Tough To Watch
In a game where the two best hitters struck out 7 out of 10 plate appearances, this was a very hard game to watch much less write about. Unfortunately for the good guys, JT s strikeouts were much more problematic than Christian Yelich s. The Blue put up a good fight late, but Game 1 goes to Craig Counsell in his chess match against Dave Roberts. It appears that Counsell played Roberts
In a game where the two best hitters struck out 7 out of 10 plate appearances, this was a very hard game to watch much less write about. Unfortunately for the good guys, JT’s strikeouts were much more problematic than Christian Yelich’s. The Blue put up a good fight late, but Game 1 goes to Craig Counsell in his chess match against Dave Roberts. It appears that Counsell played Roberts by starting LHP Gio to get the RH hitters, and then brought in RHP Brandon Woodruff in the 3rd. In the meantime, Clayton Kershaw showed us again that he is not the Ace he once was and should not be considered one…at least in the playoffs.
How does a $30MM pitcher give up a HR to a relief pitcher, and how does a $30MM pitcher last 3 IP in a NLCS game? And please do not bring up David Price because he has never pitched well in the playoffs and he hasn’t pitched well for the last two years. None of Justin Verlander, Dallas Keuchel, Gerrit Cole, or Chris Sale give up the HR to Brandon Woodruff. But then Hyun-Jin Ryu probably does not either, and really neither do any of the other Dodger starting pitchers, including the much maligned Alex Wood. The story line going into this NLCS was that the Dodgers were favored because of their advantage in starting pitching. It just did not happen with Kershaw in Game 1.
Counsell got Roberts to use Max Muncy for David Freese in the 4th inning, taking Freese was out against LHP Hader and Cedeno. Because Kershaw had his worst outing of the year, the Dodgers used Madsen in relief in the 4th and then had to use Dozier as a PH in the 5th. The Dodgers then proceeded to use five relief pitchers. Fortunately for the Dodgers, the Brewers used 6 relievers. Of course, all of the Brewers relievers are relievers and all except Hader will be available for Game 2.
I am sorry but the NLCS is not a time to experiment with a pitcher out all year with a shoulder injury. If Alexander is hurt (no word that he is), there was still Josh Fields who IS a relief pitcher who could have been used. The Brewers are only using 2 LHRP, but the Dodgers needed three, one of which who has not pitched almost the entire year? This is not a knock on Julio Urias, who may very well be that dominant LHSP that many hoped he would become. But to be asked to be a reliever in a NLCS after not pitching for the vast majority of the past two years??? This is not May or June. This is October and the NLCS.
For all of those that were so quick to blast Alex Wood for giving up a HR to Freddie Freeman, I hope you are all just as quick to hold both Kershaw and Urias to the same level of expectation of perfection.
For the 1st 7 innings, other than Manny Machado, it was very hard to come up with anything positive out of this game. Machado and Kemp get RBI singles in the 8th to get close, but with 13 strikeouts, it is hard to get runs in. It was extremely hard to watch Puig and JT K with a runner on 3rd. At least with a ball in play, there is a chance. Geez, the Dodgers batters have to do something to change their approach with 2 strikes!!!
And then there were the 4 errors, 2 by Grandal along with 2 passed ball. It was certainly not a great defensive game for our catcher. That is not to mention the 4 strikeouts, 2 with runners in scoring position, and a fielding error by JT.
Not everything was a bust, especially in a 7-game series. The Dodgers did come back from 6-1 down to make it close. They were in a position to win this game. CT3 had a 3 hit game, Machado had a 3 RBI game, Kemp had 2 hits including a key hit in the 8th. Two of Chris Taylor’s 3 hits (including his triple) were against RHP. He has the hot bat, and maybe should stay in the lineup. We know he will be with Miley going in Game 2.
Hader went three innings in Game 1, so it will be extremely hard for him to come back for Game 2. The object was to come to Milwaukee and split so they could come to LA to win it in 5. As bad as Kershaw was tonight, I cannot remember him being bad two playoff games in the same series, and he is due to be back for Game 5.
It was never going to be easy. This year’s team seems to play at the next level when the situation seems the most bleak. The team is now down 1 game to none and have Hyun-Jin Ryu going in Game 2. The Dodgers still have the advantage as long as they win Game 2. If Hader is not available tomorrow, I like the Dodgers chances. They will need to be patient and not overswing against Miley, but they can hit him. As I said after Game 3 in the NLDS, KEEP THE FAITH. Even after a poor Game 1, the Dodgers will prevail.
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Discussion (140)
Disagree, not disagreeable
He needs a chance for redemption. I like that situation.
For the record, I’m bringing in Yasmani!
Nice hit by Bellinger. Not going for the seats… just getting a hit. Hey guys, pay attention.
A walk by Alexander doesn’t seem so bad right now.
Putting Starting Pitching in the Pen doesn’t look like it’s working for us.
It takes a while to make the adjustment from Starting to Relieving.
This is nothing unusual for the Dodgers who often go into a hitting funk. Just have to hope that they wake up. Prefer not to depend on Dodgers going home having to come from behind 0-2.
Quite boring to watch.
Wade Myley folks, WADE FRIGGIN MYLEY!! Really, one hit after 5 innings? Did anybody tell the Dodger hitters how crucial this game is? I agree, look totally lifeless batting wise, like we are going through the motions. Going back to LA 0-2 aint exactly the way we want it to go, but that’s the way this team has been all year. Either way up and unstoppable or a friggin tomato can waiting to get knocked over. Dang.
What is the bad thing about Manny not hustling besides the obvious, you don’t want any of your veteran players, being a bad example, for your young players.
And Manny is sure not going to do any different, after he signs a large multi year contact, it will be, just the opposite.
looks like faz batting order right left is backfiring on him. next year get eight position players and let them play
Maybe we’ll wake up now.
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1st HR he’s hit off a starter all year.
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We look devoid of any fight. What is wrong with us?
Weak and uninspired AB’s so far……………
Ive decided I don’t wanna see Machado back.
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We look dead out there – just waiting for them to score.
Machado can be so frustrsting.
So frustrating. Is there any excuse for his laissez-faire attitude?
Last night Taylor got to third hustling on a hit that would either clear the fence or be caught by Cain.
I d like to see Machado show some of that stuff.
We just seem to need something to go our way.
Almost seems like we are waiting to go behind before we decide to get going.
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I’m getting tired of Manny’s lack of hustle.
Cody didn’t get under the ball he hit last night. He hit it at the end of the bat.
The ball that Cain robbed, just showed, that Freeze is not just a single’s hitter, so you lose more, when he is not in the line up, then when he is.
Cody ball, wasn’t hit as hard, at least on the line, because Cody got to under that ball.
Last night it was Bellinger just missing a 3-run HR, and today it’s Freese just missing a 2-run HR. Even the ball that CT3 hit last night (in spite of the fact that it should have been caught) just needed a little more oomph to go out.
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Dodger hitters need a little extra weight work. 🙂
Freese robbed by Cain of a HR and on a shattered bat grounder to 2B Manny does not hustle down the line and is out by a step. Miley is hittable today, don’t let him settle into a groove. How long will Counsell let him go today?
That catch by Cain was huge.
Bets are down, cold ones at the ready and feeling a beat down today from the Blue to the Brew. Ryu has been so effective and efficient lately it should not matter he pitches better at home. Today the bats make it all academic and Ryu gives the bullpen a rest. Or it could be an all hands on deck with the off day tomorrow. Either way I’m wearing my gear and ready to shout my approval!
Watching that disaster unfold in front of my eyes last night, I thought to myself, that only the Dodgers could have produced that inept masterpiece.
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I’ve read everything from this, and last nights thread, and can’t disagree with any of it.
Sometimes the most disappointing thing is when you can see something coming before it actually happens, and yet it still occurs.
I found myself calling the pitches, as if I were the Brewers catcher, because they are so obvious, depending on who is at the plate for the Dodgers.
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Taking Freese out so early, because as MJ has repeatedly said, gives you the best ABs against Lefties or Righties, and bringing in Urias innthat spot, both left me shouting at the TV.
It’s not second guessing when most of us here can predict the outcome.
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Grandal looked like he was in shock.
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Still, plenty of time to come back, and a win today changes things massively.
I’m not sure all this strain on the Milwaukee Bullpen will work for them if the series goes deep.
I would have pitched Ryun first but if not started him in la. Kershaw ego and Buehlers poor start changed everything and the lack of confidence in hill although I like him. When your best hitter strikes out 4 times you are not likely to win. Grandal with the biggest choke job I have ever seen in the post season. But we need him to straighten up because Barnes has not produced. Today is a new day so maybe the Dodgers had a wake up call. Maybe instead of all the arrogance they can have a junkyard mentality. Go blue!
Happy to see that Barnes is getting the start today. Yaz just didn’t look right last night… looks like he had a case of the yips.
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Do the Dodgers have a team psychiatrist? I mean besides Roberts. I think the problem with Kershaw in the playoffs and Yaz last night has a lot more to do with mental issues than physical / mechanical issues.
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As for JT… I’m not sure what happened last night. That was the most un-JT like performance I have ever seen. My guess is that he’ll have a good bounce back game today and get back to his usual disciplined approach at the plate.
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And please, please, please keep Mr. Freeze in there for the whole game. You pick a guy like that up exactly for these types of games… he can’t get the game winning hit in the 7th or 8th inning if you pinch hit for him in the 3rd.
After just one game the price on the Dodgers to win the series has gone from -170 to +130! I stayed out of game 1 because it was -160 on the road with Kershaw and now the same team is the underdog in the series with Ryu going today in a big bounce back spot and the next 3 at home? I’m going to get me some of that! Dodgers are now +450 to win the WS and at the start of the season were only +500 and are now a lot closer to actually doing that than at the beginning. Got to get a little of that as well…Go Blue!