Slip Slidin Away
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5anMTZjVsL8 The nearer your destination, the more you re slip slidin away! Being down 2-0 in the World Series is not indicative of anything except that you are two games away from being swept. I guess we are not surprised. It s been this way throughout the season these guys can look horrible and then come back the next game and score 15 runs. Somehow, I don t think that is going
The nearer your destination, the more you’re slip slidin’ away! Being down 2-0 in the World Series is not indicative of anything… except that you are two games away from being swept. I guess we are not surprised. It’s been this way throughout the season – these guys can look horrible and then come back the next game and score 15 runs. Somehow, I don’t think that is going to happen with the flamethrowers in the Red Sox’ pen.
Some will say “That’s the way this team was built,” but I think it’s more how the “team came together.” Roger Askew wrote a comment last night that almost mirrored something I wrote for todays blog:
Once again, and we have all talked about it for months, we hit Yaboes, we are not a station to station team. The Red Sox are exposing us for what we are, either all or nothing. To tell you the truth, I have peace with that. I have to respect Boston and their approach, and am envious of that. They move the runners over from base to base, and are deadly with two outs. They are playing the way that most of us have bitched about this whole season , how we want th e Dodgers to play, pass the baton, pass the baton. I don’t lay this at Doc’s feet, he is playing with the cards that are dealt him. I have total faith in FAZ, but we have met a team that does the little things very well, and player for player, we have more talent and a way better bench than they have, but Boston get’s it done, and I can’t even believe that I am posting this, because I come from the 1980’s Lakers Celtics wars, where I hate everything Boston. Hopefully we come out on top, but I think FAZ may rethink their overall philosophy in 2019 going forward. Strikeouts may be a sabermetric shrug, but in the World Series where every at bat it crucial, it amounts to nothing.
I wrote:
“The Dodgers have too many of the same player: Grandal, Hernandez, Taylor, Kemp, Puig, Pederson, Bellinger and Muncy… guys who all strikeout an inordinate amount. This prevents them from sustaining rallies and is all-or-nothing. If you look at the team stats, they are not that far apart. The Dodgers strike out a little more each game (like 1.1 times more) while the OB% of each team is close (.339 verses .333 for LA). The biggest difference is OPS which is .792 for Boston verses .774 for LA and batting average. Boston hit .268 as a team, while the Dodgers hit .250. It’s not so much the home runs – Boston hit 208 while LA had 235. It’s simply making more contact and delivering when runners are in scoring position. The Dodgers hit .253 as a team with RISP while Boston hits .289 and has an OPS a .132 points higher!
Some of those All-or-Nothing guys will be gone next year, replaced with guys like Verdugo or Lux, who have on-base skills. Grandal is a free agent and Kemp is experiencing regression to the mean, but some of the rest will either have to evolve or be traded. However, that’s a discussion for another day. They have a World Series to win here.“
Back to reality: The Dodgers were sloppy defensively in Game 1, but corrected that is Game 2. Ryu was rolling along when, with two outs, he just suddenly lost it. At the time, I did not think Madson was a bad choice to come in with the bases loaded and 1 out, but right about now, everything Doc does is wrong… even if it’s right.
I think a few things need to happen:
- Put Chris Taylor back at leadoff and forget Dozier – he just does not have it! The Dodgers did best with CT3 leading off in the Milwaukee series.
- CT3, Turner, Freese and Machado should start every game #1 – #4, unless a RH is pitching in which case, Joc leads off.
- Whatever was eating Yasmani, you have to hope is gone. The Dodgers can’t win with Barnes at C. Grandal has to start and if he implodes, so be it, but I think he is due… Also, Barnes can’t control the running game. Grandal was solid all year… all you can do it hope…
- Muncy has to be in there every game…. probably at 2B. Live with it.
They have a day off and then Buehler and Hill need to do their thing and tie up the series. It’s that simple… or it’s slip slidin’ away!
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Discussion (43)
Disagree, not disagreeable
As much as I’ve come to tire of watching Taylor flail away at the plate, I absolutely agree with your suggestions. As frustrating as Yasmani can be, Barnes simply looks helpless at the plate. At least with Yasmani there is the hope that he will find one of his hot streaks.
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I haven’t thought it through, but I’d also like to see Cody in the lineup everyday. His speed and defense alone are enough for me, and there’s always hope that his bat will come alive.
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At the very least the Dodgers do have a history that suggests that hope is alive. The 1955, 1965 and 1981 teams all came back from 0-2 deficits. I’ve already said that breaking the 30 year drought won’t come easy. So Dodgers, make me look good. Time for the Red Sox to do some slippin’ and slidin’.
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And yes, we will have another discussion, after the Dodgers have their championship parade.
I still believe. We really just need to win a game. Start from there. A baseball game. Dont give up!
Well — these games are tight, and the margin for error is small.
In the 5th, Ryu had two outs (on 3 pitches) and an 0-2 count on the Sox’s worst hitter — and then he made a mess.
Benintendi did a great job of coaxing that walk, but I was VERY disappointed at how Barnes and Ryu were not on the same page during that at bat — I think they had 3 mound visits. That really got Ryu out of rhythm and, I think, led to the walk. I would have let Ryu stay in, given that he handled Pearce well in the earlier AB’s, but I didn’t think Madsen was a horrible choice. It’s hard though, in 45 degree weather, for any pitcher to come in and know he has to be in the strike zone (a big reason for giving Ryu that last batter).
I think it was obvious to all that this was THE KEY MOMENT in the game, and the Dodgers did not execute — I don’t think Roberts made the greatest decision, but it is on the players to execute.
So, will the team that swept the Giants and played an amazing game 163 against the Rockies return? It could happen. I have not given up yet — but I think I am going to tape Friday’s game, read the result in the morning, and if they won, go back and enjoy watching the good plays. I don’t enjoy watching the Dodgers (for 30 years) continuing the narrative of underperforming at key moments. I will watch any elimination games live, but I need a break from having my worst fears realized in front of me (When I saw Roberst come out, my first thought was, boy I have a bad feeling that in the cold whoever comes in is going to walk the next guy) — I hate being psychic about bad outcomes. Go Dodgers!