Move along… It’s just another trainwreck. Nothing to see here.
I went to bed as soon as Phillips came in. I knew it was over. It had to be. It was almost 2 AM for me and when both Turners, Muncy, Betts, Smith, and Taylor are a combined 3 for 24 in 11 innings, you do not deserve to win the game. The Dodgers All-Star lineup looked like a scrub high-school team. The Giants didn’t look any better, but they ended up winning. I don’t diagnose games, because I have seen enough of this team to know that they might score 18 runs tonight.
In a microcosm of one game, a lot went right and a lot went wrong. I don’t dwell on it. I look at the macrocosm of 162-games and that was just one they should have won but didn’t. The only thing I know for sure about last night’s game is that some fans will blame Doc. That’s the only constant: Somebody has to be blamed! Doc should have hit better… yeah, that’s the ticket.
The bullpen was outstanding and there will be two or four moves today. I haven’t seen when White and Jackson last pitched, but they could be in the equation. It sounds like Price will go on the IL and it appears he has been battling arm problems all season. I think we will find out he needs TJ and I am not convinced Kershaw and Duffy will be back. The Dodgers are close-lipped about injuries.
Tony Gonsolin could get called up soon, even though he is not stretched out. Vasquez certainly underwhelmed me, but it was one game. The silver lining in all of this is that the Giants will have back-to-back bullpen games tonight and tomorrow. That should bode well for the Dodger hitters. The Giants bullpen pitched 5 innings last night and have at least 18 more in the next two days.
Uceta pitched three innings last night so he won’t get the call. Quacks, Nunez, White, Jackson, and Jake Jewell could get the call tonight. Jake Jewell?
The Dodgers team ERA now sits at 2.99 while the Giants is 3.27. #1 and #2 in all MLB. The Giants bullpen has a slight advantage, 3.13 to 3.27, but let’s not forget that a lot of the bullpen ineptitude was early in the season. Since the All-Star break, the Dodgers bullpen has an ERA below 2.50. The Giants are heading in the opposite direction. Yet, they won last night. This is a magical season for them. It seems like when you give them s__t, they make shinelola!
Now, the Boys in Blue need to take the next two gams. No if’s, and. or buts!
Factoids from the Steiner-Monday radio broadcast:
–Giants are the MLB’s No. 1 team in limiting walks.
–And only two teams have committed fewer errors than the Giants.
So when we wonder why the not-exactly-star-studded and relatively-modest-payroll Giants have the best record in the MLB, those are a couple of unspectacular reasons why.
And something else I just learned: While Dodgers were using 11 pitchers, down in Rancho Cucamonga:
White pitched six scoreless innings, throwing 60 pitches to stay stretched out. Should the Dodgers continue the up-and-down with White, he’s eligible to return to the majors next Thursday.
This is, of course, the same Mitch White who pitched about 8 innings just a few weeks ago as the “bulk reliever.” Why was he pitching for the Quakes when the big club could have used a guy like him? And why has the term “long reliever” fallen out of fashion? When did “bulk” become baseball lingo?
Oh, I also learned that one of the Dodgers’ hottest prospects, Miguel Vargas, is said to be the son of a Cuban baseball “legend.” I don’t take the hyperbole seriously, but obviously baseball runs in a lot of families. Anyway, that was news to me.
Oh, Charlie Steiner kept his screw-up streak alive.
He said the Giants would be bringing in “Will Smith” to close, which had me wondering whether I’d missed a deadline trade. Then he corrected himself–that the new pitcher was Jake McGee.
That’s why I LOVE Charlie. He makes mistakes and does not take himself so seriously. Reminds me an awful lot of Jerry Doggett who constantly mispronounced players names and missed calls. He and Monday play off of each other very well. Orel on the other hand cannot shut up.
I like Charlie too. The screwups are oddly endearing.
I do remember thinking, “How did Jerry Doggett get this job?”
And Ross Porter wasn’t much of an improvement.
Yeah, it was a tough loss and to especially to lose it on an short, errant throw. Both teams had multiple opportunities to score runs and weren’t able to do so. Even with what the Dodgers had pitching in extra innings they had a good chance to win. Of course, JT running on contact in the ninth had to have philjones screaming “nooooo”! If JT had stayed at third and with Seager at 2B they both might have scored on Taylor’s base hit. When JT wandered off 3B after the rundown I thought what was he doing? And why Posey tried to tag out Seager after he had already been called out at 3B was weird as well. Just a strange play.
Anyway, things look good for the Dodgers in as the Giants have two bullpen games coming up. They had to use five of their relievers last night. Each for an inning. With Urias and Striker going we should see some success, but the team has to get the offense going. Good on Seager going 4 for 5.
No hit no field no win.
Picked a weird night to look that awful. giants didn’t look much better.
Put it back together tonight.
Oh well…..I had a bad feeling about this game so when I woke up to see who won, i was not surprised one bit to see we lost 3-2. I was surprised to see the play by play from innings 9-11. Wow….what a nail biter. Two guys thrown out at the plate and winning on an errant throw. You can’t write this stuff….
I knew we had a bullpen game which is not a bad thing but you never know if one of those 7-8 guys is off that day and let’s in a few runs. Like I said, “ oh well.”
This series, this race regretfully reminds me of the David v Goliath battle, and we all know who won that battle. (Closing my eyes!) The Giants, for the most part, have a team of nobodies minus star power, yet here they are….not going away. I’m afraid this race will probably go down to the last game with the outcome being decided on a weird game, much like last night.
Well, I will be okay with us even winning 1 of the 2 remaining games this weekend. Being down one game with over 20 to go doesn’t upset me one bit. Of course I’d rather be up one game, but just saying….we can regain that one game Monday…it could happen that quickly.
Keep hoping and believing. Maybe this time, Goliath wins.
TM
Andre Jackson started and pitched 4.2 innings this past Thursday for Oklahoma City and Mitchell White started and pitched 6 innings last night for RC. Both should be available sometime next week possibly Wednesday and Thursday next week respectively The rotation is in need of innings eaters. Hopefully Kershaw and Gonsolin can be help meet that need. .The bullpen will continue to shuffled until then.
Desperate times, desperate measures. Price going down sure didn’t help things. It was a heartbreaker, but we have two more with good pitching and the Giants put a big dent in their own bullpen tonight as well. Seeing a three game lead by the end of the series was apparently too much to ask for.
Like in the beginning of the year, we found ourselves in a position where an inexperienced pitcher had to pitch in an extra innings game. With a little luck it would have worked out. JT made a close play at the plate on Will Smith’s ground ball hit squarely to Brandon Crawford was the difference in the game. Instead of bringing home a second run in the ninth, it left the game tied.
The pitching shuffle that we’ve been playing by optioning White and Jackson after their starts worked for a while, but you can only trick the baseball gods for so long. Today is the 4th, we have our 3 healthy starting pitchers lined up for the next three games and by then we might get Kershaw and Gonsolin back.
Great job by Mitch White going 6 scoreless on just 60 pitches last night for the Low-A Quakes. With Price coming up with a sore elbow, at least he’ll be lined up to make a start after 4 days rest with Urias, Bueller, Scherzer, Kershaw/Gonsolin lined up before we’ll need him. With a little luck, it all comes together now.
One of the fun parts of last night’s game was watching Big Al hustle on his groundout to first base and his subsequent dash to third on a sac fly in extras. He’s sure giving it his all even if it doesn’t look too pretty.
Like Mark I went to bed right before the end of the game. When we failed to score in the top of the 11th, I just felt like even if we would have held them scoreless in the bottom of the inning, we didn’t have any pitchers remaining for the 12th anyways. As a result, I didn’t see Trea Turner’s throwing error that eventually sunk this game, which is exactly why I usually don’t stay up for extras.
I figure, if I stay up and they win, I’m too excited to get to sleep and if they lose, I’m too mad to sleep. Better to be surprised to start my day on a high note in the morning and if they lost, I’m not too upset because I didn’t live it when it happened. If something good happens, I’ll pull up my MLB app and watch what I missed. I won’t be doing that today.
Wow, you stayed up for 10 1/2 innings and then went nighty- night….I don’t think I would be able to fall asleep like that…my mind would be in 5th gear….I wonder if they scored….I would just have to know….but I hear you….knowing they lost, especially the way they lost might not allow for you to shut the brain down easily either.
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t…..
Moving on now.
Since the Dodgers and Giants came into the series tied for first, it’s only a train wreck if the Dodgers fail to take the series.
If you look at the Dodgers on paper they should be a much better hitting team, far more consistent than they are.
Looking back, the Dodgers were focused on the San Diego Padres being their chief rival, not the Giants. Built the team accordingly. Moving forward I suspect the Dodgers will consider the Padres, not the Giants, as the team they will have to beat in 2022.
But Farhan Zaidi probably surprised himself wth the way this team has performed. Sign a few pitchers here and there, then get big seasons from a bunch of aging vets. A bit of luck in all that. But the Giants are in first today because they play well in the moment. This hasn’t been the best Dodger team in that respect for most of the season, extra inning victories in short supply. Better lately, but a diasaster for most of the year. Why is that? No idea.
It would just be a rehash to mention that injuries have taken a toll. Even Mookie is still not right. But I’m guessing he will get hot again, hopefully this weekend.
These next two games will help decide who wins the NL West and who gets to play in a one game playoff. Like the Dodgers chances with Julio Urias and Walker Buehler.
The good news is that Clayton Kershaw had another good workout and expects to join the rotation in the next couple of weeks, likely for the series with Arizona mid-September. David Price is probably headed to the IL as a precaution, struggling with arm soreness.
Max Scherzer went through his usual workouts yesterday, will throw a bullpen Sunday and make his Monday start. Tony Gonsolin will make a rehab start in Rancho today and is expected to throw three innings.
Well, the big investment in Yasiel Sierra has come to an end. Originally signed to a six year, $30 million deal, he was released this week. Dreadful probably describes the better part of Sierra’s career. Sierra joins a list of other high ticketed signings (Erisbel Arruebarrena, Hector Olivera, Alex Guerrero, Yadier Alvarez and Yusniel Diaz) that yielded little to the Dodgers. Diaz, who I liked, is the only one still playing and was the key to the Manny Machado trade in ’18. Olivera was traded to the Braves with lots of money moving around and Alex Wood being the key player coming back to the Dodgers. Pretty much a lot of wasted money.
“If you look at the Dodgers on paper they should be a much better hitting team, far more consistent than they are.”
Totally agree with your statement, sb. I wonder if this is an aberration or if AF has decided he needs to deal with it in the off season by changing out some pieces. I guess we’ll see soon enough, but their inconsistency is driving me nuts.
By the way, Yadier Alvarez who is still only 25 is on the Tulsa roster this year but on the 60 day IL, so your statement about Diaz being the only one still playing is technically correct, but subject to future revision.
I just read this…
“It was something he’s been dealing with but then it kind of came to a head more after his last start,” Roberts said. “We just want to be sure, just to reset him a little bit, too. You look at what David did last year [not playing] and what he’s done this year, it’s a lot as far as workload. To kind of give him a little reprieve and get him back, get some of that soreness out, he should be fine.”
If Price has been dealing with this since his last start, why didn’t they IL him and have White up for last night’s game?
Then I read this…
“The next step for Clayton will be to throw a ‘pen on Sunday,” Roberts said. “Once he gets through that, we’ll figure out where he goes on a rehab assignment, which would either Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. After he gets through that — we would assume healthy and all goes well — then the next outing will be with us.”
So much for getting Kershaw back by Tuesday. More bullpen games.
I agree, bad move to let White pitch 6 innings yesterday when you knew something was wrong with Price.
Bad roster maneuvering there.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good point. I blame Roberts.
I’m not trying to be political or prejudice, but as a Navy veteran this really bothers me and I hope I don’t offend anyone. ,but can someone explain to me how 13 Marines who gave the ultimate sacrifice gets less recognition than George Floyd ? This is the last I’ll mention it but I had to get it off my chest.
The Marines were killed on foreign soil in an act of war. George Floyd was murdered by a cop on a street in Minnesota in front of a group of stunned citizens. We should, and are, pissed by both events. You sure you want to continue talking about that here? Don’t forget what we’ve learned about confirmation bias.
Kershaw was put on the 10 day IL in early July and Roberts said then he was expected back in August. I didn’t believe that and the timeline was soon changed to September with Kershaw saying he wanted to be ready by October. Now it’s a bullpen session on September 5th. Anybody want to offer an opinion on whether he will be standing tall by October?
Also, with so many injuries to key players all year long I think what Roberts has been able to pull off with replacement players is testament to his superior abilities as a manager. I’m sure there will be those who can see this fact and will change their opinions of him. I’m being facetious of course.
Had to get it off my chest. Will not continue the conversation, but it truly bothers me.
Believe me, as a Marine combat vet, I understand why.
Yeah, it’s pretty odd indeed. I agree with Badger about confirmation bias as it relates to George Floyd. Because people on the streets were filming George’s death as it occurred, people formed their opinions before facts were released. After releasing the facts that he had hypertension and a massive amount of fentanyl in his system, people still see this as a murder, even though his medical condition and fentanyl were contributing factors. In a just system, involuntary manslaughter would have been a fair conviction. But, since this was blasted out by the media as a racist act and fear of more more “peaceful protests” complete with millions, if not billions in property damage, it was declared a murder in a trial that was anything but fair.
If you watched any of the video’s on what happened before George was ultimately restrained on the ground, you can see the police were doing everything they could to cooperate and deal with his insane mental state. They tried to get him into the patrol car many times before he was ultimately brought to the ground. I’m not going to pretend that I would know what to do in that situation. I don’t think he would have died if it weren’t for the fentanyl and hypertension, but I also don’t believe it was necessary to put your knee on his neck and back either.
Regardless, it was embarrassing to treat a career criminal with the show of having multiple funerals with dignitaries and politicians in attendance and the Marines getting recognition by the pretender in chief, by checking his watch as their caskets were being carried off that plane.
Extreme politics is killing this country. We should all be a little more centered and try to see both sides of the story and wait for all the facts to come in before forming our opinions.
Just curious….I didn’t follow the trial very closely….Was there any medical evidence presented in court affirming that “he wouldn’t have died had he not had hypertension and fentanyl in his body?” Thanks
No, that was just normal legal defense tactics. Throwing spaghetti to create reasonable doubt.
IIRC, there was considerable expert testimony that said it wasn’t a factor in death.
It was murder. The jury got it right. But, 22 years? He’ll be out in 15 or less.
Thanks Bluto,
I would have been surprised if you said the opposite. Although I know often in trial cases you have expert pinned against expert, each doing their master’s bidding for a hefty fee.
TM
https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/09/us/derek-chauvin-trial-george-floyd-day-10/index.html
Contributing factors to me means that they played a role. It was the combination of all circumstances and each alone probably doesn’t cause death.
Unlike Bluto and Badger, I don’t just side with one side. I try to form a rational opinion based on all the facts. Otherwise I would claim it was soley Fentanyl, Methamphetamine and Hypertension that caused the death.
Police have been trained to use that sort of restraint and obviously not everyone dies from it.
Have they been trained to use that restraint for 9 minutes?
Speaking of facts, the “pretender in chief” did not check his watch as the caskets were
being carried off the plane. He checked his watch after all caskets were off the plane.
But you knew that, right?
We should honor the 13 soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. They were so young, and my prayers are with the families. So heartbreaking for parents to lose children at such a tender age. Their names will soon be forgotten by most of the country, but let’s remember their names at least one more day:
Sgt Johanny Pichardo, 25
Sgt Nicole Gee, 23
Staff Sgt Darin Hoover, 31
Cpl Hunter Lopez, 22
Cpl Daegan Page, 23
Cpl Humberto Sanchez, 22
Lance Cpl David Espinoza, 20
Lance Cpl Jared Schmitz, 20
Lance Cpl Rylee McCollum, 20
Lance Cpl Dylan Merola, 20
Lance Cpl Kareem Nikoui, 20
Navy Corpsman Max Soviak, 22
Staff Sgt Ryan Knauss, 23
Three of the deceased were from the LA areas of Rancho Cucamonga, Norco and Indio.
Thank you for your service.
Thank you for this important post.
Agree. Thank you.
Did you want to watch the Marines die on TV?
Did you want less coverage on George Floyd or more coverage of the Marines?
We have watched Marines and soldiers from all branches of service die on TV since Viet Nam. The media goes where the blood flows. They do not give a damn about anyone’s sensitivity. All they give a damn about is ratings. RIP to the Navy personnel who were killed in the helicopter accident off San Diego. Members of the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln.
another tough loss to the Giants. We lose the one when the Giants OF robs Albert of a walk off hr, then the two blown saves by KJ on the home stand with the Giants and now this nailbiter.
Why did Dino not sent JT on the Seager base hit in the 11th ? It was a clean single to deep enough center field to score from 2b even when you are not the fastest runner. On a night when your offense can do nothing you have to take that risk IMHO.
And TT better clean up his 2b defense soon. Cost another game eventually. Was an easy throw to make. Shades of Steve Sax….
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JT got hammy issues. He’s a base to base runner at this point. The team is better served if he just hits it over the fence.
We used 11 pitchers yesterday. That has to be a record, right?
The Giants scored from second on a single to center, unlike the Dodgers with Turner, and to compound that difference in third base coaching, Taylor’s throw to home missed the cutoff and a single wound up as a double and the Giants were again back with a runner in scoring position.
If Betts doesn’t perform like a superstar and lead this team we won’t be the ones celebrating at the end of the year. There’s just way too much talent in this lineup to put up so many dud performances! If we’re not hitting home runs we don’t score enough to win. Can anyone hit off speed? Frustrating!
Unlike Mark, I would not classify last night’s tough loss as a “train wreck” and overall I am feeling good about the remainder of the season. First of all, it was a pen game for us. Our pitching, overall, showed a lot of guts and I admire how they left it all on the field. I think we we found another diamond in the rough (unlike Javi B. who is still looking for his) in Phillips. He came in, in a very high stress situation and made the pitches necessary to allow the offense a chance to redeem themselves. Now the Giants have to face 2 games in row with only their relievers to hold back the blue tide. I like our odds greatly with Juli and Kershaw’s little brother. I am about to give you a
“post hoc” conclusion that I have been tracking for the past 1 1/2 years simply on my own. I understand the criticism that I am submitting myself to because I am giving you my opinion after the event(s) have already passed. I am totally ok with any doubts that readers may have. For better or worst, we come together here to exchange ideas, information, facts, perceived facts and our own biases which we may not even understand until we put them in ink.
Very simply, as I mentioned earlier, I have been tracking for the past 18 months, what has been the outcome (scoring or not scoring) when the Dodgers have a man on 3rd base with less then 2 outs and the batter has hit a ball to one of the 4 infielders. One player has scored, one player has stayed at 3rd base and the other 13 base runners have been thrown out. In 14 out of 15 times, the player on 3rd base has taken off for home plate “at the point of contact” between the batter and the pitch. One player held his position at 3rd base. So there must be an “official” team policy that players have to try and score from 3rd even though there is only 1 out. This team strategy is just not working. I would rather have the player on 3rd hold his position and let the infielder throw the runner out at first. I know “Duh” so why does it keep happening. I understand that some people might not consider 15 episodes a great number to come to a conclusion that this is “team policy” . Many times it has been said that anything could happen just one, twice could be a coincidence but three time and there is a trending going on here.
With 15…………….??? – Just keep this non scientific poll in the back of your minds when it comes up again
ROLL BLUE !!!
You must not be tracking that very well. They’ve been successful doing it as of late and I don’t necessarily think they always send the runner from third with less than 2 outs. Here’s when they do it and it makes sense…
Runner on 3rd or 2nd and 3rd with one out. You go on contact because you can no longer score from a sacrifice after the out at first is recorded on the play. This was the situation last night. The reasoning behind it is statistically, you have a better chance at scoring on that play, then the next batter has at getting a hit. Over time, like Vegas, this will pay off in the long run.
1st and 3rd with no outs or 1 out. The reasoning here is to get the defense to go home instead of getting a double play. Again, statistically, you have a better chance at scoring on that play than the next batter has at getting a hit. If they get the double-play, the batter has zero chance of getting a hit if the play happened when there was one out.
The added benefit of putting on that play is that if they fail to record an out at home, you get the double bonus of an additional baserunner who wouldn’t have reached base, and an additional out.
I don’t remember them putting on the play with no outs and a runner on 3rd or a runner on 2nd and 3rd. Please post an example where this occurred. If they were to put on the play under these circumstances, it would go against the probability of a runner scoring on a sacrifice on the next play, unless the pitcher’s spot was up next. Even then, it would have to be early in the game for fear of taking out a starting pitcher for a pinch hitter.
Bulldog – per your quote…….”1st and 3rd with no outs or 1 out. The reasoning here is to get the defense to go home instead of getting a double play. Again, statistically, you have a better chance at scoring on that play than the next batter has at getting a hit. If they get the double-play, the batter has zero chance of getting a hit if the play happened when there was one out.”
Actually, statistically speaking, you have a better chance if you remain at third base: even if you don’t score via a hit, you can score by a: 1. pass ball 2. wild pitch 3. balk 4. infielder error 5 . Infield Fly Rule (less than 2 outs and one of the runners on base is at 3rd) 6. Delayed steal with a runner on first base 7. Steal of home plate 8. Fielder’s choice
No Batman, you need to consider the probability of each of those plays. A hit might happen 25% of the time. I’m using a 250 batting average as an example. An error by a shortstop almost never happens by comparison. Trea Turner makes an error at shortstop just 3% of the time and he’s kinda error prone. So an infielding error is almost 10 times less likely to happen than a hit.
Balks, wild pitches and infield fly happens even less than an error by a fielder. A sacrifice happens routinely. I don’t have the numbers, but you have to assume it’s much easier than getting a hit.
You might want to pay a little more attention. It has happened at least once this year (just recently) and Mookie did it twice last year in the WS. Game 1 Bottom of 5 on a Max Muncy fielder’s choice and in Game 6 Bottom of 6 on a Corey Seager fielder’s choice. It may not be as productive as some think, but it has happened more than once out of 15 times in 18 months.
Jeff – Even if there is an exception to the rule, that doesn’t mean the rule shouldn’t apply. The point here I think we might want to focus is what gives the Dodgers greatest probabililty of scoring. Please see my response to Bulldog.
What frustrates me is the contact play being on with the infield in, which I have seen the Dodgers do more than once. And for those who may not know it, with runners at first and third less than two outs there is no “contact play”. Obviously in that situation you go to break up the double play. The contact play is reserved for that situation where a runner is on third, or second and third, and the team is in need of a run. It is an extremely aggressive play, and to do it with the infield in, is even more aggressive, and foolish in my opinion. Infield half way? Yeah, maybe, but still dangerous. I don’t like it.
I think a lot depends on the runner on 3rd. Why JT even considered it is nonsensical. But Mookie did it twice in the WS, with groundballs to 1B with the 1B up. I would have no problem with him or Trea Turner or Belli trying it. JT, Seager, Smith, Barnes, Pujols…stay on 3rd. Same with Lux, Beaty, and McKinstry. I trust AJ Pollock to read the play. CT3 is on the cusp for me. I have no idea if the play is automatic by design. I would use a lot more discretion, but I would not say no. I would prefer more suicide or safety squeeze plays. Of course the batter needs to know how to bunt, an art I am not sure many are confident in anymore.
Well, automatic isn’t exactly accurate as before you break you must be certain the ball is on the ground. I get your point about Mookie and Turner but even that play Mookie scored on it was really close. And another thing to consider is one of your stars diving head first into a catcher covered in gear and trained in how to protect a plate.
Squeeze play. A lost art. Who practices bunts against live pitching anymore? Nobody is my guess. I actually asked a coach that question on the back fields at Camelback and he looked at me like I just fell off the back of the truck. Bunts against live pitching? Uh, no.
Game 1 was close. Game 6 not so much. As far as sliding head first with the catcher covered in gear, I would be more apprehensive on a close play on a potential sac fly throw to the plate. The catcher has much more time to set up. I just do not think you can play scared. Sometimes you have to force the issue. Right or wrong; smart or dumb; it is just my opinion that certain players should get more opportunity to force the defense to play defense on a bang bang play.
You got those reversed Jeff. Dodgers were up 8-0 in game 1 before the Rays even scored. Game 6 they were trailing 1-0 when Mookie came in on the contact play.
No. You have it wrong. The score was 2-1 in the bottom of 5. Mookie leads off with a walk. Steals 2nd. Seager walks. JT up. Mookie steals 3rd and Seager steals 2nd. JT K’s. Max hits ground ball to 1B (Yandy Diaz) who throws to the plate too late to get Mookie. Score 3-1. Dodgers went on to score 4 in that inning to take a 6-1 lead. Go back and look at the game highlights. I am not making this up.
Yep Jeff. You are right..blame it on Bear vision
No, I am going to blame it on the fact that you were cheering the Trojans on to victory.
Trojan game was not on here. But I saw the final score.
I would suggest that Mookie not try it for the rest of this season. To me, he looks like he’s hurting again and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him down for awhile again before too long.
I agree. I doubt that Mookie tries it this year. He needs to stay healthy. I think my point was that I would never say never on the contact play. There are times and players that can be successful. Just as crazy as scoring from 1st on a single just out of the infield as Trea Turner did this year. Speed is a difference maker and cause defenses to make mistakes. IMO, I am not as against the idea as much as Badger and PhilJones are, and I am not advocating that they are wrong. But what JT did last night was just not smart baseball.
It actually looked like JT got a really bad jump and a slow first step on the play. If he would have broke a little earlier, he might have made it. I agree that a bunt might have yielded a better result in that situation, but when you never bunt, the chance of success diminishes.
Come on. You cannot convince me that a slow runner, with a groin ouchie that the team is trying to manage, running on contact is a smart play. I would much rather have runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs and CT3 up than 1st and 3rd. Seager scores on the CT3 single and the Dodgers are in the lead. If it was TT or Belli I would have been OK with the attempt, but not JT. Are the baseball odds better with JT trying to score on contact play or waiting to see what CT3 can do. The odds are slim in the second option, but near impossible in the first. The Dodgers were playing for an error and it wasn’t the Dodgers defense in the field.
I can see your side Jeff and I agree that JT was one of the worst runners in that situation. However, the play was close and he got a crappy jump. He could have been safe with a better jump. I’ve watched the play a few times and I stand by that statement, it was close enough that they even waited to see if they would challenge the play.
It took Crawford fielding it perfectly and making a throw right on the money to get him. Anything less and it would have been a run. Overall, I like aggressive baserunning and will seldom question a close play on the bases and it seems to work more often than not.
Badger, thanks for bringing up the situational play if the infielders are playing half way…………agree, then you go for it……….if you haven’t already, see my response to Bulldog why the odds are overwhelming that your chances increase if you stay at 3rd.
I read it. And if I read it correctly I agree with you.
With the infield in, on my team there is no contact play. With the infield half way, if they get the jump they want Trea can go, Bellinger can go, but others stay. Like you said, and Phil said a while back too, there are several ways you can score from third without a hit. I’m not trying to insinuate someone is wrong here, I’m just saying I don’t like the play unless the infield is back.
I think there’s a lot of people who didn’t do well in math.
https://www.dodgers2080.com/dodgers-prospects-andy-pages-a-name-to-familiarize-yourself-with/
The Dodgers better win these next 2 games, because relying on other teams to beat the Giants is a dangerous situation to be in. The Brewers beat them 3 out of 4, but they are the next best team in the standings.
Why in the hell, with all the star power we have on offense is the offense so inconsistent?
By the way, we lost yesterday but I didn’t blame it on Doc. I think the Doc loyalists need to relax. I or we don’t ALWAYS blame Doc.
That should have said, I or we who are not Doc loyalists don’t ALWAYS blame Doc.
I’m with you Eric. If I critique one lousey play I have to defend myself like a toilet paper salesmen during covid.
Aww it ain’t that bad Bulldog! This was on the offense pure and simple. Most fun thing of the night to watch was Pujols going to third on the fly to the outfield. His slide was the worst I have seen all year. And then they sent Buehler in to run for him. He and Ebel were laughing like hell after the play. Result of that play? Smith had to go play first.
Tonight’s winning lineup:
2b Trea
1b Max
RF Mookie
3b Justin
ss Corey
LF AJ
CF Chris
C Will
P Julio
No Cody
09/04/21 Los Angeles Dodgers sent RHP Tony Gonsolin on a rehab assignment to Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
The Dodgers have won 10 of their last 14 games. They have done it with pitching. The offense is scoring 3.6 runs a game in that stretch. Their BA with RISP is .178. They are hitting as a team a paltry .228. Now tar and feather me, but it seems the vaunted best team in the majors cannot hit it’s way out of a wet paper bag right now. And one of the biggest culprits is Taylor. Yeah, he got a clutch bloop hit last night, but he is striking out a lot. So is Muncy. Bellinger looks totally lost at the plate, and very energetic in the outfield. He almost made a brilliant catch last night. I watched the entire game. Did not miss a pitch. And the bullpen was outstanding. Even Phillips did a great job. He made the right pitch, got Posey to hit a routine grounder, and Turner just rushed a throw on threw it too wide. Game over. But the onus is on the offense. When you go to extra’s you need a crooked number and not just the 1 that holds serve. They failed to do that and lost. Giants have some guy named Jackson going today. He is a starter called up from the minors. 30 years old and a strikeout type pitcher. Taylor in the last 2 weeks has played in 11 games, is hitting .158 and has struck out 17 times. Bellinger in 12 games is hitting .139 with 10 K’s. If you want to point fingers for bad offense, those two are big reasons for it.
That 3.6 runs per game struck a note with me so I checked on season runs per game average this year.
29 of the 30 teams are averaging better than 3.6 for the season.
On the other hand, our average runs per game for the entire 2021 season so far is 5.05.
Last year that number was 5.77.
The Giants are averaging 4.74 runs per game this year, which is actually lower than last year (4.98).
The Dodgers team ERA since the All Star break is 2.70. Clayton Kershaw and Trevor Bauer have not thrown a pitch during that time.
The above is presented for those of you who like numbers. Draw whatever conclusions you like.
One big difference. The Giants are the team that is getting more home runs and leading the league in that category. Last couple of seasons the Dodgers have been the lead dog in that department. The Giants have done that without a player in the top 5 as HR hitters.
Very informative
Just think how good this team will be when they start hitting again Bear.
Hopefully that starts this afternoon. I miss spoke about Jackson. He is 33. He has a 2-0 record this season.
Put Seager in 2nd spot…..!!!!
Gonsolin just pulled after 2 1/3 at Quakes Stadium (LoanMart Field). He was scheduled to pitch 3 innings. He gave up one run. A couple of hard hit line drives plus a drive that was caught at the fence. Seems healthy. No radar readings a available .
Doc has unleashed the hounds
Pollock cut a really. Oh My God he hurts
Oh crap.
Yeah with Taylor and Muncy not hitting right now we sure cant afford to lose Pollock who’s been a huge bright spot in our lineup
Come on boys don’t give them any momentum, Julio needs to get this last out
That is potentially year-ending,
Next man up!
That’s Bellinger
Don’t say that
That gives the DODGERS the best defensive outfield in baseball!
I was talking about it being season ending didn’t want you to put the Moloco on Pollock
Max Muncy has turned himself into a pretty good defensive first baseman.
Bellinger is going to run into one before this series is over.
SF wears a few different softball jerseys.
Dodgers’s bats are getting cold again. Not good
They’ve done this before, scored early then didn’t take it advantage
of all the opportunities that they had
Still fairly early though hope we can turn some of those opportunities into crooked numbers.
Also pound their bullpen and we can weaken them for tomorrow’s game
I worry that we are going to see what we see all too often. The Dodgers score a bunch of early runs and then just STOP scoring. And I hope I’m wrong, but Urias looks a bit shaky tonight.
AJ – Right Hamstring strain. F!
You know it was gonna be something. Glad it’s not a knee or ankle.
Just got to keep our fingers crossed, really can’t afford to lose AJ for too long
Hopefully, it’s just a hamstring strain for Pollock.
Still I see a IL stint.
They just reported as a strained hammy. No other info. Kershaw is making a start on Tuesday at OKC. Depends on how bad the strain is, but he had to be helped off of the field. One thing I have noticed tonight, Dodger hitters are not making the Giants relievers work very hard. Except for the first inning they are again getting themselves out more than the pitchers are getting them out.
Thanks You ampayer..why Saeager justo did not take the 4 valla?? Cody look like a Mexican reguilete
Bellinger is now 2 for 43 vs the giants this year
He’s painful to watch right now. Just an awful offensive MLB player at the moment. Oh how I want to see him put the Dodgers on his back and carry them, but with Doc’s PH for him last night I think it has become abundantly clear the Dodger braintrust don’t have a clue how to fix him at this late juncture and are going to hope he has a strong offseason and comes back in the spring renewed.
I think he needs a complete re-tooled swing , stance, load and path. If the front office “budget hawks” tell AF you can have one, but not both of Seager and Bellinger I think Cody is the one jettisoned.
So, you’re saying he’s due.
Looks like
Vesia’s quickly becoming one of my favorite players.
Guys I trust the most out of the pen. 1. Treinen 2. Vesia 3. Jansen 4. Knebel 5. Bickford 6. Kelly 6. Bruihl 7. Graterol 8. Greene
Put Corey un the 2nd spot
I fixed that for you Daniel, but just so you know, there is no such thing as 2th. It is 2nd.
Thanks you
Corey sending a message last night and tonight. Get on my back and I’ll carry you to the promised land. Sign this dude longterm AF. He cannot be in a different uniform next year.It’s one thing to see Joc, and Enrique Hernandez or even CT3 (next year) in a different uniform but Corey has to be a Dodger. Has to be!
Don’t repeat the days of DePodesta when he let Beltre walk, in FA get er done AF
I am convinced that Bellinger’s problems are solely due to his shoulder surgery which was probably similar to Matt Kemp!s. That was a two year recovery, as it was for Adrian Gonzalez before he came to the Dodgers.
Remember, Bellinger began the season hitting the same way he is now, post-IL.
My guess is that Cody will benefit greatly from offseason rehab and rest. But It may be that he won’t be 100% at the start of 2022, but will get progressively stronger as the year progresses.
I agree. I do not think his shoulder is at full strength. I also think that along with that, he is not the confident hitter he once was. He chases pitches low and outside way more than he ever has. Both Pollock and Puig had that same problem.
I’m very happy to see Muncy hitting in the 2nd spot, which takes advantage of his ability to get on base. But quite frankly, when you’re dealing with the caliber of players like Seager, Muncy, and Betts, I’m not sure it makes a difference what order they hit in.
Seager has been at his best out of the 2 hole in his career. He is a ,293 hitter in that spot and that is where a majority of his at bats have come from in his career. He is hitting .279 out of the 5 hole where he was tonight. Batting 6th he is at .342. But he has less than 100 at bats at any other position than 2nd. Muncy on the other hand is a .249 hitter out of the 2 hole. But his OBP there is .393 because he walks so much. Seager’s is .362. So they are pretty close. I prefer the guy with the higher BA. Betts is actually a better hitter there, .307 and has a .390 OBP in that spot As a leadoff hitter Mookie is .300 .384. Hitting 3rd is his worse spot. BA of ,263 and a OBP of .340. Almost all of his power has come from the leadoff spot. Trea Turner a .302 .353 OBP from that spot.
Just read that Pollock could be out for three weeks. Bad timing.
So we can expect Taylor in LF and Belli in CF. McKinney and McKinstry will likely see more action too. Who will they call up to replace Pollock? Reks or Raley or ???
If only Yoshi had started hitting when he was wearing blue…
Neither. My guess would be Beaty. He has the most experience and is a great pinch hitter.
Urias first to 16 wins. Butane goes tomorrow. Then it is on to St. Loo.
Remember the days when many at LADT declared Julio a bullpen only guy
You mean Eric?
We’ll be fine as long as Will Smith doesn’t have to play first! Should have put Barnes there. At least he’s played infield before. That is the only bad move, as it turned out, Roberts made. Except for that stupid JT running on contact play…
Wasn’t Smith’s fault. Turner’s throw was off line and Smitty did his best to catch it and try and keep his foot on the bag. Barnes is a lot shorter than Smitty and he never would have been able to catch that ball.
They look about the same height to me. In fact both listed at 5 ‘ 10”
Such a shame that bad base running leads to an injury! If ever there was a time for Bellinger to snap out of it!
If only we had a couple of clutch hitters at OKC to tap into. AJ is damn near irreplaceable.
Beaty will probably get the call. He is a decent hitter, and pretty good off of the bench.
Maybe the clubhouse should establish a fine for strikeouts policy. That might turn Taylor, Muncy, and Bellinger into contact hitters or, at least, more frequent walkers.
They do not use kangaroo courts in the clubhouse anymore. And Bellinger feels bad enough without getting fined for it. Contact hitters none of those 3 have ever been. Taylor’s K rate this season is higher than it has ever been and he is by far the team leader.
Too bad AJ is out for 2-3 weeks now. Injury bug again bites the Dodgers. Belli has to step up at the plate now.
I would call up Beaty or Lux to replace AJ. Busch is tearing up AA lately but probably too soon to call him up.
Julio did not have his A stuff but battled like a warrior.
WB going tonight. I like our chances to be in first place tonight.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So MLB extended Bauers leave for the 8th (!) time now and basically ending his season and putting a huge dent into the Dodgers chances of another title. That is totally inaccpetable. Where is the principle of being not guilty until proven otherwise ? Where is the right of TB to perform under his contract ?
Not defending TB in any form here but how can it be that a guy like deShawn Watson is still playing and TB is not ?
I really do not get that MLB politics.
Dodgers are doing such a great job with 60percent of their opening day rotation out for almost all year.
It is truly amazing how well they are doing. winning at a .630 clip without May, Clayton and Bauer plus long stints without Betts ,and Seager, Bellinger mired in an all time slump by a former MVP it is nothing short of sensational.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They have done fine without him, and will continue to do so.
That is not the point.
IMHO it looks like Manfred and MLB want to stick it to the Dodgers and Bauer.
After the judge denied the woman he should have been reinstated unless the DA makes this an official case . Basically he has been suspended now for over 2 months already. It has become a witch hunt.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Think of the positive side of losing Trevor Bauer on admin. leave, AF might not have traded for Scherzer and T Turner. I think were a better team going into the playoffs with those two than with Bauer.
Andrew, that is a very good point. Haven´t thought about it yet. And yes, I agree with you.
Dodgers are better overall with MS and TT than TB. No doubt about it.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!
Losing AJP is a massive blow.
Especially given how poor we are v LH pitching.