While writing the article on Reggie Smith, I was introduced to Chet Brewer, a player from the Negro Leagues that I, quite frankly, had not been familiar with before that article. After becoming acquainted with him through my research, I wish that I had knew more about him earlier on, as I’ve discovered that he was a remarkable man.
Brewer has a strong connection to the Dodgers, not only that he served as a scout for them for a short period of time, he was a mentor to Reggie Smith, but more importantly, Brewer mentored a young Jackie Robinson in the California Winter League, right before Robinson signed with the Dodgers. Having been involved with youth and high school sports for many years myself, I have always held a ton of respect for those men and women who give of their time, selflessly, to impart their knowledge of baseball(or any activity for that matter) and who help teach young people not only about sports, but about life. Chet Brewer was such a man. His legacy in local Los Angeles youth baseball runs so deep, that he has often been referred to as the “soul of black baseball in Los Angeles.” Brewer’s passion in life was people, especially the “young folks” as he called them.
Chester Arthur Brewer was born on January 14, 1907 in Leavenworth, Kansas, the son of a Methodist minister. When Brewer was about eight years old, he and his father moved to Des Moines, Iowa, to live with his uncle. There, he attended mixed schools and lived in a relatively integrated neighborhood, the opposite of his situation in Kansas.
Brewer attended Olive McHenry School and then went on to the integrated Western High School in Des Moines where he was a standout in football, basketball and track. Unfortunately, his high school did not have a baseball program. Instead, Brewer honed his baseball skills on the sandlots of Des Moines. At the age of 15, Brewer began playing for Black semi-pro teams, first joining Brown’s Tennessee Rats and later joining the Gilkerson Union Giants, a barnstorming team based in Illinois. He ultimately grew to an imposing 6-foot-4, with a fastball that moved, a curveball that swept and a “scuffed,” or emery ball (which was legal at the time), and combined his velocity with excellent control. This was in spite of the effects of a devastating childhood incident: while still in Leavenworth, Brewer got too close to a trolley car, which ran over his right foot and sliced off three of his toes. “He somehow managed to get it to not affect his play,” said Phil Dixon, a Negro Leagues historian and author. “But he was essentially pitching with a handicap. … Somehow, he just figured out a way and worked through it.”
Long time childhood friend, Allen Ashby, had the following to say about Chet’s athletic ability as a youngster growing up in Des Moines:
“Brewer pitched his team to the final game of the city title, but lost 1-0, after striking out 17 batters in seven innings. He was 12 years old. He pitched around the city with kids teams and rarely lost because no one could hit his fastball. Chet was a great athlete around Des Moines. He was an excellent basketball player and good football player. He and I played on basketball and football teams together, but I couldn’t carry his baseball shoes. At 15 he started traveling out of town, pitching for black semipro teams. Then clubs from around the state began to hire him to pitch and soon was making what was then was good money simply by pitching.”
Brewer’s baseball career as a professional spanned three decades, from 1923 to 1953. He was signed to a contract by the Kansas City Monarchs in 1925, where he, among other things, pitched alongside, one Leroy “Satchel” Paige. While he was overshadowed by all the publicity given to Satchel Paige and Bullet Rogan, Brewer certainly did not play second fiddle to them. He was their equal in all respects. As with most Negro League players, the statistics are sketchy at best, but here are some of his known accomplishments:
● According to research by the Center for Negro League Baseball Research, Chet Brewer had a won-loss record of 116-73 (.614) in Negro League games and an overall won loss record in games against all levels of competition 311-147 (.679). In professional baseball, especially for a career that spanned 30 seasons and playing virtually twelve months a year his winning percentage is incredibly impressive.
● Brewer pitched in hundreds of “non-league” games during his career, however, with the exception of 27 box scores that were recovered, the statistics for those games are missing. For those 27 games, Brewer had a record of 25-1.
● Researchers have also been unable to recover his pitching statistics for his career in Cuba (1930), Tour of the Far East (1933-34), Dominican Republic, (1937), Puerto Rico (1940-41 and 1947-48), Panama (1948-1952) and Canada (1949-1951 and 1953).
● During his Negro League career, Chet Brewer had an extremely high rate of complete games. Negro League researchers Larry Lester and Dick Clark found box scores for 158 Negro League games in which Chet Brewer was the starting pitcher. According to their research, Brewer completed 110 games of those starts for a 69.6% completion rate. Brewer also pitched 15 shutouts in these 158 games. Even at forty years of age, Brewer made eight starts for the Cleveland Buckeyes in 1947 and completed six of those games.
● Brewer didn’t give up a lot of runs per game. Research by Larry Lester and Dick Clark have found box scores for 199 games and 1285 innings that Chet Brewer pitched against “Negro League” teams and teams of top level competition. In these 1285 innings, Chet Brewer had a 3.00 ERA.
● The longevity of his career is impressive, having pitched in 30 seasons. Brewer played baseball until 1953, when at 46, he signed with a team in Carman, Manitoba as player-manager.
● No player in the history of Negro League baseball played professionally in more different countries than Chet Brewer. Over the course of his baseball career besides playing in the United States, he played in Canada, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Hawaii, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Philippines and Puerto Rico. He also played in forty-four of the forty-eight states in the continental United States. To say he was well-traveled is an understatement. In 1938, Brewer was the first black-American player to pay in the Mexican League.
There is so much to be written about Brewer’s baseball exploits, and this humble article could never do him justice. So instead, I turn to a master, the legendary Jim Murray, who in an article written for the Independent Journal on March 2, 1967, wrote this about Brewer, in a way only he could:
“How would you like to be a big league talent scout and come upon this in an Iowa sandlot? Six Feet four inches tall, 215 pounds, long loose arms, easy rhythm, 19 years old, a fast ball you can’t even hear distinctly, and a curveball that comes through like a car corning at Indianapolis? A young man of good habits who removes his hat in the presence of ladies, eats with a fork and says “Yes, sir” to his elders?
“What would you give him? $100,000.00, $200,000.00? A new car every six months and a house and 100 acres of bottom land for his parents?
“But this was 1927 in the sovereign city of Des Moines, Iowa, and do you know what Chester A. Brewer got? Zip. Zero. Nada. The scouts stepped over him to get a .250 banjo hitter who drank, smoked, ran around with girls, and was 40-1 never to see a big league game.
“As far as the big leagues were concerned at the time Chet Brewer might as well have been a girl. Because, you see, his complexion was a light tawny brown – and he would have wrecked the color scheme of the big leagues.
“Chet bent his curve ball (which may have been one of history’s best) in places like Crookston, Minn., Tampico, Winnipeg, Homestead, Pa., and some Caribbean banana docks after that. It was an era of history true sportsmen are ashamed of, and true bigots yearn for.
“One of the greatest pitchers of his era went through life in the back of the bus, or eating hocks in fly-blown diners in Colored Town. For $150.00-a-month and a free night bus ride to the next town, he served up that curve ball to Caribbean cane-choppers, Mexican truck drivers, and kids who got a day off from the cotton fields to try their luck at it.
“A pitcher who should have been in Yankee Stadium was in a canebrake in the Philippines, a sand bar in Santo Domingo. The first night baseball game in history was NOT Crosley Field in Cincinnati in 1935, but in Enid Okla., several years sooner, when Chet pitched by the light of a ring of automobiles, and a few high-watt bulbs strung up on a pole. In that light none of the batters was real sure that he was using a ball.
“The magnitude of the injustice is comprehended when you know that Chet beat Dizzy Dean, of the Hall-of-Fame Deans, in a barnstorming tour once, and that he shut out the 1932 Athletics, one of the all-time great teams, 4-0. Jimmy Foxx only managed a foul pop up in four trips to the plate.”
After Chet Brewer retired from professional baseball he worked as a machine parts inspector at North American Aviation. In his off hours, he would work as a scout, but primarily, he dedicated his life to working with young ball players in the Los Angeles area. For many years he ran a semipro youth baseball league in Los Angeles for kids and young adults between the ages of 14 to 23. Chet Brewer’s teams (they were either known as the “Chet Brewer Rookies”, the “Chet Brewer Pirates” and/or the “Watts Giants,”) provided hundreds of young men the opportunity to grow as a ball player and learn how to transition from being a boy to a man. For many years, Chet Brewer would hold a show case in Watts for Major League scouts every Sunday. Those show cases were always well attended by scouts. Major League standouts that went through his program included, Earl Battey, Ellis Burton, Enos Cabell, Willie Crawford, Bobby Darwin, Doc Ellis, George Hendricks, Eddie Murray, Reggie Smith, Bobby Tolan, Ellis Valentine, Bob Watson and Roy White. No matter how you slice it, that is an impressive list of names and players.
Chet Brewer holds a special place in former Dodger Reggie Smith’s heart, who had this to say about Chet Brewer:
“He was probably the most knowledgeable and kindest man I have ever known in terms of what he’s done for young African-American players in the Los Angeles area itself. He was a huge influence, especially as it related to becoming a professional. He taught what it was all about in terms of expectations. We gained more experience than any 18 year old playing today. ”
Relishing the opportunity to reminisce about his teacher, Smith cited the invaluable contributions that Brewer made to not only his own career, but also a host of other African-American major league stars.
“The love [I have] for Chet is always remembering him and the contributions that he made not only to the Negro Leagues, but to professional baseball from the standpoint of the number of young African-Americans with that he came into contact with,” Smith said. “He provided us with infinitely valuable information and knowledge to continue to play the game.”
“Chet was very instrumental to me because I first started playing with him when I was 15 years old and at the time there were kind of the remnants of the many players that were in the old Negro Leagues. … At the time, [Negro League] players would always come out west and barnstorm. I was fortunate enough in 1960 to be able to play for him because Chet had spotted me and gave me the opportunity to sit on the bench, learn a little bit, and then get into a game or two until ultimately that I was able to play with him on a regular basis. In doing so, that brought in other players like Bob Watson, Bobby Tolan, Leon McFadden, Dock Ellis, and a whole group of other young African-American players who had an opportunity to play with that team. They all went on to have long and prosperous major league careers. Chet was very influential in the number of players that he came into contact with to teach us not only how to play this little boy’s game, but that we had to be men to do it.”
Phil Pote, a Seattle Mariners scout who coached at Fremont and Locke high schools in Los Angeles had this to add:
“[Chet] could’ve been very bitter over the fact that he had the ability to play many years in the major leagues and perhaps have been a star and yet he was deprived of that. Instead of withdrawing from baseball, you got the feeling that he said to himself: ‘Maybe I can help some of these kids get to what was not possible for me.’ In that sense we were blessed by his presence.”
Jim Murray had this to add about how Chet Brewer viewed his fate:
“Embittered? Ready to pull society down by its foundations? Throwing curves with Molotov cocktails these days?”
“Now 60, Chet Brewer shakes his head. “I don’t believe in hate” he says. I do believe in righting wrongs. You make people more ashamed by good examples than you do by copying the tactics of the worst of them. Hate puts both of you in the grave. Working with kids at clinics, I do more good in five minutes than the hate groups will do in five years.”
Brewer strived to make a difference in young people’s lives and keep them off the street. He was a mentor to countless number of young adults during his life. All in all, it is believed that Brewer got around 40 players to the big leagues, either through scouting, signing or coaching. These players are part of the fabric of baseball itself.
“He did so many things in baseball himself, but even the people he touched continued to touch baseball long after he retired,” said Phil Dixon, a Negro Leagues historian and author. “He touched baseball for real.”
Brewer died in 1990 at the age of 83. In 2006, Brewer appeared on the final two ballots for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame through a special election for Negro League players. However, he was one of the last to miss the cut.
After learning all that I have about Chet Brewer over this past two weeks, I have come to understand why he was revered by so many people. He was a truly great baseball player and an even more outstanding man!!! The world could use many more Chet Brewers!!
Very nice 2demeter2 very interesting ,thank you. I hope McKinstry plays in the next 2 series. Let’s see what happens.
I too hope McKinstry is in the lineup frequently this week; he impresses me as a ball player.
I keep reading how good our bullpen is but yesterday’s box score I read ERA’s for 3 of the 4 who pitched after Gonsolin as 3.57, 3.85 and 6.35. Sounds rather pedestrian to me.
And 4 pitchers after a starter sounds like a lot. Should read starter, set up guy, closer. Get on that plan Andy.
At 6.35, Wood is going to have to get his ERA much lower or risk making the playoff roster.
The Dodgers have the #1 team ERA in MLB at 3.06. The starter’s ERA is 3.24 (#2 in MLB behind the Indians), while the Relievers ERA is 2.86, which is #1 in the NL and #2 behind the A’s who have a 2.46 Bullpen ERA.
Nothing pedestrian about the Dodgers’ Pen. It’s outstanding.
Not those 3 in there last night.
Has fallen from #3 to #9.
https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&lg=all&qual=0&type=8&season=2019&team=0%2cts
Bluto with the facts.
I knew I wasn’t hallucinating. Not that a good hallucination wouldn’t improve my day.
Bluto – I’m missing something. Those look like 2019 stats. How do i call up the 20202stats?.
It’s complicated.
You click on 2020.
And I am hallucinating.
2020
https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=0&type=8&season=2020&month=0&season1=2020&ind=0&team=0,ts&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0
Thank you Badger and Dodger Patch.
Love stories like this, thank you!
What a shame Chet Brewer was not able to play in the major leagues. With his talent, I think, he would have excelled even more than he did in the Negro Leagues. His career was legendary and to be able to accomplish so much while missing 3 toes? After retiring he devoted his time to helping kids. I loved his statement,” Maybe I can help some of these kids get to what was not possible for me”. No bitterness just a desire to help. Major League’s loss. Excellent story and article, 2D2.
Rob,
People today can learn a lot from Chet!
Amen to that Mark!
Fantastic write up 2d2! I was familiar with Chet Brewer only because a neighbor of mine pitched one season on his Rookie team. Doc Ellis and Bobby Tolan were on the team at that time. I watched several Sunday games at the old Wrigley Field. My neighbor thought Chet was a great teacher and man. But, I didn’t realize that Chet had such a distinguished career in the Negro leagues. Again, just fantastic research and writing. Thank you.
Love the bio 2d2. Fantastic human being! Mark, Wood is not making the playoff roster. He’s a number 5 Starter at best and even worse out of the bullpen!
Looking at the box scores from Colorado, which probably wouldn’t be considered a good indication of much, just by BA alone there’s a few guys who haven’t earned a spot on that roster, but will be there anyway because we have to fill it out.
We play a playoff team for the next 3 games. Hopefully everyone treats it as a playoff series. Lose two and your season is over.
Rams looked good. So did the Chargers but for one boneheaded rookie play by Herbert. Lakers look as good as any bubble team I’ve seen.
Outstanding write up 2D2. I love reading about people who have done something special with their lives like Brewer did. The fact that he was a great ballplayer, and denied the opportunity to play in the majors makes his story even more compelling. Reading about a person like Chet is kind of like finding a gold nugget in the river bed. People who give selflessly of themselves, no matter what their race or creed, are proof that there are some really good people out there. A story like his is what I would rather read than all of the crap the media says nowadays. When I was young and collecting baseball cards, when I looked at the picture of the player, I never thought, oh, he is a black guy, or this guy is Mexican. Wow, this guy plays for the Yankees was my response. The shame is that he was denied the chance, and that the hall has not opened a spot for him in some way. There should be some scouts or people who gave of themselves to help young people play the game in the hall. I love the game, and I love the history of the game, be it the majors, minors, or the Negro leagues. We are all human beings, and the sooner we all realize that the better off the country will be. I watched 42 again the other day. Simply because I love it’s sticking to the truth of what happened to Jackie, and not sugarcoating it the way Hollywood is prone to do. If I am watching something based on history, they had damn well better be accurate. Plus, I think Boseman, Ford, Black and the rest of the cast, wanted to portray those individuals correctly. Ford went as far as using a lot of makeup to play Rickey. Thanks for the history lesson.
“We are all human beings, and the sooner we all realize that the better off the country will be.“
Careful buddy. That could be considered a political/social positional statement and this is strictly a Dodger site.
Just the fact you say that strongly suggests there’s a large group of people who don’t agree we are all equal. And NBAl players are wearing reminders of that fact on every jersey. Ok, I’m done.
Human beings play the game, or at least I like to think so. The morality of how some were treated has relevance to the Dodgers as well as the country. Considering that the team was at the forefront of breaking the color barrier, it is a little surprising that the only black player on the team, Betts, came from another organization.
Great article on Mr. Brewer, 2d2. I love bios on old players and especially Negro League players. He had an impact on the game and other people. Too bad not in MLB as a player.
Speaking of impact on others, there’s a nice piece on Mookie’s impact on his teammates in the Athletic this morning.
Some thoughts on yesterday:
* While Orel didn’t mention it (he was too busy rambling on 4 days in a row about Coors Field where balls don’t break and pitchers can’t pitch ad nauseam) but Gonsolin only struggled from the stretch yesterday. After Tapia’s single in the 4th he gave up 3 hits and 2 runs. His other 4 innings were all 3 up, 3 down, from the wind up. I don’t know what’s different but the hitters usually tell you something is up with their at bats.
* Gonsolin must have reached his 82 pitch and 5 inning limit before giving way to Treinen. If you pitch enough guys nightly inevitably somebody is going to have an off night. The bullpen has been great.
* I agree with Cassidy. So far, I see no role for Wood on the playoff roster. I’d rather keep one less pitch and add McKinstry to the roster. I like his contact skills and think that can come in handy as a pinch hitter in the playoffs.
* I have a question based on some comments from yesterday that you playoff rules amigos can help with. The playoff rosters can be retooled for each round as we advance. But did I read yesterday that if a player goes to the IL, they are done for the entire playoffs and not just that round? For example of Buehler had his blister issue flare up in 3 game round one and he was replaced on the roster, is he done for the entire playoffs through the World Series?
I’m looking forward to seeing the A’s on Tuesday. Kinda tired of the same faces in the west.
Mad Max slipped under .190 yesterday. He did draw 2 walks though. Bellinger blew a good chance to get them a lot closer in the 8th. He fanned with the bases loaded. They did not get all that many runners on against Senzatela. So basically they were out pitched. The pen has been good over all, but the last couple of weeks they have been giving up a lot of runs, and then get saved by the offense. Good takeaways from the game was Pollock going to RF with his 2 run single. McKinstry hitting the ball to left center. Badger is right, the next 3 games they are facing a team who with thier next win will clinch the west. Dodgers magic number is 3. Padres have 2 with the Angels, and 4 in San Francisco who will be fighting for their playoff lives. They need 2 of 3 from the A’s. Looks like Arenado will be out for the rest of the season, he is having some bad shoulder problems.
A walk appears to be the goal for Muncy.
Actually the magic number is two. The Dodgers own the tiebreaker.
Details, details, details…allow me my fantasy! LOL> I wasn’t even thinking about a tiebreaker.
Very nice work 2D2. We can’t help but wonder how those great players in the Negro leagues would have done in MLB. Chet Brewer was just one of many gems but he indeed was a special gem.
Thanks 2d2 for the interesting article. Quite honestly, I had never heard of Chet Brewer before. It sure sounds like he was a great person and ball player. What a shame that he and others like him never had a shot at MLB.
DODGERS REINSTATE OF JOC PEDERSON
DODGERS OPTION IF/OF ZACH MCKINSTRY
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers have reinstated outfielder Joc Pederson from the family medical emergency list and have optioned infielder/outfielder Zach McKinstry.
Pederson, 28, has played in 38 games this season, batting .178 (19-for-109) with six homers and 12 RBI. Last season, he batted .249 (112-for-450) with 36 homers and 74 RBI, setting career-highs in batting average, runs (83), hits, homers, RBI and OPS (.876). In parts of seven seasons with the Dodgers, he is a career .230 (492-for-2141) hitter with 129 homers and 299 RBI.
McKinstry, 25, made his Major League debut on Thursday against the Rockies and he made his first career start on Sunday afternoon in Colorado. He recorded his first hit on Sunday, a double off Antonio Senzatela and finished the game 2-for-4. In four games with the Dodgers this year, he is 2-for-7 with a run scored. The Indiana native split the 2019 season between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City, playing six different positions and hitting .300 (129-for-430) with 24 doubles, 19 homers and 78 RBI. He finished the season with Oklahoma City and hit .382 (34-for-89) with seven homers and 26 RBI in 26 games. In his five minor league seasons in the Dodgers organization, he has hit a combined .270 (331-for-1226) with 30 homers and 149 RBI across five different levels.
Well at least the kid got a taste of the bigs, and got his first hit.
Well, the playoff roster is going to depend upon a lot of things.
I would not ever say Wood will not be there… it depends upon how he pitches these last games
Also, I would not ever say McKinstry can’t make the playoff roster. A lot depends upon Joc and his (1) hitting; and (2) family situation.
In fact, if I were betting, I would say that Alex Wood will be on the roster!
Colorado is not a good place for him to pitch.
Apparently, neither is Dodger Stadium. Maybe they should wait to have him on the roster until they get to Texas, if they get there, for the NLDS.
As of right now, according to the MLB site, the Dodgers are # 1 in pitching. They have a 3.06 ERA, which leads Cleveland’s 3.24. The team WHIP is 1.06. I am not looking at the splits, just the team totals. One alarming stat, they have 14 saves, but 10 blown saves. Cannot do that in the post season. BA against LA pitching is a paltry .214. They have given up 60 homers, but walk less hitters than the rest of the league. As good as the Reds pitching is supposed to be, their ERA is 3.96. Reds are playing the Brewers in a battle for a wild card slot.
Most of the teams have 7 -12 blown saves. The White Sox and Padres have the same as the Dodgers.
Still a bad stat. Means late relief has given up some leads. Not all of those were losses, and they had 3 in one game.
Anyone seen Matt Beaty? He seems to have fallen off the face of the earth.
We brought up McKinstry and optioned him back to SC.
We keep giving Lux at bats but he doesn’t seem to be improving.
No one has asked me, certainly not Andrew, but if I’m making out the roster I tell Lux that we have great plans for him in the future but he isn’t on this year’s playoff roster. And then I add Beaty who has proven to be a good pinch hitter. Granted, he didn’t look very good in the week or two before he was optioned, but he’s still hitting better than Lux and Muncy.
CT3 should be starting every playoff game at second base and Pollock should be in left. There is no need for Lux this post season.
Beaty is still at the alternate site. Difference there is he is getting AB’s every day, and against some decent pitching, so, if needed at least he will not be rusty. Now it seems to me that Pederson could have used a couple of days over there to get some reps in. Pederson has not seen a pitch in a week, and now he will be hitting against a playoff staff? Kind of counter productive to me.
Joc was the primary hitter against Buehler in his 75 pitch sim game.
Does anybody know the answer to the question I posted earlier today?
* I have a question based on some comments from yesterday that you playoff rules amigos can help with. The playoff rosters can be retooled for each round as we advance. But did I read yesterday that if a player goes to the IL, they are done for the entire playoffs and not just that round? For example of Buehler had his blister issue flare up in 3 game round one and he was replaced on the roster, is he done for the entire playoffs through the World Series?
Ok Phil, the team can request to replace an injured player, but then that player is ineligible for that round and the subsequent round. So, if Buehler went out in the Wild Card round, he would have to sit out the NLDS too. He could come back for the NLCS< and World Series. If he went down in the NLCS< he would have to miss the series.
Thanks Bear. Boy that becomes risky business than going on the IL if you’re unsure when the blister, for example, would allow him to pitch again. You’re almost forced to keep him on the roster and possibly available for all the rounds. Overall you could be a pitcher short.
Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Get out the pickle juice again.
In his bullpen the other day, he threw 75 with out the cover and the other 15 with it. Since he is a starter it would not be as hard to take as losing someone like Treinen or McGee.
Good question, Phil. I am sure someone will know and answer. I have one too. Mine is an easy one. Does anyone know when the playoff roster has to be submitted?
I am pretty sure the roster must be submitted at least 24 hours before game 1. If memory serves, that is usually the way it is. But this is not a usual year.
Thanks, Bear.
Carson Fullmer is a Pirate again after being claimed off waivers from the Orioles. He had been claimed earlier by the Pirates from Detroit, but was plucked from the Pirate roster before he could pitch in a game. Ken Giles to have TJ surgery. Guess it is a good thing AF did not trade for the guy.. Lots of pitchers facing that this year.
23 years ago, Mike Piazza hit a ball out of Dodger Stadium!!
The best place for Wood to pitch during the playoffs is at USC
On that we both agree
Also the Athletic today has a nice scouting report on the Dodgers first round foes, assuming we are #1. Go Phillies.
Or Giants. Don’t want to face Reds or Marlins. In the end tho if you want to win a WS you have to beat good pitching. No excuses. Get it done! Is it too late to send Wood back to the Reds?
I absolutely agree Cassidy. I look at the match ups out of interest. Not out of fear. Some teams front line starters are better than others, obviously. But you’re right. There’s no belly aching about the match up or the 3 game format. You play who’s on the schedule. Eventually you have to beat quality teams no matter what round it is. No Whining. Just play like champions.
Alex Wood did not pitch badly yesterday.
He will get another shot or two. How he does going forward will determine if he makes the playoff roster.
By the way, Alex Wood’s career ERA as a reliever is 2.72 with a 1.01 WHIP.
Unless he is hurt, I would say the odds are very good he makes the playoff roster.
Joc and Max should be on the bubble and if they can’t get it going (I mean if they keep hitting the way they currently are), they need to be left off the roster.
Let’s assume, they don’t make it. This would be my roster:
1. Betts RF
2. Seager SS
3. Turner 3B
4. Bellinger 1B
5. Pollock LF
6. Smith C
7. CT3 – CF
8. Rios DH
9. Hernandez/Lux 2B
Bench:
Beaty, Barnes, Ruiz
Then depending upon who is the first-round opponent, I might keep 15 pitchers.
It’s such a crapshoot with a team like Cincinnati in a 3-game playoff.
And why is it that Lux deserves a spot on the roster any more than Joc or Max do?
Both of those guys have more playoff experience and are more likely to accidentally hit a homer.
I’d even take my chances with McKinstry ahead of Lux at this point. Gavin can relax and start all over next year when he’ll have an entire season to prove himself.
Here’s the era that matters. 6.35! Alex Wood had one magical first half year in 17 and otherwise blah! You can’t really tell me that you’d want Wood to come in in a critical moment in the playoffs! And there’s no way Lux makes the playoff roster over Muncy!
I’ll bet that (unless he is injured) Wood will be on the playoff roster.
I was just talking to my daughter (she will be 40 in 6 months). Last weekend we played paintball with her youngest brother and my nephew who is my oldest son’s age. Here we are after the game:
Anyway, I was whining about how my left knee was not getting any better and that I needed to get an injection… but I hate needles.
My daughter, like me, is irreverent and she said “Suck it up! You are the F_________g Mountainmover! Just do it!” Nothing like your kids to put things in perspective. I am so blessed!
Stew on this:
In 1988, the last time the Dodgers won the World Series, the team hit 99 homers in 162 games. On Saturday, the 2020 Dodgers hit their 100th homer in their 53rd game of the year.