SponsorUS Water Systems
LA Dodger Talk

Rants & Rave Sunday

It’s almost October, and Mr. October (Kike Hernandez), who was 3-4 yesterday, is warming up. I agree with David: Conforto and Rushing are hitting .200 – set them today. 😉 I think we got a glimpse of Dalton Rushing’s prodigious power yesterday. That HR was a missile! Miggy Ro may…

By Mark Timmons3 min read10 comments
  • It’s almost October, and Mr. October (Kike Hernandez), who was 3-4 yesterday, is warming up.
  • I agree with David: Conforto and Rushing are hitting .200 – set them today. 😉
  • I think we got a glimpse of Dalton Rushing’s prodigious power yesterday. That HR was a missile!
  • Miggy Ro may not be an everyday player anymore, but in his 290 ABs this year and in the innings he has played, he is a difference maker. It’s OK by me if he plays in 2026.
  • Blake Treinen allowed a hit but struck out the side.
  • Andrew Heaney is clearly not the same pitcher he was three years ago. His velo is down a couple of MPH, making his sweeper less effective. He will not be on the playoff roster. Sorry, Andrew!
  • The last three Dodger pitchers struck out the side – 15 K’s WOW! Have they been sandbagging?
  • Ryan Ward = Luke Raley? Yeah, probably!
  • I think it will be a cannon fodder Sunday as everyone rests.
  • Jorge Polanco is a classic example of an older player turning it around: In 2024, he hit .213 with a .651 OPS and then turned it around in 2025 with a .265 BA and .821 OPS. That’s what the Dodgers thought they could do with Conforto. They failed or he failed – they both failed!
  • Old Friend James Outman ran into one last night (his 6th HR in 130 ABs), to go with 59 Ks. YIKES! He is hitting .138 on the year. I don’t see the Twins protecting him… Another former Dodger who has really tanked is Keibert Ruiz. They could put together a nice beer league team: Outman, Amaya, Ruiz, Verdugo, Raley, Bannon, Cartaya, et al.
  • Tyler Glasnow is going to be available to pitch in relief for the Wild Card Series – The Dodgers are not messing around!
  • I said that the team could “flip the switch,” and that is precisely what has happened! They can smell it! They are now in Playoff Mode!
https://twitter.com/DodgerBlue1958/status/1972156163304362326
https://twitter.com/SportsNetLA/status/1972133295459602439

Discussion (10)

Disagree, not disagreeable

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

  1. DavidSeptember 28, 2025

    Dalton succeeded today. Conforto couldn’t and ends at .199

  2. dodgerdadSeptember 28, 2025

    Clayton is the best!!! Hey! what about Landon Knack!!!! Makes one wonder if the dodgers will consider knack for a roster spot. looked great today! better than some already with the big club. Dalton is swinging it!

  3. Daytona JackSeptember 28, 2025

    WOW. How good are the Dodgers when they don’t have room for a pitcher with a 335 era, who just threw 5.1 innings of no run ball with 7k. As Michael Corleone said, Nothing personal, just business. I am sure Kershaw will be on the other post season rosters.

  4. DavidSeptember 28, 2025

    WE have the history of trying to squeeze one more year out of over the hill (or fading) hitters . Gallo, Heyward, JD Martinez, Conforto, Teo. Sometimes it works , sometimes not. It seems to me if our lineup is Ohtani-Betts-Freeman- (maybe one more year of Muncy batting fifth or Pages)-Then the number 4 guy will get some good pitches to hit with men on base.

    The problem is when we sign them for second year. (Heyward) or even Teo now with 3 years. Like look at JD Martinez and Heyward. Once they left us they could not reproduce what they did in LA.

  5. Old Bear 48September 28, 2025

    Kershaw will go as far as he can today since Doc said he will not be on the Wild Card roster. LA should know later this afternoon who their opponent will be. Reds or Mets. Astros missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade. Heaney sent down and Knack recalled. Bank on it, Treinen and Scott will be on the Wild Card roster. Arenado said he would consider waiving his no trade clause this winter as did two other Cardinals, Gray and Contreras.

  6. Mark TimmonsSeptember 28, 2025

    As I suspected, it has been confirmed that Clayton Kershaw Will Not Be On the Dodgers’ Wild Card Roster!

    Today will be a regular start for him amd he will be on the NLDS.

  7. Mark TimmonsSeptember 28, 2025

    Well, I blew the lineup yesterday, but here is Todays,

    Don’t snitch me out to AVF

    Kershaw on the mound.

  8. BlutoSeptember 28, 2025

    Could they go n a run? Have a hot spell? Of course, and I certainly hope so.

    I guess any team could, but the Dodgers are probably more likely to.

    But odds are they won’t win a back to back WS. Gotta hope though.

  9. dodgerdadSeptember 28, 2025

    Great statement wins ! the mariners were playing with a full deck,so those 2 wins weren’t a fluke or gimme! Oh the ever so often glimpses of Dalton’s power! the arm behind the plate is never a question. no it’s just a question of playing time. 2 years from now i think he will be the starter with Will changing positions. … fun watching teo’s interview last night! he’s a treasure! …. Agree about Heaney, he had one shot at making the postseason roster and he didn’t help himself last night. …. Trienan probably cemented his spot last night with a very good inning. Do we trust him with the ninth now? oh boy!!!!!…….. vesia looked great as did Henriquez! …. Is Clayton auditioning for a spot on the postseason roster today?? lot of chatter saying he won’t be on it. i don’t believe that! how could they do that to the greatest dodger ever? But it will probably be his last start in a major league game today. Not sad , i will just enjoy watching him as his 18 year journey comes to a close. He’s going out on his terms and hopefully a win today! …. Glasnow in relief for the wildcard round? Could be interesting! His first inning control is sometimes shaky! So coming out of the pen? …. i’m curious to see if Kim makes the playoff roster. His bat has gone cold. Although his speed could get him a cozy little spot at the end of the pine!……Will Smith? hopefully he can be the starter behind the plate! His bat is absolutely necessary for them to bring another title back to LA! if he is healthy, who’s the backup? … good weekend for virginia football teams! UVA stuns Florida State, and my son’s alma mata Virginia Tech beats NC State!

  10. DavidSeptember 28, 2025

    So the interesting discussion. Do Scott AND Treinen make the playoff roster? So while their physical/mechanical/mental issues are mysteries to us, Certainly the team knows all about this and have been working on this all year. So we have to trust their judgement going forward. They stuck with Yates, until they didn’t.

More from Dodger Talk

Nothing Wrong With Back of the Rotation SP for LAD

I said it when Roki Sasaki was struggling…If not Roki, who? He finally started to pitch with more confidence and he put together a string of positive starts. Yes, there were those who forgot about his previous four excellent starts and instead focused on his CWS start. He is a…

By Jeff Dominique · June 16, 202670

Who Bats Where?

A good percentage of comments on this blog relate to “who bats where” in the batting order. “Shohei should bat cleanup.” “ Freddie should be the number three hitter.” “No, Freddie should hit second.” “Max Muncy should hit cleanup.” “Mookie should hit 9th.” … and on and on… Where…

By Mark Timmons · June 15, 2026104

Happy, Hopeful, Blessed, and Thankful

I grew up in Ohio and lived there until 1976, when I was 23 years old. I have been in Indiana for 50 years, so I consider myself a Hoosier. Now, I actually live 45 minutes from Bloomington, where the IU Hoosiers play. However, since I was nine years old, I have been a Dodger…

By Mark Timmons · June 14, 2026123

Are You True Blue?

What do I mean by true blue? Well, over the years I have seen my share of bandwagon and fair-weather fans. True blue fans stick with the team no matter what. Their allegiance to the team never waivers. Not when a favorite is traded or lost to free agency, not when the team…

By Michael "Bear" Norris · June 13, 202693