As I wrote last week, “Worry is a Misuse of the Imagination.” I stand by that!
The Dodgers are missing a whole arsenal of arms: no Clayton Kershaw, no Tyler Glasnow, no Tony Gonsolin, no Gavin Stone, no Dustin May, no River Ryan, no Emmet Sheehan, no Alex Vesia, no Brusdar Graterol, and certainly no Shohei Ohtani (the pitcher, at least). They do have Yoshinobu Yamamoto, though he’s still ramping up after nearly three months sidelined with a shoulder injury. Walker Buehler? He’s grinding it out after his second Tommy John surgery, battling through hip trouble to finish the season. Oh, they do have Jack Flaherty! Yes, they do!
And yet, through all this adversity, the Dodgers are crafting a masterpiece of postseason pitching. They’ve etched a record for October brilliance, including a hidden gem—a perfect game in spirit. With 33 consecutive scoreless innings and counting, their arms are on fire. Jack Flaherty, Daniel Hudson, and Ben Casparius silenced the red-hot Mets with a dominant three-hit shutout, 9-0, in Game 1 of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium last night. In doing so, they matched the legendary 1966 Baltimore Orioles for the longest scoreless streak in a single postseason. Jim Palmer was just 20 years old in 1966. He threw a shutout in Game 2 of the World Series against Sandy Koufax, one of the defining moments of his early career.
If the Dodgers shut down the Mets in the first inning today, they will own the record for the most consecutive innings pitched EVER in Playoff History. And… to think so many Dodger fans have wasted days, even weeks of their lives worrying about the Dodger’s pitching. As I have warned you… worry does nothing. It’s not real. It’s a waste of time. What you worry about often does not happen.
Last night’s game was a statement: “We are Destiny’s Dodgers! We will not be denied!”
BTW, Rojas and Vesia can come back for the World Series… if healthy! The Dodgers play an afternoon game today as Sean Manaea goes for the Mets. For his career, in 11 games, the Dodgers have a .295 Batting Average and .841 OPS against him. I like their chances this afternoon. Will Doc start Buehler or will it be a Bullpen game? I would start Walker, and at the first sign of struggle… call the pen!
Discussion (19)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Rag on Knack all you want, but this one’s on the 1-5 hitters. Kike as well, you can’t go1-20 and expect win. We had all kinds of chances after the 4th to get back in the game but didn’t. Still not too worried about the pitching, just score some damn runs!! This pitching staff is way more doable than the Padres.
It’s not fair!
“…your fastball’s up, curveball hanging….in the show they woulda ripped you..”
I forgot how much fun it is to see small ball! I am so impressed they are bringing it back. The other teams are no longer ready for it and it’s almost like a new strategy. Whoever was behind that should get a bonus. I must admit I am still a little worried about things going too well. I hope we stay hungry!
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Knack will serve as a bulk reliever Monday in Game 2 of the NLCS versus the Mets, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
“Ryan Brasier will be the opener for the Dodgers, with Knack in line to record “most of the outs,” per Roberts. Knack made one one-inning relief appearance during the NLDS against the Padres but operated as either a traditional starter or bulk reliever in all 15 of his appearances during the regular season, collecting a 3.65 ERA and 69:18 K:BB over 69 frames”.
4:08 PM ET
Mets (89-73)
Dodgers (98-64)
SP Sean Manaea L
12-6 3.47 ERA
SP Ryan Brasier R (opener)
1-0 3.54 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
RF Mookie Betts R
LF T. Hernandez R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
SS Tommy Edman S
3B Max Muncy L
2B E. Hernandez R
CF Andy Pages R
73° Wind 5 mph Out
Glad to see Pages with a chance to play
A daytime playoff game will have that old time feeling. Hopefully we’ll get a daygame for the World Series. We used to treat those World Series games like a holiday.
Freddie Freeman’s sheer joy in falling into Mookie’s arms says it all about the chemistry on this team. Add that chemistry to the talent level and we may well have a championship team after all.
Mookie is a legend!
‘We will win the World Series. That is our mind set.’
That confidence spills over to the other players. Team leader is one of his many attributes. But don’t sit on our laurels. Go out there and punch them in the mouth today!
Book em
Sometimes the following is appropriate
The donkey told the tiger, “The grass is blue.”
The tiger replied, “No, the grass is green.”
The discussion became heated, and the two decided to submit the issue to arbitration, so they approached the lion.
As they approached the lion on his throne, the donkey started screaming: ′′Your Highness, isn’t it true that the grass is blue?”
The lion replied: “If you believe it is true, the grass is blue.”
The donkey rushed forward and continued: ′′The tiger disagrees with me, contradicts me and annoys me. Please punish him.”
The king then declared: ′′The tiger will be punished with 3 days of silence.”
The donkey jumped with joy and went on his way, content and repeating ′′The grass is blue, the grass is blue…”
The tiger asked the lion, “Your Majesty, why have you punished me, after all, the grass is green?”
The lion replied, ′′You’ve known and seen the grass is green.”
The tiger asked, ′′So why do you punish me?”
The lion replied, “That has nothing to do with the question of whether the grass is blue or green. The punishment is because it is degrading for a brave, intelligent creature like you to waste time arguing with an ass, and on top of that, you came and bothered me with that question just to validate something you already knew was true!”
The biggest waste of time is arguing with the fool and fanatic who doesn’t care about truth or reality, but only the victory of his beliefs and illusions.
Never waste time on discussions that make no sense. There are people who, for all the evidence presented to them, do not have the ability to understand.
Others who are blinded by ego, hatred and resentment, and the only thing that they want is to be right even if they aren’t.
When IGNORANCE SCREAMS, intelligence moves on.
I understand going with the bullpen game today with the off day tomorrow. The relievers will get a day to rest. If Lux doesn’t play does that mean Kike and Pages? I don’t see how you could start Taylor over Kike.
Lux was removed from Sunday’s Game 1 of the NLCS due to hip flexor tightness, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
“Lux talked to a trainer after grounding out in the sixth inning and didn’t take the field to start the seventh frame. It’s now known he’s battling hip flexor soreness, which likely means he’ll be tabbed day-to-day. Regardless of his health, the lefty-hitting Lux isn’t likely to be in the lineup for Game 2 against southpaw Sean Manaea and the Mets”.
Buehler isn’t expected to pitch in Game 2 of the NLCS on Monday as the Dodgers opt for a bullpen game, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
“Manager Dave Roberts said that the Dodgers’ bullpen usage in Game 1 would determine whether Buehler would start Game 2. With Jack Flaherty throwing seven scoreless innings in the series opener, the Dodgers have the luxury of throwing a bullpen game Monday. Buehler will likely slot in as the team’s Game 3 starter, though that hasn’t been confirmed”.
It sure is nice to have a smokin hot team in October to root for. Brilliant strategy mixing in some small ball . Leaving your opponent flat footed and unsure is a win every time. The east coast bias is hilarious. I’m not surprised but they will be. This is a magical ride and we’re all a part of it.
Book em
Spin and we will Win it! Curve ball,slider or sweeper and the Mets head back to the dugout with a K or soft contact. The Mets are strictly a fast ball hitting team as most are. Jack Flaherty proved that last night.I’m sure the Dodgers have done their pe-game analysis on all the Met hitters. Very well prepared.
two sac bunts that both led to runs!!
Ill be at Citi Field for game 4 and game 5 (if there is a game 5).
What a time to be an LA Dodgers fans. Hope I see some Blue in NY!!!
What a fun game. Wish they were all that easy. This has got to be one of the best bullpens this team has ever had.
Vibes are immaculate. We may not the starting rotation, but we have the pitching staff. 13 guys to get it done. And we haven’t even unleashed Phillips/Kopech/Treinen. Strength in numbers.