The Bullpen Game Plan Was Perfect…
Unfortunately, the Dodger hitters did not execute. As good as Mookie Betts was in Game 5 of the NLDS, he stunk it up last night. Chris Taylor committed an unforgivable base-running blunder and I want to remind all the IDIOTS that wanted to get rid of Cody Bellinger that they are…
Unfortunately, the Dodger hitters did not execute.
As good as Mookie Betts was in Game 5 of the NLDS, he stunk it up last night. Chris Taylor committed an unforgivable base-running blunder and I want to remind all the IDIOTS that wanted to get rid of Cody Bellinger that they are just that: IDIOTS! See, I took a lot of flack from fans (some of whom have left this blog because they called me an idiot for defending Bellinger and Roberts). This is Payback for that! Mookie Betts leads the Dodgers in Post Season Batting Average at .380. Cody Bellinger is 2nd at .333 with a .400 OB%.
It does piss me off that you IDIOTS (and you know who you are) maligned Cody for his play and me for saying he would come back from his .165 hitting woes! Can you tell I am mad? Actually, this rant is mostly directed to some IDIOT called 48Hodges or some such thing. (Not to be confused with Hodges54) I am calling him an IDIOT because that is what he called me. OK, now I will stop. It’s a Good Morning and the Dodgers will be just fine.
Love it or hate it, the Bullpen game was effective. Everyone who pitched yesterday should be ready today. No pitcher is gassed.. and that includes ATL’s bullpen. The Dodgers bullpen struck out 14 and did not issue a walk! Man does it hurt to waste such a performance! I had thought that Doc might have used Kenley to pitch the 9th since he had only thrown 8 pitches in the 8th inning, but I think he was sticking to the the script, which was to make everyone available today. Blake Treinen doesn’t mess up much, but when he does… it hurts. Maybe once a month… OK – we have that out of the way. Do you remember when certain people on this blog lost their minds because “Andrew Friedman doesn’t know how to build a bullpen?” The only “bull” involved was on their side. I assured you it would be OK.. Settle Down! 😉
Ossie Albies stole second in the 9th inning with 1 out, which led to Riley’s game-ending hit. When CT3 walked, there were 2 outs, so unless you are someone faster than Chris Taylor, I do not believe it is wise to try and steal 2B with 2 outs in the 9th. You don’t want to be the last out of the game, caught stealing. Joc Pederson charged the ball and make a quick throw to 2B. I have watched the video three times and it is my opinion that a good relay throw from the second baseman would have gotten CT3 at 3B. Dino had the stop sign up as CT3 came around 2nd. He was just slow to recognize it. It was another nice hit by Cody Bellinger – he is getting his confidence back (which was obviously shattered) by just doing the “little things” right now.
Game over! Today is a must-win and the Dodgers face a righty in Ian Anderson. Lux and Belli will be in the lineup. I wonder if Barnes starts at Catcher? Now, they have to play at least 5 games, The Dodgers were behind the Braves in the series last year and came back – They will do it again.
P.S. Will Smith is the best catcher in the NL… maybe the best in baseball – Right Behind Yasmani Grandal 😉 (that was for Bear).
P.S. 2 – No IDIOTS were harmed in the production of this blog!
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Discussion (117)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Scherzer had a perfect game going into the 7th as I remember in the 2016 playoffs against the Dodgers and was leading 1 – 0 and then this happened:
Keep scoring runs Dodgers.
Belli is sooooo close
Joc îs just money against the righties.
Just like Kike against the lefties!
now the game looks so hard
As I said above we need to score 4 or 5 runs to win even with Scherzer. So the offense needs to get going and score a few more runs.
TT is just lost up there. Swinging at so many balls out of the zone!
It’s frustrating that Minter was having trouble throwing strikes and yet our hitters helped him out by swinging at pitches out of the zone.
Is this one of those games where the Dodgers score early and then just STOP scoring? Happens all too often.
We have Betts on first with one out. The count is 3-2 on Turner. On deck is our most dangerous hitter, at least next to Betts, Smith. After him is Lux, who does not hit lefthanders very well. So Roberts has Betts run on two straight pitches. Turner fouls one off, then strikes out on a pitch a foot outside. Betts steals second. So Atlanta of course walks Smith, and then Lux hits an easy fly ball to left, and the inning is over.
Can anyone give me a good reason for that? Turner didn’t have to swing at the pitch? Okay, but then Betts is on second, anyway. The only value is if Turner doubled, and Betts would score. A single, Betts goes to third, and he would have likely gone there without running So what is the advantage? There is a tiny advantage, but the big disadvantage is that unless Turner gets a hit (a walk, sure, but then the running is irrelevant), Smith is taken out of the inning. This seems very obvious. This is the kind of thing that Roberts doesn’t figure out very well, even though some here think that he is the greatest manager of all time. Of such mistakes, games and even titles can be lost. It will get lost in the game analysis, though.
This is just a gagging offensive display. Again! By a group of all stars! Just shocking!!!!’
Will Dodgers ever hit in crutch again? or what?
Frustrating. Taylor in scoring position and they can’t score him.
I love Joe Kelly!
Just like yesterday, the Dodgers seem to be in control of the game because the bullpen make good job and offense has many runners on base and generate greater danger. But they do not score and in the final, Braves score and win the game. Hope things change
So this is healthy Joe Kelly. Awesome! The next time we have a runner on third with less than 2 outs I’m pinch hitting Urias!
Things begin to change!!!
Why Pollock dose not try to hit to the opposite side?
AJ Pollock is a moron. In this AB and his previous one he was swinging for the fences when all he needed was to make contact and get a base hit. Two of the dumbest at bats I’ve ever seen.
I”m not sure who’s flailed at more pitches so far out of the strike zone so far in the playoffs, Trae or Pollock?
Urias bullpen inning didn’t turn out so good. Get him out of there.
I don’t get the use of the staff tonight at all. I’m sorry someone enlighten me.
In must win games you ask your two best relievers to finish it, not your starter on his throw day. Wake up roberts
They had just double-switched and Treinen had thrown 9 pitches. Nine!
I just don’t get taking Scherzer out of the game so early. Not enough good bullpen guys to fill up all those innings left.
They trust Knebel to be the opener against the heart of the order but not to pitch there. Rosario hits lefties better, Albies hits lefties better. I assume Riley does too
This one is on the bullpen.