Game 2 – Let’s Get Even

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1. There was certainly a lot of negatives to identify in Game 1. But there were a lot of positives as well. JT and David Freese prove what professional hitters they are. The rest of the team can learn from them, especially CT3 and Kike’. Manny is proving to be very valuable both offensively and defensively. Twice with runners on 3rd with less than 2 outs, Manny drove in a run. Were you watching Grandal? Kike? CT3?
   .
   I am sure all of the Doc haters will be out. Sure I questioned why Baez came out of the game in favor of Wood. But it was Wood who was on the mound, not Doc. Smoltz knew that Nunez was a bad ball hitter, why not Wood? It was Clayton who was on the mound, not Doc. At some point Clayton has to take this team on HIS back, right???
   .
   By the way, neither Buck or Smoltz can let the Brewers go. They are obnoxious with their love affair with the Brewers and now the Red Sox, and their apparent disbelief as to how the Dodgers could even make the playoffs much less be in the WS.
   .
   But to me lost in all of the bad moments, this Boston Red Sox team is flat out a good team. We talk about Dodger players being junk yard dogs, that Red Sox team grinds from the 1st pitch to end of the game. Mookie and JDM were who everyone thought they would be, but Benintendi getting 4 hits? I do not care that they were not hard hit, they do not have to be. Were you watching CT3? Kike? Grandal? Same is true for Devers. Not hard hit, but it was a hit nonetheless.
   .
   The Dodgers lost a Kershaw Game 1 against Milwaukee and came back to win. The Dodgers won a Kershaw Game 1 against Houston in the 2017 WS and lost. So losing Game 1 is not a death sentence. Let’s go out and win Game 2, and come back to LA all even.

2. I watch the games on mute…a lot less aggravating.
   *
   Wood has never accepted his role as a reliever and pitches like it. Pout during the off-season and quit acting like a spoiled brat.
   *
   Freeze should not be pitch hit for.
   *
   Good for Matt hitting the home run.
   *
   Machado can be a difference maker. He and Seager would be a fun pair to watch for the next few years.

3. No doubt about it the Sox are a good team, a good young team. They didn’t fall into the victory. They won the game in Red Sox style. It is up to the Dodgers to disrupt that style by good pitching and good defense as well as timely hitting. It is a strange game. Even in losing by four runs the Dodgers were a couple of plays away from being in a position to win it.
   .
   I do think that the Red Sox starting pitching is a bit vulnerable especially if David Price reverts to his play-off form. Nevertheless, just put the ball in play and things happen. Would kind of like to have Nate Eovaldi back.
   .
   It was a pleasure to have Matt Vasgersian and Buck Martinez objectively broadcast the game without talking to hear themselves talk in a one-sided fashion.
   .
   I think Cody is just missing some pitches by a bit.
   .
   The 1981 Dodgers went down 0-2 to the Yankees and came back to win four straight beating Tommy John and Ron Guidry.

   1. Eovaldi will be on my wish list come this year’s free agency.
      .
      I agree on Belli. I was going to say the same thing. He just missed on both outs.
      .
      The Dodgers were also down 2 games to none in 1965 to the Twins, and came back to win it in 7 games. Koufax pitched complete game shutouts for Game 5 and Game 7 (after two days rest).

      1. I went back to look at that series. Alston put out the lineup for Game 1:
         Wills (SS)
         Gilliam (3B)
         W. Davis (CF)
         Fairly (RF)
         Johnson (LF)
         Lefebvre (2B)
         Parker (1B)
         Roseboro (C)
         .
         Game 2, Game 5, and Game 7 – Fairly and Johnson were switched in the batting lineup.
         .
         In Game 3, Jim Lefebvre injured himself, and Dick Tracewski replaced him and finished the Series.
         .
         In 3 games, John Kennedy came in as a defensive replacement for Jim Gilliam at 3rd.
         .
         That is it for lineup changes.
         .
         The Twins beat Drysdale & Koufax in Game 1 and Game 2 in Minnesota. Behind Osteen, Drysdale, and Koufax, the Dodgers won 3 straight in LA. The Twins beat Osteen back in Minnesota for Game 6. And then Koufax beat Jim Kaat in Game 7. Fun Series.

         1. Now that is a relevant comment! Even the Fox commentators had a comment box that showed our top 4 home run hitters on the bench in the 6th inning, no AB’s. and don’t tell Muncy is not hitting, I suppose Dozier and Hernandez are! Our good hitters need to get in the flow of the game early, for obvious reasons.

4. The Red Sox fans were talking crazy about Cora when he brought Nunez in to hit for Devers, but it makes all the difference when a player executes. Then they were chanting “Cora is a genius.”
   –
   I did not like Roberts taking Urias out when he did, but Baez was executing his pitches.
   –
   I did not like Roberts taking Baez out when he did, but Wood did not execute.
   –
   Roberts did not lose the game. The players did.
   –
   While we are at it, I thought Clayton should start the second game – he needs more rest… in my opinion, but if his defense had been up to par, he might have allowed just one run.
   –
   Ryu should not pitch in Boston – I would start Hill… in fact, I would have started him yesterday.
   –
   However, it’s up to the players to exec ute.
   –
   Today, it’s all about the execution.
   –
   My motto would be “EXECUTE OR BE EXECUTED!

   1. I think I get your thinking. No matter what outrageous move Roberts decides to do it is the players fault if it does not work out? Why not just use a dartboard then and it will be up to the players to get it done?
      There are great fans on this board, however many are in denial about Roberts. He consistently make some of the worse decisions of any manager I have seen in 50 years of Dodger watching. Roberts single handily lost last years WS. If he continues decisions like in game 1 get ready for a sweep. Ryu pitching on the road will work out as well as Kershaw on the road. Why were Hernandez, Gryndal, Wood, Uria even in yesterday’s game. I am praying that Roberts is not resigned this year, if he is no winning WS!

      1. If Roberts is not re-signed he will have lots of suitors. He has the best winning percentage of any Dodger manager in the modern era and has been to the World Series twice in his 3 years of managing. Do I agree with all his decisions? No! But his winning % speaks volumes. Second guessing is easy.

         1. Winning % speaks to the team’s talent, not so much the manager.

            1. Oh, and that winning% looks even better when you consider the Dodgers RISP %!

         2. The Dodgers winning % was ninth in MLB. Yet the Dodgers had the second highest payroll. All that tells me that Roberts is underperforming by a lot.
            How you can defend his decision making process in Game 7 with Milwaukee or Game 1 with the Red Sox is beyond me. We almost fainted when Baez was taken out for Wood.
            I frankly think they managed to to find a manager who is not qualified to do strategy at the major league level!

            1. Mick, actually the Dodgers had the 4th highest payroll. Besides the Red Sox, the Nationals and Giants both had greater payrolls than the Dodgers. I know it seems like splitting hairs, but the front office took a team with a $291MM payroll in 2015, and $250MM plus for the next two years, and dropped them to $190MM in 2018 and still got back to the WS.
               .
               I think we can all agree that many of Doc’s decisions made last night did not work. Some were even horrendous. But IMO he outmanaged Craig Counsell in the NLDS who had the “best” team (most wins) in the NL, and who will probably get the NL Manager of the Year award (Counsell or Snitker).
               .
               Does anyone here think that Kershaw pitched well last night? With better defense his numbers would not have been so bad, but that does not diminish the fact that he was hit. 7 hits and 3 walks in 4+ innings is not Ace like. Does anyone believe that as hard as CT3 was swinging last night that he was going to make contact? You cannot fault Doc for putting the top hitter in the NLDS in the starting lineup against a LHSP. Did Doc tell Puig to overthrow the cutoff in an effort to throw out Mookie Betts? He had no chance at all. You can make an argument that Kike’ should not be in the lineup, and should be a defensive sub at this point.
               .
               One other point. I do not think much consideration is being given to the field both in terms of shape and design. The field does not dry well. That is especially true around 1B where Freese misjudged a pop foul. But he was not familiar at all with the stands and the dirt was slippery mud. My son played 1B at Fenway in those same conditions, and it did not work out too well for him either. The Green Monster is one thing, but CF and the stands jetting out in right center field are not easy to play if you have never played there. It is a unique stadium, and visiting teams, especially NL teams, have a tough time playing there.
               .
               Let’s just hope the team is prepared to play better in Game 2.

            2. Definitely not his A-game but with solid defense and umpiring Betts is on base two less time. Benitiendi and Leon also got flares for hits off of him. Benintendi also got a second blooper to drop in later of Urias that should have been caught.

         3. And someone you know fairly well did an awful lot of it this season:-).

            1. This is in response to MT above…

5. Puig missing the cutoff throw is inexcusable and it allowed a second run to score in the first inning, but the foul pop up that Freeze didn’t catch was a tough play on a real slippery playing field. It’s highlighted because Betts went on to get a hit, steal a base and then score but the reality is Kershaw had him 0-2 and couldn’t put him away and that’s because his stuff is no longer “ace.”

   HP umpire had a real tight zone and wasn’t giving either pitcher the edges and when Kershaw doesn’t get the black he is very hittable. 90-91 MPH center cut or inner half is going to get exploited. I love Kershaw but his defense wasn’t all that bad and like AC said isn’t it time for Kershaw to carry the team in a post season game?

   1. There were 4 bad plays in that inning alone. Not only did Puig and Freese make miscues, but Barnes’ throw to 2B would have caught Betts but it was way off line and then later in the inning, after Puig’s overthrow, the throw back to 2B would have gotten the runner (Martinez) but it was to the wrong side of the bag.

6. Good article on hitting this postseason.
   https://sports.yahoo.com/singles-no-problem-red-sox-063539176.html
   –
   Snippets:
   “The closest, though, is the (Sox’) whopping 53 RBIs with runners in scoring position on 31 hits through 112 plate appearances (this post-season). The Dodgers, meanwhile, have 17 hits with runners in scoring position in 113 plate appearances, good for a .187/.321/.319 line. They have four home runs and 30 RBIs.”
   –
   and “The Sox have had marvelous success with runners in scoring position in October, a .365/.491/.647 line now. They were 4-for-12 on Tuesday in those situations, including that Nunez three-run homer. ”
   –
   Hard to win when you are OPSing .640 RISP in the postseason and your opponent is OPSing 1.138.

7. I agree Rick their relentless approach and clutch hitting is unbelievable. We somehow need to stymie that a little to have a chance in this series.

   We are clearly going to have to score a lot to win, that is why batting Hernández, Barnes and Dozier, 8,9,1 does not work. Too many automatic outs in a row. Hernandez has gotten way too much credit this postseason with the number of at bats he has received. He should be sitting tonight. Dozier looks equally lost and looked a step slow at 2nd last night. I realize he may be our best defensive option there right now but his approach at the plate seems way off.

   I feel the FO and Robert’s must have a feeling that Ryu will be solid in Fenway today, only explanation for him starting over Hill. I realize they have a ton of numbers in front of them but bottom line is that this guy is just better at home.

   Kersh was hard to watch last night, my favorite player failing in the biggest moments again was extremely disappointing. His clear drop off in stuff this year makes for an interesting offseason.

   But back to now, hope Bellinger and Muncy are back in there tonight and Hernández amd Dozier are on the bench. Price was effective last time out due to higher usage of his change, a pitch that is much more effective against righties. Therefore we need some lefties in there Robert’s, an all righty lineup would be a huge mistake in my mind.

   1. I know some people feel Hill should pitch this game tonight, because he is use to Fenway, but I think the Red Sox May exploit both Hill and Barnes, when they are on base.

      Because it is easier to steal on Hill with all of his off speed pitches, and Barnes biggest weakness, is making throws to second, to try throw a runner out.

      If I am the Red Sox manager, I would make Barnes prove he can throw a runner out, when I have my best runners, on base.

   2. Bellinger has hit in some bad luck, but his overall #’s this post-season,
      like most homer-hunting Dodgers, are awful…

      Beating a starting-pitching Mash unit like the Brewers, and taking every bit
      of seven games, is nothing to crow about re: offensive strategy.

      This team has to learn to play the Whole Game – not just parts, not for
      a billion and change.

8. tonight’s game will definitely be on mute. i used to blame FOX for ruining the World Series by overusing close shots, especially of fans, in key moments, trying to turn the game into an intimate drama. now, i feel the same way about their insistence on a narrative, in this case smoltz’s repetition of ideas about how the dodgers play the game the wrong way, essentially. it gets old after a while. and the results don’t prove anybody right or wrong. it’s a live sports event. by definition anything could happen and i’m content with their being some randomness to the proceedings, not the predestined outcome as prophesied by the all-knowing john smoltz.
   *
   patterns are emerging. we played sloppy in game 1 to milwaukee, nothing has been easy. roberts opens himself up to a lot of criticism by taking such an active role in the decision-making. to me it’s like portfolio management: the more changes you make, the more likely you are to make mistakes. now he is not even being consistent with himself. first he hits for freese, now he doesn’t; now he hits pinch-hits grandal. he needs to be pressing all the right buttons and i don’t know if anyone can do that.
   *
   all we need to win game 2 and we’re right back in it. there’s no more to be said.

   1. That drives me absolutely crazy. The pitcher and hitter are getting ready and the camera is on something going on in the dugout or focusing on a fan/fans or panning the towel wavers.

9. I am not a Roberts hater, but I wish he would have a better feel for a game, instead of always yanking pitchers out, because of platoon advantages, or the numbers.

   Because sometimes a particular pitcher is pitching well that day, and because of that, sometimes the numbers are not as important.

   Because not every pitcher always pitch to their numbers, every time they pitch, anyways.

   That was the difference last year against the Astros, because the Astro’s manager went with his feel for the game, instead of simply going by the numbers.

   I know if a manager always goes with the numbers, especially with our front office, they will not be blamed, if the pitcher doesn’t deliver.

   But sometimes a manager needs to take chances, and make moves based on common sense, and what he sees, in that moment in time.

   Baez’s era against lefties is double but I could see Baez getting Devers out with a high pitch just out of the strike zone, just like he did with the other two, previous hitters.

   I know Devers never made it to the plate, but the way Baez was throwing, it looked like he could handle most of the players, especially the players on the Red Sox bench.

   After all, Baez has been our best reliever this year, and Wood has only been in the bullpen for just over a month, or even less, and Baez was already throwing well, and warmed up, and ready to face another hitter.

   Roberts wastes to many pitchers and players at times, because he goes with the numbers, to the extreme sometimes, instead of slowing the game down, and using common sense.

   And like AC said, I hope Kike and others, saw that Manny didn’t try to do to much, when there were runners in scoring position, and especially when runners were on third, with less then two outs.

   Because Manny hit two of those runs in, without getting a hit, because he simply made sure he put the ball in play, to get the runners on third, home.

   With all the mistakes the Dodgers made, at least they almost came right back, after the Red Sox scored those two runs early, in the first.

   This loss is not totally on Roberts, it is on this entire team.

   Kershaw didn’t get help from his defense, because Freeze missed that pop up, and Puig never seems to want to make the right play, but all five runs were earned runs, so Kershaw could have done better, too.

   Roberts probably should have taken Kershaw out earlier, after the first runner got on, in Kershaw’s last inning of the game.

   Because of Kershaw’s history, and it is tougher for a reliever to come in when there is already two runners, on base.

   1. i have to be honest. my takeaway from this game was that kershaw had nothing. his stuff was just nowhere near where it has been in the past. even his command was failing him at times. i’m the biggest supporter there is but i pretty decided last night that there is no way i’d give him a multi-year extension. even at the same salary he currently makes it’s just not likely to benefit us on the field. i love the guy but i’ll be happy if he stays with us and we have him for another two years and i’ll be fine if he opts out and signs elsewhere. i think his bullets are close to being used up and i’m baseball heartbroken that he was never able to reach the mountaintop during his peak years. but there’s still this year!!!

      1. Agreed X 2

      2. What you say is accurate, but it may not be true when you consider totality of the circumstances.
         –
         Last Wednesday, Clayton pitched 7 great innings. Then on Saturday, he warmed up several times and finally pitched the final inning. Then, on Tuesday, he starts again.
         –
         He always pitches better on 5 days. That’s why I wanted Hill to start. I do question the decision to start him on short rest.

         1. Very true. Small sample size.

10. Per Dodgers.com:
    “Wood has allowed seven homers in 18 innings over the past two postseasons.”

11. Per Dodgers.com:
    “Wood has allowed seven homers in 18 innings over the past two postseasons.

12. I just read these numbers about Baez.

    Baez has not allowed a hit to a leftie since July 26.

    Lefties are 0-31 against Baez since then, with 11 strike outs.

    1. So what you’re saying is Dave threw out the numbers and went with his gut on that one.

    2. That stat is mind boggling! My eyes told me the Sox hitters could not catch up to Baez’s fastball and I screamed as soon as Roberts took 1 step onto the field.

13. 1 Kershaw pitched poorly last night and the defense didn’t help him.
    2 Kershaw is not going to put this team on his back and carry them to the title because he is no longer capable of doing that.
    3 Roberts did not lose the game last night but he manages by the stats he is given before each game by FAZ and that loses him the feel for the game, it stops him from doing what his eyes and gut are telling him to do, As long as he follows the stats 100% he will always ( in my opinion ) be a poor game day manager.
    4 Game 2 tonight, let’s hope for a Dodger turn a round.

14. This is a serious question… Does Dave think he’s going to be fined by MLB if he doesn’t use up all his position players by the 9th inning?

    1. like with 4th grade, our entire team gets a participation trophy, because everybody gets to play.

       1. It sounds crazy right… but it sure feels that way.

15. I think we’ve analyzed to death what we saw last night but one thing missing is the Dodgers have a big problem at 2B right now. Kike has been flat out terrible at the plate and is killing the Dodgers. At the same time, Dozier hasn’t done anything and there were two DP balls last night that wasn’t turned. I thought on the first one, Dozier was a bit slow on the pivot and the way Freese caught the ball didn’t help get the runner. On the second one, once a again it just seemed like Dozier didn’t have much on the throw. Maybe my eyes are playing tricks because Machado has such a rocket, but there were two DP balls that I thought should have been turned. Either way they can’t play both Kike and Dozier in the lineup at the same time.

    1. Hawkeye, if you get your way that problem is solved next year with another gun at 2B in the name of Corey Seager.

    2. Agreed, those DP’s have to be turned and led directly to 3 runs. He was a step slow on about 3 dives as well, either poor positioning or his knee still bothers him a bit. 2B and C have been black holes so far in the postseason.

    3. How about Taylor at 2nd?

16. Starting Lineup I’d like to see for game 2
    Belli – CF
    Turner – 3B
    Freese – 1B
    Machado – SS
    Kemp – LF
    Muncy – DH
    Puig – RF
    Barnes – C
    Dozier – 2B
    –
    Our defense makes me very nervous right now… but I think this is the best hitting lineup we can put out there to start the game. We need to score early and often against Price.
    –
    We can eventually replace Kemp with Taylor in Left and replace Dozier with Kike at 2B for better defense… but Kike shouldn’t get more than one or two at bats if we can help it.
    –
    And I wasn’t happy with the way Freese played first base last night… but he needs to stay in the whole game. Dave has to start thinking of Freese the way he thinks about Turner and Machado… his at bats are just as valuable. You’re not going to take JT out of the game if he strikes out once and makes an error… same rules should apply for Freese. And with the luxury of having the DH… there’s never any reason to take him out of a game while playing in Boston.

    1. One thing to remember defensively about Freese is that he is a third baseman who will play 1B. He is not a gifted defensive 1B (not overly gifted at 3B). The Dodgers have one of those gifted defensive 1B, but he plays more OF now than 1B.

       1. It’s true. And while I’d love to have Cody play every game at 1B… I think he’s almost as valuable in the outfield right now… it’s a tough one.

       2. I( believe the field conditions led to the error by Freese and the ball that ticked off Joc’s glove for a cheap 2B that chased Urias. Boston got every single break that could have gone either way.

          1. The pop up behind first was a tough one. Throughout the year though, you’ll usually see the 2B catch that pop up because they have the best angle on it. But Dozier looked like he had been shifted right behind second base… so he wouldn’t have had any chance of getting to it in time.
             –
             With Joc… it just looked on TV like a lack of effort / hustle… but I could be wrong. I’m sure it was slippery out there and he also just came into the game… but my feeling is that Taylor makes that catch.
             But I don’t think Kemp makes that play either.
             –
             You’re right though… Boston sure seemed to catch every break you can catch in the game.

             1. It was also noted that Joc is playing to deep for that ball park. He frankly just whiffed whether it be do to being distracted by Turner or not. That ball has to be caught.

17. So which do we start, the best hitting lineup , or the best defensive lineup? Perhaps a combination of both? I wish we had the strongest defensive lineup last night because, in hindsight, we might not have given up more than two or three runs. CK didn’t have his stuff but he still was a bulldog and would have done great if he had support in the field.

18. Bringing in Baez waz not a stat-driven move. I think it was a “gut-call” and while it didn’t work, how many things you do work 100% of the time. The fact is, when you bring in a pinch hitter you have anywhere between a 65% to 75% chance it will not work. Them’s the facts!

    1. Well if that’s true… then something might be wrong with Dave’s gut. Maybe he has Leaky Gut Syndrome? He should probably try to add some probiotics into his diet before tonight’s game. Maybe some yogurt would help his in game decision making.

       1. Maybe he has hoof and mouth disease…

          1. Maybe he has a case of the dropsy???

19. Here’s an interesting stat found at Dodgers.com
    “Wood has allowed seven homers in 18 innings over the past two postseasons.”

20. My comments aren’t being posted

21. Wood has allowed seven homers in 18 innings over the past two postseasons.

    1. Someone needs to get into a fight with him in lockerrom and send him to the DL.

       1. He also blew away Houston in the WS. I’m not going to fault Wood for a HR that wasn’t in the strike zone. Wood is a good pitcher overall. Baez shouldn’t have been remove throwing 98 in cold weather while mixing his pitches.

          1. Also, 3 of those HR’s were in Chicago with the wind blowing out. Dodgerrick has never liked Wood. I come to expect the criticism from him. It really was not a bad pitch that Wood threw to Nunez. Nunez had a good hit. He is allowed to do that. But you are right, Pedro Baez did nothing to show why he should have come out. Devers should have been his to do with as he did with Moreland.

             1. Agreed, can’t blame Wood there, Nunez hit a nasty pitch. He pitched a good inning after that. I just would prefer to give him a clean inning instead of using him as a loogie. And not remove guys who are already pitching well just for L/R matchups.

             2. Vegas, I absolutely agree with you about not using Wood as a Loogy. That is not who he is. He needs to feel the game rather than come in and get one batter. They included Alexander on the roster, so if Doc had to make a change (I still do not know why he did). then Alexander should have been the logical choice (at least in my mind).

             3. I agree it was not a bad pitch….more a nice swing
                by Nunez.

    2. Hawkeye

       You aren’t the only one that thinks Dozier is the reason those double plays, were not made.

       So I would play Kike at second, and not start Dozier.

       I think you also have to start Cody in center against Price in this game too.

       And stop going with the platoon advantages, with an entire rightie line up.

       Who do you want up when runners are on base, Cody, Dozier or Kike?

       Kike has not did a thing in the post season since he hit that solo HR, in that first series.

       And Dozier has only gotten one hit in the post season that drove a run in, and before that, he had not did much of anything.

       And Cody can beat the other team, in many more ways.

       I would have Taylor in the lead off position, and hit Kike behind Puig, and in front of Barnes.

       And if Kike comes up to the plate, with a runner on third with less then two outs, and that runner can reasonably run, I will make Kike bunt there.

       Because he has not only not gotten the job done in these situations, and he has not even made contact in many of these situations, in the post season.

22. Tonight’s Lineup: (Defying Logic and Reason)
    Dozier 2B
    Turner 3B
    Freese 1B
    Machado SS
    Taylor LF
    Kemp DH
    Hernández CF
    Puig RF
    Barnes C
    (Ryu P)

    1. Yikes. Dozier or Kike better step up. I wouldn’t leave Bellinger on the bench. At least drop Kike behind Puig.

       1. And Taylor as well… he shouldn’t be batting 5th. If he’s going to be in the starting lineup tonight… I would have dropped him down to the 8 or 9 spot. I’d much prefer having Kemp batting 5th… he’s a better run producer and doesn’t strike out as much.

          1. I agree he’s not a number 5 hitter. I like him leadoff vs lefties. Especially with the lineup that’s on the field.

       2. Dozier .231/.256/.487 vs Price. No Righties on the bench again. If you’re going to pinch-hit for Freese with Grandal then it should have been done earlier with Muncy. Now, even though I didn’t like inserting Grandal there, I am going to give him credit for not getting himself out which he has done a lot of when he struggles

          1. Hawkeye

             I wrote a post to you, above where Val posted today’s line up.

          2. Hawkeye

             Cora purposely left Núñez on the bench last night, so he would have at least one rightie on the bench.

          3. I’m with you. I probably play Kike at 2B, but I’m guessing Dozier is getting the call because he’s seen these guys more. Bellinger needs to be in CF. I heard people on Sirius today talking about Dozier not get the DP’s turned. They were huge.

       3. And I bet in this cold weather, Dozier’s knee is not exactly, feeling really good.

          1. I would have thrown Hill tonight. He’s a gamer. So is Ryu, but I think I go Hill in Fenway where he’s pitched quite a bit.

          2. That too. Steiner mentioned that. The last time the Dodgers played in Minnesota it was April. I wasn’t driving up there for that weather. They got snowed out and then had to play a doubleheader.

23. I really hope I’m wrong about Kike and Ryu… but I think when you are fighting for your lives, you need to play your best players.
    –
    If the Dodgers lose tonight… they can still win the series of course. But against a team like Boston… who has home field advantage… you’d have to think the win probability would go down to about 10-15%
    –
    You can’t pitch Buehler tonight… so I would have went with Rich Hill.
    Cody’s bating average isn’t great in the post season… but his speed on the bases and defense alone should have him starting every single game. It also appears to me that Cody is looking very comfortable at the plate right now… I’d like to see him get at least three at bats a game. He just missed two balls last night by an inch or so… I’m just not sure how you can justify putting Kike in there over Cody when your season is on the line.
    I’d put Kike in as a defensive replacement later in games at 2B… but he hasn’t shown me any reason to trust him at the plate right now.

    1. Val

       Even after Ryu’s last game, Price still has a higher era in this post season, then Ryu has.

       And Price has always had trouble in the post season, until his last start.

       I am only playing Kike at second, because Dozier caused us to lose a couple double plays, last night.

       And Taylor in left and Cody in center, and Puig in right, is our best outfield.

       1. Well… I already have my fingers crossed. I think the fact that Price pitched his last game in Houston with his team up 3 games to 1 sure helped his confidence. I hope he reverts back to his old playoff ways tonight.
          –
          I agree with you on Dozier… he hasn’t looked great at 2B the last few games he’s been out there. But I do have a feeling like he’s going to get a hit or two tonight.

          1. Val

             A girl can always hope!

24. Bellinger makes sense in the lineup, if only because he has shown the ability on occasion to hit the ball to left field. If Cody makes a conscious effort against the left-handed throwing Price to hit the ball to left, I suspect he could have success hitting a few balls off the monster. But as was noted above, both his defense and speed should get him into the lineup.

25. Got a million things to do tonight so won’t be watching. Hopefully that brings us luck!

26. It is a bad line up. Like timmon said if works Roberts is a genius. No body knows what the future get….but is about the right call…no it worked o no…the good call is notice that Dozier y Kike have take bad PERFORMANCE in home maybe billenger for Dozier is better….what ever go DODGERS. Get the win

27. I think this is a very even series… so those seemingly harmless mistakes you make in April like overthrowing the cutoff man, not moving the runner over to third base, passed balls by the catcher… will be huge throughout this entire series.
    –
    Because I think the talent on the field is pretty even… managing decisions are also that much more important… and can definitely affect the outcome of these games.
    –
    I hope Dave takes the less is more approach tonight and isn’t so trigger happy with his pinch hitting / platooning / taking out relievers that are dealing, etc.
    –
    In short… if we can play the rest of the series like we did in game 5 of the NLCS then I think we have a really good shot at winning the series. If we play and manage like we did last night… there’s absolutely no chance.

28. Rick,

    I found 3 of your posts in spam today and freed them. I installed a new span filter yesterday… but yours was the only one there. No intent. Let me know if it happens again.
    –
    Also the capcha screens are gone… or supposed to be.

29. Taylor is an idiot. Why does he feel it’s necessary to swing wildly at every pitch he sees?

30. I was discussing this series with a buddy from Boston. I told him despite the 15 win difference, the talent between the two teams is very close. The main difference is Boston can get clutch hits, and we can’t.
    I told him the the only stat he needs to look at in this series is avg with RISP. If both teams are close, we’ll win. If it’s like it’s been all year (and here just now in the bottom of the 2nd), we’ll likely lose.

31. Taylor may be an idiot, but that was a big throw.

32. David Price hasn’t been all that in years, but to hear the jerks (Buck and Smoltz) talk, he’s the 2nd coming of Cy Young. Ryu on the other hand they’ve barely acknowledged.
    –
    Dodger hitters look overmatched again. They aren’t going to change their approach in October after playing that way since April. It’s a design flaw that’s going to have to be addressed in the offseason.

    1. Don’t listen to them

33. Taylor is an idiot, but that was a big throw. Thanks Mark for eliminating the coach’s.

34. “Captcha” NOT “coach’s.

35. Agree Brooklyn. Taylor is swinging from his heels. Something need to change or trade him this winter.

36. Ryu and Barnes didn’t look on the same page when Kinsler got the hit. Ryu stepped off came back then gave up the hit. Ryu looked irritated afterward.

37. Ryu is pitching MUCH better tonight, gives me hope for Kershaw in game 5. According to Joe Buck we should just call it a series and hand out the trophy tonight, without even playing in LA. This is not the ’27 Yankees we are talking about! Smolz I can take but Buck makes me reach for the mute button. Same for the NFL-I like Aikman but can’t listen to Buck drone on making the same pointless observations. The Dodgers need to grind out what looks like a low scoring game. They are swinging at more 1st pitches tonight also.

    1. Stop listening to him my friend. Turn him off.

       1. LOL! That’s what my son says, I have some music playing now and it helps.

          1. I think Steiner is awful and I still chose him over Buck and Smoltz.

38. And that is why Kike should not be hitting in front of Puig!

    Thank you Puig, another two out RBI!!

39. This is why Kike shouldn’t be hitting in front of Puig!

    Thank you Puig, for another two out RBI!!!

    Now get Cody in this game!

    1. I told my son I was just glad he didn’t hit into a DP. Puig had a good swing his first AB so I had more faith in him than Kike.

40. I wonder about the Dodgers’ catcher position. I know that they are loaded in the minors, but on the biggest stage, this is the 2nd post-season in a row that Roberts doesn’t trust Grandal, and Barnes looks like a backup to me.
    –
    Great at bat by Freese, Machado and Kemp. Kike and Barnes 2 more strike out victims RISP.
    –
    Now – let’s hold the lead.

41. What bothers me most about Taylor is that his level of power does not justify selling out for HRs as often that he does. Although I wouldn’t love it, he would be more justified in swinging like that if he hit 30-40 HRs.
    –
    The other improvement I’d like to see is for the comment section to remember my name and email address, both on my phone and computer. Tired of having to enter them every time I post.
    –
    And while I’m here just want to say how frustrating it was to see Kike’ and Barnes both unable to deliver with runners on.

42. Runs, runs, the Dodgers need to score runs. 2-1 lead is OK, but it likely won’t hold up.

43. Well, I have to admit that I was wrong about Ryu. Good call, Doc!

    1. Bad pitch to Vasquez

       1. Unbelievable he walks the hitter before JD who is not that good of a hitter, then has to throw strikes to JD.

          The game isn’t over yet, it may be a good thing that Price is still in this game.

44. really, a bases loaded walk? to bring up JD Martinez? The 2nd straight bad game for Madson. Try something else next time

    1. Last night wasn’t on Madson. He K’d Martinez and got the DP ball he was looking for but Dozier couldn’t turn it.

45. Right about now, everything Doc does is wrong.

    1. Can’t blame Doc there. Bad pitch by Ryu to Vasquez. Can’t walk Benetiendi. Terrible job by Madson walking Pierce. They weren’t even close. Then a cheap flare.

       1. Hawkeye

          If I was Ryu, I think I rather pitch to Pierce then Benintendi.

          Because Benintendi is a better hitter then Pierce, and Ryu has reverse splits against lefties.

    2. Just like last year the WS is completely decided by Roberts bad decisions. I hope all you Roberts fans are happy with his latest decisions. A sweep is blowin in the wind!

       1. What did Roberts do wrong there? I’m not shy about criticism for Doc but tell me what he should have done differently. Ryu just let the 9-2 hitters on and a known lefty killer was up with two outs and Martinez on deck. I prefer Baez there but you can’t let Ryu pitch there.

          1. You got it Baez should have pitched. Over reliance on Madson. Baez is on a pitching tear better that relievers on either team. Game was on the line. Roberts made Wrong decision again.
             By the ways no matter what happens Urias should not be pitching here.

          2. Hawkeye

             Ryu has reverse splits, so it is preferable he pitches to the rightie Pierce.

             1. I don’t think so. Pierce has made his money and career as a lefty masher. Ryu had 3 chances to finish that inning. Madson blew away Martinez last night. With as many trips as Barnes took to the mound that inning you have to think your relief pitcher is ready.

46. Nop, nop..that was good call bad results. Madson did not the work

47. Lose with your best on the mound, Robert’s two nights in a row fails to do that. Baez in game 1 and 2 was the play, but Robert’s falls hard.

48. At least pull him after Pearce and go to Baez Versus Martinez, of you are playing your stupid matchup game, dammit robert’s

49. Our guys didn’t make Price pitch to them in that last inning.

    They need to be more patient with Price.

50. Hawkeye

    Madson can’t come into two games in a row, and walk a hitter!

    There is no defense for free bases, and he should know that Pierce is much easier to pitch too.

    1. Are you really thinking that way if your Doc? He got Madson up after Betts got on. As a manager you’re not really thinking a guy with Madson’s Postseason resume is going to walk Pearce.
       ~
       My criticism with Roberts this game is the lineup. Bellinger or Muncy have to be in the lineup.

       1. Hawkeye

          I am not talking about Roberts, I am talking about Madson.

          He has to throw strikes to Pierce instead of JD, even if he struck him out the night before.

          Madson gave the Red Sox the trying run before he even faced JD.

51. Time for this offense to wake up unless the Dodgers plan on sweeping the Red Sox at home.

52. This should be a tie game at most, had Robert’s down anything right in the 5th. After Vasquez gets on, Ryu should have been lifted, and Baez to face Pearce, especially after Madson pitching last night and his stupid I could not get warm comments. It was great to see Robert’s having a great time on the field today bull shitting with players from the 04 team and the Fox broadcast team. Hope he enjoyed himself and set up autograph signing gigs for himself in the offseason, “the greatest stolen base in history and the manager who blows World Series games!”

    1. Ryu’s pitch count was around 60 pitches in the 5th with 2 outs. Why would you take h8m out?

       1. He just let 3 consecutive guys on base and had two known lefty killers coming up and their 3rd time seeing him. In the regular season he stays in. Hindsight remains undefeated.

          1. My comment was specifically related to the comment that Ryu should be removed after the Vasquez single. Why would anyone take out a pitcher who’s pitch count as low, had retired the first 2 batters of the inning on 3 pitches and had retired 9 of the last 10 batters he faced?

             We can argue about whether he should have been removed after the Betts single and whether someone should have been warmly g up to replace Ryu I the 6th so he didn’t face the Sox lineup a third time, but removing him after Vasquez I think
             is a bit much.

    2. I also prefer Baez there but let’s put things into perspective. Pearce has a .500 career slugging percentage vs lefties and Madson blew away Martinez last night. He was up for those two batters. Sometimes it’s up to the players to execute. If Madson isn’t loose enough it’s up to him to say so. While I also prefer Baez there we’ve all seen how slow he works. Do you think he’s ready that quickly.

53. I was going to post that Doc probably learned that a right hander can get a left handed hitter out. But I guess he didn’t want to press his luck, and in cones Alexander. Hope it works.
    –
    Of course none of this really matters unless the offense wakes up.

54. It would have been nice to see Bellinger or Joc drop a bunt down to try to bring Machado up as the tying run.

    1. Hawkeye

       At least Cody gave him a fight.

       Joc swung at the second pitch, that was high out of the strike zone.

       But you are right, because Roberts plays Kike and Dozier in the same game, and with Barnes, Ryu had to pitch to a tougher line up, then Price.

       You can’t have three easy outs in a line up, even if they are suppose to be the platoon advantage.

       It isn’t like Dozier or Kike, has done something to deserve these at bats.

       At least Taylor has did something in the post season!

       1. In the Dodgers case, it is the “platoon DISadvantage”.

55. Dodgers in a tough spot. 13 outs in a row. Facing Kimbrel. Digging themselves a hole. They haven’t really hit the entire post-season. A great time to score here – otherwise, have to sweep at home.

56. Why do ROBERTS think that every body must play any game. ??

57. Our all righty special produces about the usual, likely would not have won a 2 to 1 game but who knows if we had somehow got out of the 5th. Thx DR, extension papers will be waiting for you to sign, is 3/15 ok?

58. I do not want to see any Roberts blame. His managing skills this game is beyond reproach. Doc maybe is a genius!

    1. assume you are tongue in cheek here…

59. Are we surprised? This offense is extremely inconsistent, and has been so all year. Hopefully they wake up when they get back home.
    –
    Whatever the case, changes are in order for next year. I’ll wait for the off-season (which is hopefully preceded by a Dodger championship), but win or lose there are some people who have got to go. Swing and miss is no longer acceptable, no matter how many HRs they hit.

60. Fair assessment, will agree to disagree. It will be nice to see liellynour best pitcher and our best lineup(novel concept) for game 3.

61. So let me ask this, if Evoldi can pitch games 1 and 2 and is starting game 4, makes me wonder if Walker could have done the same. Maybe in that spot in the 5th?

62. And one final 5th inning point, really feel we would be sitting 1-1 had we got out of it, just saw this stat.

    Average rf 294 feet from plate
    Average rf 301 feet from plate versus jd Martinez
    Puig 319 feet from home plate in Martinez at bat.

    Sabermwtri team, obsessed with matchups, plays Puig thst deep why?

63. Sorry Above stats from Fenway, also sorry about all my typos , will work on that during the off-season, was hurt all year and my posting has been inconsistent, I had no spring training and as a dodger poster I was platooned all year so never really got going.

64. Once again, and we have all talked about it for months, we hit Yaboes, we are not a station to station team. The Red Sox are exposing us for what we are, either all or nothing. To tell you the truth, I have peace with that. I have to respect Boston and their approach, and am envious of that. They move the runners over from base to base, and are deadly with two outs. They are playing the way that most of us have bitched about this whole season , how we want th e Dodgers to play, pass the baton, pass the baton. I don’t lay this at Doc’s feet, he is playing with the cards that are dealt him. I have total faith in FAZ, but we have met a team that does the little things very well, and player for player, we have more talent and a way better bench than they have, but Boston get’s it done, and I can’t even believe that I am posting this, because I come from the 1980’s Lakers Celtics wars, where I hate everything Boston. Hopefully we come out on top, but I think FAZ may rethink their overall philosophy in 2019 going forward. Strikeouts may be a sabermetric shrug, but in the World Series where every at bat it crucial, it amounts to nothing.

    1. Roger – that is the best Post I have read on here for a long time.
       You have absolutely nailed the way I feel about things, especially being envious of the way they play the game.
       We are what we are, and unfortunately Boston are the team to exploit that.
       I think that deep down, many on here feared the worst.
       They put NY & Houston to bed easily.
       We will do well not to be swept from here.

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