One of the many female artists (and trust there were many) on whom I had a boyhood crush, was the great country-western singer, Skeeter Davis. I loved her name, I mean how could you not love the name Skeeter? After reading some of the comments on Saturday and Sunday, I was reminded of her and her biggest hit song “The End of the World”, which goes in part(with apologies to the songwriter for the changes made by me) as follows:
“Why does the sun go on shining?
Why does the sea rush to shore?
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world?
‘Cause the Dodgers don’t know how to play anymore
Why do the birds go on singing?
Why do the stars glow above?
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world?
It ended when we lost last night
I woke up in the morning and I wondered
Why everything’s the same as it was
I can’t understand, no, I can’t understand
How the Dodgers even stand a chance”
Arguably, the Dodgers just finished their greatest regular season in history. Let that sink in for a minute. This year was the most wins ever for the Dodgers. Ever! Admittedly, the 1889, 1943 and 1953, teams had better winning percentages, albeit not by much, but they each played fewer games than the 2019 Dodgers. I’m not here to argue which was the better team. I’ll leave that to another day.
Apparently, according to some, the Dodgers were able to win this many games, with a manager who can’t manage, and who constantly makes the wrong in-game decisions. Dave Roberts is so bad that he doesn’t even know how to put his players in the best possible position to succeed. I’m also led to believe, this is, primarily, because he is totally incapable of making any decisions on his own and is merely a puppet for the front office. Shoot, anybody with half a brain and a remote control with good batteries, can do a better job than Doc. Several of you on this board, from the comfort of your family rooms, have made it known, that you can easily make better decisions than him. Case in point, why would he start Pollock in any of these games Yet, despite his foibles and incompetence, and I repeat myself, this team had the most wins ever!
If having a manager like Dave Roberts isn’t bad enough, the Dodgers were somehow also able to win this many games with players who are mediocre at best. And, to the extent they do perform, they are never clutch and for some reason (perhaps the change in the weather or the sun setting earlier in the day), they absolutely cannot perform in the postseason. It appears that the Dodgers front office, player development, analytics department, fitness department, and coaching staff are totally incapable of figuring out how to develop players who have enough stamina and skill to play beyond 162 games. Cause after that, the air rapidly goes out of the balloon. It’s my understanding from what I read, that this is the fault of the front office because they never acquire the right players, they are afraid to spend money and they can only build a team for the regular season. In any event, whatever the cause, I certainly hope they hire some nerds who can figure out how to get the Dodgers over that hump. If not, they should fire the whole lot!! But alas, and I repeat myself again, the most wins ever!
I mean, seriously, just take a look at Clayton Kershaw, arguably the best pitcher in Dodger history and certainly of the last decade in the majors. For 162 games, he’s okay. Not as good as he used to be, but he’s okay. Probably good enough to be voted into the Hall of Fame. But, once October rolls around, forget about it. He can’t hold a candle to the great Patrick Corbin, no way. I mean, take a look at Corbin’s first outing: 6 innings pitched, 3 hits, 2 runs 5 walks, 9 ks – that’s what a top of the line pitcher does in the clutch. I’m telling you, he’s great, definitely destined for the Hall of Fame. The Nats also have the invincible Max Scherzer, who in his only start this postseason pitched 5 innings, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits and 3BB while striking out 6. I’m telling you, that’s just the type of pitcher we need. Let’s forget the fact that the Nats only squeaked by the Brewers Scherzer’s start because the world’s greatest closer forgot how to pitch and decided to imitate Kenley Jansen. That, and because of a ball that took a weird bounce in the outfield. Kershaw, on the other hand: Well he pitched 6 innings, allowed 6 hits, 3 runs 1 walk and 4 ks. Clearly, he sucks. I can’t explain to you why Roberts, Honeycutt or Prior can’t fix him and make him a better pitcher. How is it possible to rely on that quality of a pitcher to start any kind of meaningful game at this time of year. 2 batters hit by a pitch, that’s unfathomable!! Let me regress from my rant for a moment and acknowledge that this line of thinking ignores how baseball is a game of inches. Trea Turner’s ground ball barely scoots by JT (probably because JT is cheating in because of the possibility of a bunt by the speedy TT). Then, let’s look at Rendon’s 2 run double in the second inning. As good an outfielder that Bellinger is, it appeared to me, that he took an absolutely horrible route on that ball. Moreover, he started his jump awkwardly several feet away from where the ball hit the wall. Under normal circumstances that looked very much like a ball that Belli would catch 9 out of 10 times. Yet, baseball a game of inches. Had both those plays been made, we would be singing a different song about Kershaw. They weren’t and we aren’t. That’s what makes baseball the great game it is. The night before, the Dodgers benefitted from Howie Kendricks’ miscues. That’s how it goes. But then, I speculate on what could have been and that, unfortunately, doesn’t fit my narrative that the end of the world has arrived. It’s not just Kershaw, it’s the bullpen. Again, are we seriously passing off Jansen as a closer? That’s a ridiculous notion. No, what we need is someone reliable, like Josh Hader or Carlos Martinez or a serious lockdown guy like Roberto Osuna. That’s the ticket. Oops, I just checked the latest scores. Maybe we should forget about those 3 guys. And what was Roberts thinking bringing Squirt Gun Kelly into a game with an 8-2 lead. If ever there was a momentum killer, he would be it. Why didn’t he bring in one of his starters, like the genius manager Dave Martinez is doing.
And don’t even get me started on the offense. Bellinger, Seager, Pollock, and Lux. Come on now, everyone knows these guys can’t play. Flailing away at pitches that any average 12-year-old Pony League player can tell are out of the strike zone. Heck, from the comfort of my recliner, I can clearly see that they shouldn’t be swinging at those pitches. They should, like me, be able to see that those pitches are balls from the moment they leave the pitcher’s hand. See the ball, hit the ball, that’s all I ask. It’s very simple. Also, these players need to learn how to work the pitcher and get his pitch count up. Don’t swing at balls and make him throw strikes. That’s what I would do. I would swing at strikes only and further, only those that I can barrel up. I mean seriously, what’s the point of having RVS, Brant Brown and Adam Bates, if they can’t let these players know what they’re doing wrong. Hitting Strategist? What does that even mean? It can’t be that hard to hit a 98 mph fastball or a 90 mph slider, can it? With all the analytics and video available to them, these coaches should be able to tell Bellinger that he’s stepping in the bucket. They should also let Seager know not to swing at sliders in the dirt. I can’t understand why they don’t do that. On top of that, apparently, these players are selfish and they aren’t good teammates. Instead, they only think of themselves, swinging for the fences. Enough already. Frankly, they need to stop playing these guys and put in some real players like David Freese, Matt Beaty or Austin Barnes (doesn’t matter that he’s not on the roster). They know how to hit. Plus Doc, or whoever is giving him the orders, never put these players in the right spot in the line-up. He should bat them in right spots. I could go on and on and on, and on, but I fear this will never change, because, for the most part, our organization, from top to bottom, does not have a clue as to what they’re doing. Let’s face it, our team just can’t match up against the great Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg or Patrick Corbin. No way, no how. Heck, for the love of money, they can’t even hit the junk that Anibal Sanchez offers up.
Obviously, there’s a just a “smidgeon” of sarcasm in the above. For the naysayers, particularly those who are not as old as others on this blog, let me remind you about one of the great moments in Dodger lore. DC recently wrote a masterful post on Johnny Podres pitching a shutout to secure the Dodger’s first World Series title in 1955. That is, and always will be, one of the greatest moments in Dodger history. What you might not recall about that series, is that the Dodgers lost the first two games. Game one, Whitey Ford outdueled Don Newcombe as the Yankees won 6-5. The Yankees won game two by a 4-2 score, as Tommy Byrne threw a complete game and Dodger starter Billy Loes couldn’t get out of the 4th inning. It was the end of the world for Brooklyn fans everywhere. “Here we go again” and “We’re a team built to handle the National League, but we aren’t good enough to handle the mighty Yankees” were laments heard throughout the New York subway system. “Dem Bums,” beloved as they might be, just were not good enough. Despite the naysayers, some fans chose to keep on singing, “Mmmm, you’ve gotta have heart. All you really need is heart. When the odds are sayin’ you’ll never win, that’s when the grin should start.” “When your luck is batting zero… huh, huh, huh…get your chin up off the floor. . .huh, huh, huh . . . mister, you can be a hero . . . huh, huh, huh . . . You can open any door . . . There’s nothing to it!” And then, after a back and forth and very tense series, surprise upon surprise, the Dodgers won 4 of the next five games and showed that they were, in fact, very much good enough. I’m sure that when Johnny Podres and Roy Campanella leaped into each other’s arms it still ranks as one of the happiest baseball days, if not the happiest, for Brooklyn, and those still alive from that time look back on it with great fondness. No more “wait until next year.”
The world was definitely about to end. But, as the great philosopher, Yogi Berra
said: “It ain’t over until its over.” Then, with 2 outs, 2 strikes, Russell Martin
decided to get his chin off the floor and laced a double to the wall, scoring
two. 5 more runs followed and the sun
began to shine in my family room. The
Dodgers remembered how to play baseball.
And, Corbin, well maybe he isn’t
quite ready for the Hall of Fame.
We’re up 2-1, but make no mistake about it, the Nationals are a very good team and they’ll give the Dodgers a battle to the end. But, my friends, please remember, the Dodgers are also a very, very good team who won’t give up and will battle to the end. I definitely want them to close it out tomorrow. I also hope that Rich Hill pitches out of his mind, and throws another almost perfect game. However, if the Dodgers do lose this series, I’ll certainly be disappointed, but I’m here to tell you it’s definitely not the end of the world. Win or lose, I’m going to keep loving dem bums!!! A couple of days ago, DodgerBlueMom shared a wonderful poem written by Laura Ding Edwards. I end with a portion of that poem with a slight alteration:
“So breathe it in and let it out, allow the ebb and flow.
The Dodgers can win this way, they always do.
The Dodgers are Warriors you know!!”
Glendale lost again, 6-5 as Gerardo Carrillo went 3.2 innings and gave up 3 runs, but he did strike out 8. Omar Estevez was 2-4 (.300) while Jeren Kendall was 1-5 but had just 1 strikeout. That’s something…
The more things change, the more they stay the same. I love your subway reference. You can go back 100 years, 500, 1000 and people are still the same.
What a great win last night, it was magical. What team scores 7 runs in one inning all with 2 outs?
I really like Kike and CT3 off the bench. They both have a knack of doing big things in that role.
Pollock looks lost at the plate. Each AB, he takes a strike that probably isn’t a strike and then gives away the AB. He’s getting pinched and not reacting well to it at all and he doesn’t look close to figuring it out. He was signed to do damage against elite pitching, but isn’t doing anything at all.
Kenley looked sharp last night. Cutter was cutting and he had some velo on it. Kolarek is Soto’s kryptonite.
What the hell happened to Kelly? Did he get enough work in last night to find his control? That was really ugly.
I can’t wait to see Scherzer tonight. Looks like a mismatch, but I like our chances.
Love your article 2D2. I thought Mark wrote this article until I went back and looked. It is hard to be around people who are always negative. I do not imagine many of the negative people will post today. They only post after a loss. I thought Ryu did a good job of keeping the Dodgers in the game. He did not have his best stuff, but he battled. So did Kershaw in the second game.
Today we have Hill. I am always amazed watching him pitch. He competes. He is not the most talented pitcher, but he gives it his all. You would love to have Hill in a foxhole with you.
Give it to them 2D2 – they deserve it.
I watched the Colts win at Arrowhead last night and when I got to the suite, I turned on the Dodgers on the Big TV. It was a great night! BOO-YA!
Say what you want, but Pollock needs to sit. Start Beaty or someone else. There would be no pressure on them. I guess when you strike out you don’t hit into a double play, but it seems they could not do any worse
You just said it yourself 50YF, if you strike out you can’t hit into a double play. Gotta look at the bright side. If it’s me, I start Beaty today, but if Doc decides he wants to give Pollock another go at it, I’ll be OK with that too. As we all bitch and scream that Roberts goes too long with his guys, it usually works out (and I’m one of the guys who is generally screaming the loudest).
All day baseball again today. Might as well call in sick!
2d2 – Awsome.
The squad is like the kids I work with.. The Squad is powerless over their negativity and my kids drugs n alcohol. ..
Why don’t we end this thing in Wa.
P.S. Cassidy I go with the lineup I’m given.. I can’t call anyone and I’m sure I’m not gonna sit n bitch all during the game.
There have been posters here who have correctly pointed out some of the flaws that the Dodgers have to work with in order to get through the playoffs and even get to the WS, let alone beat an Astros juggernaut. They aren’t any less fans than you or I, they are just critical thinkers.
You operate on blind faith. You live in a fantasy baseball world of blue unicorns and perpetual blue confetti, where the Dodgers will win every game, and when they don’t, you finger your blue beads, utter a Go Dodger Blue incantation and just believe they’ll win again tomorrow. When there is any grownup discussion on what the Dodgers should do to build on strengths and whore up weaknesses, you simply cover your eyes with your blue pom poms. You don’t deal well with facts.
Facts:
Kenley is done. He’s cooked. He’s blown saves in the last two WS, which cost the Dodgers dearly.
Bellinger and Seager can’t perform in the playoffs. We have enough of a sample size to make that determination. The Dodgers can’t win with those two as the nucleus of the team. The Dodgers need to trade Bellinger for Bryce Harper or Giancarlo Stanton in the off season. They need to trade Seager for prospects and go through a complete rebuild. Hopefully they’ll be competitive in about five years.
Those are facts. Facts are truth. You can’t handle the truth.
https://youtu.be/UXoNE14U_zM
Keep up the good work Peterj!!!
Dodgerpatch – I don’t for a minute operate on blind faith and I have no interest in living in a fantasy baseball world of blue unicorns and blue confetti. I fully recognize the weaknesses this team has. Nor am I asking anyone to look at the Dodgers through rose(or blue if you prefer) colored glasses. Not at all. What I object to is statements like “Kenley is done. He’s cooked.” Or, “Bellinger and Seager can’t perform in the playoffs. We have enough of a sample size to make that determination. The Dodgers can’t win with those two as the nucleus of the team. The Dodgers need to trade Bellinger for Bryce Harper or Giancarlo Stanton in the off season. They need to trade Seager for prospects and go through a complete rebuild.” Are you being serious? Those are two of the most nonsensical statements that I have read on here. Harper or Stanton? This is based on facts? Wow, it’s time for me to have a drink, and I don’t drink!
Do you have something against Giancarlo Stanton?
…read my other post and then ask if I’m being serious.
Negative opinions are one thing. Negative outlook on life is one thing. But stating facts which cannot be denied cannot and should not be equated with negativity. Perhaps some people don’t agree with that.
I didn’t get to watch the first 6 innings (had to take my mom to LAX so she could fly to London and join Watford at a pub somewhere). But listening to Charlie and the radio guys on 570, and even 710 with Jessica Mendoza, they both said Ryu really settled down quite nicely. He only threw 75 pitches, so clearly could have gone much longer if we didn’t get our rally going. Great job by him in a huge Game 3.
I still think aside from Martin and the 2 out hits, Julio Urias coming in with bases loaded and and nobody out and only giving up 1 run was massive. Kept the game in our favor, and he he was absolutely on his game. Granted Howie Kendrick’s stupid base running mistake didn’t hurt!!
With Hill and 80% of the staff expected to go today, I would be very impressed with our team if we go in and take the series in DC with Scherzer on the mound. It’d be a big statement game for sure. And as fun as it would for baseball to have a game 5 of Strasurg-Buehler, we sure as hell don’t want to see it!
Oh, and hey Mark, what a great win by your Colts! I had that game on in the background and was stunned!
Meanwhile, my Bears suck
I like the positivity and I’m hoping for an excellent Dick Mountain outing and a Dodger victory, but I’ve been one of the harshest critics of AJ Pollock for good reason. He looks completely lost at the plate and needs to watch from the dugout to get his head right.
He is now 0-11 with 9 K’s in 3 games. He must sit. Beaty comes off the bench, as a rookie no less, and puts the ball in play. Perhaps AJ is “pressing” trying to earn his FA signing with his first time in the post season as a Dodger. Call me a “negative Nellie/Debbie Downer” if you want but I’m also a realist and right now AJ’s spot in the line-up is a “black hole.” Time to see what Beaty can do.
Great post 2D2. Until I saw Idahoal’s comment, I had no clue that it wasn’t a post by Mark. You should get into ghost writing. 🙂
That was a very sweet victory last night. I agree with you Bobby, let’s get this finished tonight because we don’t want to see Strasburg again if we can avoid him.
I like Pollock and when he’s locked in, he hits the ball hard, but I agree he looks lost at the plate. That could change in a second. Maybe he’s pressing or the ball looks the size of a pea. Bellinger had really good swings yesterday. He looked a little lost earlier, maybe he was pressing. Hopefully the game won’t get rained out, which would muck up the entire schedule. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Kershaw in a relief role today. Good column.
Thank you 2D2 for writing this. I had a very snarky response on Saturday to the “fact driven” posts about how Bellinger, Seager, and Pollock, should not only be benched but get traded in the off season. But I decided to let it go and let the “fact providers” go after the players, Doc, and AF. I do not question their “fandom” (if that is a word). I harken back to a comment made by someone I consider a true fan with an emotion that I believe many have. Paraphrasing…”I choose to believe the Dodgers will not win the WS because the disappointment will not be as much as it would be if I believed they would win and lost. If they win, I can be happy in that moment.” There is not a game, series, season that goes on that I do not in my heart of hearts believe the Dodgers will not win. I always believe they will win, and I get disappointed when they do not.
I loved philjones comment yesterday; “It’s really fascinating to read the posts from people who forget that the game is played by human beings and not robots. It’s 2 games folks. 0 for 8 in July wouldn’t raise an eyebrow but in a short 5 game series, it’s blown up like a bomb. Pollock and Belli aren’t trying to suck. Believe me, it’s not lack of character, or Doc or AF. Bellinger didn’t start stepping in the bucket 2 games ago. It’s baseball. One loss and folks are running off the ship like rats.” Then we are told that no, only “FACTS” are important. Phil’s comments are more important for me than “fact-based” comments as he played the game at the professional level. He knows what it is like to succeed, but more importantly to fail at that level. My son called me this weekend to tell me about his new job, and we were talking about some of the comments that were made after Friday’s loss. He laughed at me and asked why do I let those kind of comments get to me. They are fans who love the game and their team, but in all honesty, they have no idea what it is like to face a ML pitcher 60’6” away throwing 98 and then dropping a slider 84-85 away. To them it is easy to see that they are swinging at bad pitches. The ML pitchers know what Corey is going to swing at, and only Corey can work himself out of that, but he cannot do it on the bench. He has to recognize it. Maybe he does, maybe he doesn’t but he still is better than most SS in MLB as it is. He mentioned Seager as he knows that Seager is my favorite MLB player. But it is true with every batter in the game. Every batter has a weakness, and MLB pitchers will exploit it. The best of the best pitchers will own the batter.
Dodgerrick is someone who I like and respect, and at times was the lone non rose colored glasses poster here. He has always commented and countered Mark and me with class and a solid argument. But what I found telling is that Rick’s favorite player (or at least he has hinted at it) is CK and when he mentions that players like Belli, Corey, AJ, and Kike’ are bad in the playoffs and provides “facts” for that position, he fails to include commentary that his favorite has blundered in the post season and based on “facts” should not start another Dodger post season game…ever. That is utter nonsense just like sitting Belli, Corey, and AJ are. They are a key hit away from being a hero and not a goat. They are all a huge reason for a 106 win season, and they do not suddenly forget how to play when October comes. Do they press? Probably.
During last night’s game the Russell Martin bashing came through loud and clear… until a two run double and two run HR. For all those bashing Martin, is he still allowed to play? Lineups are very easy to put together AFTER a game or AFTER a solitary AB.
Like you 2D2, I will be disappointed if the count of year’s between WS titles moves to 32 years, but I am going to love every pitch, every AB, until there is no more.
Yes, the players are human beings, and playing professional baseball is exceedingly difficult, and the crucible of playoff baseball is different than the regular season.
I laughed a little when I saw the comments about trading Seager and Bellinger. That will obviously never happen, nor should it, but even the 70s era Dodgers, with that core of Cey, Lopes, Garvey and Smith never beat the Yankees, not until Fernando and Pedro Guerrero helped them get over the hump.
DRick’s statistics on the offensive numbers of the respective Dodgers did make me think a little. Both Bellinger and Seager have sample sizes of well over 100 ABs, and their playoff numbers have been atrocious. I wonder if there is something to the emotional makeup or particular skillset of a player that makes them more or less suited to playoff baseball, and someone posted a scout’s comment about Seager that was not very flattering, saying in effect that he was easy to pitch to and really only hit mistakes. In the playoffs you’re getting MLB’s best pitchers. They don’t make as many mistakes. Can Cory and Cody battle an ace? Can they grind out an at bat, fouling off his best pitches, laying off the stuff down and away and waiting for a pitch to drive? We’ll see.
Maybe Bellinger and Seager just take advantage of average pitching and are particularly prone to being exposed by elite pitching. On the other hand, they’re both just starting out in their careers and have plenty of time to adjust, and from observation so far they’ve shown an aptitude for adjusting.
I think 59 said it best, though. We need Cody to be the MVP in October, not April. They don’t have to carry the team, but both of those guys have to show up.
I think a key to winning today is making Scherzer work by being selective, running up his pitch count, and getting him out of the game by the 5th inning. Even if the team is down a couple of runs at that point, if the Dodgers can get to the Nat’s bullpen they’ll be in a good position to win. Hill needs to dazzle in his three or four innings.
Hey, man, just hope you and ur fams are doing better! Hopefully this playoff run gives you a nice escape (and leads to a title)
Thank you Bobby!!
Thanks for the mention and your comments, AC.
2D2 – awesome satire. Really well done.
We need to remember that most people think they can do 3 things better then those who actually do them:
Write a book
Run a bar
And manage a baseball team.
I’ve been a big supporter of AJ all year. He delivered since coming of the DL to a tune of about 850 OPS, which is what they brought him in for. Not to mention, some very big hits against some very big arms. But, right now he is lost at the plate. Sure, he can break out at any time. At the same time, he can continue sucking like Kike did all last post season. This is where Doc must earn his paycheck. He needs to have his finger on the pulse and know when to sit a player to get him to calm down and let the game come to him, or know when to keep rolling a guy out there like Belli and get rewarded with a couple of hits.
Personally, I would sit him for a game and maybe bring him in to pinch hit. Now, if you sit him, who plays in his place? Beaty has been a nice piece this year, but is hardly a difference maker. He’s also bad with the glove. He’s also NEVER faced Scherzer before. CT3, on the other hand, is a good defender and has had some past success against Scherzer. On the other, other hand, Max has some splits that favors lefties. Kike has sucked against Scherzer. Managing is not easy, even with AF’s computer telling you what to do. But, the computer doesn’t talk to players and read in between the lines to make a judgement whether or not they will be at their best during a particular game.
After Martin hit the HR last night, a thought quickly passed through my mind: “Did we just find our Steve Pearce?” That thought was then followed by another one: “I wonder if Doc will sit him next game?” I’m curious what others think, should Russ Martin start tonight? I’m glad I don’t have to make that decision, but I tend to want to roll with the hot bat, especially if it is a veteran.
Yeah, totally valid question. They discussed this last night a bit on Dodger Talk as well, but most people felt Will Smith would be starting today.
Not sure what anyone else saw, but I felt Kenley’s pitches had some decent movement to them last night. Hopefully that’s a good sign.
Nice post 2D2. And I too initially thought it was Mark. First off if I recall correctly, Mark previously began counting down from 11, and also the reference to Skeeter Davis and the accompanying music made it appear to be a Mark post.
What most impressed me about the comeback last night were all the 2-strike hits. Couldn’t help but believe that we wouldn’t have seen a strikeout somewhere in there in 2018.
As for Pollock, I have to believe a large part of the reason he’s in there is because he provides superior defense over Beaty., and because he’s capable of picking it up when least expected. If Alex Verdugo was available I’d start him, but then again, so probably would Doc.
Nice piece today by Pedro Moura in The Athletic, about Russell Martin for those of you with a subscription. I’d consider providing a link, but can’t paste it from my phone (unless I can, but don’t Know how).
It would be very nice to see Hill pitch the game that ends the season for Washington.
I was going to write about what a gratifying win that was; how Martin, someone I have hated to see in the lineup, somehow rose up to get the biggest hit of the year. How Roberts somehow managed to figure out that Kelly should be taken out after three walks, a wild pitch, and a base hit with no one out. How Urias came up big, and how Freese is such a clutch player. But the tenor that because we won Game 3, this makes all the people wrong who have said some negative things about the franchise, is frustrating to me. Mostly because it will always give the ownership cover for the way they do things, an d it will always serve as an acceptance for the titles we do not win, even though we have 4 million in attendance, a very large media network, and profits galore for the ten or so people who have a share of this corporate ownership. That doesn’t give them one bit of impetus to change anything, meaning that how we are is how we will be, no titles or not.
And maybe that shouldn’t bother me, but it does, because I have followed and rooted for the Dodgers for a long time, and I think that the ownership is underachieving in terms of winning some championships, which we used to do. In ’59, we won it all; in ’62 we had the best team but somehow lost in the last game of the playoff against SF. In ’63, another title. In ’65, a wonderful season and a title. In ’66, a great pennant run, but we lost the World Series. We had a front office which was not given any large amount to spend, but which was able to identify and trade for key players to put us over the top, and which shot for a championship in virtually every season. Those were our glory days, in my opinion. Just to note, this front office, which certainly has done very well in some aspects, made its two big pickups of the offseason, Pollock and Kelly. Maybe that was all they could spend under the ownership’s self-imposed cost constraints, but even so, do those look like the kind of improvements which would turn a team which lost 4-1 in the World Series to Boston, into a championship club this year?
This team is not even close to the bidding for best Dodgers team in history unless it wins the title. That is because the playoffs are its own genre; and a franchise which wants to win titles has to build a team which not only wins a lot of games in the regular season, but has enough top pitching talent and a few great offensive players, to get through the playoff gauntlet. That we won a very big game last night does not suddenly make all the decisions which have led up to this roster, correct, or well designed to win titles. No franchise or ownership or manager should be judged on one season, but they can be judged on a series of seasons.
It will obviously be a tough game today, because Scherzer is great when he is on, and because we don’t know what Hill can give us, and because Urias cannot pitch in relief today, meaning that we will need big efforts from others on the staff. And if we lose, it’s one game to win the first series of the playoffs, and we know how good Strasburg is. And if we can win this series, we will probably get the Braves, and then the Astros or Yankees. Actually, watching the game last night, I mused about how difficult it is going to be for our bullpen to stand up in a long series, if Kelly is not usable, and Jansen pitches only sporadically. But we’ll just have to go on ahead with what we have, and hope that it is enough. If not, we’ll go on to next year, as we have done. One of these days, we will have to win at least one title (why not shoot for more?), to validate an opinion that all the critics are foolish and short-sighted, and that this is the best franchise in baseball, and not just because the stadium is pristine and the fans are devoted. Anyway, let’s see if we can get the win today, rest our staff, and have Buehler ready to open against the Braves, instead of Kershaw, which would be a big help.
Can you rewrite that with different (and fewer) words?
I have no idea what you are trying to say.
LOL…..I think in internet abbreviated parlance that’s referred to as TL:DR
William, unlike Bluto I read your post and understood it completely. I know that I am wordy so I have no problem with others who are as well. But I do respectfully disagree with much that you do write.
You have every right to your opinion as to the Dodgers chances as do I. If any of us were better at putting an organization or lineup together then we would be employed by some MLB team. All we can offer is opinions. But where I differ with you most is with how much the team should pay for salaries. You seem to think there should be an unlimited budget. Because…” even though we have 4 million in attendance, a very large media network, and profits galore for the ten or so people who have a share of this corporate ownership.” Every organization has a budget, and we do not know what that budget is for LAD. Maybe Guggs and Co. have tied up AF’s hands, but maybe AF truly believes that paying $330MM for Bryce Harper or $300MM for Machado is a fools errand. I tend to lean towards the latter, but I have no true evidence one way or the other.
AJ Pollock was signed for a reasonable 5 years at $60MM ($12MM AAV). What other RHH OF was available in FA? Andrew McCutcheon 3 years at $50MM was the only other RHH OF that the Dodgers could conceivably be interested in. Michael Brantley is LHH. Switch hitting Marwin Gonzalez?
Joe Kelly signed a reasonable 3 year $25MM. Kelly has had an up and down season, much like his career. When he is good, he is very good, when he is bad, he is very bad. Craig Kimbrel signed for 3 years $43MM. Zack Britton signed for 3 years $39MM, David Robertson 2 years $23MM, Adam Ottavino 3 years $27MM, Andrew Miller 2 years $25MM, Jeurys Familia 3 years $30MM, Kelvin Herrera 2 years $18MM. All were more in total or AAV than Kelly. Britton and Ottavino were very vocal about playing for NYY so they really were not a consideration without a significant overpay. Kimbrel is showing decline in the mold of KJ. Robertson is done for his entire contract. Familia was not good this year. Miller and Kelly had almost identical metrics, but Kelly was much better the 2nd half than was Miller. The best way to get a reliever is internally or through a trade for a player with team control. But it takes two teams to make a trade, and we have no idea what trade offers were made or rejected by AF. We can all pontificate about Aaron Bummer, but the White Sox were clearly not going to trade him.
I was an advocate (a very loud advocate) for Gerrit Cole before he was traded to Houston. Gerrit is going to get a lot of money this winter, and being a Scott Boras client, he is not going to sign early. I would not be surprised to see him surpass David Price 7 years at $217MM. Are you willing to commit that much to one player when you are already committed to Kershaw for over $30MM for two more years? He is a lifelong Yankees fan and if he wanted to stay in Southern California, he is an Orange County guy so you know the LAA are going to be bidding. The Dodgers can certainly outbid any other team if they want, and maybe while it may not be a great business decision, I would be very happy to see Gerrit Cole in Dodger Blue, even though it will cost a draft pick as well. I would be happy to see Anthony Rendon in Dodger Blue but he is going to be getting Nolan Arenado money at least, and is more likely to stay in Washington. The Dodgers have a lot of freed up cash for one of the top FA, but not both. It is not that the Dodgers will not pay, it is that they will not sign what Mark calls dope fiend contracts. Boston, Houston, Chicago are all saying that over spending is not a recipe for winning, especially sustained winning, and they will be watching their budgets this winter. As will the Dodgers I suspect.
I grew up in the 59-66 Dodgers era, and there is absolutely no front office comparison to be made with that of today. There was no free agency in those years. The player did not want to sign, they held out. Trading players then and now are also totally different largely because of the lack of team control over certain players and large contracts involved. Trades today involve trading bad contracts as much as trading for certain players. Aaron Bummer has 5 years of team control, and that increases his value.
Why can’t Urias go today? He only threw 15 pitches yesterday. I do not believe that the Dodgers are holding him back right now. They held him back during the season so they could turn him loose in the playoffs. If he threw 30+ pitches I might agree, but with 15 pitches he should be good to go.
AC,
You are a better man than I. Although I’m now doubly vexed. What are your points, what are Williams?
You make some odd assumptions. First, who says that Urias isn’t available? He only threw 15 pitches yesterday. Kenley and Kelly at 9 and 22 respectively with a day off tomorrow should also be available. I see the whole bullpen as being available.
Discussions about a team being the best of all time is like telling people that the color Blue is better than the color Red. I know Blue is better than Red, but arguments can be made equally on both sides. First of all, I agree that you cannot be better than a team that has won a World Series without winning one yourself. As Jime Rome would say, scoreboard! Now, if we happen to win it this year, the argument become much easier. The win total and the fact that we make it 3 years in a row, trumps all others. Add in the fact that none of the 50’s and 60’s teams had to make it through 2 rounds of playoffs before making it to the WS is more fodder for this team.
Just a suggestion, sit back and enjoy the ride. I’m wondering if the Astros fans are complaining because they’re getting their asses handed to them right now.
AC is right – I have always liked Kershaw and he ain’t Podres in the post-season. The Dodgers have to run him out there but he isn’t likely to be at his best when the chips are down. When I think of all of the Dodgers’ great post-season pitchers, I think of Koufax, Orel, Podres and others, but not Kershaw. He will be in the Hall of Fame someday, but this will always be a blemish on his record.
I never said that the Dodgers shouldn’t play Bellinger or Seager in the playoffs. What I did say is that they can’t rely on them to come up with the big hit. I also said that someone else would have to step up for the Dodgers to win. I never said that they wouldn’t or couldn’t win.
Belli had 2 hits in that 6th inning rally and his swing looked better. And Kike did come up with a big 2 run double. But Freese, Martin and Turner had the key hits. Freese has come up big in the post-season his entire career as has Turner.
The Dodgers have been in the post-season 7 years in a row – great. And that means that many of their players have a track record. I cited the stats yesterday. We’re talking over 100 PA for most of them so it’s not that small a sample size. And some of them come up big and some don’t. It’s a pattern.
Our host has pointed out for 2 years that the Dodgers haven’t hit in the last 2 World Series. It’s OK if he says it but not if I do?
Rick, to be clear, I was referring to others not wanting to play Belli/Seager/Pollock. I know that you were posting pertinent stats about the playoff history of the three and not suggesting that they sit, and I am okay with pointing out their history. But I wanted it to include Clayton’s playoff history. For the same reason that I am an advocate for putting Clayton on the mound on his next opportunity is the same reason I want to see Belli/Seager in the lineup. All three give the Dodgers the best chance of winning. Belli and Seager could both go off and Clayton can have a game reminiscent of 2017 WS Game 1. Or Not!! They are all more capable than any potential replacements currently on the team. I am in total favor of going with whoever brought you to the playoffs. I am also in favor of keeping Pollock in the lineup. He is in a horrible slump, but could break out any AB. But more importantly, Game 4 figures to be close and defense may in fact be an issue, and I would rather have Pollock in LF than Beaty. Matt Beaty is good at what he does…come off the bench to provide the spark. But even he knows that defense is not his forte’.
I don’t understand why you’re such a negative fan when you simply present the facts that our best players Kersh, Jansen, Belly and Seager have been great regular season players and have been poor post season players. And maybe that’s why we haven’t won a WS. Doesn’t mean we have to bench them or trade them. Doesn’t mean that we’re not rooting like crazy for them. Hopefully Belly has found his strokes again. He looked good last night. And hopefully Kersh comes in and closes out a victory tonight. And I don’t think it’s blasphemy to talk about should Beaty play over Pollock tonight. Just saying our best players have to play like it if we’re gonna win a WS. Dodgerrick is not the enemy just because he posts the statistics for our best players and says they need to play better
Well said. It seems any objective observation about a player’s poor performance is met by some who question your team loyalty or your sense of reasonableness. Yes, we all acknowledge baseball is a tough game to play and just because some of us question the play of some Dodger players it does not mean we think they’re bad people and didn’t try their hardest.
We want a parade in DTLA, we want a WS banner, we want to wear the title of Champion until a new one is crowned next year. We want to be on top of the baseball world, we want to be the envy of the MLB, we want the baseball pundits to speak glowingly of the Dodgers and that includes players, management, front office staff, ownership, fans etc.
Just because some of us root critically about a player it does not mean we are less of a fan than anyone who makes excuses for a bad play or for an 0-11 with 9 K performance. You root your way and others root their way. If you didn’t want different points of view this blog wouldn’t exist. After all, the very definition of a blog is a website featuring a writer’s own observations, experiences and opinions.
Play ball!!!!!
Well said. I learned something from that statistic he posted yesterday. I don’t always agree with his take, and he comes from a slightly pessimistic side of the spectrum, but he often makes me think. Isn’t that the point of having any discussion?
I might not always agree, but he lays out good arguments and he never posts mindless drivel.
2D2. Bravo. One terrific article and so true and needed. It is easy for some fair weather fans to be negative when things are not going in the direction they want them to, but if you are a true fan you can always find some positivity even in a loss which is harder and what I try to do. The team won last night in an exciting fashion. I am hoping the momentum carries over to today’s game. But, if not, there is always the next game. Another song comes to mind not for its lyrics but the title….Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey.
Written and sung by a hardcore Giants fan. Need something different.
Oops. Sorry. Did not know that. I just liked the title is all.
There have been posters here who have correctly pointed out some of the flaws that the Dodgers have to work with in order to get through the playoffs and even get to the WS, let alone beat an Astros juggernaut. They aren’t any less fans than you or I, they are just critical thinkers.
You operate on blind faith. You live in a fantasy baseball world of blue unicorns and perpetual blue confetti, where the Dodgers will win every game, and when they don’t, you finger your blue beads, utter a Go Dodger Blue incantation and just believe they’ll win again tomorrow. When there is any grownup discussion on what the Dodgers should do to build on strengths and whore up weaknesses, you simply cover your eyes with your blue pom poms. You don’t deal well with facts.
Facts:
Kenley is done. He’s cooked. He’s blown saves in the last two WS, which cost the Dodgers dearly.
Bellinger and Seager can’t perform in the playoffs. We have enough of a sample size to make that determination. The Dodgers can’t win with those two as the nucleus of the team. The Dodgers need to trade Bellinger for Bryce Harper or Giancarlo Stanton in the off season. They need to trade Seager for prospects and go through a complete rebuild. Hopefully they’ll be competitive in about five years.
Those are facts. Facts are truth. You can’t handle the truth.
https://youtu.be/UXoNE14U_zM
Sorry mom but Im not a fair weather fan just because I’m saying Pollock is in a bad place right now and maybe we should try someone else or that Freese is a post seasonnstud and we have to get his bat in the lineup. We haven’t won a championship in over 30 years and I don’t think it makes you a traitor or fair weathered to ask the question why. Doesn’t mean that I’m not rooting like crazy for each and every player and that I don’t think we can win it this year. I do and we can! I’ve already bought my tickets for game 2 of the NLCS!
If I go as well, let’s connect and grab a drink! (or edibles, as apparently you and I live on those)
We can be negative together and boo the Dodgers all game until we’re winning, when we’ll cheer them on.
I think constructive criticism is not only healthy but needed on this site, Cassidy. I think everyone has a right to their opinions including me. But to say Corey and Cody should be benched and traded because they were not doing so well so far, is not constructive. It is a wee bit unwise. Just an example of what I have been reading over the past few days. Do not think you said that and I do not know if you are a fair weather fan but hope not.
I never called for Seager and Belly to be benched or traded. That’s ridiculous! Only to play better if we’re gonna win a WS. As far as fair weathered I do prefer to go to a game when the weather is nice and the sun is shining! And who among us wasn’t screaming at Pollock when he struck out for the ninth time! But doesn’t mean I won’t be rooting for him the next time he steps into the batter’s box!
Good to hear. Will be rooting with you.
lol – OMG this is getting really funny now.
Here is the kind of stuff you write:
We’re just “unlucky”. Even average pitchers pitch great against us. Or maybe…………? Time to pull the plug on Pollock and Martin. They CANNOT be in the lineup!
Well we didn’t do anything with Corbin in the first game so I stand by my statement we need to do damage against Sanchez! And Corbin will be pitching tonight!
We’ve got to do damage in first 4-5 innings against Sanchez! Need a fast start!Has Belly fallen so far down the playoff rabbit hole he can’t get out? Amazing how much confidence plays into a players psyche even in professional sports. It’s all hands on deck offensively on Sunday and if it’s spinning you’re taking. Brewers strategy against Scherzer was to be aggressive on first pitch fastballs and it worked. Here’s our lineup:
1. Pederson
2. Beaty
3. Turner
4. Muncy
5. Freese
6. Seager
7 Smith
8. Bellinger
And if Barnes was available I might hit him for Belly. I’m really pulling for him to break out and turn his playoff blahs around. Hit a line drive up the middle!
Just sad to see Kersh fail once again in the post season. He just has no command of his fastball and it just gets punished. I just don’t see a solution with him going forward.
Sometimes, it’s hard to take it seriously.
Fun Fact, from Dodger writer Mike Petriello:
Russell Martin has such a long Dodger history that in his first LAD playoff game, he was the one who hit the ball that ended up with JD Drew and Jeff Kent getting thrown out at home on the same play, 13 years ago.
Im not as good as many at remembering all the plays thru the years. But I was definitely watching and member that disaster.
Today’s END THIS SERIES lineup:
Joc (RF)
Muncy (1b)
JT (3b)
Belly (CF)
Seager (SS)
Beaty (LF)
Lux (2b)
Smith (C)
Hill
I have zero problem benching Pollock. For the most part he’s been a disappointment to me offensively and defensively. I thought they would go with CT3 though. Better defense, more speed, more postseason experience. I’m a Beaty fan. It just leaves them with no LH bats on the bench.
Fear not Hawkeye. Kolarek bats left handed.
I feel much better now. Speaking of Kolarek was I the only hoping they wouldn’t show him to Soto again last night? I know he’s there for one batter only I’m a little worried they’re going to play that card one too many times if he sees him every game.
Every time they use him in that situation and he gets the out it makes the stats look even better and more likely they’ll do it again. I’m afraid you’ll have to put up with it until Soto figures him out. I just hope that when it happens it doesn’t win the game for them.
I’m glad that Doc listened to me and sat Pollock tonite. To those calling for Martin to start 2 days in a row, I don’t think physically he can do much of that
A couple of observations.
David Freese needs as many ABs as possible. However I was cringing as he was running the bases. He is hurting.
Secondly, you guys have pointed out countless times the East Coast bias from the various National Announcers.
When JT hit that ball out, it was greeted by silence from the booth, then a barely audible complaint from the sidekick about 7 runs scoring with 2 Outs.
I couldn’t help but think that there would have been a lot more excitement if it had been the other way round.
It was almost a feeling of anticlimax that I could feel.
Rich Hill tonight – then I’m guessing some Chicken Strip.
If we can get to Max early, and throw him off balance, we will be fine.
Strip and/or May would be my guess too.
So much for Grienke being the third part of the unhittable Astro threesome! Maybe not as unbeatable as people think! Tho the Yankee Astros series will be epic!
Hopefully you can say the same about Scherzer today.
Per Peter Gammons over at The Athletic:
“MOST SUCCESSFUL TEAMS, 2013-2019
Team Record Win %
Dodgers 671-464 .591
Indians 638-494 .564
Cardinals 635-499 .560
Yankees 634-500 .559
Nationals 632-502 .557
Red Sox 624-510 .550
Cubs 610-524 .538
Astros 602-532 .531
Athletics 590-544 .520
Pirates 584-548 .516”
A lot of wins.
The Cubs, Sox (twice), ‘Stros have won the Series in that period along with KC and SF.
It’s time for the Dodgers to win one.
Some thoughts:
1) Joe Kelly is an overall average relief pitcher who came into the 2019 season with an above 700 career OPS against him and posted a 711 OPS against him in the 2019 season.
2) I’m glad Roberts is starting Beaty over Pollock. Pollock vs RHP 2019 season 743 OPS, Beaty vs RHP 2019 season 840 OPS.
3) Since this will be a bullpen game, I’m hoping Roberts plays the OPS splits with the bullpen and hoping he realizes that if there is a game 5 it will be after a day off, therefore everybody should be available to pitch today. Go with your best.
Lets wrap it up today so we don’t have to face Strasburg in a game 5.
Oops forgot about Freese. Wish he would have started over Lux. Nothing against Lux. Hopefully Lux proves me wrong and hopefully since Freese isn’t starting, he comes up in a big situation and delivers like he normally does and stays in the game to do more damage.
I read the post today and cringed and have read all the comments and can’t say I’m any smarter or a more knowledgeable Dodger fan for having done so. This should be the best time of the year, sharing comradery as our favorite team goes for the glory. Instead we are picking apart others comments and making baseless accusations. So sad, and like many other regular commenters I just about have stopped participating. I’m going to enjoy this year’s team regardless and really don’t give a hoot if a few don’t like my opinions. Seems like a strange way to build a blog’s readership and participation though.
Vegas, I value your comments and opinions. Always have. But if you have a better topic i am sure Mark would be more than happy to let you write a column. What else are we going to discuss? Or should we just make a single comment with no further response. You are of course free to ignore or read the comments, but to make a comment that you are going to stop participating because you cannot say that you are any smarter or knowledgeable Dodger fan after reading the comments isn’t of any value either. It is simply a comment that you do not like our comments.
Amen.
I don’t care for the bickering back and forth and today should be a celebration of where the team is and how hard it is to get there. Just my opinion that some people should let it go. There is plenty positive to talk about like the fantastic inning they had last night and Martinez with egg on his face.
I was listening to the local Astro’s radio broadcast today. A lot of hand wringing about the bullpen and not a lot of confidence going forward for a team with the best record in MLB and a 2-1 lead in the series. I guess pessimism is just universal.
lose one playoff game, and it’s a sign of things to come.
Win one playoff game and start sizing up for rings!!
Some Dodger news:
Dave Roberts said there wasn’t “a whole lot of downside” replacing Pollock with Beaty in the lineup, but he hasn’t given up on Pollock.
Roberts said he’s confident rookies Beaty, Smith and Lux can handle the stage of the postseason.
Roberts wouldn’t rule out the possibility of Hyun-Jin Ryu pitching out of the bullpen if there’s a Game 5.
Roberts said he did not consider starting Martin today after his big game last night. “I feel very confident going with Will (Smith),” Roberts said.
Roberts said the biggest difference in this year’s offense from previous years is the ability of left-handed hitters to succeed against left-handed pitching.
Dodgers expect to see Max Scherzer empty the tank tonight. Stephen Strasberg threw a bullpen session today to prep for a Game 5 start, removing him as a bullpen option.
Kershaw did not throw a bullpen session today so he could be a bullpen option today.
I want my ring with a big blue “D” on it
haha. count me in too!
Who said Urias would not pitch tonight?
maybe he shouldn’t have…
Maybe he should have left Urias in. 🙂
maybe…maybe not.
Indecision may or may not be part of my problem…
Better should rain in order the game stop and scherser get out.. Jajaja
I CANNOT point the finger at Roberts over the pitching in this game.
Nats are top lefty hitting team in NL. Going with Urias after 2 innings yesterday was surprising.
When you see Stripling in the game you know the Dodgers are in trouble.
Max is filthy tonite. Can we??
Will we?
AC – Yout there looking forward to seeing you in South Bend Saturday.
Game of inches
59, truer words have never been spoken.
If it doesn’t eliminate him, the 108 pitches that Scherzer has thrown tonight, could limit his effectiveness or the number of pitches he can throw, if he’s needed out of the pen on Wed. Of course the Dodgers could stage a rally tonight and eliminate game 5.
The only question mark I have so far is why not Freese instead of Taylor with the bases loaded I think in the 7th inning.
I’m not picking on Taylor.