True or False?

I’d swap out Ferguson/Hill for Sadler on your list.

I’d go with “In memory of Elizabeth Reed” Live at Filmore version for best song.

Bullpen games suck, are way too long and annoying…

True: Both games this series were entirely too long.

The Dodgers played these games to win…

False: With and day off before and after the series, they used this as an opportunity to use all their relievers in a bullpen tryout. If you were wondering about the odd timing of some of these pitching changes, this is why.

Why the heck was Sborz pitching in that situation? Because they used everyone else during open tryouts.

Will Smith is in a slump. But, he had a sac fly, caught steeling, and didn’t miss any balls that were thrown to him. And that makes him better that what we got from Grandal and Barnes the last two years in the post season.

I hope they play out their remaining schedule to win and keep these bullpen games at a minimum. I think it’s pretty lame if they already decided that Gonsolin/May/Urias aren’t going to start a game 4.

Does it make sense to have Hill on the roster if he can only pitch a few inning during each game 4? Or, do they think he’ll be able to go 4 by the first series and 5 for the next two series?

I agree with your comments on Kenley Jansen. He has meant a lot to the Dodgers for many years, but his days as a shutdown closer are over. If he continues to be “the closer”, there will be no world championship this year – and the Dodgers realistically may not even win the first round Division Series. We can’t continue to have the same strategy and expect a different result. The time to act is now!

I’ll get it off my chest… Kenley has gone to the well one too many times…Going forward, I am fine with a ‘committee’…

Last night hurt… I don’t hit the sack mumbling about my Blue, but mumble I did…

Yesterday is history and tomorrows a mystery…

Lets get this series against Co.

I’m a usual AFL fan and pick up a few games yearly… With my surgery still in my rear view mirror I’ll have to pass… Good bang for your buck and get to see some great youngsters..

First of all, there is no greatest song of all time. Just a lot of opinions based on personal taste and often tied to an era and the fond memories for those times. You’re no doubt correct about Rolling Stone’s reason for loving that particular song.

Yah, Kenley Jansen is not fixed. I’m still hopeful, but I really believe a lot of his problems are mental.

Should fans be worried? If the Dodgers are going to win a World Series this year it will be because they get hot or lucky. All the depth works over 162 games, but it won’t help them much in October. Somebody (probably multiple players) has to step up and produce in critical situations. The Dodgers should have won in 2017, but Jansen blew a save and Kershaw couldn’t hold two leads in the game in Houston.

As to Chris Archer, he’s one those wow what a game types, followed by he’s really bad today. So, No.

At some point they need to give Joc a shot at lefties. He’s really improved so he’s making adjustments and if he doesn’t get the opportunity, how do we know he can’t do it? That opportunity should come next spring, not this fall.

I think it’s obvious that Will Smith is tired. Never played in September before and he has to be wearing down. I expect him to be a really good catcher with power. Friedman is really high on him. Keeping the switch hitting Keibert Ruiz may work out well for the Dodgers since Smith can also play third base.

As for Urias closing? Yah that might work. Using Kenley differently may be the best thing moving forward. Which Kenley shows up is obviously up in the air and the Dodgers can’t afford to blow October games . Urias might be a difference maker this fall.

Maeda, Baez are sometimes on and other times not so much.

These so-called bullpen games were annoying, even the Dodger TV guys were making comments about it and not in a good way. If this is the future of baseball, I may switch to soccer.

Mark, I agree with you on 1 thru 6, the Chris Archer and Felipe Vasquez comment, very much you. As for the Dodgers in the playoffs, let´s see what happens. I always enjoy seeing what the Dodger players do in the Arizona Fall League.

Right, there is no GREATEST song ever. But if you look at the Youtube version of Joe Cockers ‘Cry Me a River’ from 1971, you will not be disappointed. Make sure you watch that version, not later versions.

Dogs and cats get fixed, pitchers just make adjustments that may or not work. They want him to throw his other pitches, but he is just as ineffective with them as the cutter when he is ‘off’

You mentioned Kendall went 1-4, but didn’t mention the one was a homer. Still strikes out way too much. He needs to make contact and use his speed.

I agree with your assessment of Kenley Jansen. He has meant a lot to the Dodgers, but unfortunately his days as a shutdown closer are over. We can’t keep the same strategy and expect to have different results. If Kenley remains as “the closer”, we will be fortunate to get through the Division Series – and a world championship this year seems a very remote possibility. The time to act is now!

Kenley’s reaction to his poor outings is just unbelievable. After the game when asked about the booing he says that the fans have high standards for him as does he. But, the fans will have his back no matter what. WHAT? The fans booed you Kenley. They don’t have your back. They expect better. He , also, states that you can’t control the outcome of the game. WHAT? That’s kind of your job as a closer. Maybe, that’s his problem He doesn’t even know what his job is as a closer. After each failure or shaky performance he says all will be good for the playoffs. He’s rounding into form. His mechanics are just so inconsistent. He has no idea where the ball is going and it’s been that way all season. Enough of the delusional talk it’s time to walk the walk. Hopefully, he believes his own BS and decides to opt out after the season. And, Roberts doesn’t seemed to be concerned by saying that Kenley is in a good place right now because of his recent outings. I thought so too. But, after last night it’s back to square one with him. At this point in the season he should be clear on what can expect from Kenley. And it’s clear that he is unreliable at best. The solution? Who knows.

I haven’t been much of a Joc Pederson fan because I thought he was such a goof ball and really didn’t take his career seriously. A lot of wasted talent. I was all for trading him. Maybe, he realized that with all the talent on the team he better be more productive than just hitting home runs. And, if he wanted to remain with the Dodgers he better start hitting left handed pitching. I say mission accomplished. He has been one of the few players successfully beating the shift. It’s exciting to watch him bear down later in the count and forgo swinging for fences and just trying to make contact and going with the pitch. Good for Joc.

With the inconsistent bullpen and our failure to hit in the playoffs has me concerned. I said that this team is one of the best LA Dodger team ever (if not the best). But, I just have a bad feeling that something is going to go wrong in the playoffs. Many talk of winning the World Series like it’s a given that we will be there. If we face Washington and their starting pitching it could be a big problem. With Chicago or Milwaukee not so much. In the next round Atlanta is a real threat if they can defeat St Louis. But, I think we can overcome either team. If we should be fortunate to make it to the world series both NY and especially Houston would be difficult. NY’s starting pitching sucks but they just hit their way to victory after victory. With the incredible amount of injuries they have had this year and terrible starting pitching they still have the best record in baseball. And, with Houston’s big three starters it could be a real problem for our hitters considering our past hitting history in the playoffs. But, I’m hoping for everything will come together and the Dodgers overcome these potential issues and finally get a World Series victory.

If not now, when?

Sorry we lost last night but there were some good things to mention. Dustin May, Cody Bellinger, Julio Urias had good nights even Joc and Rios and others. I am impressed by how smoothly Gavin Lux handles 2nd base, throws, tags and coverage. Please keep him there. Walks hurt. We will do better next game. This auditioning process is only temporary.

Kenley pitched on Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Is 3 out of 4 days too much? Are back to back days too much, especially since the night before was a 4-out save?

I don’t have the answers, but bullpen by committee should be considered.

It is a shame that we are in the position of not having a legitimate closer, as obviously almost all of the other contending teams do. It will take a lot of hitting, and top efforts from starting pitching, to get around the fact that we do not have anyone whom we can count on to pitch the ninth with a one- or even two-run lead. But that’s where we are, so we have to just work with it. Yesterday was the first time Jansen had pitched back to back games (with no off day) in two months. Th at does not fit the definition of a closer. I have no idea what Roberts will try, but it will likely be based on metrics, this particular reliever on that day, in that spot. The obvious problem is that the more relievers you need to rely on, the more chance that one of them will be ineffective, thus canceling out the work of the other ones. But there we are.

I am disappointed that Smith has tailed off, but I can’t see him not making the roster. Barnes can’t hit, either, and Martin is not close to what he was in Toronto and Pittsburgh. Smith just missed a three-run homer the other day, so he does bring some potential of power. And he is a good catcher. I wouldn’t feel better with Martin or Barnes in the starting lineup. Actually, the Dodgers very much needed a catcher to start the season, but did not do anything but bring back Martin, who is a .200 hitter at this stage of his career. I realize that catchers are hard to get, and I did not like Grandal. But the Dodgers are always somewhat cavalier about leaving various spots questionable. Jansen was an issue before the season, too, , but nothing was done except picking up Kelly, who now seems to be used for an inning every four days, and may have some injury concerns, because otherwise I do not understand his relatively infrequent use.

The Dodgers have fortunately almost clinched home field in the NL. But they will not have home field against Houston or New York, which is not a positive thing, given how much better we play at home. Imagine Jansen or whoever trying to close out a game against one of those two teams in their own ballpark. Really, despite how many wins we have, and vary strong season, there is not much to indicate that we can win four out of seven against either of those teams, not with the extra game on the road. It would have been nice if we had not used the last few weeks as an apparent tryout, since we had the whole season for that. But hopefully some of the players are more rested.

If anyone is interested, I might pick “All the Things You Are,” played by Artie Show and sung by Helen Forrest, as the best song of the Big Band era. “Desolation Row” and “California Dreaming” as the best songs of the ’60’s. It almost impossible to compare songs from different musical eras, of course. I have never shared the tastes of “Rolling Stone” magazine, which has an affinity for blues and country themed rock which I do not have. Certainly their choice for top song is a solid one, though.

I won’t say “we told you so.”

I think the whole concept of closer is obsolete anyway. You use your best relief pitcher in the highest leverage situation. If that’s the 6th inning, that’s where you’d use 2017 Kenley. If it’s a one run game and the heart of the opposing team’s order is due up in the 7th, and the bottom of the order is due up in the 9th, why are you saving your “closer” for the 9th?

My theory with Kenley is that, as he continues to lose the velocity on his cutter, he tries to throw harder and his command goes. As I mentioned before, you don’t fix Old. Most of the time when a pitcher is on the wrong side of 30, they lose velocity. That’s just the way it is. There are exceptions like Scherzer or Verlander, and I don’t really even fault AF for signing Kenley. It was a calculated gamble. They thought that, because he doesn’t rely on pure heat like a Kimbrel or Chapman, and relies more on the movement and location of his cutter, he had the potential to be a Mariano Rivera Lite. That guy pitched well to the end of his career, which was pushing 40.

So, closer by committee it is. I’m just not sure what you do with Kenley at this point, and I don’t know that Urias has the mindset to close. Kelly has been great the second half, but is he injured? Where’s he been? Kenta was great as a quasi set up guy in the playoffs a couple of years ago, but he’s had some spotty games in relief so far. Sadler has a nice ERA thus far, but his FIP tells another story and he doesn’t have a great track record.

The Astros are surging both offensively and with regard to pitching. The Dodgers are faltering in both categories since the beginning of August. When the Dodgers plate a run with Joc Pederson going the opposite way with a single, then you know it’s a different offensive team. No more Bellinger led juggernaut. Maybe that’s for the best. You win in the playoffs by being scrappy in the clutch.

#2 Mark,

Urias is a closer.

NO. Urias is not a closer. He has never been groomed for that and, imo, is the only realistic #4 starter if Hill doesn’t come back. Gonzo and May are really very raw for the playoffs. Why put them through the pressure? They are not sure enough to go with them, yet.

This is the shakiest BP I can remember in a long time. It’s a good thing we don’t have a problem with it.

Let me say a few words about Maeda. CLOSER?! He is at best, a mediocre pitcher who is not particularly good at striking out batters or attacking them. To think of him as our closer for the playoffs is one of the more foolish things I think I’ve ever heard you say.

I was pushing for another starter before the trade deadline. The situation with Hill, Stripling, Urias and the uncertainty of May & Gonzo had me pacing the kitchen at late hours of the night. With the upcoming playoffs at hand, the rise in the 2nd half of the season by Atlanta, Washington, and the Cardinals, and the carefree auditioning of our players in the face of all this, smug if you ask me, shows me a team where the uncertainty of winning it all in the NLDS, and then the greater challenge of facing two monster teams in the Yanks and Houston, have left me with less confidence in our very good, but not great team, winning it all. I can’t imagine the Dodgers winning the WS this year. There, I’ve said it. They will have to play their A game and then, they will need an awful lot of luck to get that ring.

So Mark you have said that you were against signing Kenley then what was your solution AT THAT TIME for the Dodger closer?

IF we get to the WS, I keep hearing we won’t have home field advantage because of the records of Astros & NYY. Does no one think some one else could win the AL?

The sky is always falling around here after a loss. I liked Mom’s comment which points out the positive things from last night’s game which was clearly managed like a Spring Training game. This Dodgers team has thrown away handfuls of games all year between playing games like last night, which make no sense at all. To pulling pitchers during shutouts and low pitch counts early in the season. To going to the Alexander well, over and over gain. If they had played every game to win, we would be on pace for 110 and have the best record by far.

To me, the strategy right now is to get the players with lingering injuries rested, while trying to get others going. With a day off before and after the Rays series, they chose this time to get the pen some work and resting the starters so they can align them with the remaining schedule. They’re also having an open tryout for the fringes of the roster.

When Kenley’s mechanics are straight, he’s shown that he can still be Kenley. I actually like Kenley’s attitude. He’s shaking off the negativity and is trying to keep his head and mechanics straight. This isn’t going to click overnight, and if it doesn’t completely click, we still have options. Baez, Kelly, Urias and Maeda are all capable of getting saves. This is where Doc is going to have to earn his money and I expect him to not rely on Kenley as his only option as he has in years past.

The NL teams don’t worry me much. Of course, the Nats have a great 1-3, but so do we. We also hit and play defense better than they do. The Braves are getting better it seems, but their staff and pen is weaker than ours and their lineup isn’t quite as good. Matchup wise, the Cards seem to give us the most trouble. I think home field is much more important for the NL games.

Houston looks like the most complete team in the AL. Unfortunately for them, they only have 1 left handed pitcher. I think we match up better with them this year than we did in 2017. They Yankees starting pitching is bad and their pen is good, just over used. I would love to see all our left handed bats going short porch for 4 games in their park.

As far as if not now, when? The team is loaded with money, with more money coming from the All-Star game next year. All the contracts for players that don’t play for us are finally falling off. We have a very young core of starting pitchers with huge upside and our best position players aren’t even arbitration eligible yet. On top of that, our farm system is ranked top 3!!! The window is wide open. On top of that, I think Kershaw will be better in the last two years of his contract than he was this year. He’s like fine wine and is learning to pitch with finesse.

Mark’s been telling us all year that relievers are volatile. Why can’t Kenley have a bad year and then be good again? He’s definitely not opting out with his performance this year. He didn’t have a normal off-season last year, neither did Seager as they were both recovering from surgeries. I’ll bet both of them are much better next year than they were this year.

We don’t need to worry about Joc hitting left-handers anymore. This ship has sailed and barring a MVP-type post season, he will be traded in the off-season. Perfect timing coming off what will turn out to be his best year. As Branch Rickey, would say, “It is better to trade a player a year too early than a year too late.”

This is my list of pitchers that I made about a week ago (before Hill came back, if you can call it that), but I admit it’s going to be tough to predict who will be in the pen once the bell rings and the last spot will probably be determined once we find out who we’re playing…

(I might have already changed my mind about Yimi)

Relievers

Pedro Baez R

Kenley Jansen R

Joe Kelly R

Kenta Maeda R

Julio Urias L

Adam Kolarek L

Ross Stripling R

Yimi Garcia R

Tony Gonsolin R

Just missed

Rich Hill L

Caleb Ferguson L

Dylan Floro R

Dustin May R

Casey Sadler R

Two interesting factoids:

1 – Per Ken Gurnick of Dodgers.com, “Jansen was pitching on back-to-back nights for the first time since Aug. 9-10…”. The Dodgers have avoided using Jansen the way that he would ordinarily be used in the post-season to have him rested for October, but I have no faith that Jansen is up to pitching back-to-back at this point. I can see him being used every other game and maybe for more than 3 outs, but I don’t think that he can go back-to-back and be the “old Jansen” right now. They better have a plan B for the game after Jansen has pitched.

2 – Richard Justice of MLB.com reported: “The offense has led the NL in runs, home runs and OPS this season, but the unit has slipped a bit this month (.232 average, .749 OPS). The club is still averaging 5.3 runs per game in September…”. Our eyes are not deceiving us. The Dodgers aren’t hitting much any more. Part of this is Turner’s injury (and Freese’s), part is Bellinger’s new pop-up swing, part is the adjustment to Smith and his failure to adjust to the league, and part is the end-of-season blahs that the Dodgers went through in 2017 and seem to be going through again. This offense won’t get it done in the post-season, so the questions are:

a. Can Turner and Freese get healthy?

b. Can they fix Bellinger in time?

c. What will they do at catcher? I doubt seriously that Barnes becomes the regular catcher in October after essentially not playing since August. Maybe catcher becomes the 2nd automatic out position after pitcher.

Going by committee may be the answer. Or not allowing Kenley to go two days in a row or at least 3 of 4. However, Floro is not an option. He is absolutely the worst on the team at letting inherited runners score. He and Maeda are basically ROOGY’s out of the pen.

~

Smith just needs a flare or two to drop. Frankly, he’s had some bad luck. Multiple balls caught at the warning track. Multiple HR’s gone foul. Multiple balls down the 3rd base line just in foul territory. He needs a little luck to go his way.

~

1. Kershaw

2. Ryu

3. Buehler

4. Madea

5 .Kenley

6. Baez

7. Kelly

8. Urias

9. Kolarek

10. Stripling

11. Goose

12. Hill, Ferguson, May

~

I think the first 10 are locks. They may choose between Goose and May and only go with one of the rookies but May’s stuff has been filthy out of the pen lately. It really depends on match ups. How badly do the Dodgers want a 3rd lefty out of the pen in the NLDS. Sadler, Floro, Yimi and the two others at stay warm camp or for those two most likely traveling with the team. Hill is going to do everything he can to force his way onto the roster. He may be someone who is on the NLCS roster if they make it there but not the NLDS.

Who thought at the end of last season that Pearce and Kelly would be the stars of the WS? You just never know! Tho we’re not playing great baseball right now the important thing is we’re in the post season and you just never know! Freese, JOC, Taylor, Kike could be our Pearce this year! We’ve given ourselves a chance

What is best in a 7 game series?

1. Have home-field advantage; or

2. Have Freese or Turner DH 4 games instead of 3?

I use to play a lot of racketball and one of the things that game taught me was, “don’t take your foot off of the pedal.” If I got a rather big lead and tried to coast for a while, the momentum often took a turn and my opponent would start to score. Then it was difficult to get going again and every once in a while my lead would evaporate and I loose the match that I should have won easily. You can never let up until the last point is in hand.

I fear that same situation may happen to the Dodgers. I certainly hope not and am not predicting that it will, but I know that inertia is hard to overcome. Resting players is good, it’s a long season, and letting players heal after being injured is necessary, but all the experimenting can have both good and bad effects.

Pedal to the metal seems to me to be the best way to approach the post season. Leave the experimenting to the minor leagues and spring training, this is the real thing…..

In 17 we coasted and lost. Last year it was pedal to the metal and lost. It’s all about who steps up in crunch time. We’ll soon see!