Never underestimate the power of focus. Conversely, never underestimate what happens when you lack focus.
Case in point: Yasmani Grandal: For whatever reason, Grandal is at home with his wife (again)… at least in his mind.
Three passed balls, 2 errors. Strikeouts, can’t advance runners. His head is somewhere else. There are no excuses – you do or you don’t do.
I’ll talk about what I think the Dodgers should do at Catcher next year, but right about now, there’s still a series to win…. and it is still winnable! However, it’s not winnable if the Dodgers keep playing like this.
Chacin was focused. Buehler was cocky! Chacin knew he had to pitch the game of his life. Buehler thought all he had to do was show up. The Dodger hitters lacked focus as Chacin fed them table scraps and hid the meat and potatoes. The Brewers were focused while the Dodgers just made you “cuss.”
Maybe they are still focused on getting to the World Series, when they have to win the NLCS first. Maybe I am wrong, but it feels (to me) like the Dodgers are not nearly as focused as the Brewers. Chacin knows how to pitch with similar “stuff” as Kershaw, but Clayton still is focused on what he did when he was 27. His focus is wrong!
The Dodgers are in trouble unless Rich Hill can focus today and get a few of the troops to focus behind him. Kike Hernandez hit the nail on the head (I’m surprised he didn’t miss it too). From Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:
“We sucked. That’s why we lost,” said Enrique Hernandez. “I think as a team we were a little bit flat tonight and it showed on the offensive side. The playoffs, you’ve got to want it. Today it just wasn’t our day. We had no energy. The stadium had no energy. The fans had no energy. So overall it was a pretty bad day for everybody that calls themselves Dodgers. Tomorrow is another game.”
Hernandez clarified, emphasizing that it was the players who set the listless tone, not the fans.
“I don’t have an explanation for why some days we just don’t have it as a team, like energy or whatever it is,” he said. “But sometimes we can feed off the crowd. The fans here do a great job of showing up and packing the stadium every night and have a lot of passion for the game. But tonight for whatever reason I guess as contagious as energy can be from the fans to the players, it was from the players to the fans tonight.”
Well, he nailed the explanation – too bad he can’t nail a baseball like that! I feel bad for Yasmani Grandal – he’s a stand-up guy and well respected by his teammates, but he is killing the team with his bat (or lack of it) and his defense (total lack of it). He needs to sit the rest of the series. Kike, Cody, Dozier, Muncy, Puig and Freese have all had cold bats. Bellinger is making contact – he only has 1 strikeout in 10 AB’s, but he needs to get his focus back.
Every player as an individual, is responsible for their own focus, but Dave Roberts is the “gatekeeper of team focus” and he needs to do his job better. Yes, theese are grown men. Yes, they are responsible, but as the manager you can certainly inject some focus into the lineup. It just seems to me that their focus ALL YEAR has been on the World Series, but they have to win NOW to get there. Somehow, Doc has to get them TOTALLY focused on today’s game. Rich Hill should be focused and that can be contagious. Let’s hope so, because it will be hard to climb out of a 3-1 hole.
- It’s THIS game
- It’s THIS at-bat
- It’s THIS pitch
- It’s THIS moment
Nothing else matters – focus on what is in front of you THIS second or THIS series is over! Bring it, Rich!
Discussion (192)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Machado is a douchebag, but hes our douchebag.
Yay. Judt found out we won. Did we really go 13 innings without an XBH? Amazing pitching by us though.
Well, I’ve had a few hours to regroup.
There’s so much to analyse in that game. I will contain myself by saying the Rich Hill is still my favourite Dodger, and that I’m delighted for Bellinger, who came up huge with a game changing catch, and the Walk Off hit.
Doc played his hand as he saw fit, but not necessarily how I would’ve done it.
Especially burning Freese in 2 innings, and PHing for Wood with Grandal, when he was pitching well.
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The one thing that is beyond question in my mind however, is that if it wasn’t for the pick up of Machado in July, we would be done already. He has kept us going, especially in the Post Season, and this series in particular.
It was interesting to see that he openly admits to a lack of hustle, and I respect the honesty, but when push came to shove, he really put it in to score from 2nd on Bellinger’s hit. Maybe he won’t hustle until he feels he can make a difference?
Also, and I totally agree with all those who criticised his kick on Aguilar, and base running antics of yesterday, but I would say that he was the one Dodger who has had an edge to his game these past 2 evenings. The one Dodger position player who is gonna go down with a fight. The one who is gonna front up and make something happen, even without getting a hit. He is the kind of player that you like to hate if he is on the other team, because you know he will try every which way to win.
He is absolutely winning me round with his attitude, and hopefully it will be contagious. I don’t necessarily like it, but he is carrying the offensive side of our game almost single handily.
He has the most RBIs of any of this year’s Post Season Players, and shares the lead with 3 HRs, and 2 Doubles.
Maybe he needs to play in this scrappy way to bring out the best in himself.
I just know that without him we would be done by now.
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Have to be fair to the Brewers, they’re a better team than i thought, especially the Pitching.
We were lucky we didn’t regret not taking advantage of another poor Gio start.
I fancy a gem from CK tonight.
Great rwin, amazing, was thrilled
They did not walk Bellinger and Grandal to face Urias. Thought that was the play even if it put pressure on Brewer’s pitcher to throw strikes and keep it from the backstop. Or at least walk Bellinger and face Grandal, thank you Craig!!
I am thrilled and hope this takes us back to the Series but i have to wonder about some of Robert’s micromanagement. What would have happened after the 14th, forfeit, I guess Ryu??? Anyone? However that did not happen so the all in gambler won this time, thank god!! Likely why I am on the couch and he is in the dugout.
Please stop pinch hitting for Freese in the 2nd inning, start Muncy or keep Freese in a little longer.
Kersh get some rest, take us back to the Midwest up 3 to 2
Good for Cody. A big defensive play, 2 hits, and a walk-off hit. You could feel him getting closer. There are a few guys like Cody who I think just need to break the proverbial seal and have something good happen for them. Watch Cody start playing better now. There a couple of other guys in that boat.
Tell you what, this damn team is gonna give me a a heart attack!
All that trying for HR’s and it’s 2 singles and a WP in the 13th. They could have done that in the 7th, 8th or 9th when they had the leadoff man on base and saved us about 2 hours.
Big win but really – 17 K’s and 2 for 10 RISP. If this continues they will lose. And I expect it to continue – this is the way they’ve played all season long.
5 Hrs 15 minutes of nervous tension because neither team could hit a lick tonight. I smelled that back in the 7th when Doc burned 3 pitchers but Counsell did the same and had to lean on Guerra for 4 innings late. Both teams used every available pitcher in the pen and every guy on the bench except starting pitchers (and Jeffress who was off limits) I am not sure I can stand another one like that but everyone should be available tomorrow even Jansen with the off day Thur. Kershaw will have the weight on his shoulders, let’s hope he doesn’t have to drive in the runs himself too.
Kudos to the pen!
So tomorrow’s huge Game 5 will be started by Kersh. Can Kersh come thru in a big game!
Why in the world would they pitch to Bellinger with Grandal on deck? Thank You Counsell.
Ironically some hustle by Machado made a big difference in the end.
Wow. Phew. And OMG
Seriously folks, regardless of the outcome, this team, despite all the talent is seriously flawed, and the manager wanting to play every player in most of the games is in-game challenged, and on top of that upper management (by their comments) Is blind to some of the problems.
Dodger hitting. The word pitiful comes to mind.
Bellinger wasn’t much better. No need for him to be swinging for the fences, especially since he has speed and had the potential to steal if he got on first base.
I would have kept Wood in there.
He was pitching well.
Floro or Urias now?
I tend to agree with you about Wood.
Same pattern with Grandal. Look at strike 1 and chase strikes 2 and 3. Not so sure I would have bothered to pinch hit.
I was hoping Belly would get on just so Wood could bunt him over. Wood looked like he had good stuff today, and he may been able to give us 3ip if needed.
So over Machado. No I don’t want the good with the bad. The good isn’t good enough.
MJ’s right – here’s the SI article:
https://www.si.com/mlb/2018/10/09/dodgers-braves-nlds-los-angeles-nlcs-brewers
Here’s the quote:
““We want guys who are passive out of the strike zone and aggressive in it,” said Dodgers vice president Andrew Friedman, “and when they swing, guys who hit the ball hard. We’ve got a lot of guys in our lineup–and on our bench, too–who do that.”
So deep and powerful are the Dodgers that they had 108 home runs on their bench in Game 3 (against the Braves)–just 25 fewer than the entire Marlins team. They scored 70% of their runs in the series on home runs (14 of 20). They posted a .210 batting average, which is increasingly becoming a meaningless statistic.
“It’s tough to make a living trying to string hits together today,” Friedman said.”
I’d rather open the season next year with a single A utility player at SS until Seager is ready than watch Machado in a Dodger uniform. He’s entitled, not clutch, a me first player (it appears) and a bad sport. No Thanks, he can wear pinstripes next year and we’ll take the draft pick compensation
No compensation – he’s a mid-season acquisition.
Time for a Belli bomb
Punk move by Machado if done on purpose.
I think Machado is trying to light a fire under some of our guys
This is the season.
No way we win 3 in a row if we lose tonight.
Great full layout by Bellinger in RF! Gutsy performance by Jansen. Wood, Urias and Floro left in the pen, need to score this inning. 3-4-5 hitters up in the 10th, walk it off!
BP pill taken. Let’s see if it even helps
Way to go KJ
Before Turner lined out I was about to post that Taylor should be stealing.
Horrible at bat by Pederson.
Bottom 9. One run, PLEEEEEEEEZ!!!!!!!!!!!
Everyone still alive? Our season still is, especially if someone can be a hero here!!
That’s what Kenley used to do when he was a catcher.
Bobby
Did that do it for you with Cody?
i wish he and Joc did that more often
Bobby
I do too.
Damn. Muncy and Dozier were the two who I thought could get to Hader.
Hawkeye
Muncy is Mr Velocity, on this team.
Instant replay just makes this game that much more painful to watch
At what point do you cut down your swing?
Machado couldn’t have swung any harder.
Nice job by Madson! The squirrels need to find some nuts! I prefer a line drive off the pitcher!
I just read this on the feed.
Since Turner’s HR on Saturday, the Dodgers have only scored one run in 17 innings, and struck out 25 times, and are 1- 18, when RISP.
Mark I will find the article in The Athletic where they interviewed Friedman. That’s essentially what he said.
Rick
That came from The Sports Illustrated article, remember.
We had them on the ropes early, but couldn’t put them away.
The longer this game goes, the less I like our chances.
Hader for the shutdown. If we can’t hit Gio, Peralta, Burnes and Soria, I have almost zero hope we hit Hader
There is no one to complain about in this game, except the Dodgers hitters collectively.
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Maybe we can score against ex-Dodger Soria. Yes, for those who don’t know he was released by the Dodgers in 2004.
Bobby
We forgot Kemp!
And he faced Hader last night, so maybe he will do better tonight, if that happens.
For the love of god somebody do something with the bat
Our season comes down to Ryan madson. Ok
Why pull Maeda there? This game could easily go extra innings and run out of players. Time to get to the Brewers pen.
I think Robert’s is melting down. This isnt normal behavior from a manager. The stress might be getting to him.
He’s going percentages. Not uncommon in a must win. But we need a damn run or 2.
By the way, how clutch has Madson been!!!
Why pull Ferguson there? I like Madson but jeez 3 pitchers just to get through the 7th.
The real question was why put Maeda in. Let Baez throw to the first hitter or two.
Puig and bellinger competing with grandal for most clueless dodger batter.
I can see the way dodgers make a run
You wouldn’t know it by listening to the guy DodgerRick. Really like Smoltz, not so much for Buck. Dude is a friggin homer.
Smoltz smothers the game in my opinion. He’s getting worse than the drama Queen Buck.
What I am afraid will happen, the Brewers will get the go ahead run in the eighth or ninth, and then bring in Hader.
Who is going to hit him off this bench, if that happens?
Grandal right handed baby!!!!
Bobby
I forgot about that!
But as you already know, rightie is not his best platoon side.
Manny totally got hosed with the timeout call. Friggin horrible. By the way, was Joe Buck born in Wisconsin?
St. Louis. His Dad is Jack Buck
Yes it was. He asked plenty early.
I think Joe Buck’s fantasy involes Hader. He won’t stop taking about him.
I can hear the narrative now….Dodgers lose composure and lose late in a blowout..That would fit nicely into Joe Buck’s fantasy
That and the ” I’ve got to be me” crap sure turns me off.
Hopefully Roberts has learned how to be a manager, how and when to use a pinch- hitter, thanks Counsell for the free classes to our stupid manager !!
I have said this on other occasions but the truth is the Dodgers just don’t have good hitters. You got turner and then………well freese is a solid hitter against lefties and righty’s. After that kemp is probably next but doesn’t walk and dps. With the game on the line and needing contact I would probably rather have Kershaw up as Muncy, bellinger, Taylor and the rest of the strikeout kings. I forgot about machado he would be the second best hitter but remember the Dodgers didn’t have machado or freese to begin the year. It is sad that I trust Kershaw more as a contact hitter than pitcher but I digress. Just an all or nothing team that most of the time is no fun to watch. As I am posting the game is tied. We cannot get 7, 8,9 out. This team just doesn’t seem to have any fight. Rich hill is doing what he can but he may not have enough. He just struck out Yelich. Hill is such a competitor just not enough fire from the rest.
The worst part of using Muncy so early in this game? Now we have 1 less pinch hitter and it’s more likely Grandal needs to be used as a hitter.
Exactly, that’s the worst !!
Yes, regardless we are watching a gem from Mr. MOUNTAIN.
c’mom guys, give Hill some damn runs, the dude is on fire!
Turner Ward doesn’t survive this post season misery if the Dodgers offense doesn’t rebound. Got to be purged and start over with a new approach
Now you are catching what I am pitching.
Not Ward’s fault. This is the way the team was designed – this is what the Braintrust wants. Try to hit a HR and don’t worry about LOB’s or K’s.
We probably would of gotten another run if Freese batted instead of Muncy. But we were going for four more.
We got none. Yep strike 3.
Terrible inning for home plate ump. Blew one on Barnes blew one on Taylor.
Bold prediction. We need more than one run to win this game.
What bothers me is the approach most the team is taking at the plate. They seem to battle until they get two strikes and then just stand there and watch strike three go by. We have to do better if we want to win. Stop killing a rally!
I am tired of watching Dodger hitters taking strike 3 with RISP.
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I understand not getting a hit WRISP most of the time. After all, no one hits .500 or above. But it seems that the Dodgers almost do it all of the time.
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Are you sure you really wanted to include that smiley face? 🙂
How many backwards K’s Can this team take.
Puig is a cocky son of a gun that just got shown up by the rookie pitcher.
1 for 8 RISP after only 3 innings! 2 more K’s with RISP. 6 LOB after only 3 innings. This hurts to watch. I can’t remember any Dodger team that was this incapable of hitting RISP.
Wow, how many strikeouts is that? And looking????
I think I need to take my bp med early today
Like John Stoltz just said, he would rather pitch to hitters, that are over swinging all the time, then a contact hitter.
you can tell Smoltz is frustrated by our hitting, and he’s not even a fan!! He’s just a smart baseball observer
Smoltz is fun to listen to because he is so insightful.
I thought this team was built for the postseason 😉
Dodgers have no chance to win a World Series until Roberts is fired. He is the worst manager I have ever seen.
Mattingly was worse.
I guess you can blame Roberts but I never saw him swing.
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If Freese stayed in and struck out, a fair number of Dodger fans would have skewered Roberts.
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If Muncy had hit a Grand Slam Doc would b a genius.
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It all boils down to the fact Muncy did not deliver. That’s the bottom line.
No, they would not. I’m guessing most people on this board, and most fans with any baseball knowledge, knew that the right/smart play was to let Freeze stay in and hit.
Yes, sometimes the right move doesn’t work, and the wrong move does work. But when the wrong move doesn’t work, the blame goes to the decider. Or in our case, the robot who manages this team.
This is not second guessing, it is just common sense.
Because a contact hitter will probably make more contact, then a HR hitter.
And we have been striking out way to much, in these situations.
Look at just what happened.
Both Kike and Puig, strike out with a runner in scoring position.
Yup… I along with most of the people here, first guessed that decision… we didn’t second guess it.
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Like I said before the at bat was over… even if it works, it’s the wrong play.
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It was bases loaded for one of the most clutch post season hitters of the last 10 years… and you pinch hit for him.
bingo!
I don’t think 1 single person except Muncy’s Mom and wife skewers Roberts for leaving in a person with Freese’s resume over Muncy especially when he’s batting 3rd in the second inning. If you’re going to do that then you should start Bellinger or Muncy at 1st.
With a five man bench you simply cant be that cavalier with substitutions. Basic math.
I could cite all kinds of stats to say why (although I would not have pinch hit for him), but no one wants to be confused with facts when they have their minds made up anyway.
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I have had my issues with Roberts too but the fact remains: he was the best winning percentage of any Dodger manager in the modern era.
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Is it Roberts fault that hitters just look at third strikes? I think not!
It’s not either or… both things can be true. That our manager is capable of making bad decisions in important playoff games and that many of our hitters couldn’t hit a beach ball at the moment.
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All the more reason to keep one of the only clutch / contact hitting guys you have on your team in the lineup for the entire game.
Very wrong thinking. The front office went out and acquired Freeze because he’s a proven big game hitter. Do you think FAZ is happy with Roberts taking him out of the game in the 2nd inning. If that move doesn’t seal Robert’s fate then nothing will. Roberts continues to be an idiot. Please fire him FAZ .
I think FAZ has their hands in everything including pulling Freese. Or at least the strategy.
That is another bad move with Freeze!
What makes this move even worse, because this move was about the platoon advantage, more then anything else.
Because Muncy has been just as guilty as others, at striking out in these situations, and I don’t think I can say the same, about Freeze.
I’m tired of seeing the same bullshit every day,,,,,, Fuck you Roberts!!
Fantastic play by turner. !!! 1 / 0 is a very slim advantage. We need more runs
Roberts ….. Again you did the same stupid move to get Freese out of Muncy, can anyone tell me how many times this change of batter has worked out for him? I love the Dodgers of all my life, but I hope they lose so they can fire this damn manager … He’s a asshole!!
And why is CT3 trusted to hit off a right hander but Freeze, the damn former World Series MVP, isn’t????
Idiotic robot
Typical over managing by Robert’s. I liked Freese’s chances there. Why burn a guy off the bench so early in the game when we had a proven clutch hitter in the playoffs coming to bat?
Same old crap. 1st and 2nd, no one out. Hill can’t get down a good bunt, Taylor K’s Muncy K’s.
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But for Dozier’s single Dodgers are 0 for with RISP again. They are 1 for 6 RISP after only 2 innings and have 5 LOB already. This team can’t win if they don’t play better than this.
Other bad inning for Dodgers
can’t be a hero with the bat on your shoulders. Gotta go hunting, nothing good happens when you let strike three go right down inner half. Team shrinks in big time opportunities and does not know how to play fundamental baseball
Damn they burned Freese again. I get it that Roberts wants to go for it, but Freese has a pretty damn post season past
Your #3 hitter should not need to be pinch hit for in the 2nd inning.
Idiotic, robotic move by Doc. Now we have 1 less pinch hitter for later in the game. And Muncy, if you don’t want to swing the bat, don’t play baseball.
Fuck ROBERTS frese is a better hitter than Muncy….
And in a clutch spot… with your season essentially on the line. Freese is 1,000 times better option than Muncy.
Too damn early to pull Freese.
As far as I know Freese can hit righthanders. I hope Muncy his it out, but I don’t like this move.
I had to leave the room… let me know what happens.
Even if it works, it’s a bad call.
Of course he takes pinch hits for Freese
Right now. A PREFER frese
Dont get out frese
A little “Seek and Dedtroy” by Dieter
Destroy!
Bad news for Dodgers that gonzalez outs
That ankle twist was painful to watch ; been there done that.
But whatever; knock around a few of these relievers and that’ll really help us for tomorrow. We have this game in our hands now let’s take it!
haha, baby steps gents! The fact that we actually got one 2 out hit to score a run should shock us all.
1 run but bad inning for Dodgers .they could put more runs
Nice job by Dozier, but I still
wasn’t satisfied. Was looking for a crooked number.
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Need Hill to keep Brewers off the board, and Dodgers offense needs to be relentless.
DODGERS helped gonzalez. Three outs was at 3 bad pitchs
Nice job by Dozier. Great swing.
Fair enough. Minute Maid Park just sounded like a preliminary game of the southwest regional Dungeons & Dragons tournament after JBJ hit that grand slam.
So due to fan apathy, the Dodgers sent us all an email, stating they are selling tickets for tomorrow’s crucial game 5 for $22. Yes, “$22 to see #22 pitch” (perhaps one last time?)
I’m thinking if we’re down 7-0 in the 4th, we’ll get another email that says “$3 to see #3 hit”?
Yikes! Well that 2:05 start time on a Wednesday isn’t helping much either.
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Were you there last night? I was watching from home… but I thought the crowd sounded pretty loud to me, even though they didn’t have too much to get excited about for most of the game.
I was not there, but my cousin was and texted me often about a ‘dead crowd and dead team”. I guess there wasn’t much electricity from anyone Dodger related last night, so Kike was 100% right.
Pro tip: wine makes the ALCS more enjoyable.
red red wine always makes me feel so fine as well.
although i’ll need something 20x as strong in about an hour
Had some holy grail in LA on Sunday.
good man
This is a better lineup……Please Doc, let’s hit Freese at least once against some right, do not take him out of the game after just one damn turn at bat!
1. Chris Taylor, LF
2. Justin Turner, 3B
3. David Freese, 1B
4. Manny Machado, SS
5. Brian Dozier, 2B
6. Enrique Hernandez, CF
7. Yasiel Puig, RF
8. Austin Barnes, C
9. Rich Hill, P
Strange lineup. Basically they’re playing Dozier, Puig, and Barnes over Kemp, Bellinger, and Grandal. I find inserting a guy who has done nothing into the 5 hole.
Let’s see what happens tonight.
We’re gonna see what this team is really made of tonight. If they win tonight, I think we’ll win the series. If we lose tonight… I just don’t see it happening.
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I hate that this team doesn’t show much grit until their backs against the wall… but that’s what we got.
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The veterans on this team are going to have to lead by example. I’m hoping for (expecting) big games from Hill, JT, Freese, and Machado. And maybe… just maybe a 3 run blast by Dozier.
I would’ve given comeback poy award to markakis
Lineup:
CT3
JT
Freeze
Manny
Dozier
Kike
Puig
Barnes
Hill
Where the hell is Kemp? This is a desperate lineup.
Dionysis
That is just what I was thinking!
Kemp has better numbers then both Kike and Dozier, in the post season.
And Kemp hit a HR off Gio last year.
Kike only has one hit in this post season, and it was that HR he hit.
He is hitting 111, and Dozier is hitting 200.
Puig is 1- 12 against Gio in his career, and he has not hit lefties well, in the last couple years.
And both Kike and Dozier, have one hit in 10 at bats, against Gio, in their careers.
This is a good lineup!!
Wishlist for tonight:
1. Rich Hill doesn’t get a blister
2. Manny Machado hustles
3. Grandal gets the entire night off
4. Bellinger doesn’t strike out
5. Dozier preens on the top step after a pinch-hit HR
6. Jansen strikes out the side in the 9th
7. Kemps legs out a double and claps loudly at 2b
8. Roberts waves at a fan after the last out
9. Turner doesn’t get any balls called strikes
10. Nobody has to pitch 1/3 of an inning.
Somebody just reminded me that Roberts brought in Morrow to pitch the 8th inning of Game 3 of the NLCS last year with a 5-run lead. Oof. He REALLY wanted to make it to the World Series.
I think Rich Hill is one of the few players that I trust on this team right now. From a purely technical pitching standpoint… he has the least impressive stuff out of the 4 remaining starting pitchers. But Rich is a fighter and he’s always going to give you 100%… I’m glad he’s on the mound tonight.
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As for the hitters… besides JT, Manny, and Freese who can you trust right now to come through with a key hit w/ RISP?
Besides those 3… I think you have to stick with the hotter bats and keep CT3 and Joc in the starting lineup and keep them in no matter who’s pitching.
And Kike, like Yaz needs to sit tonight. I think he’s too much in his own head… as evidenced by his statements last night.
I would start Barnes for the remaining games and Dozier at least for tonight at 2nd… I’d like to see how he responds and maybe he can provide a spark.
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The relievers for the most part, have been great. And I can’t believe that I’m actually about to write this… but I now almost have a sense of calm when Baez enters the game. I would love for Doc to hold back Wood… just in case the game goes into extras and you need length. Otherwise, I would not really recommend using him in relief unless the team is up by 6+ runs.
I have no idea what will happen. I thought we were going to explode offensively yesterday and we did the opposite. i think we are properly motivated but the question is, “Are we in our own heads?” Also, the team we’re playing is a cool, confident bunch and the more we let them believe the worse off we are. It’s a little depressing to think we could win tonight and still not have home field, but that’s the bed we’ve made for ourselves. one game at a time.
Not sure about all of you, but I think John Smoltz was on point so many times yesterday. He kept harping that Grandal needed to just hit a weak ground ball and get that runner home. It changes the dynamic and momentum of the game where Buehler was pitching great. We failed.
Then in the 6th, when Grandal led off with that bloop double, Smoltz said the same thing. Kike worst case had to get the runner over. He didn’t. When Buehler was up, he said to at least bunt Grandal over to 3rd. When a guy is on 3rd, so many fluky things can happen to get him in (wild pitch, pass ball, error by an infielder, slow dribbler for a infield single, etc). For some idiotic reason, Doc didn’t have him bunt. A dead cow could have stood up there and taken strike 3. At least swing the bat!! And if you’re not going to swing, bunt the damn ball!!! Do something! And what happens? We don’t score, and the very next inning they go out and get a wild pitch with a guy on 3rd to get their 2nd run. The game dynamics change when the home team ties it up; it puts so much more pressure on the visiting team and our guy was pitching great.
I get waiting for the 3 run hr, because we have a powerful team so that 3 run hr can come anytime. But when guys are on 2nd , common sense says also get a run here or there until that 3 run hr comes. It’s like an NFL team saying screw the field goal each time, and go for touchdowns only. Field goals add up as well.
Maybe starting a vet like Dozier would help play some smart ball today; I don’t know.
Bobby – agree with all the above.
Smoltz almost couldn’t believe the lack of Baseball intelligence he was witnessing.
Also agree about Dozier.
It’s like we all see it, why can’t these professionals???? Take the run if somebody is giving it to you! Don’t ever say no thank you to a run.
I would hate to see Grandal have a drug test right now. It is not physical with him, it is mental. The Brewers were willing to give us a run with runners on second and third. The only thing he could do to hurt the Dodgers was to strike out, and he did. Please do not play Grandal anymore this year.
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Machado-please do not sign him. He will not hustle. Last night there was no need to put his hand on the second baseman. That is dumb. Maybe that mistake killed a rally. Who knows. Instead of one out and one on, we now have two outs and nobody on.
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Why major league players and Dodgers will not bunt against the shift, is baffling. Again, take what they will give you. A hit is a hit.
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Doc-I liked Doc in the beginning, but not anymore. He will not defend his players. I do not remember him being kicked out of one game this year. I still beleave the eight best players need to play. Pretty hard to get in a groove when you play half the time.
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I hope the Dodgers win it all this year. I just do not think it will happen. You have to play smart baseball this time of the year, and we do not.
The Dodgers are playing this series the way that they have played all season. I don’t know why it surprises anyone. Not hitting with RISP; striking out too much; not scoring if they don’t hit HR; defensive mistakes.
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Lest we forget, Pythagoras had the Dodgers winning 10 more games than they did solely based on run differential. They have won the blowouts and lost a lot of close games. The Dodgers were 31 – 10 in blowouts and 22 – 22 in one run games; 8 – 7 in extra innings.
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Why would you expect the Dodgers to play differently in the post-season than they played all year?
Rick
All of that is true, but the Brewers are a team much like us, when it comes to offense, so some teams do rise, to the occasion.
And that can be us, especially with the depth this team has, over the Brewers.
They are not going to play differently than they have since FAZ took over. Small ball is not an option, it’s not who they are, it’s not how they have won, not even sure they even remotely think that way (players & management). It’s the long ball or the strikeout, and strikeouts are not necessarily viewed as a negative to this brain trust (Taylor being the perfect example, or Grandal’s classic strikeout last night).
The interesting thing is this team has enough talent to win that way, last year a few things got in the way including the manager.
I think it will take an epic failure for the brain trust to adjust their thinking that scoring runs is more than hitting HR’s
yep, this whole conversation is different if we did what we were supposed to do last year and finish the job. damn, i keep thinking of texas and how they came one strike away but then never got that close again. in baseball, it’s always an uphill battle, even for the favorite.
So how do you explain the fact that the Brewers struck out more and scored fewer runs than the Dodgers.? You must think FAZ is really dumb if that’s how they value strikeouts.
Mark:
You can cite all the stats you want to prove your point. Strikeouts are at a record pace in general in MLB. That said, until there is a major emphasis from the front office and manager to do it differently, play on the field will stay the same.
Taking home run swings with two strikes produces a lot of strikeouts.
And they have won lots of games with the feast or famine scheme, but they leave a lot of players stranded on the base paths in so doing.
In addition when do we strike out? With men on base? When we have a lead?
When we are a run down? Grandals strike out last night was classic dumb.
When the strikeouts happen make a difference.
But if you never choke up with two strikes, never go the other way, never take advantage of a defensive shift, that also is a refusal to change, a refusal to take what the other team is giving you and in my opinion dumb.
Bruce
It is always better to have more then one way, to score runs.
There are other front offices in baseball, that practice saber metrics, but also use old baseball smarts, too.
Last year many of the players on the team now, had very good years, but they aren’t, this year.
So this is not exactly the same line up of players we had, last year.
Need to find a spot for Freese in the lineup for his professional ABs, and Taylor because he’s finally hot. We played him enough when he wasn’t, surely we can fit him in now he’s hitting?
Bobby, you are of course right about Grandal. I think we may have seen him for the last time Starting in Dodger Blue.
In his playoff career, Grandal has 30k in 68ab. I”m sure it’s mostly mental, as he looks to be pressing. But whatever the reason, he’s not helping the team and he’s not helped the team in any October he’s been in. Barnes at least proved last October he wasn’t afraid of the moment. Let him play.
Hawk, agree about the bunt. Cody is hitting the ball hard at times, but right to guys. Much like the smart Yelich yesterday, and Zobrist in Game 4 2016, some of our guys need to bunt to get on base and get everyone excited. Bunts and suicide squeeze plays rally team and crowd almost as much as home runs sometimes.
Finally, I find that Puig is rather useless when coming up with guys on base. He presses and flails at crap pitches. Maybe lead him off? Maybe just tryin to get on base is easier for him than driving guys in?
I’m not one to come on here and cry about the need for small ball. The Dodgers need to play fundamental, smart baseball. Grandal was facing a guy who pitches to contact and all he had to do was let him. I had hope for him this series due to success against Milwaukee but he’s mentally broken. Each spring we hear about a diet, an injury, or his spouse’s very real pregnancy but until he proves differently he can’t handle October. The Mendoza line would look great for him.
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Unlike Yasmani, Bellinger is a kid and I feel like he’s getting close but at some point you have to produce. I still wish he would drop a bunt down here and there. He was good at it in the past and they’re giving it to him. I don’t recall him doing it since the dumb bunt on a 3-0 count. Sometimes a little success from something like that it is contagious
Hawkeye
Small ball is smart and fundamental, baseball.
And that type of baseball is needed in the post season even more, then the regular season.
And that was emphasized on the broadcast last night from John Smoltz, even before Grandal had already failed, in that situation.
I don’t know why suddenly Roberts moved Muncy up to second, and batted Turner third, last night.
But that is giving Joc and Muncy, most of the at bats on this team, even over Turner.
And because the line up was changed that way, both Turner and Manny were on base in the bottom of the ninth last night, waiting for someone, to hit them in.
And we know both Turner and Manny, at least in the post season, has been the players that have been our run producers.
We want Turner to get more at bats then most anyone, on this team, especially in high leverage situations.
I know Grandal blew it in a high leverage situation last night, but that is still not an excuse for the entire team, and 0-10 with RISP, and 14 strike outs.
That boxscore line looks like we were facing Buehler, not Chacin!
Like Hawkeye said, Chacin is not a over whelming pitcher to hit, because he pitches to contact.
And our hitters, sure should have made more contact, when it was needed last night, and had more patient at bats, even though the umpire, was not precise.
This team was shut out completely last night, and there is no excuse for that, especially against a pitcher like Chacin, not to mention, this game was for a chance of a World Series, birth.
I agree with that. small can also be hit and running but when I say I’m not one to cry for small ball I’m talking about people who want to bunt way more than should be.
Agree with Bobby, good AB’s early and a loud crowd plus Hill spinning his magic equals a Dodger win tonight.
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Vegas odds makers agree, they are big favorites to win and go over 7.5 runs. Even though the Brewers have won 14 of 15 games with an average total (both teams) of 5.8 runs in their last 6.
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Tough choice to start Freese or Muncy against Gio at 1B but both give you good AB’s. IMO Cody has to sit, put Taylor in CF and Kike at 2B. I keep Puig in RF and put Kemp in LF, Matt has the only HR’s against Gio this season. Barnes is already announced as tonight’s C.
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1) CT3…..CF
2) JT………3B
3) Max….1B
4) MM…..SS
5) Kemp..LF
6) Puig….RF
7) Kike…2B
8) AB…….C
9) Hill……P
Most experts predicted a 7 game series. So that means we have to lose 3. Great, we get to lose one more!! But we also can tie this up tonight and make it an awesome 3 game series.
Nobody here will be surprised if , at 9:30pm tonight, we’d have lost 5-1 with 15 runners left no base, or won 9-2 with 4 home runs. Who the hell knows, but as Roger said in the last thread, asking this team to come in and change who they are and sweep Milwaukee was asinine! Expect the same, which is expect anything.
I think we take today, with some better AB’s early and a LOUD crowd.
I don’t think some are giving the Brewers enough credit. They won the most games of any team in the NL and they overtook the Cubs who led all the way.
Well said. They also added Cain & Yelich and we signed Koehler & Utley.
hey, don’t forget Zac Rosscup
A lack of focus in the playoffs,if that’s the reason then the Dodgers will lose to the Brewers a team that looks focused and is playing to win. Maybe Roberts and the Dodgers better get focused and fast.
You can’t give Bellinger a pass because of him making contact with his hitting into what would likely be a double play aside from him beating the throw to 1st. He’d of done a lot more good advancing the runner with a sacrifice bunt. Either way it’s not what rallies are made of. Last night’s game said this team isn’t so interested to bring the championship to LA. If they don’t show us a change of heart they can take it to their graves of being a pretty good team. Just not quite good enough. Brewers didn’t look all that tough, but tough enough wasn’t too high of a hurdle.Well if they can and do turn it around and win a crown THIS year it’d really of been worth it for us fans to been put through this suffering. I could go on and on like last night’s game up to the 9th inning but that’s where I quit viewing. It just wasn’t good enough to watch any more. Kinda like game 7 last year. Is this team built to lose life long fans? You tell us Dodgers!
Quas – totally agree with all of that.
That was just like watching one of our regular season throw away games, where the attitude of “oh well, there’s always tomorrow”.
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Can’t see how Bellinger is still in the starting lineup. His Post Season stats are abysmal. Ditto Grandal.
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We are losing to a very average team.
A WS appointment might be an embarrassment.
This is the NLCS, Kike’!!! You should not need the fans to get you jacked up for the game. Dodger Stadium is not Yankee Stadium. Never has been, never will be. That is not a knock on Dodger fans, but if a player is expecting a Yankee crowd, then they are on the wrong coast. I have been at Yankee Stadium and Fenway. Those fans do not sit. They are into the game from pitch 1. But if you do not think that the fans Boo their own players….WRONG!! Dodger fans love their Dodgers, they are just not as FANATIC. Maybe that can be a problem in the dog days of summer, but not at the NLCS. If a player cannot get up for a NLCS game, then they need to tell the manager to play someone else.
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Chacin is a wily veteran PITCHER, while Buehler is a hard THROWER. I agree that Kershaw can learn a lot by watching Chacin and Miley pitching to the batters’ weaknesses. Chacin got the benefit of a wide strike zone, but that happens, and he had pin point command to take full advantage. But this is a different game if Grandal gets the bat on the ball with runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out and the infield back. He did not need a hit or a fly ball. He needed to put bat to ball to get the run in. Instead he does the one thing he cannot do…he struck out. Really that is where the game was lost.
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0 for 10 RISP. 14 strikeouts. Cannot win too many games with those lines.
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Hill v Gio. Hopefully Kike’ and the team can find their energy tonight.
When Grandal struck out it deflated me…I can only imagine what it did to his teammates.
This series is definitely not over. As I watched early on (1-0 in a 1-1 series) I had the feeling these teams were very closely matched and destined to play 6-7 games. Which means we had to lose at some point. Maybe again.
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I still have faith, otherwise why be a fan? But if we lose I’ll acknowledge they were better. All we need is to win a baseball game tonight and all is well (although mil will still have home field advantage).
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Also, I think I’m ready to admit defeat on the DH issue. I dont like all these pitching changes and the NL plays into that. I think I’m resigned to it. Won’t ever be a fan of it but it makes game sense. No way its next year though.
Right on time, The Athletic profiles Rich Hill and the importance of Being Where You Are! I call it “Bloom Where You Are Planted!”
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If you don’t subscribe to The Athletic, you are missing some really great stuff.
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https://theathletic.com/591703/2018/10/16/you-dont-rise-to-the-occasion-the-occasion-rises-to-you-the-mysticism-of-rich-hill/
Sometimes the irony of life (baseball) is the guy you were most anxious about pitching, is the guy who you must rely on to right the ship! So, I’ll contribute my focus, positive karma wise on Rich Hill to be the best he can be! Do or die here boys. Time to let Grandal watch some and Austin can step up. Go D. Mountain!!!