It All Comes Down to 2 Games… Maybe 3

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1. Im going to get this out…..

   I’m now officially concerned- we only have 3 SPs and you know how fast playoff games are played. These 3 guys have pitched a lot of innings, especially the young one, Urias. The thought of these guys pitching on 4 days rest concerns me too, since they aren’t used to that.

   Anyone else concerned too? Am I over reacting here?

   TM

   1. You are completely over reacting as usual. Tony Gonsolin is the 4th starter. He’s 4-1 with a 3.23 ERA. Do you really think other teams have No. 4 guys that are that good?

2. It’s a great point TM. Another playoff run without a proven #4. Gonsolin will have to step up. I think he has the stuff. And I don’t see how Price can make the playoff roster. Great guy, great teammate but would anyone feel comfortable having him coming in with the game on the line? And Mark, did Anderson return a water unit or what?

   1. I recall saying several weeks ago we may need our aces to finish winning the Division and sure enough that’s where we are. If it’s Gonsolin to pitch that big game, so be it. Hopefully he can go 5, but what I’ve also said for weeks is still true – if we hit we win.

      Mark used a lot of words to say the giants magic number is 1.

      1. Just curious….how often has Gonsolin gone 5 innings in his career? But I agree with you…if he can give us at least 5….PTL! We have a very good bullpen to go 4 innings.

         TM

   2. Some guys here feel better about Gonsolin than I do, so I hope they are right and my gut is wrong.

      I hope Price is not even on the playoff roster and the way Grat has been pitching, leave him off too.

      TM

3. I assume this quote from Anderson throwing shade at the Dodgers when he was a Cub;

   “As bad as I pitched, this is by far the best team atmosphere I’ve been apart of…not even close.”

   and of course there was this;

   “Crazy to think that I could never get anyone out ever again and still feel better about my career than Trevor Bauer’s”

   1. Winner winner chicken dinner

   2. Hmm, that’s a bold statement from Brett Anderson and requires a little examination…

      Career Seasons Bauer 10, Anderson 13
      Career ERA Bauer 3.79, Anderson 4.08
      Career Wins Bauer 83, Anderson 67
      Career Win% Bauer 546, Anderson .475
      Career IP Bauer 1297, Anderson 1139
      Career K’s Bauer 1416, Anderson 772
      Career Awards…
      Bauer – 1AS, 1CY
      Anderson – None

      There’s an old Sicilian/Italian joke. The only people who think Sicilians are Italian are Sicilians. The only one who thinks Anderson had a better career than Bauer is Anderson.

4. Gonsolin seems to be capable of being a #4 if necessary. I wouldn’t have any problem using him in that role for the playoffs. I think Price could be valuable because of his experience in the postseason. Sometimes experience in high leverage situations can override a talented but inexperienced pitcher. If it’s for a batter or two or an inning anything can happen. He could be helpful in long relief if necessary. I think Price should be included on the playoff staff.

   The offense appears to be waking up at the right time. Seager looks like he’s gearing up for more MVP awards this postseason. AJ is on fire as well. JT, Trea and Mookie are on the right track and need to continue into the postseason. Will Smith is in a small slump the past two weeks. Hopefully, Will returns to his timely clutch hitting for the playoffs. It would be nice to have more consistency from Mighty Max. And, to have Taylor and Bellinger emerge with any type of offensive production would be unexpected considering their recent results. But, the two will be likely produce some spectacular defensive plays along the way.

   It’s sad to have Kershaw not be able to participate in the playoffs. Your heart had to go out to him as he sat on the bench after leaving the game on Friday. I’m thinking he will retire. What does he have to prove at this point in his career? He’s a first ballot hall of famer. He doesn’t need the money. He prefers to raise his young family in the Dallas area. Why go through the pain and boredom of a TJ surgery? There are no guarantees it will be successful at age 35. Again, his situation adds to some of the uncertainty in the offseason for the Dodgers and baseball in general.

   How about the American league wild card? There is a reasonable possibility of a four team tie after today’s games.
   If that happens the World Series may not be over until November. With all the teams starting at the same time today it may turn out to be one of the craziest days in baseball history.

   Carry on.

5. Price cannot make the post season roster. In a perfect scenario Walker pitches lights out, the Giants lose in slugfest using 7 or 8 pitchers or have a long extra inning game . Dodgers and Max go to Oracle and beat the Giants and we then reset our rotation for the NLDS which starts Friday.

   Giants then lose the WC game to the Cards and everything will be right in the world……..the baseball world that is!

6. If we can make it to a play-in game why would it have to be in SF? What’s the reason it wouldn’t be played in LA? I haven’t had my coffee yet.

   1. Head to head record.

7. Wow, it’s starting already. Why is everyone such a Debbie Downer? The first two comments are about how we don’t have a number 4 starter. By the time I finish this post, there will more than likely be more. Let’s start with a list of starters on playoff teams that have an ERA less than Toney’s 3.23

   Giants – Gausman, DeScalfani, Webb
   Braves -Fried
   Brewers – Burnes, Hauser (3.22), Peralta, Woodruff
   Cardinals – Wainwright

   The Brewers are the only team that potentially has a 4th starter with an ERA as low as Gonso’s and it’s only by .01 point.

   I know that last year Gonzo crapped himself in the postseason. Hopefully, with a little more experience he’ll pitch like himself. IMHO, he’s only a 5 inning guy, but with the other 3 workhorses in the rotation and the best bullpen in the league, 5 should be enough going against other teams number 4’s.

   It’s incredible that this team has 105 wins with one game to play. I’m a little concerned that we might have to match up our number 4 starter against the Cardinals and Waino, but I like our bullpen behind him and I don’t expect Scherzer to lose against the Giants in a winner take all game if we go there.

   Look at it this way. If we win today and the Giants lose, we basically get 2 wildcard games and only need to win one of them.

   We also have the option to use Urias in the Wild Card game on short rest if needed. I like our chances especially with the Wild Card game at home with the fans going crazy. The Cardinals are going to have a tough time to say the least.

   With that said, I still would have rather sent Mitch White to the hill today. But, I understand the strategy to go all in on each game from here on out. It’s playoff baseball and it started yesterday as soon as the Dodgers realized the Giants lost.

   Let’s see how the pitching sets up…

   We win today and the Giants lose. Scherzer pitches tomorrow and Gonsolin pitches on Wednesday if necessary. Julio on short rest is an option. If Urias goes, Bueller starts on Friday and Scherzer goes on Saturday, Urias on Monday, Gonzo on Tuesday and back to Bueller for a game 5.

   The Giants win today. Scherzer pitches on Wednesday. Urias and Bueller on Friday and Saturday and Scherzer comes back on Monday with Gonzo in game 4 on Tuesday and Urias in a Game 5.

   There’s always the option to forego Gonso and bring back the game 1 starter on 3 days rest for the DS.

   Other than that, there aren’t too many decisions regarding the Roster as Mark pointed out above. Do you go with Beaty’s bat or another pitcher and a short bench?

   I don’t like having a short bench. I want 4 pinch hitters available, plus the backup catcher. Price pitched himself off the roster in my opinion by sealing the deal last night by allowing 2 runs on three hits and a walk in 1 IP.

   As much as I like Mitch White, I like V-Gone better. V-Gone has now pitched 8 games in a row without allowing a run at AAA and after what he did for us last year in the postseason, I trust him.

   So as far as Mark’s roster goes, I add V-Gone in place of Mitch White as a third lefty in the pen and Beaty takes the 26th spot.

   It was a great game yesterday and Julio showed why he’s the real Cy Young winner. Sorry, I can’t ignore that he’ll be MLB’s only 20 win pitcher and the fact that just one pitcher will even finish within three wins of that total.

   Corbin Burnes has 0 chance of winning the award with 9 wins off the lead and just 167 innings pitched. No starting pitcher has ever won the award with less than 180.

   Bueller’s got a shot at making the Cy Young contest really interesting. If he manages to lower his ERA, his innings pitched might just put him over the top, even with 4 wins shy of Julio.

   It’s funny that people are worried about Gonso being the 4th starter when he’s 4-1 with a 3.23 ERA when the other three starters are all in the Cy Young conversation.

   Manhandling the Brewers at home has to sting a little for them. Sure, they swept us early in the season, but they know they aren’t playing that team right now. Julio carved them up like Gordan Ramsey would do a Thanksgiving Turkey.

   I guess the only other thing to mention besides Seager, Turner and Pollock firmly zeroed into beast mode, is the Center Field situation. CT3 is going to be out there against lefties because Belli and Lux have both consistently sucked against lefties this year. That much is clear. So, the big side of the platoon is the decision that needs to be made. Do you go with the defense and power potential that Belli provides, or do you hope Lux doesn’t crap himself in the box during the postseason, or bust break himself in the outfield? To me speed and baserunning is equal.

   I handle it like this. Belli starts and if he swings outside the zone in his early ABs and we are losing, you pull him for the chance at more offense. I go with the gold glove defense and the chance of running into one and sending it out of the yard over Lux’s hot streak with the bat.

   I really like the format of all games on at the same time on the final day of the season. It looks like it’s going to be a bullpen game for San Diego against Webb. It looks like a mismatch, but this is baseball so anything can happen.

8. Hey Mark, pretty sure all game today are approx 3pmET not PT. Hate to have someone miss the game if this is the only place they checked that.
   cheers
   pb+

9. Please no Price on the Playoff roster. Looks like he’s throwing batting practice these days. I agree that Gonsolin is as good as any #4 out there, if he gets in trouble we have a bullpen game. I wonder if SD will roll over or if the change in management will send the Pad’s out on a winning note. Stay tuned……………………….

10. Knehr v Webb

    The pitching match up heavily favors the Giants. I’d be surprised if the Giants don’t come out early and put an end to our hope for a tie. But, you never know, right?

11. Game 162’s Lineup 3PM ET:

    RF Mookie Betts R
    SS Corey Seager L
    2B Trea Turner R
    3B J. Turner R
    1B Max Muncy L
    C Will Smith R
    LF AJ Pollock R
    CF Chris Taylor R
    P W. Buehler R

12. Bulldog, you are missing some off days in that set up you have for the pitchers. They have travel days after games 2 and 4 of the NLDS. Giants have a pitching advantage over the Padres today. Webb has been lights out, so all the posturing may be for naught. Just checked, in two games against the Padres Webb is 0-1 with a 6.08 ERA. He also is 5-0 at home. Pads are hitting .308 against him. LA is hitting .127 off of the guy in 3 games. He is the best SF has against LA. Maybe the Padres hitters do right by their fired manager and send him out a winner.

    1. Hey OldBear, I don’t think I missed off days. Maybe you can point out where I’m wrong instead of just saying that I am.

       Hey Badger, the next time you want to talk about projections remember how this year turned out…
       https://www.mlb.com/news/2021-pecota-projections-breakdown

       Hey all you Nancy’s that are disappointed about this season, The Dodgers actually outperformed their lofty expectations by at least 2 games. Too bad the Giants outperformed by at least 31 games! WOW!!! Luckiest team in baseball.

       1. Ur right, I am wrong, shit happens….sometimes more often than I would like.

       2. Hey Bullspin, I know how to predict your response – anyone who doesn’t agree with you gets shit on. It’s just baseball man. Your opinion is just that, another opinion. I find no good reason to listen to your mean spirited bloviations.

          1. Right back at you, Madger!

       3. “Luckiest team in baseball”. Are you an idiot?

13. Dodgers need to score early to put pressure on the Giants. I hope Muncy is okay. Oh no Muncy is out!!

14. Crap

    1. Man he was in a lot of pain. We gotta pray for a miracle here
       BTW why is dodger Stadium so empty on fan appreciation day?

       1. They can get free burgers at Jack in the crack, why spend plenty o bucks on the chance to win tickets or a car?????

15. ABS. NEXT YEAR!

16. I would say Muncy is at the very least out for a week to 10 days. At the worst, he’s done for the year!

    If Jace comes up again, bring Phillips in and drill him!

17. Is over… Wild card!

18. Okay, take WB out. Giants will win the West. Padres rolling over once again.
    Hope that Muncy is okay but it did not look good.

    Lets hope Max has his best stuff WED and we advance to knock out the Giants.

    Dodgers have had a great regular season , especially considering all the injuries and the TB saga . Who would have thought that 104 wins would not be enough to win the West ? Giants have had their best year since 1904!

    Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

19. Ok now Striker comes out with the Cy

    1. Beat me to it, Mark. I too think that should seal it for WB. ERA just a hair behind Burns and Scherzer but more W and very good WHIP.
       TT , what can you say? Sign him up long term. Difference maker.

       Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

20. Okay, with the regular season almost in the books and nobody knowing how the postseason will play out here is my top 3 to do list for the Dodgers offseason:

    Nr. 1: Resign Scherzer to a 2 year contract.
    Nr.2: Resign Corey long term.
    Nr.3: Extend TT.

    There should be enough money to get this done . Tons of money coming off the book after this year (Clayton, Jansen, Sierra, hopefully TB contract) and again next year (Price).

    Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    1. 2 year deal is not going to land Scherzer. 3 years will get it done. As for Seager, that is going to be his choice. No matter what, they need to find a way to keep Trea Turner. But again, he has to want to stay in LA.

    2. I think we resign Jansen the way he has pitched the past two months….

21. Hats off to Doc and the Dodgers for fighting to the end of the regular season and not conceding the NL West till the very last game. They could have just laid back and waited for a guaranteed WC game, but they refused to quit. They showed a lot of spirit these last games . GO DODGERS!!!

    1. Agree 100 percent. Great character on this team.
       Unbelievable that 106 wins will not win you the division. If you told me before the season we would get 106 wins I would have asked where to sign up for.
       Even more amazing with all the injuries and the TB distraction.
       Hats off to one of the best seasons in Dodgers history.

       Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!1

22. Muncy injury is an elbow. After looking at it again it could be a hyperextension or even dislocation.
    I fear his season might be over. Would be a huge blow to our postseason chances.

    Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!

    1. I am waiting to hear what the skinny is on the broadcast. Just means who ever replaces him is going to have to play his tail off.

23. 8 division titles in a row. This year, will be better than all of those 8 years.

    We’ll set the franchise record for wins, all while dealing with an insane amount of injuries, off years, and the Bauer drama.

    100% credit to Dave Roberts for getting 106 wins out of this team, and 100% GTFO to those who want to criticize him for not getting to 108 wins.

    1. Agreed. DR did a fantastic job this season. No other way to look at it.

       If you think back that either the home run robbery by Tauchman on the potential AP walk off home run or that highly debatable check swing no call on the Giants could have given us the division.
       Talk about a game of inches.

       Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!

24. Time for Cory to play first base. hope hitting again.
    I really enjoyed the way the Dodgers have played the last few games. Seager, Tuerner, Pollock and Beaty have hit well. behind them Justin Turner, Lux, Muncy and Smith.
    Les go to the WC

25. 105 wins ain’t enough for 2021. As painful as it is with these next words………Congrats Giants! Don’t know what your secrete is but the fat lady hasn’t sang on the championship and I heard her rehearsing and she was singing to the Dodgers!

26. Here are the five most accurate and least accurate umpires from around the league for the 2021 season.

    Most accurate

    Tripp Gibson: 20 G; 95.32 percent accuracy; 96.9 percent consistency
    Jeremie Rehak: 20 G; 94.85 percent accuracy; 96.8 percent consistency
    Alan Porter: 19 G; 94.75 percent accuracy; 96.5 percent consistency
    Edwin Moscoso: 24 G; 94.64 percent accuracy; 96.5 percent consistency
    Pat Hoberg: 23 G; 94.44 percent accuracy; 97.6 percent consistency
    Least accurate

    Ed Hickox: 9 G; 90.13 percent accuracy; 94.1 percent consistency
    Rob Drake: 19 G; 90.92 percent accuracy; 95.3 percent consistency
    Adrian Johnson: 15 G; 91.03 percent accuracy; 94.5 percent consistency
    Kerwin Danley: 13 G; 91.28 percent accuracy; 92.8 percent consistency
    Joe West: 22 G; 91.3 percent accuracy; 94.7 percent consistency

    Why do Hickox and West still have jobs? Hickox will go down in Dodgers history.

    I look forward to seeing the giants again. Bummer about Muncy. He should know better than to stick his arm into the baseline.

    1. Maybe you should teach him how to play first base, now that you can’t teach Kershaw how to throw a changeup.
       And while you’re at it fine-tune the new stance that Belli has

27. It took the most outrageous overplay in the history of mlb to beat us this year. The Giants could play this season 1000 times over and not win 107 games! Wow! We still kick their butts in the playoffs!

    1. And an absolute blown check swing call.

    2. But we have to win on Wednesday in order to kick the Giant’s ass!!

28. I figured this was going to happen. Especially with the Padres basically using a bullpen day. But it actually is better than tying for the division since if they did that, they would burn Scherzer in the 163rd game, and if they lost that, then Urias would have to start the wild card game against a team he has faced once in his career and only pitched one inning against them. Scherzer is 2-0 against the Cardinals this season and has not allowed an earned run in either of those games. He gave up one unearned. Playoffs set. Yanks-Red Sox in the wild card in the AL. Dodgers-Cardinals in the wild card in the NL. Trea Turner is both the batting champ and the stolen base leader in the NL. Phillies fired Juan Castro and Joe Dillion, the hitting coach. They also told assistant hitting coach Pedro Guererro that he can look at other opportunities. Charlie Blackmon, who is 35, has said he will exercise his option to return to the Rockies. This sticks in my throat, but congrats to the Giants on an excellent season….now we are going to make you choke on it. LOL.

29. The SF players did not outperform, in the season, the Dodgers players, the Dodgers players, on the field of play, they did not lose this either, the division was decided by a bad call from an umpire, that swing that decided that It was not the third strike and the end of the game, if he decides correctly the Dodgers would have 107-55 and SF 106-54 and they would be division champions, the Dodgers were better, the run differential also shows it, the Dodgers had Against SF 10-9 in his annual series, Kenley had one more save, one less blown save, one less loss and a better ERA and would have also gotten rid of a week of insults, this was decided by a bad call from an umpire.

30. I’m proud of the way our boys played down the stretch. We did about as much as you can expect.

    It pains me to say it, but hats off to the Giants for their grit and willingness to persevere despite all the pressure we were putting on them. Bastards……

    TM

31. The Dodgers are absolutely a far better team than the Midgets. However, for every game that the Dodgers lost that they should have won, it is almost certain that there are others that they won that they should have lost. That’s baseball, plain and simple. All I want now in the immediate future is for the Dodgers to win on Wednesday, be it 1-0 or 15-0. And I don’t care if the outcome is the result of a lucky play or plays. And as for kicking Giant ass, my sentiments are the same. It’s all about the bottom line. Win on Wednesday and then go on to win the NLDS, NLCS, and WS.

32. Max Muncy’s injury is a concern. Assuming that Bellinger will fill-in for him, here’s hoping that Cody finds his stroke and picks up the offensive slack. Cody is capable, and no doubt will be a defensive upgrade, and adds speed to the equation. And hopefully Muncy’s injury is not nearly as bad as it appeared, and that he’s back a lot sooner that it appeared it would be.

    1. Replacing Max with Cody is a huge loss for us…I can’t sugarcoat this any other way.

33. Trea Turner is insurance if Cory leaves next year and Lux is insurance if Trea leaves after next year. The Dodgers don’t need to overspend for a shortstop.

    A 2023 infield of Busch, Betts, Vargas, and Lux would need Pages to be ready in 2023 to be a third of the outfield. That would leave lots of salary for pitching.

    We need to really enjoy and appreciate whatever number of games the Dodgers give us this year because things are a changing.

34. Very interesting Bum, what will the DODGERS look like in 2023

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