It has been 32 years! In some ways that is a lifetime, but here we finally are: Ready to see if the Dodgers can clinch the 2020 World Series tonight. I would be remiss if I did not consider our Dodger brothers and sisters who are in the path of the wildfires and have had to evacuate or are facing evacuation. May the Big Dodger in the Sky be with you all! Facing losing everything is incomprehensible! All I can think of is the Old Irish Proverb:
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
May the rain fall softly on your fields
And until we meet again
May you keep safe
In the gentle loving arms of God
Stay Safe my Brothers and Sisters!
At first blush, it seems like a mismatch. Blake Snell and his 3.33 ERA in the Postseason versus Tony Gonsolin and his 9.39 Postseason ERA. Some may think the Dodgers have no chance. I am going to suggest that you throw all of that hype and the stats out the window and see how it plays out. Several fans said that Dustin May should not pitch again in the Postseason and yet we saw how that worked out.
Tony Gonsolin has only pitched 1.1 innings this World Series and has logged 7.2 IP in the Postseason. Tony knows he can pitch to the big boys and I believe that Doc, Mark Prior, Clayton, and now even May are whispering in his ear “You can do this, Catman!” Katmando – I like that name! I usually refrain from gameday predictions, but just like I said that Dustin May would bounce back, I think the same thing about Tony Gonsolin. It would be HUGE if he went four or five innings… but we shall see.
Pitching is important, but the Dodgers’ bats can put a lot of pressure on the Rays tonight and they need to do exactly that. Cody Bellinger (.222), Mookie Betts (.284) and Will Smith (.197) are way past due. So is AJ Pollock (.231) for that matter!
The Dodgers have three players hitting over .300:
- Pederson – .382
- Seager – .344
- Barnes – .318
… and you also have to give Max Muncy a huge amount of credit. He is hitting .268 but leads the Dodgers with a .461 OB%. He is second to Corey Seager in RBI, and lots of fans wanted him outta’ the four-hole. Thank the Big Dodger in the Sky for Max Muncy.
Barnes and Smith have both caught Tony Gonsolin, but two of Tony’s best games were when Austin Barnes was his catcher. Now is not the time to find out if Smith catches the Catman as good as Austin. The disparity in runs allowed between when Smith is behind the plate and Barnes is behind the plate is too great. Smith can DH. Barnes needs to catch!
Look, I like Will Smith – he has exceeded my expectations by a lot. He is a great teammate with excellent skills, but Buehler, Kershaw, Treinen, and now May appear to pitch better with Austin as the Catcher. Will Smith is coachable and if he stays at Catcher, I am sure he will become the equal of Austin Barnes… but he is not RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW! Barnes is a better framer, signal-caller and blocks pitches better. Smith has a better arm, but it’s not a cannon.
If I were Dave Roberts, I would tell Will Smith to just focus on tearing up the baseball. “Get us some offense!” I might even shake up the bottom of the lineup a little… or not.
Some of you wonder if I am serious about moving Will Smith to 2B or 3B and all I can say is that is something that I believe could be on the table. I think it has to be considered. We all have high hopes for Gavin Lux, but so far, he has not fulfilled that promise. Certainly, he may, but Smith could be Plan B, especially since the Dodgers are so deep at Catcher with Barnes, Ruiz, and Cartaya (at about the time Barnes will walk).
BTW, the Red Sox feel that they got quite a haul for Mookie Betts. At 24, Alex Verdugo hit .308 with a .367 OB% and .844 OPS. He was 21st in the AL in WAR. The Red Sox are expecting Jeter Downs to be their 2B and Conner Wong to be their starting catcher as soon as 2021. The Dodger paid a huge price to get Mookie…. and they never looked back!
After the season is over, we will delve into each position, all the prospects, and what possibilities exist next year. But, right about now, the Dodgers have a World Series to win and that is their singular focus. Some have questioned why Buehler is not starting on 3 years rest? If you asked that question you also answered it: Three Days Rest! Anything is possible, depending upon the situation, Striker could pitch an inning or two tonight, but right about now, he is the safety net.
It’s all hands on deck and that includes Baez and Jansen. Yes, Jansen was the loser of game four, but he turned one bat into toothpicks and gave up a “bloop” hit. No hard contact! For that matter, if Cody had been healthy, the Series would be over. Even Joe Kelly is available. Dave Roberts has made it clear that the Dodgers do not have a closer, but they have lots of arms. The Young Turks have left their imprint on this Dodger team and we will enjoy watching them pitch for a long time into the future!
Forget Bullpen ERA – it’s all about ERA Period! Right about now the Rays are giving up 5.57 runs a game while the Dodgers are at 4.03 runs allowed! At this stage of the season, there are no starters or relievers – just pitchers! If I were forced to guess what will happen tonight, I would predict that the second time the Dodgers see Blake Snell will result in a blowout! I guarantee they will make him work and I think it is time for an offensive uprising!
Kill the Monkey
I would like to see Pollack play instead of Smith. Yes Jansen some weak contact, but poor location none the less. That guy should have been struck out
There is a lefty pitching, so Pollock will be in the lineup. Most likely at DH or left field.
It’s pretty obvious you’re really optimistic about tonight’s game Mark. And so am I!! I sure feel happy about it and I don’t think this kind of energy can turn out for not. There must be the smell of napalm in the air this morning because it sure smells like victory. The game will dictate which pitchers make the stabbings but vitals won’t show good for the Rays. This one will end with an “IT”S ABOUT GODDAMN TIME”! The Rays can say wait till next year as well as all the other teams and we will and the next and the next. CHEERS! And LETS DO THIS TONIGHT DODGERS!!
The thing is: The Dodgers are built for NOW… and next year… and the year after… and the year after that… and (you get my drift). This is going to be a long ride!
It’s already been a long ride.
Let’s roll
I am very skeptical about Gonzo starting this game. He hasn’t had a good outing in a while but the Dodgers put themselves in a hard place regarding the rotation, this series. Gonzo should be watched like hawk and pulled if any loose ends begin to show. We may be forced into an opener type of game IF Gonzo doesn’t come to pitch. We’ve got plenty of arms to deliver a full game, but it should be the bats that deliver the message. Use Urias and May in a hold situation as first line defense. Buehler needs to stay out of this in case he is needed for a Game 7. The more pressure on Snell, the better our chances. If the bats choke, well, there’s always game 7 and more gray hairs to count. Doc should be sedated and prevented from any boneheaded moves. Kidnap him for the good of the team and the fans!
I’m with you on that one Jeff. As I have repeatedly said, his splitter has often floated up there with a “hit me here ” X on it. Maybe he’s showing signs that his spin rate is back and 5 innings will be completed. I’m prepared for a bullpen game. Do hope I am wrong about that.
How will we all feel when it happens, I was 9 in 88, remember watching the games with my dad, special time as my parents divorced a year earlier and was a really tough time for me.
Took my son to 17 and 18 series games.
He is in school now, I went to Game 1 and 2 by myself in Dallas, met some great Dodger folks.
I dont know how I’ll feel but I do know I will enjoy the heck out of it.
Not counting chickens though; jobs not done.
I hope that they let Gonsolin be a starter and not an opener. Let him try to get through 3-4 innings. Don’t pull him after an inning if he happens to give up a hit or walks someone. But, maybe that’s not their plan for him. But, whatever the plan it’s important that Gonsolin know what is expected of him so he can mentally prepare himself.
If the Dodgers can repeat their performance against Snell from game 2 they should be in good shape. I guess it’s the times, but with Snell considered the ace of the Tampa starters I find it kind of amazing. He gets through 4.2 innings with 9 K’s and had held the Dodgers hitless for the first four innings. But, with throwing almost 90 pitches he wasn’t allowed to finish the fifth inning. So, if that’s considered ace material so be it. To believe you have a better pitcher in the BP in the fifth inning than your ace, then you don’t have an ace. He has great stuff but the Dodger hitters make him work and don’t chase many pitches out of the zone. With all the exposure the team has had against the Tampa BP the Dodger offense should be able to grind and be very productive. If this happens then the Dodgers are World Champions. Let’s make it so.
Two games to win one with a much better team. The only way we lose this year is if we beat ourselves.
Yep. And we’ve seen that movie before. I don’t expect that to happen here.
IIn a recent interview,.Gonsolin said that after game 2, he was told he would be the game 6 starter (if there was a 6th game). This means that the Dodgers have confidence in him, and gave him lots of time to get mentally prepared for this game. This is the young man who was Baseball America’s choice for ROY. Yes, his ERA in the playoffs has sucked so far. But, it’s a small sample size. Let’s hope that he regresses to the mean in the positive sense – that his true talent displays itself tonight. You could say that the Dodgers were out of good options for a starter. Or you could say that he has been in their plans all along for a reason, which is his ability. Will he be on a short leash tonight? Probably, given what is at stake. Yet, if he gets through the first couple of innings and his stuff looks sharp, they will ride him as long as they can.
The Dodgers got 2 runs off Snell in less than 5 innings last time. This will be their second look at him. It’s the equivalent of his third time through their lineup. If they are patient but aggressive at the right moments, look out! They want to win this right now, bring it home now. Knowing that they have Buehler as a back-up, just in case, should take a little pressure off, and let them concentrate on the task at hand. I’m making no predictions, but am optimistic.
Seems to me that Gonsolin has been tentative with his pitches, trying to be too fine in the strike zone. During the regular season he averaged ~ 15 pitches per inning; during the playoffs he is averaging a little over 21 per inning. He has an above average arsenal of pitches, so I hope we see him challenge the Rays hitters starting with his very first pitch.
When Roberts declared that this is our year he knew that the Dodgers are the masters of the shortened seasons!
The Dodgers played the whole season to get to this game, now go out and close it out, do not let this team play another game.
By the way, if you are looking for portents, 32 – the number of years we are without a championship – is, of course, Sandy Koufax’s number! Thus, this may be a sign. Very unscientific, but nevertheless, a pleasing thought.
I had a portent once. It was an old big canvas thing that leaked. I got a new one.
32 is Magic’s number too and he’s one of the mega wealthy owners of the Dodgers, right? It’s also the count reached in every Muncy at bat.
That’s funny Badger.
Last May I had come to the upsetting conclusion that Baseball was over for 2020 because of the contagious virus. I am now thrilled to be anxiously awaiting what could be the final game to a World Series victory for the Dodgers tonight.
I am also sad to think it might be the last time to see Pederson, Hernandez, Wood and maybe Turner in a Dodger’s uniform which to me won’t be the same next year.
I wish my Dodgers the best of luck and will be cheering them on in my battered old Dodger hat. Thank you for the article, Mark. It is so nice to see you feeling better and writing again.
Amen to that! Mark I miss your takes on all things Dodger baseball! Praying for you!
I can’t believe how impatient you people are.
There are 30 MLB teams and it’s only been 32 years since our last title so technically we’re only two years late (one, if you consider there was no WS in ’94 because of the strike). Don’t you think it’s fair to let every team win once before we win again? Isn’t that what good sportsmanship is all about? Everyone should get a trophy.
In case you were wondering, 18 different teams have won since we last won in 1988.
OK, maybe we can cut in line and win this year even though it’s really not our turn yet. Here’s hoping.
To that 1st paragraph…….huh???
I would only ask – who cares about Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Texas, Detroit, Bal’more and Indianapolis. Yeah, I know. I threw that in there for Mark.
I think it’s ok if Seattle or Milwaukee win. San Diego? Only if we win three or four first.
Sports fans are rarely patient in any sport. You think Cubs fans liked going 100 years without the big prize? How about the Red Sox? The Curse of the Bambino lasted 86 years. Texas, Tampa, Seattle, the Padres, those teams have never won in their existence. Texas got the closest. They were one game away and some guy named Freeze peed in their pool. Laker fans waited what they considered way too long for what happened this year. King fans had Gretzky and did not win the title till years later. The Rams had to move to St.Louis to win the big game. SC fans have been waiting for what they consider too long to get back on top since Pete Carroll left. Sports are like love. You are in it for the long haul usually. And you want every year to be better than the last. It takes something really bad to cause you to stop loving. And constant disappointment erodes it. The difference with sports is that each year there are new pieces in the family to get to know and love. Some of them are in law’s you wish you did not have, but they have been around a long time so you tolerate them until they do something that just breaks the camels back, and you are done. There are no turns in baseball. It is more like enforcing your will. One team will enforce it’s will on the other tonight and will emerge the winner. That is simply the way it is. It is not like sharing toys with your sibling. You want the toy all for yourself, and that is how fans act.
Sorry, I obviously forgot to put the sarcasm notice on my previous post.
Not needed for me. I know you to have a good sense of humor.
I understood it, and laughed
You should be sorry. That was mean.
Roberts stated that Gonsolin is not the opener. They expect to get some length out of him. He also said everyone is available except Urias, Buehler and Kershaw. I expect better results at the plate. They got Snell out of the game early last time, and they can do that again. This team is ready to get the win and take home the prize. You can just feel it. The Rays are a hugely talented team. But their BP has been tagged a bit by Dodger hitters and none of their starters have gone deep. It is time to end this.
Well I’m stating that I will not be surprised if he goes 3 or less.
7-4 Dodgers.
Worry wart……he goes 5 plus, leaves with a 3 run lead. They add two more off of the pen and win, 6-2
haha, Bear, I had this vision where we were up 3-2 in the 6th, and Mookie hit a 3 run shot to give us breathing room, and we won 6-2.
Of course, I’m still holding on to Kersh coming in to pitch in the 9th with a big lead, and close it out for sentimental reasons.
Who you calling a wart you carnivorous plantigrade ?! That brings my taxidenae blood to a boil. May a fat beaver stomp on your bunion. A pock on your verruca!!
Ok, I’m done.
I’ll take 6’2”.
A beaver stomp om my bunion? wow….may the fleas of a thousand camels infect your armpits! And to quote Little Jimmy Dickens, May the Bird of Paradise fly up your nose. May an Elephant caress you with it’s toes. May your wife be blessed with runners in her hose, may the bird of paradise fly up yer nose…take that you small vicious creature with sharp teeth. I am supposed to be in hibernation!
I’m a Badger dammit! I eat the fleas in my armpits!
Wait, that didn’t sound right.
I have always been curious over whether a bear or a badger would win a battle of wits.
Badgers. Read up on it. One if the smartest animals on the planet.
Can you inpmagine a badger the size of a bear? Then imagine a pack of them walking into town. Yoiks
Bears eat Badgers for breakfast. Badgers are nothing but smelly little beasts with bad tempers. Eat the fleas from your armpits? I thought you were a Badger, not an anteater……
I have a LAX – DFW flight at 7am tomorrow, free with my AA miles. I have a Hyatt room near the stadium tomorrow, free with my Hyatt points. I have a Enterprise rent-a-small SUV tomorrow, free with my ERAC points. I have a World Series ticket for game 7, free because I’m a genius.
BUT, I really really really do NOT want to go tomorrow. Please please please win tonight! I was there for Houston Game 7, and I don’t want to experience that ever again. Please win tonight and let me spend my evening celebrating and cancelling my itineraries !!!!!
I have a wave of jealousy pouring over me.
As cool as it would be to see a Game 7 win in person, I believe I speak for all of us when I say I hope you get your wish Bobby.
Same here Bobby. Snack on raisins.
Game 5 is behind us and game 6 was back on the rails. I’m confident we can get this done tonight but we certainly won’t lose 2 in a row.
Like Mark, I am spending NO time on next season; who’s in, who’s out. None of it. It will be fascinating but I’m right now all in on winning this bad boy.
* While I don’t consider myself as a slave to stats, I do looks at some things carefully. One is a player’s reverse splits. CT3, Kike and Mookie have large reverse splits in batting average, Mookie’s being .323 against righties and .200 against lefties, like Blake Snell. Here’s some interesting stuff about the Mookie Betts and Blake Snell match up tonight from Enos Sarris in the Athletic that I did not realize:
“You may have heard that Mookie Betts has had some troubles against left-handers this season. And yeah, he had a .531 OPS against lefties in 64 plate appearances this year. But he’s also had 27 plate appearances against Blake Snell, with an .892 OPS.
Neither of these things really matter.
In 925 plate appearances against left-handers, Betts has a .888 OPS. It’s a little weird that he’s been slightly better against righties (.897 OPS) than lefties despite the fact that you’d expect a batter to be better against opposite-handed pitchers, but it’s not something that should continue. The research says that a righty would need 2,200 plate appearances against left-handers before you believe his observed platoon split more than the league-average one. 2,200! Betts isn’t even halfway there.”
So my attention to reverse splits, according to this guy, is a waste of time.
* Also with the open managerial positions with the Tigers, Red Sox and White Sox there will be conversation about Alex Cora and AJ Hinch as they will be reinstated from their suspensions after the Series. It’s a divided industry on the hiring of both these guys. Have they served their sentences and be candidates for the openings or would it be harmful for a team to have one of these guys being the face of your franchise. Andy McCullough explores this today in the Athletic as well.
I’m a walking ad for the Athletic today.
Cora has already been mentioned as on Boston’s short list. Hinch is on a bunch of list’s. I think the Sox are going to end up hiring LaRussa. He is thier top choice. Detroit has interviewed more guys than anyone. Skip Shumaker has been interviewed also as has Lombard.
Reverse splits sounds painful. I don’t recommend them.
It’s an elimination game in the World Series. I expect to see everybody on both sides to have the game of their life. I also expect to see abject failure on the biggest stage of every player’s career. And, I expect to experience both the thrill of victory and the agony of reverse splits.
You’re on your game today Badger. Wish you would get an at bat against Snell tonight.
Gee Man, Choi doesn’t seem to have a problem at first doing the reverse splits.
That would work for us. Think about it …. he does reverse splits he’s facing toward the dugout. Won’t catch anything but the Dodgers laughing. SAFE!!
So far the series has been win lose win lose win. I think it is time to break the cycle and win. Y’all down with that??????
I am confident that Gonsolin can deliver. Though he must have that split working and command. If he starts walking people they need to get him out quickly. When I have seen him pitch he can be lights out but totally lose it in one inning.
Please catch Barnes tonight. He is just the most confident and rested receiver. As a hitter Barnes works the count and can surprise. He could be the hero tonight if overlooked. How about a bases loaded double to clear the bases.
Betts needs to produce and seager, turner, Muncy continue. How about a streaky pollock having a breakout game. With the game on the line I could live with the result from May, bazooka, Treinen, Gonzalez but not Jansen, Kelly, and Baez.
Get it done tonight! No game 7!
I agree. Kershaw’s Kryptonite this year has been the 7th. He has cruised through 6 a few times, but send him back out in the 7th and boom, things start to happen. I have seen Gonsolin absolutely dominate through 6. I think the way he has been used in the playoffs, plus the 17 day layoff really screwed with his routine. But he should be back in form tonight. Any early trouble and Doc will probably pull him. But I have a lot of faith in his ability’s.
Unsolicited advice to Andrew Friedman (who I assume reads this blog religiously)
– Barnes should be starting game 6 and stay in for the duration of the game. I trust Barnes right now to execute the team’s game plan much more than I trust Smith.
Plus he’s a great pitch framer, very good defender, and seems to keep his calm under pressure.
– If your name is not Walker or Clayton and you shake off a sign, you’re being benched immediately.
– If Will stays in the lineup, which I’m assuming he is… he should be moved down a bit to the #7 or #8 spot.
– This will be the first time Tony has pitched on regular rest in about a month?? So I’m hoping to see the guy we saw for most of the regular season. My leash for Tony would be around 75-80 pitches / 4 runs… somewhere around there. If he gets into trouble early on and the Rays have a big rally going… I’d bring in a higher leveredge guy to put out the fire and then have Wood come in to start the very next inning.
– I would definitely try to avoid using Baez and Kenley if it’s possible. If it’s not possible, then Baez could be used in the right spot with no runners on and against the bottom of the order… but only prior to the 7th inning. I would consider using Kenley in a similar way and would only bring him in prior to the 8th inning… but only if we’re up by 3+ runs, there’s no runners on, and we’re going through pitchers quickly and it’s unavoidable.
– If all goes according to plan and we’re up by a few runs late in the game, then I would love to see Graterol and Treinen handle the 8th and 9th.
Where’s the love for Joe Kelly. We need a little bullpen excitement! Tonight for Gonsolin. High heat and outside off speed!
His wife loves him. That should be enough. She forgave him for that window incident.
Today’s Game 6 lineup (and god wiling the last lineup of 2020)
Mookie
Seager
JT
Muncy
Smith (DH)
Belli
CT3
Pollock
Barnes
Gonsolin
Really amazing that most of us were hoping to see Barnes as the starting catcher tonight. The same Barnes that many of us were ready to remove from the roster a few times this season. I’d love to see him turn out to be the hero tonight.
My second choice for hero would be Beaty. Of course, in order for a Dodger to be the hero we have to win the damn game.
Tampa tonight:
Choi
Arozarena
Meadows
Lowe
Margot
Wendle
Adames
Kiermaier
Zunino
Blake Snell
I could see Alex Wood the second time through.
Barnes will be catching, and Pollack in left field.
Pollock, like the fish. So Barnes will be catching … fish in left field.
Ok, that one needs a little work.
Here’s a surprise – we’re favored -140 to +130.
Smoke moving north. We got a huge break so far with the wind.
LFG
It shall be interesting to see how Gonsolin pitches…
We should know right away.
My son happen to be in Dallas on business and he scored a ticket for tonight’s game I am jealous
Two things about Tony Gonsolin and tonight’s game:
1. He is not the “opener.” They told him to start and go as far a possible; and
2. Austin Barnes is catching him.
“Go as far as possible”
If his splitter doesn’t split, Gonsolin will and quickly.
Dear Dave Roberts:
If you want to win,
Use Gonsolin, May, Gonzales, Graterol, Treinen as needed in the 6th (or 7th) game, and Buehler, Urias, Kershaw for the 7th game.
McGee or Kolarek if necessary.
Please don’t blow the World Series by using Baez, Jansen, Kelly, Wood, Floro in either the 6th or 7th game.
Dave Roberts..win tonight. No 7th game needed..problem solved
I doubt that is possible uwb.
This is by Jason Gay in the Wall Street Journal and I am copying all of it (sue me):
“Clayton Kershaw doesn’t have much to prove. At 32, he’s assembled one of the great pitching résumés in Major League history, a 13-season run which, according to the statistics compendium Baseball-Reference.com, tracks closely with the numbers of Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens and Lefty Grove. Kershaw’s all-time regular-season record is 175 wins against 76 losses, and he possesses a comically-low lifetime earned-run average of 2.43. He has won the National League’s Cy Young Award three times, and the NL’s Most Valuable Player once. He is well paid for this: Kershaw has earned more than $225 million over the course of his career, all of which has taken place with one of the signature franchises in the sport, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He also has fantastic hair. I mean, it’s enviably great.
Of course, if you follow baseball, and especially the Dodgers, you know there’s a whole other part of the Clayton Kershaw story, and it concerns what happens when the regular season shifts into the playoffs, and the games get consequential and emotionally tighter. Entering Sunday night’s World Series Game 5 versus Tampa Bay, Kershaw’s career record in the playoffs was a pedestrian 12-12, with an ERA of 4.22—almost two runs higher than his regular-season level.
Over these appearances, Kershaw had suffered from bad luck, some middling offensive efforts by his Dodger teammates, and, of course, there was the 2017 World Series, the season in which the champion Houston Astros would later cop to thumping on trash cans to alert each other to pitches. But Kershaw has often pitched below his standards, including a rough one in Game 4 of this year’s NLCS with Atlanta. The disappointment hung on him, fairly or not—a great one who, on the baseball’s biggest stage, had a habit of looking, well, mortal.
Until now. On Sunday, Kershaw won not his first, but his second game of this Series, improving his lifetime World Series record to 3-2, his playoff record in 2020 to 4-1 (with an ERA of 2.93), and, more importantly, giving the Dodgers a 3-2 edge over Tampa Bay, one win from clinching the championship.
It wasn’t the prettiest, most dominating performance. Kershaw let the Rays leadoff hitter on in each of the first four innings. In the third, pitching with a 3-0 lead, he gave up an infield hit, a sizzling triple to Yandy Diaz, then a single to playoff phenom Randy Arozarena, and the lead narrowed to one. Kershaw’s advantage is deception; he’s got nasty stuff that’s hard to read at the plate, but the clever Rays seemed to be reading him. If you’re a Dodgers fan, it is possible you spent a few moments Sunday quietly groaning please no, not again.
He gutted through it. He struck out six, but the best pitch Kershaw threw all night wasn’t a pitch—it was a throw home to catch Tampa Bay’s Manny Margot attempting to steal home in the fourth. It, too, wasn’t a perfect dart, but Kershaw executed it cleanly enough for Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes to drop down and narrowly apply the tag. Had Margot pulled it off—he said he was acting alone, trying to capitalize on Kershaw’s unhurried pitching windup—it would have tied the game in the most electrifying manner—and sucked the life out of the Dodgers on the spot. Instead, Kershaw escaped. It looked like his night.
Kershaw faced two more batters in the sixth, retiring both, and when Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts stepped to the mound and summoned the right-hander Dustin May, there was grumbling—more 21st-century strategic over-tinkering, lifting an ace just as he was finding his groove. It proved to be the right, unsentimental call. May shut the door, and the Dodgers bullpen held off the Rays the rest of the night. Los Angeles, 4-2.
This pandemic-era Series is proving to be a delight. They’re allowing just a scattering of fans in the new Arlington, Texas, ballpark—not terribly far from where Kershaw grew up, in Dallas—and it had the potential to feel like a low-energy bummer. It is anything but, because the high-energy Dodgers and Rays very badly seem to want it. They are throwing haymakers at each other, back, forth, back, forth—never more so than in Saturday’s epic Game 4, in which the Rays prevailed on a wild, two-out, double error in the ninth, and unlikely Tampa Bay hero Brett Phillips gleefully ran off the field, his arms outstretched like a Boeing.
Phillips is a lifetime .202 hitter who doesn’t presume he’ll get shots on this stage. Kershaw is the opposite: he is The Man, Cooperstown-built, generationally significant, expected to be masterful in October, with all the pressure, second-guessing and sniping that vaunted role attracts. (Being a Dodger lefty, and the inevitable comparisons to Sandy Koufax, only compounds the stress.) Compared with thrifty Tampa Bay, the Dodgers are a high-payroll Rolls-Royce, and though this season has been an abbreviated, mentally-draining chore, they are expected to do it here, or else.
They are doing it. Los Angeles is one win away from their first title since 1988, the magical Kirk Gibson fist-pump year. Kershaw is a huge reason why.
Redemption is a hokey word in sports—overwrought in ways that baseball, a sport with mawkish tendencies, should especially avoid. Win or lose this week, Kershaw has had a historic career, full stop, and nothing that happens in sideways 2020 changes that. But he’s rising to the moment, and, in a way, it’s been more impressive to see him do it the way he’s doing it, scuffling, fighting for outs, winning fallibly, instead of supernaturally breezing through. It is a human performance, and among his best.
Game 6 is Tuesday. Tampa Bay is an impressive beast that cannot be counted out. It’s possible Kershaw could face batters in a Game 7. We’ll see. This World Series has had a bit of everything. It’s not yet redemption, but it’s close.
Good read. Except for the word mawkish, all of that has been said here. He should have quoted us.
An old rock song going around in my head about now,,,,Feelin Alright.
This from ESPN.com
” Overall this October, (Snell) has posted a 1.35 ERA and a .530 opponent OPS from the first inning through the fourth. After the fourth, those numbers balloon to 12.46 and 1.373, respectively.”
The Dodgers just saw him. Somebody else already said it, the first inning is the third time through the lineup. We gonna light him up.
So, it comes down to this: 32 years of frustration for the Dodgers. More than 5 years of frustration for many of the players on the team.
Tonight is where the next legends will be made.
Sit back – Tighten those seat belts and let’s watch these guys bring it home!
Who’s the hero tonight? Big guns or role players? My picks are Pollock early and Joc late! And Baez gives us a clean inning.
Go Blue. On pins and needles right now wanting for the game to start.
Note to Badger, hope you are safe from the fire and those nasty Santa Ana winds. I remember when living in Orange County how bad they are.
Key to the game. Don’t let our own bullpen beat us.
Let’s get it done tonight.
Write this down:
DO NOT PITCH TO AROZARENA AGAIN!
That guy is just CRAZY strong! That was not a bad pitch! He just flicked at it! Wow!
Too late Timmons they pitched to him, come on Robert’s. Wood will be needed soon, flashed 92 last time out.
Come on take it too Snell now.
Wow that was quick, cy young alert on mound, gonsolin keep it close, more runs and we could be done for the evening.
Mookie looking suboptimal at the plate right about now. We’ll need him to come up big tonight if we’re to win this thing. Gonsolin has to keep this game close and get some length.
I don’t see a splitter.
Gonsolin cooked, will be fortunate to get through 2. Get him out now Robert’s.
Gonsolin is not ready for the big stage. May grew up right before our eyes, Gonsolin not so much. Kid is pitching timid and tentative. BP right now Doc.
Freakin 200 hitter keirmeier has killed us.
The moment is too big for Gonsolin! U just can’t walk Choi there!
Very disappointing to see Tony G. pitch so poorly. Kind of thought he would come out strong and get it done tonight.
The Rays team OPS during the regular season was .753 that’s 13th out of 30 teams.
There’s no reason why they beat us with their offense.
Good move Robert’s, short leash was necessary, still believe walker should have started this game, don’t like planning for an unpredictable game 7, go for the jugular, we are the Dodgers and if does not work, then regroup and go for it again.
Gonsolin I thought could be he is probably trying a bit too hard and no confidence and no command.
Betts is really hanging his head and striking out way too much.
How is that for stating the obvious. Poor ole floro.
Nice work Dylan, no let’s put some at bats together, believe Snell is still young and though great will fold under pressure.
Try a different starting pitcher Doc.
Urias or May.
Urias would be pitching with 3 days rest. He has never done that. Starting May 2 days after he went 40 pitches ain’t happening either. Gonsolin was the right choice. He gave up one run. The entire staff save Urias, Kersh and Buehler are available tonight.
I had no problem with Gonsolin starting. I meant go with another starting pitcher now. Urias or May. Avoid the pure relievers as much as possible. It’s the end of the season today and tomorrow go with your best.
That was the plan, Urias or May… says no one in the world!
So far just lighting Snell up. In two innings we have a total of 4 feet of balls in play!
Well, my premonition about a bullpen game was right.
Ok…. 4th time through the lineup.
Nice work Woody, earned one more and we might need 2. Told you flashing 93, old wood mf’s
Woody pitching for straight cash next year, a good performance here might get him 2 to 4 million dollar/ one year deal. He knows that and likely on his mind.
Love Taylor’s approach against lefties!!
$365 million….come on man!
Betta struggling at plate, need him to find it
Mookie May have been declared the best player in baseball but I’d much rather pitch to him rather than Arozarena right now
Wood! MVP! I tried to tell Mark that he shouldn’t give up on him.
Mb wood can be the unsung hero tonight if we can score. He is just flat going after them. He is not hesitating he is pitching with confidence. I thought he would be a consideration for starter and I’m sure he was.
Every dog has its day.
Snell owning us, we need a minor miracle to hit this dude.
They are chasing. Terrible at bats.
Striking out everybody with the high fastball and hasn’t been a strike yet. Turner acts like he has never seen a baseball before. We need Arozarena!
So deflating to be so excited and watch this.
Why take wood out?
Total domination! Now we get to the 5th inning to see if he falters again
His pitch count is not even high, Snell could easily go 7 or 8. This is not good. Cannot give an inch or we are headed to Wednesday’s crapshoot for sure.
This is solvable. Discriminate. Stop chasing
I would feel a lot better if Snell’s pitch count was higher knowing we might have a chance at their BP. At this rate he might pitch a complete game shutout and now we have Baez. I’m scared
Damn Dodger bullpen! What’s Roberts thinking! He keeps bringing guys in who are getting outs!
This is game 2 all over again. Doc’s unloading the bullpen.
Everything Doc does with the bullpen is wrong!
I know the drill!
Sorry you feel that way.
Finally Robert’s shows an ability to use BaEz correctly, his stubbornness and lack of understanding of Baez’ limitations has been concerning. Come on Vic
Patience Grasshoppers. They are going to get him!
Now baseball experts, please explain why Woods was replaced with Baez?
At this rate Doc will empty the BP. No problem he has Kiki on the bench.
Will Gonzalez come out after 1 (one) pitch?
I’m officially annoyed by Buck. He practically sported some wood there on a routine ground ball. Guy is a freaking drama queen.
Any thoughts on why Wood was pulled?
Because of Arozarena, and Baez pitching better when he starts the inning?
Thoughts?
Yep. That’s my guess Bluto.
I think they liked Baez’s changeup against a guy for whom that pitch is a weakness
You mean the same guy who shook off Smith’s call for a change up, and offered up a HR fastball?
Thank you for not even coming close to answering my question.
It was and is a wonderful fostering of discussion.
No, what I asked was: why was Wood pulled after two easy innings?
Not sure you will ever get an answer, but what if he went another inning and gave up some runs?
Then the question would have been “Why wasn’t he pulled after two innings?”
Hope they figure him out third time through. Late inning magic. Go Blue!
8-9-1 hitters coming up. Would like to see some runs and a big Mookie moment. Lets go!
Thank you Cash!!!! Thank goodness we have Roberts as our over manager!
WOW!
Cash pulls Snell after 2 hits!
Just Wow!
Good news snell is out. Let see how the news pitchers come
Huge error, we just won the series, book it, cash pulled a Robert’s. Yes, the drought has ended, book it. Get the write up ready Jeff or MT
If Doc wins this game he’s manager of the century!
I cannot believe it 73 pitches, and dominating, are you kidding me, betts is back!!!
Thank you Cash!
Amen
Yes, thank you Mr. Cash!!
Just like that!
Why, oh why, oh why did Roberts pull Snell?!?!?!??!!
Wow, Turner just missed that,
Just glad the other Mgr made the bad move and not Doc
Who knew that one out single by Barnes could win us a WS!!!!! Classic overmanaging. I’m smarter than you!
I go to Treinen to Urías and have Walker ready to throw if necessary, tonight you go for it!!
Here’s where it gets interesting.
Treinen, Urias, Kershaw, Jansen and Buehler.
Soon, they may all be in play!
Well cash did it but I think he just put the wrong reliever in. His first pitch to pollock should have been a homer it was a hanger. Then Barnes a hit. I think snell was about done but Anderson has been our Gonsolin.
Whatever, Betts finally has a smile on his face.
Here comes the Bazooka!
If the Dodgers can hold until the ninth here comes Kenley omg
Can Julio close it out?
Agree with Smoltz for once, dude was behind the heat, slider may have been one of the few bad pitch calls by Barnsey, he has been brilliant the last two nights and had the hit that lead to the colossal error by Cash.
1-2 and Graterol throws a spinning slider? He and May need a lot of work over the winter on their sliders! JULIO!!!!!! This blog gave him a lot of grief this year but he is up there for our playoff MVP!!!!! And if you watch the replayGraterol shook Barnes off!
If the plan all along was to end with Urias then hat tip to Doc.
6 more
Take us home Julio, 6 outs brothers, we are social distancing parading soon
On catching:
Baez shakes off Smith a few game back who wanted a change up and throws a FB for a 3 run HR.
Graterol shakes off Barnes and throws a slider to a guy who had no WS hits and he gets a single.
There has been a lot of catcher talk lately, but it appears to be more than just the catcher as far as pitch selection goes.
Nice job by Urias
PILE ON!
Possibly one of the worst pitching changes in the history of the World Series if you take into account all the details. Again thx KC
Wow Bellinger is just BRUTAL!!!!! He has a lot to prove next year!
I will set fire to my living room if Kenley is warming up for the ninth.
Julio!! Nerves of steel!!!!! Leave him in. Don’t make the Cash mistake!
Urias is the man! Would be nice to get an insurance run now.
I would feel better if they had 12 more runs… but Julio has this!
Urias is a beast, Robert’s please take your hands off of the lever and step away from the controls, super ice is taking us home!!
I told you get the write up ready, I expect it quickly after the final out, this site has deserved this for 32 years!!
Mookie, that was BIG!
365 baby!!!!!!!
Moooooooooooooookie!
Mookie has had his BIG Dodger moment and sealed his fortune in Dodger folklore for all time!
Ok LADT. What do you think of that Dodger bullpen now!!!!!!! Anybody doubt that Julio is our co ace now?!!!!!
Juliomania is born!!!
2020 World Champions!
PERIOD!
End of Story!
Roberts best move all year – leaving Urias in
Great win!
World “Freaking” Champions!!!!!!!!!!! And yes Mark….Julio has arrived!
I can’t wait for next year! Hopefully, a full season, with 4-5 battle tested starters, Seager an MVP, Mookie the inspiring all around player, and a BP that we can be proud of and will be stronger next year.
CONGRATULATION, DODGERS!
It has been a great time to be a Dodger Fan for the past 5 years, but this is the icing on the cake.
The Dodgers were the favorites all season and led wire-to-wire.
Now, can everyone just shut up about Roberts and the Bullpen?
Mark there was only one weakness and it was the bullpen I have the stats to back it up. Fortunately our offense and starting pitching was very good to overcome the bullpen.
2020 World Champs.
Gotta hand it to Eric, even when he’s wrong he’s still bull headed.
Convictions.
Well I have the stats to back it up. What do you have? Opinion? Stats beat opinion.
I am Not trying to be an asshole
Can you imagine without using starting pitcher Urias in relief.
Ponder this:
Will Clayton Retire?
You never know….
Hat tip to Doc for saving Urias for the end.
Mark,
My sentiments exactly. I’m speechless.
WORLD CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now let’s do something next year that the Dodgers have never done. REPEAT.
🙂
World Champs!!!
JT Tested Positive for COVID-19!
I was wondering where Turner is …
Congrats to the team and to all of you. It’s been a long time coming.
As Bear said, fandom is like love. You’re in it for the long haul. And now the Dodgers have rewarded our faithfulness. 32 years was a long time, but now no longer. We are the champions! Feel the happiest for Kersh.
No more question marks for him. His legacy is secured, also in the post-season. Julio was the star of the game, along with Mookie. And I take back everything negative I ever said about Doc. He managed the bullpen game brilliantly, and, of course, the pitchers executed. It’s been a long ride, but we made it. Congratulations,.Dodgers! What a year! What a post-season!
Well…………HOW BOUT THAT???????????
And Turner couldn’t be out there with them.
Will there be more news coming? I certainly hope not.
And I didn’t hear one drum beat all night! Feel bad for Turner that he cant celebrate with his teammates!
A speedy recovery to JT! Too bad he couldn’t be on the field to celebrate. How many of the others will test positive?
Amazing that it happened at the tail end of the series. Very lucky there were no infections for us during the season.
Congrats to all of you who live and die by the Dodgers. I feel terrible that their leader can’t celebrate with them. They all pulled the rope. We complain , we bicker, that’s really the nature of team blogs but we can all share in this moment. Let’s not wait 32 more years.
WORLD CHAMPION DODGERS!!!!!
2020
Definitely a bummer for JT. Just wish him health going forward.
It makes me wonder why they allowed the celebrating on the field with all the maskless players and coaches who undoubtedly were exposed to Turner. Lots of kids and other civilians potentially exposed. Hopefully this doesn’t turn into something worse. For now I’ll guess that they know things that I don’t, and nothing worse transpires.
Hawkeye,
I wouldn’t mind waiting another 32 years, if I can be around to celebrate it, at 106 years old.
What is difficult & hard to understand is why or how Turner was infected, they are supposed to be in a ” bubble ” to avoid this, how could it be possible?
pump the brakes….it might be a false positive.
That makes the most sense
Great effort, clutch plays. Urias was great in the playoffs. Bullpen was very effective tonight. Seager had a great playoffs, obviously, and Betts ultimately made the big plays on offense and defense and on the bases. A lot of redemption. I will remember Betts’ shoestring catch and throw against Atlanta, which I think saved our season, but there were many big plays. It’s a shame that Vin wasn’t announcing it, but he was watching. Vin announced every one of our six titles before this season.
Not only bullheaded but after the bullpen was absolutely lights out with a World Series performance that brings the Championship banner to LA, its….but the weakness is the bullpen. WOW. Maybe bring that up tomorrow, or not.
Congrats LA DODGERS
GREAT GAME MR. ROBERTS
Congratulations Dodgers. From Costa Rica. All the best.
Go Dodgers
Holy shit congrats all!
Oh God the media is all over Turner for being with his teammates and with a mask off for a picture. Masks masks masks and more masks. God I hate the media.
Apparently they knew. He and the Dodgers refused to sit out. After a second positive he was told he had to leave the field.
Now Rosenthal has corrected that and says the Dodgers were told in the 2nd inning initially
Thank you Blue for giving me one more Dodger thrill in my life. And thank you LADT for being a part of my trip. Being a Dodger fan in NorCal for the last 60 years tested my patience and a lot of friendships but I was and will always be a Dodger fan. Go Blue!
How sweet it is. Sorry to hear about JT. I know not being on the field when the final out was recorded had to be something he was not happy about. . Happy for all the players who have been there for most of the ride. Joc, Kersh, Seager, Kenley, Baez. All those guys were around when the run started and to finally finish the job has got to be one of the greatest feelings they have ever had. Kike and Joc can head to free agency knowing they are Champions. I got a call from my best friend Gary who lives in Lancaster right after the last out. Gary is a Brooklyn native who gave up baseball after the Dodgers moved. He never forgave O’Malley for moving the team, and he feels the same way now as he did then. But he knows how much I love the game and the team and took the time to call. His wife is still a Dodger fan and she was watching the game. 32 years are now in the rear view mirror. No where on any social media site will the word chokers be heard in connection with the Dodgers. Giant fans have to be crying in their beer about now. If they had their way, the Dodgers would never win anything. I really want to thank all of the fans on LADT who have shared this up and down ride this year. We may not always agree on everything, but we are all Dodger fans to the end. And no matter what the stats say, good and bad, tonight after 32 long agonizing years, we can all smile and enjoy the fruits of victory at Tommy used to say.
MJ – know you would have loved that.
Mookie hitting a HR as well!!