The Art of War
Last night, the Dodgers did not pull out all the stops to try to win the World Series in New York. After winning three World Series games in a row, the Dodgers elected not to use any of their high-leverage pitchers in a bullpen game. Instead, they elected to use Casparius…
Last night, the Dodgers did not pull out all the stops to try to win the World Series in New York. After winning three World Series games in a row, the Dodgers elected not to use any of their high-leverage pitchers in a bullpen game. Instead, they elected to use Casparius, Hudson, Knack, and Honeywell. Casparius and Knack fairly acquitted themselves, but Hudson and Knack were a disaster! I’m OK with that.
The book “The Arty of War” by Sun Tzu has as it’s central metaphor, “water.” Sun Zzu wrote this:
“A military force has no constant formation, water has no constant shape. The ability to gain victory by changing and adapting according to the opponent is called genius.”
— Sun Tzu
Oliver Goldsmith wrote this:
“He who fights and runs away
May live to fight another day;
But he who is battle slain
Can never rise to fight again.”
Tomorrow, they have Jack Flaherty going against Gerrit Cole and they also have the following pitchers available for 1-2 innings of work:
- Banda
- Brasier
- Graterol
- Kopech
- Treinen
- Vesia
Flaherty needs to just air it out for however long he can and then turn it over to a rested bullpen of high-leverage closers. It would be nice to close it out in LA, but why wait? Do it now! Last night, was calculated by the Dodger Brass. Their high leverage relievers are rested and ready. That is the plan… now they have to execute!
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Discussion (78)
Disagree, not disagreeable
See also, Why run down the hill to kill one animal when you can walk down and kill them all?
Fairly acquitted himself? I may be a Knack hack but 4 innings 2 hits 1run 56 pitches in the World Series against the Yankees? Sounds masterful to me. Ok I’ll give you that he came in down 5. Low pressure. But knocking down those 4 innings was big.
Book em
Sometimes you lose a battle to win a WAR.
NBD, 3 games to win 1.
Those NY fans are A HOLES
I always wondered how a boy named Szu could write the Art of War.
Great read.
Book em
Hoping to see the Max from Mets series again, not that guy up there now
Actually I would quibble with the Sun Tzu comparison you made. I don’t think the Dodgers were being fluid or adapting gracefully to changing conditions, which is, as I interpret that reference, the meaning of that quote. To the contrary, they were sticking to the script. It was decided beforehand it was a low leverage game, so the plan was to save their higher leverage pitchers for the next game.
Not a bad plan. It’s strategically smart. It does come with downsides, however.
“Tanking” or conceding a game can become contagious. A lack of urgency runs the risk of carrying over into those times were a sense of urgency is vital.
Now the Dodgers just gave the Yankees a ray of hope. With Cole on the mound, they could easily take the next game, then it’s 3-2. Now it’s safe to get nervous.
Don’t be complacent.
BTW, did Jeff Dominique become an architect suddenly or did he just quit?
8:08 PM ET FOX
Dodgers (98-64) 3-1
Yankees (94-68) 1-3
SP Jack Flaherty R
13-7 3.17 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
LF T. Hernandez R
3B Max Muncy L
CF E. Hernandez R
SS Tommy Edman S
C Will Smith R
2B Gavin Lux L
SP Gerrit Cole R
8-5 3.41 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B G. Torres R
RF Juan Soto L
CF Aaron Judge R
3B J. Chisholm L
DH G. Stanton R
1B A. Rizzo L
SS A. Volpe R
C Austin Wells L
LF Alex Verdugo L
68° Wind 8 mph R-L
Max, how about showing up tonight and participating in the offense!
If the Dodgers win tonight, it’s over; if they lose tonight, it’s over!
Tonight is the night for Shohei to rise to the occasion and have his name added to the other MLB legends. Come on, Dodgers, let’s do it tonight!
In response to Dodgerpatch:
I guess it depends upon your perspective.
Casparius did a great job, and then Hudson imploded. If Hudson had been nails, I think the script would have been flipped.
We will never know…
No one did a great job last night. If this goes back to LA we are in trouble. No one really hitting … Give Knack a snack and Hudson both a ticket home. Max too
Gheez, up 3-1 and some here are panicking. You don’t sound happy. Did you expect a sweep and since it didn’t happen you are falling apart.
It’s baseball, it’s the World Series for crying out loud. Teams win and lose and win again.
GO DODGERS
Maybe it’s just me, but mixing Dodgers and negativity right now is frickin bizarre . They’re in the World Series up 3-1. Damn I’m having a great time. How about you guys?
Book em
The Dodgers are still in control. Yankees mostly haven’t hit and Dodgers have hit better. Dodgers’ pen is ready and rested – Yankees’ are not. Dodgers’ defense has been much better than the Yanks’ too.
Cole will likely be good again – Dodgers need Flaherty to keep them in the game. I like the Dodgers to win tonight.
I don’t know who Kiki is – the Dodgers have a player named Enrique (Kike) Hernandez. No Kiki’s though. By the way, he is slashing .277/.333/.447/.780 in the post-season. He’s doing just fine. He has cooled off in the Series but he’s playing well and is capable of getting the big hit. And bench Ohtani? Seriously?
Why the panic?
I say no to Flaherty next year
We’ll get them in LA.
I will be delighted to be proven wrong! 3 skanky miscues in one inning, and super clutch Freddie, and Cole has lost his magic. Time for Max!
Graterol actually struck out Judge twice in that AB. Umpire squeezed on 2 obvious strikes.
Dodgers playing the Yankees and Umpiring crew.
Yankees 5
Umpires 1
Dodgers 5
Freddie series MVP, Treinen postseason MVP
I felt once Walker got those breaking pitches over to Volpe that he would get it done. They sitting on fastballs, but he didn’t have to throw them
Guys, I am so happy. Congratulations to all of you and me of course. Go Dodgers.
World series champions I am 62 but I feel 12 again .Santa has just come to my house fellas.How good it is.Those old yankees don’t seem too happy to hug Freddie. Around and Jeter.Great season.
.
Mark thanks for your strong leadership through a sometimes troubling year. I have enjoyed ladodgertalk and hope it continues. Sleep well all you other morons!!
Way to “Go Dodgers”
There’s a White Sox with a Ring in 24!!!