A short two or three weeks, many Dodger fans removed their brains, put them on their dresser in a jar and proceeded to lose their minds. They had convinced themselves that the sky was falling, the Dodgers were doomed, and the world as we know it would never be the same again. Five hundred years ago, Michel de Montaigne said: “My life has been filled with terrible misfortune; most of which never happened.” Guess what? – most of what you feared never happened! Here were are 20 games into September and the Dodgers are 14-6, which is a better winning percentage than they have for the year.
Many of you were convinced that they were doomed. Why do you repeat this same insanity, over-and-over, and over-and-over? You create mountains out of molehills and the stress you put upon yourself with this needless worry robs your joy and leads to shrinking brain mass and lowering your IQ. Enjoy the ride people! It’s not about Cody Bellinger winning the MVP or Ryu winning the Cy Young. The Mets could have the Cy Young winner and Rookie of the Year and still are going home. It’s not about the individual “bling.” It’s about the Big Trophy:
To me, the Championship Trophy is much sweeter than all individual hardware involved. The Dodgers are losing a few battles along the way, as they rest their veterans. “But, Kenley isn’t Kenley anymore!” Who cares? “Joe Kelly might be out of the playoffs?” Who cares? The Milwaukee Brewers are 19-4 in September and have lost one of the TOP 5 best players in baseball. They just keep winning, because they have too. However, by the time they get to the playoffs, they will have spent a season of adrenaline and will most likely fall flat.
The Dodgers are pacing themselves… winning but not stressing. Teams with home-field advantage win about 50% of the time, and teams without it lose about 50% of the time. Do you get my drift? Who cares? Next man up! This is where the unexpected happens… Joe Kelly, Nate Eovaldi, Madison Bumgarner, Steve Pearce, Rick Dempsey, Larry Sherry, and Steve Yeager are all examples.
Anything is possible. The Dodgers might lose in the first round, or the NLCS, or the World Series. Do you know how hard it is to win seven Division Titles in a row? Do you know how hard it is to get to two World Series in a row… let alone loose? These guys had one goal when they started Spring Training… they are getting closer by the day, but they are focused on the goal while completing the process. The season was a marathon. They are now in a position to take the next steps… one at a time.
They are galvanized, seasoned and hungry. They also have a chip on their collective shoulders. Things can happen and maybe they don’t win it all… again, but I like their odds. Get those brain cells back and boost your IQ. Enjoy this wild and wonderful ride!
Arizona Fall League – Postponed with Lightning
Dang the luck!
Misc.
- 27 HR/75 RBI/106 BB/ .250 BA/.382 OB%/.854 OPS – Yasmani Gramdal is having his best year.
- Joc Pederson is a real asset to the Dodgers right about now… at bat and in the field. This year he is hitting .229 against LHP. Last year it was .170. If you think a 59 point jump in his BA against LHP is nothing, well you are lost case.
- Corey Seager will rest a couple of days but would play if this were the playoffs. Good call!
- Cody is pressing, trying to win the MVP and set the Dodger HR record. I have a feeling he will feel relieved in the playoffs.
- Could May and Gonsolin both make the playoff roster? Yes, they could.
Couple of things are certain….Ferguson will be on the post season roster, Yimi and Floro will not. It’s possible both May and Gonsolin will be on the post season roster and I’m betting Dick Mountain makes it and will come up big in a playoff game, either out of the BP or as an opener in game #4.
We definitely got something to play for thru the weekend. We are now .5 games (1 loss) up on NY for home field in a World Series matchup against them. Let’s get this!
In the NL, the only remaining question is who will the Dodgers face in the NLDS; Washington or Milwaukee. I still see no reason for any Dodgers fan to have concern over either team. Both teams can certainly jump up and bite LAD in the behind, but neither team is as good as the Dodgers, and the Dodgers should feel comfortable in that round. I also do not see either Atlanta or St. Louis as favorites to beat LAD in the NLCS. Again, both teams can beat the Dodgers, but I do not see that happening. Top to bottom, the Dodgers roster will be stronger than either team.
In the AL, I think the Astros feel the same as do the Dodgers as they should make it to the Fall Classic again, but can be beat by any of the teams in the playoffs. I am sure they are not going to be overly confident against the A’s. It sure looks to me to be a 2017 repeat of the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Houston Astros, but this time there will be a different winner. I agree with Mark’s comment on Home Field Advantage. It would certainly be preferable, but it is not the death knell as some seem to predict if Game 7 is to be played in Houston (or NY). Maybe the Dodgers can just end it in 5 or 6 games.
I have been indifferent to Joc as many were losing their minds about him (negatively and positively). But other than Clayton Kershaw, I doubt that there is any other player who loves being a Dodger more. He has been criticized because he may not take the GAME as seriously as some would have it. I look for a big post season from Joc.
I was criticized for writing that if he continues to go out and pitch maybe KJ finds “IT” by the time the post season hits. Back to back game saves does mean that he has found “IT”, but it also does not mean that he continues to regress. There is not a single lock down closer out there this year, so I am happy to go to battle with KJ and hope that he continues to battle. Maybe he should have his mentor, Charlie Hough, on speed dial for his encouragement. Maybe the Dodgers should have him as a post season coach just for KJ.
I am an unabashed Caleb Ferguson fan, but he is not a loogy. He needs more than one batter to get the feel of a game. He is not JP Howell, Tony Cingrani, or Adam Kolarek. If the Dodgers are looking for a loogy, Kolarek will get that call. If they want a more balanced R-L bullpen, then Caleb has a shot. Gonsolin and May are certainly on the precipice of making the post season roster. After learning who their NLDS opponent will be, AF’s computers will be going overtime to determine who the bullpen pitchers will be. Who makes up the bullpen in the NLDS may not be who they will be in the NLCS or WS. The luxury of depth.
Would you pick Stripling over May and Gonsolin. Not from last night’s results! It will be interesting who makes the back end of the bullpen
Great question Cassidy! Stripling has been pretty damn good out of the pen lately and has experience on his side. But, velo plays up in the post season. It’s going to be interesting to see who gets picked for the pen. It’s going to be interesting to see if Dick Mountain can go 4 or 5 on Sunday. It’s crazy that it’s coming down to the final week of the season to complete the audition.
I would rather have May and Gonsolin over Stripling and any way you cut it, there’s going to be some good pitchers left off the roster.
Talk about pressure. This late season tryout adds a lot of pressure on the potential bullpen candidates. Last night, we saw Yimi wilt under that pressure and saw Floro step up under pressure. This internal battle and competition makes these last few games a little more interesting.
Who would you rather see in the pen?
Good post AC. Right now I would take Gonsolin and May over Floro and Garcia. But you are correct in saying who makes the roster will depend on who we face. Keeping my fingers crossed for Ferguson. What about Sadler? Does he have a chance to make it?
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IMO, Sadler will not make the roster. But I do not have AF’s computers.
I see 9 pitchers as locks for post season – round 1; CK, Ferris, Ryu, Maeda, Joan Baez, Jansen, Urias, Kolarek with Kelly assuming he’s healthy. That leaves Hill depending on health as 10, Chicken Strips, Gonsulin, May, Sadler and Fergy for 3 spots. Tough decisions will be decided by matchups as mentioned. Nice problem to have really, as aside from a blemish or two lately, these guys are throwing great. KJ has actually thrown some quality pitches at the knees which is nice to see. It should be interesting.
Phil, I agree with your nine. Doc said last week that Stripling would be on the roster too. That leaves Hill, Goose, May, and Fergie for two spots. Sadler isn’t making it. If they take Hill I think that eliminates Ferguson. If they take Hill as a Game 4 starter they will need a pitcher who can give 3 innings in case he breaks down. To me that’s Stripling and/or Goose. If Doc’s statement about Stripling is set in stone and Hill makes it we are at 11. The Dodgers just gave May back to back appearances for a reason. I believe he’s going to make it which would then eliminate Gonsolin who I thought was a lock. Hill’s start on Sunday is going to affect multiple people’s chances to make the roster. Now if Kelly can’t go or the Dodgers decide against a Loogy that changes everything.
Been seeing a few flashes of light lately, hasn’t been a great thing though. A few days back a flash led to focusing on lights on the ceiling of an ambulance. For over 10 minutes I was without breath or heartbeat, or so I was told. I like the chances that Dodgers will be 2019 champs AND that I’ll get to see that! MY DODGERS!
Wow man, I’m sorry to hear that. I hope you make it through these tough times. God Bless!
Get well soon Quasimodo. Prayers.
Quas, take care. Get better. You are in my prayers.
Great Post MT and you also AC. I find it pretty crazy that we have the second best record this month when we’ve had nothing to play for having already clinched, several injured starters and very unconventional pitching. In other words, we’re winning at the best clip in the league without trying our best to do so and without our most talented players contributing on a daily basis.
The sad thing is that we don’t have our most talented players in the lineup on a daily basis. Maybe less of a concern if it were another team as NO OTHER TEAM has as much post-season experience as we have. And that’s a nice place to be.
Keep up the positive vibes, come together, enjoy the run. This is our year!
Speaking of the lineup, what a load of crap today.
Day game after a night game. Not much to play for. The one who could complain, but will not, is Kersh. Who knows. Maybe Negron and Gyorko go off today.
None of that matters, don’t they know that I have my 105 win prediction to keep in tact?
Okay then. 3 out of the next 4!!!
I certainly agree that the Big Trophy is what it’s all about. The Dodgers are playing better ball, but of course against weak teams, the same kind the Astros have been playing. So how we will look when the bell rings for the playoffs, is no sure thing, though we have to be the NL favorites.
The continued injuries are concerning. It seems that Turner can scarcely play two games in a row, and we very much need him. Now Seager is out, and hopefully it is only a couple of days, because sometimes we hear about these things, and the player does not return when first anticipated to. Verdugo was never expected to be out this long.
Kershaw is a concern to me; we do not expect him to return to his great past form, but we need better than four runs in six innings outings. Ryu is looking better. Ferguson was impressive last night. Pederson is showing me something, though he still is barely under .250. We need as close to our early season lineup as possible, particularly Turner, one of our few righthanded hitters. We need something out of Smith, because our other catchers are almost always sure outs. And we need some great performances out of at least a couple of bullpen pitchers, because almost every game is going to come down to the last three innings and the respective bullpens of the teams playing. I am not optimistic about us being able to beat the Astros, but I feel better about our chances to get to the World Series, though I don’t think it will be easy.
Quas- Easy does it my friend and God bless you and yours…
The next 4 W’s are for you…
Checkboxes:
Kershaw 6 innings of 1 hit ball
Smith – Multi hit game
Freese – Can sleep in a coma for a week, wake up and get a hit.
Not concerns:
Turner – Would be playing today if they had to win a game
Seager – See above
Kelly – See above
Concerns:
When was the last time we lit up a lefty starter?
Should the post-season roster be playing together to build some momentum?
Good things:
Doc is smart for resting anyone that stubbed their toe on the way to the office including Bellinger, who never gets a day off.
Jansen saved a game last night, had a 1,2,3 inning, and did it against the top of the order.
Yeah, to me Dustin May and his crazy velocity are on the postseason roster.
He’s looked really good the last couple outings!
If May has overcome what had become a penchant for hitting a batter when he comes out of the pen, then with the stuff he has, he becomes a valuable piece. Maybe it’s something the coaching staff has addressed successfully. Hope so.
Maybe drilling a batter every couple of innings or so is just what the doctor ordered.
May making a statement! At least against the Pads!
I think Doc also made a statement by having May pitch in the 7th inning of a 1 run game on back to back days.
Alright, now we just have to worry about Jansen holding the lead on back to back nights.
Interesting no Kenley in back to back!
That’s what I was thinking.
Checkbox:
Another closer
that was awesome to see
Awesome series, love the broom. I hope they have one more broom in the closet for the hated ones.
Great job by the pen… The M & M duo (May & Maeda) are muy caliente…
That sweep and the next one are for you Quas…
Good pitching, good D and some luck is what we had today…
Has there been a Jeff sighting???
If only we could plays thenPads for n the WS!
With all the crap Kersh takes about losing his velocity he still had a pretty great year. Still in top 10 in all of baseball as I see it!
Cassidy – was that 1/2 a gummie or the whole thing???
“If only we could plays thenPads for n the WS!”…
You’re absolutely right about Kersh.. I pray he breaks the W.S. drought..
I think that was the whole gummie for Cassidy. I’m taking one now so I can understand what he said. 🙂
I guess there’s no doubt now that CK starts Game 1.
The Cy Young voting in the NL is really going to be interesting. You can make a good case for 3-5 pitchers depending on which stats are important to you. Which are more important to the voters???? Looks like Verlander and Cole will battle it out in the AL>
Kenley had better movement on the cutter last night than the night before. However, he only hit where the catcher set up once all night with it. Out of all of the pitchers who are realistically being considered for the postseason Is there really anyone that makes you more nervous when he’s out there. When Kolarek has to face a righty that would be about the only time for me. Probably Fergie too only because he tends to pitch from behind in the count a lot. Of course, I don’t think Floro, Yimi, and Sadler are really being considered. I could be wrong, but at this point I think those three are just filling innings when needed for the Dodgers.
Congrats to the Dodgers on the Padres sweep. Kershaw, Maeda and especially May, were simply terrific. Good job.
59/Cassidy – I think Kenley did Close in B2B games on Tuesday and Wednesday – 3 days probably a stretch.
Liking DM’s heat in Relief more & more.
Fresh Prince warming up nicely.