friedman was hired, they have never let me come back. That’s their prerogative. I may not like what they do at times, but I respect it. I am a dangerous guy. It is best that AF keep me away from Dodger brass and players. I do not play well with others. I get it… and I am fine with that.
I am not happy with making “journalist-type money.” Yes, I have a problem with lots of journalists. They are small-minded little morons. At least most of the ones I know are. Remember, I do not play well with others.. so there is that! Take it with a grain of salt.
I am living a dream, but I have also lived a nightmare. I survived and I need to let other people know that they can survive tragedies as well. The Dodgers are Sports. Water is life. My book is also life! I did LA Dodger Talk because I wanted to. Nobody made me. It is/was a lot of work, but I liked it. Now it is time to move on. No big deal. It’s life… move on, there is nothing to see here folks.
I have made a lot of friends here. I have seen my share of idiots as well. I would like to say that they are more prevalent now, but that may not be true. Maybe I am jaded! At any rate, sometime in the future, things will change here. I will keep you posted and make sure that I do not leave you without resources. This is just a “heads up” and there will be more info after the World Series Parade.
I’m Working on a Dream
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Discussion (115)
Disagree, not disagreeable
One thing we’re missing is stealing a base. We have 6 players capable of stealing a base, TT, AJ, Mookie, Taylor, Lux and CB. Together they are 50/61 an 82% success rate. Maybe take out AJ because of his hernia. Even so that’s still a 80% success rate. Not sure what Posey’s cought stealing rate is bu it can’t be any better than Molina’s rate who failed to throw out Bellinger twice.
Perhaps SF pitching staff is better at holding runners than the Cardinals, I don’t know. Maybe Taylor’s HR was partially due to the pitchers not completely concentrating on the batter and giving some thought to the runner at 2B.
I give an awful lot of credit to the job that Mark has done over the years. I suppose I’m a fairly recent reader. I think I found this blog around 2016 or so, right before he shut it down the first time, collaborated with Scott Andes at ladodgerreport.com, and then rebooted it here.
It’s not easy. It takes a lot of time and dedication, and being responsible for creating content is hard. You have to write something even if you don’t feel like it.
I look at other Dodger blogs, and someone above asked about some of the others. I think the formula here works: Mark has “a take” that is often edgy and meant to generate discussion, and the comments are much better than anything else out there, IMO. I think Dodgers Nation does a decent job, and they put out a lot of content on multiple channels – and I kind of like Doug McKain’s YouTube videos. Nosler’s scouting reports are excellent. That only happens once year, and the rest is just recaps of games by the rest of the clowns, and I despise the community on that site – completely toxic. TrueBlue – meh…decent.
I think the quality of the content by the posters here is, far and away, much better than anywhere else by an order of magnitude. I think that’s the important thing. Why do I want to go to a blog that’s just going to give me a recap on the game I already watched? I already know what happened. I want some interesting takes, some insight by people who know the game.
Mark has cultivated that culture. I don’t think I coulda done it.
I hope it continues in some form under someone else if someone is willing to take it on.
Like Bear said: “It ain’t over… yet!” Lots of stuff to happen before that.
I am fine with Price on the roster for reasons articulated by Jeff.
Love this blog Mark. Please don´t close it.
Go Dodgers!
Tonight’s Lineup:
HITTERS H-AB RBI HR SB AVG
M. BettsRF 123-466 58 23 10 .264
C. SeagerSS 108-353 57 16 1 .306
T. Turner2B 195-595 77 28 32 .328
J. Turner3B 148-533 87 27 3 .278
W. SmithC 107-414 76 25 3 .258
M. Beaty1B 55-204 40 7 2 .270
C. BellingerCF 52-315 36 10 3 .165
A. PollockLF 114-384 69 21 9 .297
W. BuehlerP 7-69 3 0 0 .101
Los Angeles Dodgers NLDS roster
Open on fangraphs.comhttps://fangraphs.com/roster-resource/depth-charts/dodgersHow Acquired:
•Homegrown (9)
•Free Agent (6)
•Trade (10)
•Waivers (1)
San Francisco Giants NLDS roster
Open on fangraphs.comhttps://fangraphs.com/roster-resource/depth-charts/giantsHow Acquired:
•Homegrown (8)
•Free Agent (12)
•Trade (5)
•Waivers (1)
I rarely get nervous, but I was watching the game against the Cardinals on Wednesday. I wasn’t even nervous the night I sang the anthem. But that game had me on edge. Now I find myself with a few butterflies down in my stomach before this game starts. I just want the action to begin. Waiting is the hardest part. That is what being a fan means, churning stomachs. Butane looked pretty good his last time out and his record at Oracle is very good. Just add one more win and get off on the right foot.
How in the world is Trea Turner not even nominated/finalist for the Hank Aaron award? Led the league in hitting, hits, SB, and was first or second in WAR I believe.
He just gets overlooked. Last year when Tatis was 2020 ALL MLB’s first team shortstop it was a joke. Trea Turner should have been first and Seager 2nd.
Joc doing what Joc does in October.
Alex Verdugo wants to be a pitcher.
What Mark has done over the years is remarkable. Building up his readership over the years is no small challenge. Keeping the site ad free and running in tip top shape while managing the drama is something that few understand. Plus providing good content that keeps us all engaged is no easy feat. All while running a business successfully.
I couldn’t do it. I tried at my own site and there wasn’t 5% of the readership as there is here.
He deserves a respite from all this and kudos from us all. I look forward to reading his book. We talked very briefly about it a while back and it will be extremely good, I have little doubt.
Let me just add one thing. There are some real good posters on this page. That is what we will all miss when this site goes away. My time hasn’t allowed me to post much and my work strongly frowns on my engagement with this hobby, which should be a mute point when retirement kicks in next year. I just wanted to say that there are good quality people here with intelligent opinions that could keep a vibrant site going. I hope that happens, but as many already know, the administration of this page is a “bear” (pun slightly intended).
Hoping for another championship and the end of this site on a winning note!
I think we all hope Bellinger will again be MVP again but what he did in the wild card game was more Jake Vogel than 2019 Cody so let’s slow down a bit on him being back.
Mark, you have left us with a cliff hanger that compares to Who Shot JR of the old Dallas series.
eubiecOOl Only weakness we”ve had was that sacreligious extra inning kradelflap of starting player on Reading Railroad square.Bawlderdash!! Kudos to R oberts for recognizing Scherzer very hittable after 85 pitches.Kelly is the one-eyed Jack in our deck.Mucho respect for Belli he’s givin’ it his all right now.I’m sure he sparked the same thought in all of us ?This team has some speed .Let’s play a little “Billy”ball Counter these god awful shifts.Keep pressure on em.Boys striding up to “Bagdad by the Bay” time to ROCK THE CASBAH
Kike and Joctober still delivering post season! Who will step up at the end of our bench this year? And cmon Snitker! How can you not start Joc today? Bad on you!
His name is Walker so far tonight. He better get his head strait and not delivering 3 balls and being forced into throwing a fat pitch to the likes of Buster Posey.
Cutters that don’t cut to their best player with a base open! That hurts!
Ugh. Bad break on JT’s ball. Can’t be walking Lastella. Once he fell behind on Posey I wouldn’t have messed around grooving him a fastball.
Don’t try to get back in the count, don’t try to get back in the count, don’t try to get back into the …………BAM
Playing with tight butts. Urgh. Act like you’ve done it before.
Well except for the hitting, fielding and pitching were doing ok!
If Webb is going to get an an extra six inches off the outside corner it’s going to be a long night.
Logan Webb really reminds me of Matt Cain with that kind of face you kinda want to punch.
Why aren’t Ron Darling and the other announcer making an issue of the all those calls off the plate? Trea Turner struck out because of the home plate umpire. First he calls a pitch off the plate a strike, and finally Turner strikes out swinging at a pitch off the plate, that he probably would have laid off if those pitches weren’t be called.
Well at least the three guys we traded away can hit in October
AJ appears to be 2019 post season AJ where he only K’s.
It certainly seems the HP umpire is giving Webb some distance off the plate while Buehler doesn’t seem to be getting that same call.