This is far and away the hardest post I have ever had to write. I chose to include a picture of Clayton Kershaw because win or lose he is a Dodger legend, and he is my co-favorite Dodger (equal to Corey Seager). One of my grandsons wears a Kershaw jersey, while the other wears a Seager jersey. If this was in fact Kershaw’s last game as a Dodger it will absolutely break my heart. He is not the same pitcher he once was. Is it his back? Is it his shoulder? Is it his hip? At 30, he should not be done. So, I am hopeful that within the next 5 days, Kershaw either chooses to not opt out, or the Dodgers announce that they are extending him an additional 2 years. Baseball is not a business for me, so I have the luxury of hoping that the Dodgers show some faith and bring him back. What the suits do will undoubtedly involve a business component. I just hope a healthy factor in their decision involves marketing PR. If he does come back, he will not be the Ace, but he does not have to be, even if he is paid as one.
There is no doubt that David Price outpitched Kershaw tonight. David Price seems to have finally turned the corner in his pursuit of playoff excellence. He won his last 3 post season starts, and his two against the Dodgers in the WS were tremendous efforts. However, more importantly, the Red Sox proved that they are the best team in baseball as they handled the Dodgers rather handily.
The game ended perhaps as it was destined with a Machado strikeout. The player that FAZ went out and acquired to bring them a championship, ends the Series ignominiously with a Big K. Number 8 will become somebody else’s number in 2019, or nobody will wear it. I cannot see the Dodgers spending any kind of money on Manny Machado.
I am not going to play the “What If” game. Game 4 did not influence Game 5’s outcome. No, Kike’ should not have been batting #3, but the Dodgers did not lose because of that. They did not lose because Clayton gave up 3 HRs. They lost because the Red Sox beat them. The Red Sox WON. They were and are the better team.
The Dodgers got all of three hits; 2 by David Freese (one a gift triple) and one by Yasiel Puig. You cannot win when you cannot hit. The Red Sox starting pitching was better, the Red Sox relief pitching was better, the Red Sox defense was better, and the Red Sox offense was better; both situational hitting and power. The number of runs scored with 2 outs was eye popping.
The Dodgers are going to need to make some changes for 2019 if they want to win a 3rd consecutive pennant. They will be challenged by a number of NL teams. The Brewers, Cubs, Cardinals, Braves, Phillies, and Rockies come to mind. I am sure that changes will be proposed by the bushel load as we move into the Hot Stove League. The one thing I am sure of is that the catalyst of this team, Corey Seager, will return and take his rightful spot at SS. Besides Kershaw, the one other player that I hope a decision to keep will be to exercise the option of David Freese.
I am going to take some time to get over this loss before I go head long into the autopsy of 2018 and what I might propose for 2019. This one hurt.
I hope there are several changes in this team, an almost total renovation, starting with the manager, someone who puts play the 8 starters batters regardless of whether the pitcher is left or right, and the bench players are that: BENCH PLAYERS! Thank you very much Mark for allowing me to participate in this excellent blog, is my favorite and although I rarely mention anything (the English language is not my native language) I read this page every day.
And if all goes well, in January I could be living in Tampa with my girlfriend, but I will always be a Dodger all my life !!
Good luck to everyone, see you next season…..
And best of luck to you, Jorge, especially if you
change zip codes!
For me, Justin Turner is the heart and soul of the modern version of the Dodgers, not Kershaw or Seager. Kershaw is on the decline, Seager will have to get to the level of Turner to get this team to the next level. Will Seager’s body hold up? Will he be as good as he was before the surgery? These are big questions that the Dodger FO will be mulling over come the next several months.
Turner is the kind of player every team wants and needs. I can’t say enough good things about his talent. But he will need to shave that beard off if he wants to win a World Series!
Agree about JT, Jeff. But I worry his body will be breaking
down more often. Might be good if he lost some weight….
Jeff, I purposely did not say that Corey was the heart and soul of the Dodgers. To me, JT and Corey together are the heart and soul of this team. But I do not know which is heart and which is soul. That is why I said that Corey was the catalyst. He generally got things going so that JT had someone on base. When JT and Corey were on base, that allowed Belli to get better pitching. This year, JT had to move up to #2 because nobody else could. Then there was no #3. IMO the Dodgers HAVE to find a legit leadoff guy. Someone who can handle a bat with command of the strike zone to get on base for Corey/JT. This team suffered significantly without Corey Seager in the lineup. The offense will get dramatically better with a legit leadoff/Corey/JT going 1-2-3.
AC, a legit leadoff is a very high priority in my book for the Dodgers . We haven’t had one since Dee Gordon. Taylor was a fluke and I don’t think we are going to see a repeat like that from him. He’s a good utility guy, better than Joc and Kike offensively, and comes cheap.
Big questions about Corey. He is also prone to slumping but not nearly as bad as Joc and Grandal. The slumps this team has fallen into the past years are major blocks to their development. This is the main reason I don’t think Seager comes close to JT’s stature. Let’s hope this changes.
Jeff
I think I have told you this before, look at Corey’s splits in 2017 before he got hurt in August.
His numbers were the most consistent numbers I have seen on this team, and you know I value Turner just as much.
But you have to remember Turner has more experience then Corey.
They are both really good hitters, although the pitchers found a vulnerability with Turner this year, like they do with every hitter, which was high fastballs, that could be just out of the strike zone, or just in, depending on the umpire.
I don’t conside Dee Gordon a legitimate leadoff hitter. Counting his steroid-induced season, his career OB% is .322 . It was a horriod .288 this season. YIKES!
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CT3 had a .354 OB% in 2017 and this year it was.331. I’ll take him over Dee any day… but he needfs tgo get back up over .350 OB%… whatever that takes.
Mark,
I didn’t say I liked Dee Gordon and understood why he was traded. But Gordon’s last year with the Dodgers produced 176 hits. His first year with Miami produced 205 hits. No one on the Dodgers came close to this except Machado’s combined hits from AL/NL. The Dodgers also won the division that year. A true leadoff hitter gets on base. This is my whole point.
Whether Taylor can get back to wonderful remains to be seen. So far, we have no true leadoff hitter, the definition of which is getting on base. Gordon’s OB% was .356 the first season with Miami. He also didn’t have the benefit of Seager batting 2nd.
How about Alex Verdugo? Good bat-to-ball, but I don’t know about speed.
I like Alex at leadoff
Verdugo is a tiny sample size at this point. We really don’t know what he is truly capable of. I have no real opinion about him as the management doesn’t seem to be committed to him.
This one hurt bad… because it did show the Dodger’s weaknesses were too great, to be coached around in a playoff series. I am proud of the job the team did in making the WS, but I was fearful of this outcome. I sat there last night thinking, “is this the last time we see Kershaw at Dodger stadium?” Boston was the better team, and they wanted it more than some of the Dodgers did, but I digress. But hey, pitchers and catchers report in February, there is free agents to be had. I hope Freese becomes the new Chase Utley (going to miss the “Silver Fox!”), and I too, hope the Dodgers extend Kershaw, but who is going to be the new ace of the staff? Thanks Mark for another great year! Keep up the good work! Thanks AC for all your contributions! Go Blue!!!
Nothing to say Boston is the better team and deserves the championship.
I am disappointed — they coulda stole one with some better execution at key times. Ultimately, though, this very-flawed team overachieved and exceeded my expectations. So I am going with the glass half-full and saying, “Thank You , Dodgers, for a crazy ride of a year!” Now let’s see if we can get the pendulum to swing back a little from “The 3 true outcomes” strategy to situational-hitting matters.
BTW — I really enjoy this site — very little yelling and LOTS of well-reasoned takes combined with healthy venting. Thank you Mark and AC for maintaining this excellent Dodger-fan space 🙂
Let’s not forget dodger chatter ,he also did a great with our minor league prospects. Good work much appreciated DC.
Yes — a big “Thank You” to DC, too!!
Bison: often like your posts. Often agree (as on this one),
which saves me typing:-).
AC, this is one definitely hurt. But I think we all knew the weaknesses this team had, and we saw them on fulll display for all to see.
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I think we all need to take some time to reflect on this season, and what we would like to see the Dodgers look like next season.
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Until I read it, I didn’t realize that Kershw’s decision to opt out comes in just the next 3 days. I have a feeling that he and the Dodgers could create some flexibility around that timeline, especially if they’re in the midst of extension talks. In any case, we’re likely to know something pretty soon.
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I have some thoughts on the matter, but I’d just rather wait until we have something more definitive.
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At my age I shouldn’t be trying to speed up time, but right now ST, and then opening day can’t come soon enough.
I do not know what to think. We got beat by a better team and manager. This is what I do know. Doc has to go. He has favorites. If the attitude of HR or bust is from FAZ, then they must adjust or leave. I believe FAZ is smart. I think they see the HR or bust has not worked. They will change and construct the team differently. They have some good contact hitters in the minors in Verdugo, Toles and Lux. JT, Seager, and Bellinger are pretty good contact hitters already. The bull pen must become a priority. We need a catcher. Barnes and Grandal must go.
Thanks Mark, AC, fellow posters. We had a hell of a ride and my solace is that the better team won. I guess the plan is to win it all 31 years after 1988. I expect a lot of familiar faces back. Maybe we get a little younger and cheaper overall. It’s time we let the young guys play. Good luck to all here. It’s been real.
Well, it ain’t over around here. We start the HOT STOVE LEAGUE at Noon!
Mark: seems you are not the only one kookoo for Kike’puffs!
Kike’ hitting third in the ultimate game? I blame you:-).
I’m guessing this will be your Kike’ prediction in February:
“This is the year he becomes an all-star second baseman;
.336 BA, .392 OBP, 62 HRs, 184 RBI, 1.062 OPS, of course a
Gold Glove at second, and a second for occasional games
in center!”
BINGO!
For whatever reasons, this one hurt a lot less than last year. I thought we should have won last year but I never had that optimism this time around. Boston cruised by the Yankees, the Astros, and the Dodgers. I tip my cap to them and hope next year brings better results for the boys in Dodger blue.
This
I think Kersh and the Fo find a way to get this done, by adding a couple of years and then lets hope Kersh finds his old stuff or reinvents himself with his decreased velocity. There will be a lot of time to discuss the Hot Stove League but for quick starters to get the season kicked off:
Kershaw–get it done quickly, avoid the drama add two years
Freeze–exercise the club option
Many decisions remain. What to do with Ryu, CT3, Grandal, Keekay, Puig, Cingrani, Fields, Yimi Garcia. Some will be with the team next year, others will be DFA’d, others will be signed by other clubs. One thing for sure, Turner Ward has to go…he couldn’t get his players to make adjustments, they continued to swing for the fences, failed to go the other way and generally played real poor fundamental offensive baseball.
Team needs a new offensive direction and I look for Doc and the FO to make a decision on the coaches in the next ten days. Look for Mark Prior to be named pitching coach and some other moves as well.
I really don´t know much about baseball as other contributors of this site do. I mostly like to read it. However, as this is the end of the season, I strongly believe, Roberts must go. Pederson, Grandal, they got to go too. They have no sense of relevance of particular situations and games. They will always try to do the same, with no sense of October. They just don´t realize it. Regarding Barnes hes got the necessary stuff for the bench. Period. Not the World Series. We should keep Freeze, let go Dozier and Machado. Give Seager, Verdugo and Toles a real opportunity. Keep Kike as utility man. Put Muncy on a diet. Send Janzen to the pen, and get a real closer. Expend on a good catcher too. Give Kershaw a chance, and see what is wrong with his body. Hes still young. Finally, the only good thing is, we can hope go for the title again in 2019.
From sunny Costa Rica, go Blue.
Carlos Zamora
Nice work, Carlos!
This was the one series I could not wait to be over as it was inevitable, but equally hurt because of the glimpse of hope Max provided game 3. I am with you guys as this will definitely take a long time to get over. I really don’t know what to do, however with us being out of salary cap jail we definitely need a C, middle infielder, BP arms, and top caliber SP. Trade guys like Wood, Barnes, Kemp, and Alexander for players with heart and swag. Players with heart is what got Houston and Boston championships the last 2 years. As much as some hate Puig in here I loved his play, he backed his talk on the field this year. Overall a successful year as we didn’t cruise in to the playoffs, and played our butts off in September.
MLB please make the DH universal.
This one hurt more than last year… for me. This series was winnable if we would have played with a sense of urgency. From my point of view, the team was banking on HRs coming. It was frustrating watching the BoSox adjusting their approach with two strikes. When DR removed Hill, I reverted back to when Mattingly was going to take CK out of the game against STL and Adams hit a homer. In other words, bad move. The Dodgers body language after the 3 run homer showed that the WS was the BoSox to lose.
I too think DR to go, but not yet. Buy out his option and add two years. I think LA has his replacement in the building in one Chase Utley. The Silver Fox want s to spend time with his family after retiring. Make him a special assistant to the GM/Vice Pres of Ops; in other words, keep him in the building. If DR just doesn’t cut it after next year, you Put Chase in the dugout.
After the playoffs, I am in the let Machado walk camp. I also have a felling that CKs decline is not normal. I believe that he is hurt and if he leaves he will mostly return to his old form after he heals himself. I think his hip needs surgery. Lets see what happens.
Sign Marwin Gonzalez.
WE already have him and he has a better career OB% and he’s 2 years younger.
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He goes by “Kike”!
Kookoo for Kike’puffs!!!!
I am with Mark on this one. I thought of Marwin as well, but just how many utility players does one team need. It’s not just Kike’, but CT3 is truly a utility player who has exceptional defensive skills. And the Dodgers are developing more of the same in the minors.
LOL at everyone saying Doc needs to go. We would not have made the World Series without him as Manager. You can dissect his moves all you want but he didn’t lose the championship….the players did. Doc will absolutely be back next year I have zero doubts about that.
He’s a good guy for the marathon. Yet to prove he can do a pressure-filled
seven-game sprint for the trophy.
Its time for the front office to look in the mirror and decide who they want to be. Are they tired of being the runner up or content?
I love Doc, but it’s hard to ignore some of the decisions made in the World Series. Should he be judged on his past work? 3 division titles, 3 NLCS, 2 World Series appearances? Or the judgement calls he made in the World seres? Is there anyone better out there anyway? Joe Giradi? Buck Showalter? I dont know..
But the main thing here should be, ITS TIME, time to go for it. So here’s my take.
Resign Clayton Kershaw 6yrs 200 mill. It’s steep, but he needs to be a Dodger for life.
Resign Ryan Madsen 1 Yr 8 mill. He stumbled in the World Series, but was pretty good otherwise.
Sign Joe Kelly 3yrs 45 mill. We all saw he was nails in the World Series, we need to replace Morrow, this is the guy.
Trade for Whitt Merrifield. Plays a great 2B, will hit leadoff, great speed 45 SBs last year.
Resign Freese 1 yr 7 mill
Grandal will accept the Qualifying Offer, im almost certain now after his playoff woes. If not, great! we will take the draft pick and let Barnes catch until Ruiz is ready.
*If Grandal leaves – Sign AJ Ellis for 1 yr 2 mill (great way to make Kershaw stay as well)
Mets Receive – Alex Verdugo, Will Smith, Dustin May
Dodgers Receive – Jacob Degrom, Degrom signs 5 year 150 mill extension.
Its time to make a big splash. The Dodgers are missing that second guy since Grienke left. Degrom, Kershaw, and Buehler would be devistating. Not to mention what a great role model for Buehler to learn from.
Kick the tires on Bryce Harper, go for him if he doesnt want something insane, but if he wants over 300mill, pass. Load up on pitching.
We pinched our pennies for a reason last year. To get under the luxary tax THIS YEAR, so spend like it was for a reason! It’s time to GO FOR IT, ALL IN, if it fails, it fails, 31 years is long enough.
Merrifield 2B
Seager SS
Turner 3B
Muncy 1B
Bellinger CF
Kemp/Taylor LF
Puig RF
Barnes C
Hernandez
Freese
Ellis
Taylor/Kemp
Pederson
Kershaw
Degrom
Buehler
Hill
Maeda/Urias
Maeda/Urias
Wood
Alexander
Baez
Kelly
Madsen
Jansen
Oriole guy was about what I expected, and with 20-20 foresight:-)
predicted when he was acquired. Not worth the $, nor will Bryce be,
whatever zaniness obtains.
Reasons for skepticism last two seasons, among others: could not see
a single starter worth betting a prop that he would win two games
in a five or seven-game series. Note that nary a Dodger starter
got even one win against Sox, even with the Sox’ top four ghosts ’til
Steve Pearce went bananas starting late in game 4. (and fully aware
that Walker and Rich were excellent. Even CK was good enough in
game 5 if the Ds lineup – Kike’ third?????? – could have made ordinary
contris).
Have never liked “boomball” teams in short series. Uppercuts bring
lower win totals…
They were not a good betting team all year-could have made a ton betting against Kersh on the money line all year but couldn’t do it. This one hurts too much to go in depth yet but they gave us the thrill of a WS again! That experience is valuable so don’t be too quick to break this team up, just tweak it at a few positions.
Don’t bet anymore, mostly health reasons, but would have been
curious what the line on a Boston sweep would have been. Absent
Kinsley’s tough, tough game 3, would the Sox have done it?
If Kershaw is still a Dodger next year it is a sign that there is nothing better out there that the Dodgers are willing to spend on, and no young arms are close to being ready. Seager is a better hitter than Machado but will he be whole. Does the Boston Red Sox management just care more about fielding great teams or are they just way smarter than the Dodger management and owners. To be fair the Sox were head and shoulders better than any team I’ve laid eyes on in a while. Will they be next season? Dodgers need youth, good talented young pitching under salary control, and position players too. Ones that hit for average and power and get on base and drive in runs, and play great defense. Players good enough where suspect game management can’t hurt em.
Dodgers have no say in Kershaw’s contract. Kershaw has the option to play the next 2 years for $65M.
Some excellent points:
http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2018/10/open-letter-from-dodger-fan.html
That was a good read, Rudy. Put Levine in my bookmarks!
Dud, Ken is a screenwriter so his blogs deal more with TV/Movie writing than baseball. However, he is a very funny man and I read him daily.
I’ve been a big sign Machado guy, but upon further reflection he may not be worth the outlay that would be necessary to sign him. Right now, without knowing exactly who’s available in free agency, I’m leaning to the guy that I recall that AC targeted, namely DJ LeMahieu. Even with Seager returning, the Dodgers need to upgrade their infield, and LeMahieu is the perfect combination of offense and defense that they need.
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For me the guy that should be leading off next season is Alex Verdugo. Not worried that that would give the Dodgers two left handed hitters back to back at the top of the lineup. Let those guys see lefthander pitching on a regular basis and they will adjust. But without knowing the makeup of next years team, suggesting lineups really doesn’t make sense at this time.
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If Kershaw comes back, then I hope he does so with a new found changeup. For me, that’s the final piece needed for him to complete his transformation as a pitcher. If part of his problem now is the similar velocity of both his fastball and slider, then the fix for that is the change-up he currently does not possess.
Brooklyn, I would rather lay out the money for a 26 year old stud who’s value may have just taken a hit for a 31-year old second baseman who’s body is breaking down and who I feel is a product of Coors field. Maybe the Dodgers will just let Muncy or Taylor handle second base next year. Unless they’re traded either Verdugo or Toles is in LF for me next year. I like Joc, it will be sad to see him go, but it’s time. I don’t think Machado will be back but having Turner, Seager, and Machado would be real nice. Bellinger has to take the next step offensively. In the back of my mind I still think it is possible that the Yankees try to off load Stanton to the Dodgers so they can try to fill their needs. The Dodgers need a RH bat to go with Turner and Puig. I will happily take the post May 1st Puig. He was also one of the few who came up with big hits in the post-season. I expect the Dodgers to be in on Realmuto. Kike Hernandez is not an everyday player!
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I want Clayton back but if he opts out, he and is agent know they aren’t getting more per year than what the Dodgers were paying. I could see them doing an extension of two years or opting out and doing a new contract that comes to 4 years/$90-100 million. That would probably be better for both sides long-term. Clayton we want you to be a Dodger for life, but Buehler is the Ace now and you’re the very valuable #2 and veteran leader. Next season that leaves Buehler, Kershaw, Hill then Urias on limited innings with Wood, Maeda, and Stripling still there for depth. Santana and Ferguson will be the two to see if they become bullpen pieces or continue to develop as starters.
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They must sign a big arm to add to the pen. I will give Kenley a pass on this season considering everything he’s gone through, but they need a 1B in the pen who can pitch the 8th inning and occasionally close a game. Baez’s development was excellent this year, but I still prefer to see him more in the 6th or 7th inning.
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Hawkeye,
Why not Muncy at 2B? Is there any other Dodger who had more impact this year than him? Of course, he’s not Turner, but I think he should be given the chance to develop. He did well at 1B and from what I saw, should be capable of handling 2B.
Taylor is really an utility player, not a starter in my book due to his enormous SO%. Bellinger is also a concern for this reason, but I really like him and see great potential there.
Turner Ward should be let go. No argument could change my mind on this one. He is the worst thing that has happened to the Dodgers and is responsible for their overall underachieving approach at the plate. If we want to see this team focus on RISP, fundamentals, and getting on base, Ward is not the guy to do it. His greatest achievement so far has been Puig who is not really an example of stellar hitting in my book although he has improved his plate appearances. The problem with Puig is his on base blackouts. The worst baserunner I’ve ever seen, bar none. lol.
I would not be unhappy to see Honeycutt cutt. If he is in charge of pitching, he doesn’t inspire confidence in me. We lost how many starters this season? 3 of them are now in the bullpen? Lordy, lord. We are talking a great big mess here.
Resign Kersh 6/200??? Really John??
While we’re at it, why not 4 years, 80mil for Madsen and 5 years ,125 for Brian Dozier
Bobby
You made a good choice yesterday, I hope you had a really good time, and didn’t hit to much traffic.
We really need to shore up the bullpen… so I’m thinking 5 years, 100 million for John Axford.
Let’s get this done!!!
Red Sox made Dodgers look like a minor league team, (as they also did to Yankees and Astros). Let’s face it BOSOX were the team this year. That’s just a fact.
FAZ should be thankful to Sox, they really exposed all the Dodgers flaws, if FAZ are as smart as they think they are they should have a pretty easy time of knowing what needs fixing.
Ha, didn’t really need to be humiliate by Sox though, they could of been following ladodgertalk. Some pretty plain straight shooting on this site.
But still, we love our Dodgers and congratulations to a very classy team. Upward and Onward in 2019.
Yeah, maybe another 2 years for Kershaw. 6 years would be,
as they say, ” felony stupid”
Even Brother Ray can see that.
Ha ha, IMO.
After that long game and we were ahead by 4 runs in the 7th, I got emotional attached to this team more, because I never thought we could win in all this year, but I thought just like AC, we could win the National pennant because the National League was so extraordinary weak, this year.
That game is on Roberts, and I don’t like the way he handled his decision publicly after that game.
I don’t think Roberts is the total reason that move was made, so I think Roberts is not only probably protecting himself, he was protecting the guys in the front office too.
The swing of those two games, showed me how easy a team that is not the best team, can win a World Series.
And I am not saying the Red Sox were not the better team this year, but if we win Hill’s start, the whole momentum of this series, would have went to us.
And Cora’s management of his pitchers would have bit him in the but, but I like the way Cora runs a team, and his vision how baseball should really be played, too.
I think the Dodgers have to evolve like the other two super teams, the Astros and the Red Soxs, because this extreme saber metrics still hasn’t won a single World Series.
And I don’t care what anyone says, this constant changing in these line ups, with these platoon extremes, makes it harder for our players to hit consistently.
And that is why we need to play our best players throughout the season, so they will be able to hit both leftie and rightie pitching better, especially in the post season.
We can rest players throughout the season at times, but not all at the same time.
We are the second richest team in all of baseball, so we don’t have to constantly cut around the edges like the A’s and Rays, although at the same time, we shouldn’t spend our money recklessly either.
I don’t dislike Kike and Mark knows that, but the main reason Kike hit third yesterday was because he hit a HR in the game before, and that has been one of this team’s biggest problems all year.
Kike hit quite a few HRs in the first half of the season this year, but his offense was not necessarily consistent during that time.
But because Kike hit quite a few HRs early that caused Roberts to over play him, even though he wasn’t hitting consistently, and it got so bad, Kike hit 149 in July, but he played throughout July.
And to Kike’s credit, he had much better numbers in August, probably because he figured, he better change his approach.
Kike is not alone on this team when it comes to this stuff, he was just an easier to use as an example, because of this recent history, of yesterday’s game.
This front office puts so much importance on HRs and power, and because of that, we had almost an entire line up of 250, or below hitters with pop, instead of a balanced line up, like the Red Sox.
And because this front office values HRs so much, it isn’t unusual that our players don’t have the right approaches, at important times in games, and overall.
Although a lot of our hitters, can’t handle their bats well, because they are average or below, when it comes to hitting in general, too.
And because of this, we had a great run differential, but our run differential didn’t mean much, as almost everyone here knows.
Because this team had trouble having a consistent offense all season long, but for the most part, our pitchers prevented runs pretty well, too.
Our offense looked better then it really was, because we had games when we were facing subpar pitching, or just a pitcher having a bad day, and almost our entire line up would go deep but on this subpar pitching, but it was mostly when there was never a single runner on base.
Because even bad pitchers, pitch tougher when runners are on base, and even more, when runners were in scoring position.
One thing that was very apparent in this series, is that these long swings don’t hit many HRs against high velocity pitching, even if it is right over the plate.
And that one dimensional approach. actually makes it much easier for pitchers to pitch to these type of hitters.
Yes pitchers make mistakes, like the hanging curve Joc hit out, but most major leaguers, will hit those out, so that is not a great talent, in baseball today.
MJ: Astute, as ever. Astute.
How about the Dodgers sign Trevor Rosenthal?
Rosenthal is exactly the type of pitcher that FAZ goes after. I think FAZ gets a bad rap for taking chances on these types of pitchers. It only costs money, and maybe you find an elite closer. Maybe not, but why not take a shot if the cost is not too high? The problem is that his agent is Scott Boras and he is not going to let Rosenthal sign a minor league contract or an incentive laden contract. He is going to want Greg Holland type dollars and he will wait it out until he gets it. I would not gamble what Holland signed for. There are other options.
I attended yesterday’s “last game”. I strongly feel Clayton should play out his deal, his mission here is not complete. If he opts out, then so be it. A major colon cleanesing in our organizations future! Yasmani, thank you for your service (no QO – he may take it). Manny, Madsen, Dozier, Ryu bye bye (maybe Ryu with the right deal). The bullpen needs a rework and spend what it takes! We reset the luxury tax.
How do the Red Sox find all these young guys who can hit? Hire their scouting and hitting coaches? Nathan Evo (come home), is Kelly available? We needs guys who throw strikes! (Alexander pay attention).
We have a good core. Get up off the canvas and let’s spend and choose wisely! Hope springs eternal!
The Dodgers should have won in 2017, Boston was a far better team this year.
A lot of talk on D. Roberts – I don’t care for his lineups and BP use, but he is not going anywhere. That said, what he must change is his different lineup every night, it was beyond insane.
In addition Freidman & Zadi must adjust their philosophy of the HR or nothing – it’s painful to watch and easily exposed with good pitching. SABR Metrics is here to stay, but these two are extreme in their application of the tools. That must change also or we are going to be saying the same things next year.
Players:
We need a catcher; the brick and the no hit/ no arm guys are not working.
We need another SP – a real one like DeGrom
We need a 2nd baseman, and not a utility 2nd baseman
We need BP help; dumpster diving gets you someone’s junk, sometimes you find treasure in the bin, but that cannot be true of all you reclaim there.
We need to off-load the gozillion outfielders – it will help DR by not giving him an option to play everybody which also doesn’t work real well.
Corey Seaver is a huge question mark – will he be healthy?
We need to resign Freeze, he can hit.
I can go back and forth on CK, but he no longer is elite. When he is the #1 SP your other starters are not good enough.
As disgusted as I am with how the season ended, it’s possible we overachieved this year, which takes away the sting a little bit. Regardless of how I feel, the off-season is upon us and we’ll be seeing baseball moves being made within days.
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I think a major philosophical question that the front office will have to answer is, “Should we change what we’ve been doing thus far or are we on the correct path?” I’m almost certain that the answer will be to stay the course–a course which resulted in back-to-back pennants btw–but with renewed opportunism created by a more stable financial situation .
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So did we have the talent needed to win it all this year? Maybe. If managed a different way could we have won it all? Possibly. I really think this team had some deep flaws and persevered in spite of them. When push came to shove we were exposed though. I think that now we have the depth part down, we need to focus on the strength next. We need to identify our strengths and add to them so that they become insurmountable for the opponent.
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Obviously our weaknesses were inconsistent offense, lack of clutch hitting, bullpen, and lack of a regular lineup. There are ways to fix that. We need to add a top-notch catcher so we don’t go through a third year of seeing this most important position on the field thrown into flux during the most stressful days of the season. We also need find more regularity in our relievers, possibly involving training guys at the beginning of the year for the role they will be asked to play in October. And we have to find a way to fit Verdugo into the lineup, as he can help with offensive consistency and strikeout management.
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Kershaw is a question mark. Whether we can afford a large contract to a free agent is a question mark. I supposed Roberts contract is a question mark (although I don’t see it being one). The number of arbitration eligible players and potential free agents is a question mark. Our platoon fixation itself is a question mark. On this last part, a system is a system regardless of the outcome. If we abandon a system when our backs are against the wall, what does it say about our conviction about that system in general.
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Finally, positioning. We are blessed with some supremely talented players who can change positions at a moment’s notice and lose much in the transition. I think this is a strength. However, these moves do impact other players and we need to be aware it is asking a lot of a manager to keep everyone fresh and ready to come in at any time and in virtually any situation. Same goes for the rotation and bullpen. Expecting starters to pitch as relievers come the playoffs looks good when it works but it looks bad when it doesn’t. Same with over-reliance on players acquired in deadline deals.
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I admit I’m a bit torn. I like the prospects and home-grown players and think we have enough here to compete. However, I’m very interested in spending some cash and adding a franchise-level talent. I think the organization owes to the fans to spend some dough this off-season. Trading prospects for stars seems like a losing proposition over the long haul. After finishing in second-place for two years in a row, I’d be willing to take a small step backward if it improved our long-term outlook. I wouldn’t have said this a couple years ago but I’d be willing to win one even if it takes five years to do so. There are a lot of talented teams out there and we apparently aren’t quite at their level. Let’s do whatever it takes to get there. The time for being nice is over.
Nice analysis, D, but I’ve never been a fan of bully-bucks.
An overly-bought trophy (some are bought, but others are BOUGHT),
would be tainted for me, and a few other fans….
btw, for people who dislike dave roberts, isn’t it possible that he’ll get better as a manager and learn from his mistakes? that seems at least as plausible as another guy coming in and immediately taking us all the way. when i think of all the relationships he’s made with this core group i don’t see any universe in which roberts doesn’t return.
Anything is possible, but anything is not probable. Roberts has done the same thing over and over and over now for years and the more that is repeated the less likely it is to change. That is what is so disgusting about the Hill move. He has done the same thing over and over, it’s not unusual or new. Bringing in a new manager is a crap-shoot. You may get someone worse, you just don’t know. It comes down to determining; what are the chances of improvement? And they are just that, chances.
Little hope. I see a lot of Tommy in him. Little feel for that
day, that pitcher, that context, that hitter, that inning, that
moment. It’s true of a lot of good, even very good managers.
Whitey Herzog comes to mind for me, as well.
Excellent results from the marathon, disappointing with the
pressure of a championship sprint.
`I wouldn’t go as far as saying I’m disgusted but I am a bit disappointed. After we lost the first two in Boston I had my doubts. I knew then we would have to sweep at home to have a chance. We did make it to the WS again so to me it’s not a total loss. Afterall there were 28 other teams and millions upon millions of their fans who before last night would trade places with us in a New York minute.
well, i’m fine with admitting that they were the better team but i feel we gave away game 4 (after giving away game 5 last season) and championship teams just don’t do that. sadly, history will say that we were fortunate we weren’t swept!
I’m reading a lot of comments about how a lot of our roster for next year is more or less set. For example, we have depth in the rotation whether Kershaw returns or not. Similarly, we could field a starting lineup (with the possible exception of catcher) out of guys we have right now.
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So, who are are some darkhorse candidates to make an impact next year, kind of like ferguson & muncy did this year & taylor did the year before? Here are a couple candidates:
1. Connor Joe–could be a RH utility spark plug ala Keekay. Not sure if his bat will translate to the majors but there’s only one way to find out. Nice pedigree and next spring will definitely see him get a long look.
2. Tony Gonsolin–many think he needs to remain a starter due to his multi-pitch arsenal; I think he has huge potential as a lock-down reliever.
3. Will Smith–could be moved up quickly as needs warrant. I think he needs another year but we do have a need at the position and if the defense is ready, who knows.
4. Gavin Lux–mid-year seems the earliest we’ll see him and even then that would a rush. The position of 2b is his for the taking long-term so might as well lock in on it as soon as next year.
5. Sheffield/Alvarez/Sierra–oh where oh where have our elite RH power bullpen arms gone? We need at least one more. It seems we ran out this year and had to rely on Madson WAY too much.
It seems to me that our lineup next year is really up in the air. We don’t have a catcher or 2nd baseman. Our SS will hopefully return to previous level, but we don’t know. Who plays 1st? CB? Freese? Max? (Was this year for Max like last year for Turner?) Who will be in left? Will Puig be traded or will he be our regular RF? CF– it seems like Cody is most likely, but will he correct his Sophomore Slump. And LF Verdugo or ? or ?
I would say the only position that is set is 3B. Close behind is SS (I expect CS to return at full strength) and I think Puig will be in RF, but who knows? SP– CK is a ? So is Ryu. I like Hill and Beuhler any Urias, but who else will be added?
BP, we do have some good arms, but the big question is, what will Jansen bring next yeat?
It just seem like there is so much up in the air.
Someone ( no names will be mentioned…Rudy Bird) wanted me to post this:
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Congrats to the Dodgers on another World Series appearance!
How do you ban a Mod? 😉
OUCH!!!!!!!
Mark
Now that is funny, and I am talking your comments about Rudy!
Are those participation trophies?
Who is this Rudy Bird person you speak of?
Rudy
I heard he flew back to Southern California, for the winter.
I really shouldn’t have to look at this here. Congrats to the Vagiants on another sub .500 season, with a payroll higher than the Dodgers and nothing bright in their future.
Despite the fact that the Dodgers got under the luxury tax threshold is no reason for them to begin spending wildly. Whatever they do, I’m sure that they will factor that in over the next several years they’re going to have to begin paying some of their younger players. Seager, Bellinger, Buehler, and others will not come cheap.
Could not agree more, Bklyn!
Very true, but they’ve got Buehler rapped up cheap for a long time. I also think coming off of two surgeries we can’t just assume that Seager walks into the lineup and hits .300 next year. We don’t even know for sure if he’s ready opening day.
Hawkeye
I am thinking if everything went right with his Hip surgery and his recovery, he will be hitting with more power once he is good.
Because he was dealing with that hip stuff, for a while.
But with his age and the fact he didn’t have a significant injury there, he should be good.
It is still amazing to me that Bo played professionally baseball, after a hip replacement.
He is on his second replacement now, from what I read.
I like many here, knew Roberts would keep his job, but I didn’t think it would be much longer, then a couple years.
But Friedman has already told a LA Times writer, that they are working on a long term contract for Roberts.
Friedman also said the Dodgers were a great team, and it was to bad they picked this week, to have a big week.
I don’t know if we should put a lot in Friedman’s words right after losing the World Series, but that is probably more wishful thinking, on my part.
Also Mad Dog on High Heat on the MLB Channel talked to the Dodger beat writer for the Orange County Register, and he said this front office was probably to arrogant to re-examine how this team was built, and why they are not performing as well in the post season, like they are, in the regular season.
He said they still think they are doing everything right, and maybe that is why Friedman is saying this team, just had a bad week.
the talent pipeline is full. there’s a nice mix of carry-over and new blood. really the job they did last offseason was subtle and underrated (especially by people like me who said they “stood pat”). the core keeps evolving but the overall level of talent remains shy high. just need to put it all together now.
That should say bad week, not big week, although I know you all probably already figured that out.
Hafta disagree, Think the so-called depth is real, but not as impactful
as the PR paints it. Lotta deep mediocre…..
If they were all that loaded, how come Axford, Madson, Freese, Dosier,
late season? How come big trade for not-so-big dividends in Machado ?
(in MT’s favorite hindsight, whouldya rather have – Manny or Steve
Pearce?)
Another tell was your dynamic #3 in last game lineup. Kookoo for
Kike’-Puffs:-(….
That’s meant to disagree (unusually) with Dion…:-)
what do we think about adding adam jones as a CF and character guy?
or kurt suzuki as an experienced catcher?
i’ve seen these names multiple times in free agent articles . . .
I think the team should go in a new direction with their catchers and jettison both Grandal and Barnes.
Due to my extreme lack of social skills, misanthropy, latent agoraphobia, and love for this baseball team… I have seen over 300 games over the last two season. Doc makes so many head scratching moves (and/or lack of moves) throughout the year that it can drive me a little crazy. However… when October rolls around he tends to reach Peak Doc.
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Peak Doc is truly something to behold… and as will be told by countless Astros and Red Sox fans to their grandkids for many years to come… a thing of absolute beauty.
He’s simply working on another level… I’m picturing Neo right now at the end the first Matrix. He seems to become one with baseball itself and can make moves that mere mortals like us blog posters… won’t be able to truly comprehend for decades. His decision making skills under pressure will (in my opinion) be taught to everyone from hostage negotiators and air traffic controllers to retail employees that are forced to work on Black Friday.
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Some of you might remember Peak Doc from such games as Games 2 & 5 in the 2017 World Series… or more recently, Games 2 & 4 of the 2018 World Series.
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There are times during the game when everyone is screaming at their tv’s to take a pitcher out of the game because the other team’s hitters looks like our catcher just told them which pitch is about to be thrown… and Doc will look out at the mound with a quizzical look… similar to that of a dog that just farted. We as fans will be yelling something like… What the hell is he thinking!? or… Is he high or something, why won’t he take this guy out of the game already!!? But old Doc is working at whole other level. The look that you see, is a look of monk like concentration… he’s clearly thinking 5-10 steps ahead.
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And much like a monk… Dave is thinking at a much deeper level than us fans. As fans, we tend to get caught up in superficial things like playing the hottest hitters, using our best pitchers, and winning world series games. And to be honest… I am personally ashamed of myself for such base instincts and trivial pursuits.
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Peak Doc looks over the baseball diamond like a benevolent God like figure… he understands (even if we can’t) the things that truly matter. Such as… making sure that every player gets to play in a playoff game, never allowing a left handed hitter to face a left handed pitcher (and vice versa) if it can be avoided, and giving a player 2,3,4, and sometimes even 10 chances to succeed… even when (especially when) everyone else has given up hope on that player. (e.g. Kike Hernandez)
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Because he knows that at the end of the day… it’s not whether you win or lose… it’s whether you’re able to get the most talented team (on paper) in the National League to buy into the Zaidi / Friedman Sabermetrics School of Statistical Algorithmic Analyses of Baseball Science & Philosophy.
Epic! Should be framed and hung in the Smithsonian!
Haha! Or maybe just on a billboard at the intersection of Sunset Blvd & Vin Scully Ave
hilarious
Nice work, Val. Had a big smile all the way thru! Thanks…
Val 9000 I am still not over the Series loss and vowed not to post until I am but I had to chime in and give credit for an exceptional post full of thought, perspective and sadly lots of truths.
Thanks Adam… I was feeling the same way, but writing this out was extremely cathartic.
Definitely not ready to start talking off season moves just yet… still trying to absorb and process what happened in game 4… it may take a while.
Val
Well thought out and written!
You certainly got Robert’s number, and I by the way, I had look up misanthropy.
There was a good article in the LA Times today, I believe the title was about why this team does so well in the regular season, and not in the post season.
There are a few quotes there from Friedman, I am sure you will probably enjoy.
Thanks! I just read the article you mentioned and yeah… pretty much what I expected from him. I don’t believe anyone in his position could be that ignorant… so I’ll just chalk it up to hurt pride and stubbornness. Friedman and Zaidi’s overall baseball philosophy… especially in regard to platooning, scrap heap bullpen acquisitions, and their almost religious adherence and reliance on the home run ball for scoring runs is under attack right now… so I’m sure they’re both a little touchy about it at the moment.
Val
The beat writer for the Dodgers for the Orange County Register talked on the MLB Channel, about how arrogant these two guys are.
But it is certainly hard to believe, but then again, Roberts never says he makes mistakes l, or didn’t handle something correctly, and that doesn’t sound right either.
I am mad I missed High Heat the next day, after Roberts pulled Hill to early in that game.
Because I knew Mad Dog would go off about that pitching change, but I didn’t know it was on Sunday before the last game.
I still can’t believe some of the bad pitching moves that were made in the World Series, because the pitchers that shouldn’t be pulled were, and Roberts kept going right to Madson, in every game, unbelievable!
From Bleacher Report:
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2803416-mlb-odds-early-free-agency-lines-for-bryce-harper-manny-machado-more
If kershaw goes to the astros I will never stop vomiting.
Colleague says Clayton has family pressure to put his kids (kindergarten!) into Dallas schools. He feels he’s leaving. Anyone else hear that?
Haven’t heard that but if that’s the case, so be it. He was the heart and soul of this team for many years and deserves to do whatever he thinks is best for him and his family.
If Clayton Kershaw opts out it won’t be sign with a terrible Texas Rangers team who will be looking up at the Astros, A’s, and Mariners for years to come. That’s not how he’s going to finish out his career. Clayton has said that he wants to stay a Dodger. The front office has said they want him to remain. Will it all get figured out in the next three days? Good chance it won’t which will lead to an opt-out and time to work out a new deal that is suitable for both sides.
If Kershaw doesn’t opt out, then that’s fine with me. He’s shown signs of decline, but I also think that he has already begun the process of re-inventing himself. However, if he decides to test the waters, I’m all right with that too. In the latter case, if I were the Dodgers I would not bid on him in that instance, and use the opportunity to re-allocate the money saved to multiple other players. I actually hope that he opts out, and the Dodgers simply focus elsewhere. We haven’t gone all the way with him, so maybe the Dodgers would be better off not having him around soaking up valuable resources that could be better utilized without him. If the opt-out decision is coming this week, then we should have some answers relatively soon.
Brooklyn
I feel the same way you do, so like I think you said before, it is up to Kershaw, and I agree with your options.
Me, too.
I agree with Brooklyn, MJ, and Jeff on Kershaw. If he opts out, we let him go. Use the money on other resources. Offer him a QO so we get a draft pick
Ditto, guys and gals…