Playoff Roster & Beyond

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1. The Arizona Fall League will be back in action on October 13. There will be six teams filled with some of baseball’s top prospects. One of the six teams will have seven Dodgers prospects, including some of their top ranked guys. The season concludes with the championship game on November 20.

   The Glendale Desert Dogs feature prospects from the Dodgers, Angels, Cardinals, Astros and White Sox. They will be managed by Jair Fernandez, the Dodgers’ DSL manager. In addition, their strength and conditioning coach will be Gage Cosgrove, another coach in the Dodgers’ system.

   Here are the Dodgers prospects who will be participating.

   Bobby Miller
   The Dodgers’ No. 1 prospect, according to Baseball America. LA’s first round pick in the 2020 MLB Draft skyrocketed up ranking boards this season, and for good reason. In his first year of minor-league ball, the 22-year-old started the season at Great Lakes and finished at Tulsa. He’s a Top 100 prospect in baseball and one of the rising pitching prospects in the game.

   2021 stats: 17 games, 14 starts, 2-2, 2.40 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 56 1⁄3 IP, 70 SO, 13 BB

   Landon Knack
   Another pitcher rising up the ranks in the Dodgers’ system is Landon Knack. The 24-year-old was selected by the Dodgers in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft. Just like with Miller, he spent the beginning of the season with Great Lakes but then was promoted to Tulsa to finish the season. The Dodgers have many great right-handed pitchers in their farm system and Knack is one of the best.

   2021 stats: 16 games, 11 starts, 7-1, 3.16 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 62 1⁄3 IP, 82 SO, 8 BB

   Kody Hoese
   Once considered a top prospect in the organization, 2021 was a forgetful season for Kody Hoese. After being selected by the Dodgers in the first round in 2019, Hoese struggled to stay on the field, dealing with injuries. He spent time in the Arizona Complex League rehabbing, while also trying to play his way back to Tulsa.

   2021 stats: 69 games, .196 AVG, .247 OBP, .250 SLG, 2 HR, 20 RBI, 51 H, 59 SO, 17 BB

   Jacob Amaya
   Another player that slid down the rankings a bit was Jacob Amaya. The 23-year-old shortstop is still considered to have one of the best gloves in the entire system, but his offensive production was lacking this season. He spent all of 2021 in Tulsa.

   2021 stats: 113 games, .216 AVG, .303 OBP, .343 SLG, .645 OPS, 12 HR, 47 RBI, 90 H, 103 SO, 53 BB

   James Outman
   The 24-year-old outfielder had a breakout season in 2021. After spending the first chunk of the season with Great Lakes, Outman spent the second half with Tulsa, where his production actually got better. Outman is one of the rising outfielders in LA’s system.

   2021 stats: 104 games, .266 AVG, .379 OBP, .490 SLG, .869 OPS, 18 HR, 54 RBI, 110 H, 23 SB

   Jeff Belge
   After a great 2019 campaign, Jeff Belge struggled in 2021. He spent all of the season with Great Lakes, but just never seemed to get things on track. He was an 18th round pick back in 2019.

   2021 stats: 31 games, 2-2, 5.61 ERA, 1.68 WHIP, 43 1⁄3 IP, 63 SO, 34 BB, 5/10 saves

   Kyle Hurt
   In case you forgot, Kyle Hurt also came over from the Marlins in the Alex Vesia trade. The 23-year-old was a fifth round pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. He didn’t see much action this season, seeing limited time between the ACL and Rancho Cucamonga.

   2021 stats: 12 games, 2-2, 5.57 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 21 IP, 36 SO, 10 BB

   Please make sure Mark you find writers to keep LAdodgertalk going. You’ve done a helluva job and truly enjoy it!

   1. Maybe you should be part of it.

      1. Well Mark, I just have to say thanks for keeping this going as long as you did. Can’t blame you. It was a good run.

      2. Mark, you are one of the few who know I’ve had more than my share of nightmares and so far have survived. My existence is little more than that and that’s something I own alone. Well there are others that can take credit for some of my misfortunes but I did most of that work myself. Knowing this site, you and it’s community have given a fair amount of quality and even education. You have been a good friend and you know that. You can be certain I’m thankful and proud you are my friend. I’ll be in touch. Just thanks Mark.

2. Knebel will be on roster.

   Great website.

   Go Dodgers.

   1. Yeah, I forgot him. I fixed it!

      1. There will also be at least a second lefty in the pen.

      2. I like the list. If we carry 12 pitchers, I see no one I would replace with anyone else we have available. I agree those are currently our 12 best.
         cheers
         pb+

3. Mark, I am legitimately impressed to learn you are in the process of reading a book. I wish you good luck in finishing it.

   1. Good one DLove

      Anybody watch the Rams game last night?

      I think we will have trouble hitting Webb, but should win this series.

      This country needs good journalism, especially the investigative reporters. There has been a virulent campaign of misinformation going on for years and we need these brave souls to expose the liars.

      Is Roberts one of the liars? Who cares. It’s sports. You pays your money and you takes your chances.

      Mark and I have gone round and round for years, there are things we will never agree on, but I believe as men of different persuasions we’ve learned to talk it out. What he’s done here is nothing short of amazing. I hope Jeff will continue writing as I really enjoy his take.

      I think MLB has a lot to work on this winter but I get the sense they don’t much care if they get it right. The money is rolling in and that’s what they care about. Fans gripe, we ask for progress, but we keep paying the escalating FCI’s so why would anything change?

      I wish nothing but the best from and for all. For myself, I’ve lived long enough to have no expectations.

      1. I quit trusting the media when Walter Cronkite died.

      2. Webb is gonna walk many Dodgers tonight. Mookie is gonna hit him I’m certain, and big. I don’t think Webb’s formula is going to work so well- we got his number. Posey might be able to guide him but not till the damage has been executed.

   2. I’ll have you know I have 3 books and one has not even been colored in.

      1. With all the coloring you’ve done here, you must be out of blue, and red, crayons by now.

      2. I have some you can borrow! LOL smile…..Mark, I have a replacement Bellinger for you if you want it. I do not have an extra Garvey though. Wish I did.

         1. I am turning it into insurance and I am also suing the Car Rental Agency. They have NEVER even returned a call to me or responded to requests. I am suing them in small claims and will fly out there to press the case. I hate companies like that!

            1. I do not blame you. Those bobbleheads worth well over 50 bucks apiece.

4. Only one LH reliever with Vesia. Need at least one more vs the Midgets. I would add Bruihl or Price or V-Gone instead of another utility guy.

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

5. After looking at the roster a little bit more, I would definitely figure out a way to have 3 lefty relievers. Bruihl and V-Gone both make my roster. Sorry Mitch White, you’re sitting this series out. The 26th spot goes to the third lefty reliever. I think I’d also rather have Souza Jr. over McKinney. You don’t always have to play the splits.

   Scherzer
   Buehler
   Urias
   Gonsolin
   Bickford
   Graterol
   Kelly
   Treinen
   Vesia
   Bruihl
   V-Gone
   Knebel
   Jansen
   Smith
   Barnes
   Beaty
   Pujols
   T-Turner
   J-Turner
   Seager
   Pollock
   Taylor
   Bellinger
   Betts
   Lux
   Souza, Jr.

   I don’t really think you need 13 pitchers in a post-season series with 4 starters. But, the cat man is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get. The Gnats have a lot of pretty good lefty bats. That’s why I want that third lefty reliever. It wasn’t that tough of a decision to pick between another bench outfielder that can’t hit and a lefty reliever.

   Price is done for me this year.

6. I have enjoyed writing for this site. It has kept me busy doing research for the stories and my passion for the history of the Dodgers has never been higher. I want to thank Mark and Jeff for helping me when I needed it most. It was great to finally meet Mark and get to know him a little better. I am pissed someone stole his luggage and got the Dodger bobbleheads I had given him. I wish him nothing but success in any future endeavor. Running this site cannot be easy. Not only trying to find subjects to discuss during the season, but in the offseason when there is little actual action, and mostly just rumors. Also dealing with the egos and opinions of so many fans. Some are quite knowledgeable. Others know little about the game. And sometimes the vitriol between different opinions has to be just too much for one person to take. Lately, and I am glad of this, the conversation has stuck to baseball, and not drifted into politics. I have a lifelong love affair with the game, and the team. I quit having favorite players years ago. I might defend a player like Bellinger because I try and understand what he has gone through. I have seen players who were healthy have pretty bad seasons too.

   I respect every person who posts on here. We all have our opinions as fans. We all love the game. Some played at a much higher level than I ever did. My playing days ended when I was in the Army. I played softball and some baseball with an over 40’s team for a while, but my knees and arm would not allow me to do that for very long. I have never tried to paint myself as an expert on baseball. But I do know I am highly opinionated. My best moment as a fan was getting to sing the anthem at Dodger Stadium. For me it was a great honor as a Veteran and a fan. I am extremely glad I did not blow it. I shall probably post at least one more story on here. I have one player in mind I think I should write about. For now, it is on to the NLDS. I am hopeful, and pretty confident that the Dodgers have the talent, and at this point, the will, to beat the Giants.

   I also was lucky enough to get to meet Ted when he came to my little town. He is a really great guy and a lot of fun to discuss baseball with.

   1. Thanks Bear. I appreciate you and your fine little town. It was so much fun to talk Dodger baseball, checkout the Dodger baseball card collection, and learn more about your interesting life journey. My buddy who recently moved there absolutely loves it with the slower pace of daily life and the friendly residents. I’ll be back sometime next year.

      1. It is a great place to be retired in. I like the small town feel more than I ever thought I would. Especially after living the last 12 years before I moved here in the hot box that is Phoenix. I only moved there to be close to my grand kids. They all live in other places now. If you decide to retire here, I look forward to more discussions.

7. “I think it will be hilarious if Cody Bellinger is the NLDS MVP! ”

   I think it would be awesome! Mostly because it most likely means we won the NLDS.

   1. There is no MVP in the division series. They only award those for the Championship and World Series.

8. Mark, we all owe you a debt of gratititude. It must be a heck of a lot of work and more than a little aggravation. I began following and occasionally contributing when the pandemic started. It kept me going during those bizarre times. Fortunately, my timing was impeccable, as the Dodgers won it all for the first time since 1988. Now we’re going for two in a row. LADT has made the ride that much more enjoyable. Thanks for the ride, and also to all of the contributors. Sometimes the opinions expressed come pretty close to the line of decency and sanity, sometimes they even cross it, but somehow we keep bouncing along. I have found it entertaining, engaging, edifying, and aggravating. All in all, very worthwhile.

9. Mark if you shut down LADT then I will be forced to say stupid things instead to my wife and that’s not going to end well. We’ve had our differences but I do appreciate all your time and energy keeping the site up and running. It’s been fun. I’m sure hearing about my retirement had something to do with your decision. More time to post dumb stuff! But thank you. Sure hope Jeff and Bear and the other guys would continue your legacy! But if not then let’s go out back to back!!!!!!

10. As sincerely and simply as I can put it……… I appreciate you Mark.

11. Honestly Mark, I’m amazed that you’ve been able to do what you’ve done. I fully understand how difficult it is to keep this site going. It’s hard to keep writing with new, pertinent stories that get people thinking and interacting. Agreeing or disagreeing. But running a growing company and doing all this, amazing. Being involved with family and grandkids a priority.

    I spent 14 years working for a daily newspaper, seven years in sports and seven years covering government. Now I write a couple of columns a week, mostly non sports, and even then I often feel like writing -30- at the bottom and adding I will write no more forever.

    Somehow, I never quite manage to do that, something keeps me going. But if you do take that step, good for you, understanding that you will miss it at times, but everything changes eventually.

    I will say you’ve built the best interactive Dodger site I’ve seen. No easy task.

    Blue skies and another Dodger championship.

12. NLDS rosters should be out sometime early this afternoon. I also think they keep at least 2 lefty’s in the pen. But Gonzalez is not going to be one of them. Bruihl and Vesia will. Position players are easy. Beaty, Bellinger, Seager, the Turner boys, Pujols, Barnes, Smith, Taylor, Pollock, Betts. Lux. If they carry 13 pitchers, likely, then there will be room on the bench for just one more. Take your pick, McKinney, McKinstry, Souza or Raley. McKinney or McKinstry can at least play other positions. Starters, Max, Butane, Julio and Gonsolin who can also double as a long reliever. Graterol, Jansen, Knebel, Treinen, Kelly, Bruihl, Vesia, Bickford, Kelly in the pen and either one more pitcher, or position player.

13. Thank you Mark – really appreciate you and this site. Excited for what the next chapter brings.
    Go Blue !

14. Thank you Mark for giving us dodger faithful a place to come together.
    I wish you well in all your endeavors and in life.
    I hope the site will be able to continue in some form
    Again thank you for all your effort it’s been a joy

15. I’m not so sure why people are quick to dismiss Victor Gonzalez. He’s been just about the same as Bruihl this year. More walks, but also more K’s and the same ERA. He didn’t give up a run in his last 8 games in AAA and in those last 8 games he had 9 K’s against 4 hits and no walks. This tells me that he’s ready to contribute.

    No one expected that McKinney, McKinstry and Souza Jr. would be on the Wild Card roster. V-Gone makes a hell of a lot more sense than those guys considering the Giant’s lefty hitters, Yaz, Belt, Crawford, Wade, Duggar, LaStella account for almost half their roster.

    1. You have a point, but AAA hitters are not big leaguers and he had trouble throwing strikes all year. And he has not faced MLB hitters in more than a month. I do admit he will probably be on the short list though. We will know for sure in a couple of hours.

16. Hey Mark, I probably like the community here a lot more than it likes me. If you want to slowly phase your way out instead of just shutting the door, I would be willing to maintain the site by doing the IT Administration part of it.

    Just a thought, let me know. Cheers!

    1. No one really has a problem with you. We all have opinions and yours are quite strong sometimes. I get that.

    2. B&P
       First you do tend to be opinionated, which is ok with me. You sometimes comes across as being “full of yourself,” which is a little more difficult for me to accept.
       On the positive side your are an excellent writer and very knowledgeable (probably in multiple arenas.) I am sure that I would find meeting with you both interesting and rewarding.
       If I had a say in including you in the IT Administration, I would jump at the chance and agree immediately.

17. While I hope the end of LADT does not come soon, I do think that it has been the best forum for Dodger fans to express themselves. Some of the more well known sites like Dodger Digest others just do not seem all that fan friendly. I visit two other sites occasionally. One I have a good relationship with the site administrator. We trade baseball cards now and then and I enjoy his writing and the others who contribute to the site. The other I visit less than when I first joined. Fans just do not post there anymore. But I have thoroughly enjoyed posting here. Even when I am arguing with someone. Contrary to what BandP might think, I am not just history driven. I do know some things about the game. History though is a passion. I enjoy all of the contributors hard work, and since I started writing for the site, I came to realize just how much work it actually is. Finding a subject to post about is probably the hardest part. And I have to believe that what I write will be interesting to the fans who post here. Jeff has enlightened me about a lot of topics in baseball I never thought about much. Harold has done the same. Meeting a fan who is so far away like Watford is eye opening in a lot of ways. I usually do not think there could be many fans as far away as England and Europe except maybe military people stationed there. But it is great to know there are Dodger fans everywhere. I remember when Craig Shipley was signed. He came from Australia and was the first pro from there. He only played parts of 2 seasons for LA, but he played 9 more years after he left. He had a decent .271 career BA but never was a regular for any team he played for. Baseball is a great game. It is also one of the harder sports to master. To be a star, you have to excel at so many things. And you have to be one of the best ballplayers in the world to make it to the big stage. Staying there is even harder.

18. Just as an aside, arguably the four most accredited ML teams were in the 2021 Wild Card Games. LAD and Boston win, and St. Louis and NYY go home. The reward…we get to experience a LAD and SFG Division Series. This is going to be fun. Does the clock chime midnight for the Cinderella Giants? If the games were played on paper, there would be no contest. But the Giants team on the field plays much better than the team on paper.

    Game 1 – Buehler v Webb. This should be a low scoring game. Logan Webb is a Northern California native from Rocklin, Dodgerrick’s back yard. I remember reading about him when he was in high school. He is in the midst of a breakout year. He is someone that many on this site would have given up on if he were a LAD. This year, he has started three games against LAD with 16.0 IP, with a 2.25 ERA and 0.688 WHIP, 17K/4 BB, and 1 CT3 HR. Walker started 6 games against SF with 37.0 IP, 2.19 ERA, 0.973 WHIP, 33K/9 BB, and 2 HR (Duggar and Belt). He had 5 quality starts, allowing 5 runs (3 earned) in those starts. It was his last start on 9-5-21 that was forgettable. But he seems to have put that game behind him. Oracle Park will be packed, and while there will be some LAD fans, it will be rockin’ with rabid Giant fans. It is already a circus atmosphere up here.

    Unlike some, I do not fear a Game 5 at Oracle. Bring it on. But I do not think it goes 5. LAD will win it in LA. I also do not fear “then, (gulp) Gonsolin”. Why can’t he be the 2021 version of the 2013 Michael Wacha? He is more than capable. In a playoff Series, just like CT3 in the WC game, maybe Tony Gonsolin or Matt Beaty becomes the hero. It is going to take all 26, and I have confidence in every one of them.

    I often wonder the reason why fans of teams become so apprehensive about their team’s chances. I never doubt that the Dodgers will be victorious, in any situation. Sure if they lose, I am not only disappointed, but I have also opened myself up to the infamous “I told you so’s”. I guess it is easier to dish out the “I told you so’s”, than it is to receive them. After the season, there is plenty of time to do a thorough autopsy on the organization, and I am just as sure that countless autopsies will be performed; good and bad. But for me, they will wait until after the season when the Dodgers win their 8th World Series title (7 in LA).

    I could sense that Mark was looking to step away from LADT. As he has said, he has done so on a number of occasions, but most of those were out of being pissed off. This time, I think it is more genuinely tied to being tired of the tedium of managing a blog of this size and stature, and still wanting to have a life and complete tasks while still young and healthy enough to do so. As some have said, unless you have tried it, it is challenging to know just how difficult it is to manage a blog that almost always is free to voice diverse opinions. Tensions mount and tempers flare. Mark very rarely has banned commenters on this site, and it angers many. When I was managing the site, I would get several emails asking me to ban so and so. I can’t begin to imagine how many Mark gets. Mark has kept it free of advertising. Go through the blogosphere and tell me how many other sites can say the same thing.

    After the season, I will post what LADT has meant to me. I do not want to quit writing, but I do not want the hassles of LADT. I will certainly keep the doors open on possibilities. I am a green eye shade number cruncher with little IT knowledge, and a passion for LAD (and USC and Green Bay). But for now, let’s cheer for LAD and bring home #8.

    1. Nicely said Jeff. And thank you so very much for guiding me through my early days writing. I have zero IT knowledge myself. I even managed to somehow lose access to the dashboard and have had to post articles by sending Mark emails again. Oh well. I try to be neutral in a lot of things, not always successful though. And there have been some spirited back and forth conversations. I always try to see the other guys point of view. Or ladies in some cases. I guess my pet peeve is when someone gets on a subject and just beats it to death, same argument over and over. I love the stuff you write and I appreciate all of the baseball acumen you bring to the site.

19. Richard Rodriguez and Chris Martin were left off the Braves NLDS roster. What a roller coaster ride for Rodriguez. From being one of the most sought after relievers in MLB that many wanted (including me), to a pitcher who is left off the playoff roster. He has been inconsistent all year, and had no strikeout pitch (9K’s in 25 innings for the Braves). Was he a benefactor of the sticky stuff???

20. Thank you Mark for all you have done to make this blog the VERY BEST. I don’t text very often, some of us don’t, nut doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate you and all the time and time and energy you have given. God bless and keep you safe and happy.

21. Price on the roster, mcKinstry out. ONly two LH relievers. No Bruihl, nor V-Gone.
    Here ist the full list.
    https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-2021-nlds-roster

    1. I am not at all surprised to see Price on the roster. Veteran leadership with WS experience is invaluable. Will it work? We will find out. I just do not think AF trusted VGon enough, even with his AAA success of late. If that was important, then Quackenbush should have been brought up. I think it came down to Price or Bruihl, and AF went with the veteran with WS experience. VGon will join, Vesia and Caleb Ferguson as next year’s lefties out of the pen.

       Leaving Raley off the roster was an easy call. Then take two out of Souza Jr., McKinney, McKinstry. Right or wrong, it seems apparent to me that the number one offensive trait LAD management looks for is power. Souza and McKinney have more perceived power than McKinstry. Maybe one of the two comes off the bench to be this year’s Matt Stairs. With Lux and CT3 on the roster, McKinstry was more of the same. McKinstry has more upside, but in a playoff, I think LAD is looking more for that lightening in a bottle for one AB. Both Souza and McKinney are capable of running into one.

       I will not squabble over any of the roster picks. In my best Mick Jagger…”Start it up.”

       1. I agree with this for the most part. V-Gone is battle tested as one of the best relievers in last year’s postseason is my only retort. I understand the desire to go with Vets and experience, but V-Gone would be my exception.

22. Mark, your work on this great site is so appreciated. I certainly understand it’s a labor of love and it takes a large chunk of your days, But I hope the site can continue. I certainly respect all of the time and effort you’ve put in. You’ve done a a great job for a long time and I really appreciate you and all the posters.

23. Hey, I just found this blog and now you are ending it….hmmmmm…..bad timing I guess. So where do we move to next to talk Dodgers baseball? Anybody have any suggestions?

    Is there a site called DodgersNation? How is that site?

    Thanks,
    TM

    1. Way too early about other sites. Mark will go thru the WS, and said his “retirement” will be before 2022. Something tells me Mark has ideas.

    2. It ain’t over yet. Yes there is Dodger Nation, Dodger Digest, there is also Think Blue PC. It has some good writers and Dennis, the site administrator is a good guy. Lives in Pennsylvania.

    3. The home page on this site has a dashboard listing some of the other Dodger site.

       1. The problem is none of them can compare, and I’ve tried them all, to what Mark’s cultivated on this site.

       2. I have needed to update that for a year… no time.

24. I’m sincerely sorry to wake up with this notice from Mark, but anyway, I really appreciate the work and effort you have done all this time, General to all LADT bloggers since I have learned a lot from all of them both about Baseball and the history of my beloved Los Angeles Dodgers team. to you and all the collaborators like DC, Jeff, Bear and people like Tejon, B and P and in

25. The Price haters will be all over this roster. AF went for the experienced guy. The one thing this team has all over the Giants is playoff tested players. The Giants have fewer. Especially in the bullpen and starting rotation. The bench is thin on that kind of experience also. In a series like this it could make a difference.

    1. I was promoting Price all year, got a little jaded at the end of the season. I can see that they would want McKinney on the roster for his glove in the outfield. He plays all aspects of the game well, except hitting. Souza is a decent enough outfielder and might be able to run into one. I have no problems there. I really wish they found a way to get another lefty reliever on the roster.

       As a rule of thumb, I think two lefties in the bullpen is necessary, three is a luxury and 4 is too many. Next year, we’re going to have a lot of lefties to choose from.

       I don’t understand the Price decision. They seemed to always have to rest him a lot in between appearances. I would think they would walk guys to pitch in back to back games. He’s done that only 3 times this year and 0 times in the second half.

       1. I don’t get McKinney at all. Let’s hope he never bats.

26. One thing we’re missing is stealing a base. We have 6 players capable of stealing a base, TT, AJ, Mookie, Taylor, Lux and CB. Together they are 50/61 an 82% success rate. Maybe take out AJ because of his hernia. Even so that’s still a 80% success rate. Not sure what Posey’s cought stealing rate is bu it can’t be any better than Molina’s rate who failed to throw out Bellinger twice.
    Perhaps SF pitching staff is better at holding runners than the Cardinals, I don’t know. Maybe Taylor’s HR was partially due to the pitchers not completely concentrating on the batter and giving some thought to the runner at 2B.

    1. Molina’s rate is 60% per TBS.

       1. They’re wrong on that stat just like they were on a lot of others
          He’s at 41% according to baseball reference.com
          Posey’s at 31%

          1. League average is 25%. Barnes is at 22%, Smith at 24%
             Oh yeah I’m glad we didn’t pick up Kimbrell

27. I give an awful lot of credit to the job that Mark has done over the years. I suppose I’m a fairly recent reader. I think I found this blog around 2016 or so, right before he shut it down the first time, collaborated with Scott Andes at ladodgerreport.com, and then rebooted it here.

    It’s not easy. It takes a lot of time and dedication, and being responsible for creating content is hard. You have to write something even if you don’t feel like it.

    I look at other Dodger blogs, and someone above asked about some of the others. I think the formula here works: Mark has “a take” that is often edgy and meant to generate discussion, and the comments are much better than anything else out there, IMO. I think Dodgers Nation does a decent job, and they put out a lot of content on multiple channels – and I kind of like Doug McKain’s YouTube videos. Nosler’s scouting reports are excellent. That only happens once year, and the rest is just recaps of games by the rest of the clowns, and I despise the community on that site – completely toxic. TrueBlue – meh…decent.

    I think the quality of the content by the posters here is, far and away, much better than anywhere else by an order of magnitude. I think that’s the important thing. Why do I want to go to a blog that’s just going to give me a recap on the game I already watched? I already know what happened. I want some interesting takes, some insight by people who know the game.

    Mark has cultivated that culture. I don’t think I coulda done it.

    I hope it continues in some form under someone else if someone is willing to take it on.

    1. Tomorrow is Saturday. Lemme know if you want to meet up. I don’t like owing people money even just a $20.

       I read here every day. Just post when you’ll be down there and I’ll confirm, then we can meet up.

       I agree with your synopsys of the other sites. Eric Stephen at TBLA is awesome, everyone else there is a couple of steps lower. I like Doug McKain’s videos for the most part, but he comes up with some pretty silly ideas more and more often lately. Dodgers Digest is pure trash now, I only go there for Dustin’s prospect reports and can hardly stand to read those anymore because of his writing style. The comments on that site are unbelievably horrible. Makes twitter look reasonable.

       Cheers Patch!

       1. I’ll be riding inland towards Anaheim Hills tomorrow with my club. I might do a Bogart’s ride to Seal Beach Sunday and will be passing your way. Can make a stop at the Starbucks. I’ll keep you posted.

          1. Perfect, I’ll keep an eye out for your post.

28. Like Bear said: “It ain’t over… yet!” Lots of stuff to happen before that.

    I am fine with Price on the roster for reasons articulated by Jeff.

29. Love this blog Mark. Please don´t close it.
    Go Dodgers!

30. Tonight’s Lineup:

    HITTERS H-AB RBI HR SB AVG
    M. BettsRF 123-466 58 23 10 .264
    C. SeagerSS 108-353 57 16 1 .306
    T. Turner2B 195-595 77 28 32 .328
    J. Turner3B 148-533 87 27 3 .278
    W. SmithC 107-414 76 25 3 .258
    M. Beaty1B 55-204 40 7 2 .270
    C. BellingerCF 52-315 36 10 3 .165
    A. PollockLF 114-384 69 21 9 .297
    W. BuehlerP 7-69 3 0 0 .101

    1. They list their playoff avgs on the gameday site on dodgers.com. Cody’s avg looks a lot better there. Not a bad lineup. Power everywhere. Beaty is the weakest power in the bunch. Figured they would go that way with the huge outfield at Oracle Park.

    2. I’m very happy Cody had a nice game against St.Louis but I don’t get batting Pollock 8th other than his history of doing nothing in October. Two lefties back to back seems strange as well.

    3. I like the way the lineup is constructed tonight, even with the back to back lefties. It looks like an Albert Trap. Bring in a lefty to face Beaty and Belli and you get Albert, Belli and Pollock! Albert can play out the rest of the game in the 6 hole where he doesn’t slow too many guys down and a change to drive him in with a homer or something off the wall. I like it!

       I really think they missed an opportunity to have Betts and Trea back to back during the regular season. Maybe they figure since Betts isn’t stealing as much because of his hip, it would only slow Trea down.

       1. I assumed Albert slides in with the back to back lefties. I also hope Cody continues to be willing to take his walks. Also, drop down a shift beating bunt too.

31. Los Angeles Dodgers NLDS roster

    https://fangraphs.com/roster-resource/depth-charts/dodgers

    How Acquired:
    •Homegrown (9)
    •Free Agent (6)
    •Trade (10)
    •Waivers (1)

    San Francisco Giants NLDS roster

    https://fangraphs.com/roster-resource/depth-charts/giants

    How Acquired:
    •Homegrown (8)
    •Free Agent (12)
    •Trade (5)
    •Waivers (1)

32. I rarely get nervous, but I was watching the game against the Cardinals on Wednesday. I wasn’t even nervous the night I sang the anthem. But that game had me on edge. Now I find myself with a few butterflies down in my stomach before this game starts. I just want the action to begin. Waiting is the hardest part. That is what being a fan means, churning stomachs. Butane looked pretty good his last time out and his record at Oracle is very good. Just add one more win and get off on the right foot.

33. How in the world is Trea Turner not even nominated/finalist for the Hank Aaron award? Led the league in hitting, hits, SB, and was first or second in WAR I believe.

    He just gets overlooked. Last year when Tatis was 2020 ALL MLB’s first team shortstop it was a joke. Trea Turner should have been first and Seager 2nd.

    1. 7th in WAR in MLB…

       I was about to say, “Easy everyone on that list has more homers than Trea”. Until I saw that Brandon Crawford was on the list. Then I was gonna say, “That’s Bullcrap”, until I looked up how the award is determined.

       This paragraph explains it best…

       Each Major League club nominated one player from its team to be considered for the Award, and a panel of MLB.com writers determined the seven finalists for each league. In addition to the fan vote, a special panel of Hall of Fame players that includes Johnny Bench, Craig Biggio, Ken Griffey Jr., Chipper Jones, Pedro Martinez, Eddie Murray, John Smoltz and Robin Yount will vote on the winners of the award.

       So, The Nats voted to have Soto, why vote for a player that was traded away? And the Dodgers voted to have Muncy on the list since Trea hasn’t been on the team all that long and Max was the best hitter for them all year and pretty much the only one that didn’t get injured, until the last freaking game of the season anyway.

       1. Thanks for clearing up the Dodgers vote. The award is for top offensive performer the fact Goldschmidt and Freeman having a couple more homers shouldn’t have mattered. If the Dodgers had already nominated Muncy I get it then.

          I think there’s a couple of different places to get WAR.

34. Joc doing what Joc does in October.

    1. That’s why they call him JOCTOBER

35. Alex Verdugo wants to be a pitcher.

    1. Shut up! Might was well let him Ohtani then. Maybe he can play outfield, then come in to close. Or be a real two-way player by playing defense when his stick is in the lineup? That’s what Loney should have done! 😉

       But seriously, you have to be kidding me. Is he going to be left handed Pedro? He certainly doesn’t have the stature of a modern MLB SP sans Marcus Stroman. I know he can huck the ball, but at this point in his career, he would have a lot of catching up to do.

       He can’t possibly think he can get MLB hitters out right now, can he?

       He isn’t suggesting that he should go back to the minors to pitch is he?

       Is there a chance that the Sox would allow him to go to a winter league to go an pitch and possibly get injured?

       I think he’s doing a solid job as an everyday MLB outfielder and that’s a lot to give up. Maybe he thinks he can be a top starting pitcher and he’s already been clocked into the 90’s as a pitcher before he was drafted. It would be really cool if he can pull off playing both ways, but risky in terms of the payday he’s going to get as a free agent outfielder that outhits his power numbers.

       I would rather see him focus on being Jason Heyward and cashing in for life. But, it would be really cool to have another two way player.

36. What Mark has done over the years is remarkable. Building up his readership over the years is no small challenge. Keeping the site ad free and running in tip top shape while managing the drama is something that few understand. Plus providing good content that keeps us all engaged is no easy feat. All while running a business successfully.

    I couldn’t do it. I tried at my own site and there wasn’t 5% of the readership as there is here.

    He deserves a respite from all this and kudos from us all. I look forward to reading his book. We talked very briefly about it a while back and it will be extremely good, I have little doubt.

    Let me just add one thing. There are some real good posters on this page. That is what we will all miss when this site goes away. My time hasn’t allowed me to post much and my work strongly frowns on my engagement with this hobby, which should be a mute point when retirement kicks in next year. I just wanted to say that there are good quality people here with intelligent opinions that could keep a vibrant site going. I hope that happens, but as many already know, the administration of this page is a “bear” (pun slightly intended).

    Hoping for another championship and the end of this site on a winning note!

37. I think we all hope Bellinger will again be MVP again but what he did in the wild card game was more Jake Vogel than 2019 Cody so let’s slow down a bit on him being back.

    Mark, you have left us with a cliff hanger that compares to Who Shot JR of the old Dallas series.

38. eubiecOOl Only weakness we”ve had was that sacreligious extra inning kradelflap of starting player on Reading Railroad square.Bawlderdash!! Kudos to R oberts for recognizing Scherzer very hittable after 85 pitches.Kelly is the one-eyed Jack in our deck.Mucho respect for Belli he’s givin’ it his all right now.I’m sure he sparked the same thought in all of us ?This team has some speed .Let’s play a little “Billy”ball Counter these god awful shifts.Keep pressure on em.Boys striding up to “Bagdad by the Bay” time to ROCK THE CASBAH

39. Kike and Joctober still delivering post season! Who will step up at the end of our bench this year? And cmon Snitker! How can you not start Joc today? Bad on you!

40. His name is Walker so far tonight. He better get his head strait and not delivering 3 balls and being forced into throwing a fat pitch to the likes of Buster Posey.

41. Cutters that don’t cut to their best player with a base open! That hurts!

42. Ugh. Bad break on JT’s ball. Can’t be walking Lastella. Once he fell behind on Posey I wouldn’t have messed around grooving him a fastball.

43. Don’t try to get back in the count, don’t try to get back in the count, don’t try to get back into the …………BAM

    1. That’s where Orel would say you don’t have to give into there with a base open. Live to fight another day.

    2. I’ve counted three pitches, all well off the plate that were called strikes against the Dodgers. The state of umpiring is a disgrace, and hurts a patient team like the Dodgers.

44. Playing with tight butts. Urgh. Act like you’ve done it before.

45. Well except for the hitting, fielding and pitching were doing ok!

46. If Webb is going to get an an extra six inches off the outside corner it’s going to be a long night.

    1. Too bad Walker can’t get the same K zone.

       1. TT K’s chasing a bad pitch after Webb gets his fourth called strike well out of the zone.

47. Logan Webb really reminds me of Matt Cain with that kind of face you kinda want to punch.

    1. OMG I was thinking the same thing!!!!

48. Why aren’t Ron Darling and the other announcer making an issue of the all those calls off the plate? Trea Turner struck out because of the home plate umpire. First he calls a pitch off the plate a strike, and finally Turner strikes out swinging at a pitch off the plate, that he probably would have laid off if those pitches weren’t be called.

49. Well at least the three guys we traded away can hit in October

    1. AJ looks like the October AJ we’ve seen the last two years so far.

50. AJ appears to be 2019 post season AJ where he only K’s.

    It certainly seems the HP umpire is giving Webb some distance off the plate while Buehler doesn’t seem to be getting that same call.

    1. It’s not just 2019. He’s .164 for his career in October. I had high hopes this year would be different. He has to know Webb isn’t giving him a fastball with two outs and the pitcher on deck.

51. Well I sure hope this isn’t the Betts we get for 11 more years

52. Dodger right handed hitters are pulling off that slider and change up of Webb’s. If they don’t try to go the other way and stay in there a little longer he’ll pitch a complete game shutout
    I was definitely worried about this all or nothing approach

53. Bellinger back to being Bellinger tonight

    1. Completely non competitive AB by Bellinger. Beaty too for that matter.

54. The difference of the game, until now, the discipline of the SF batters and the indiscipline of the batters of the Dodgers, they did not chase anything from Buehler and the dodgers looked like children, very innocent, lousy AB swinging everything, chasing everything, making Webb’s job too easy.

    1. The Giants were smart not giving the Dodgers any fastballs. At the same time when Webb was getting a huge strike zone early the Dodgers started swinging at everything. Can anyone honestly say they would rather see Bellinger or Beaty get more AB’s than Chris Taylor?

55. Thanks Mark for your efforts in maintaining the website. Your comments were always entertaining, even the rare ones that I disagreed with. Your dedication and knowledge are appreciated.
    Hopefully, we can keep the website continuing in some capacity.

56. We better win three in a row—facing Webb again in SF doesn’t look promising

57. Damn Giants keep playing like they don’t accept that the Dodgers are the superior team. VERY SNEAKY the way they use their underdog status. Hats off to Webb and Kapler for putting on a pitching CLINIC.

    1. Clayton got a PRP injection in his elbow. He was told that’s all he would need and would be ready for spring training. I wondered if he would go that route.

58. It is not fair to extrapolate from one game, but the Giants looked better prepared, and they executed better. The Dodgers scarcely threatened to score. Webb dominated, and outpitched Buehler. And the more worrisome thing is that after two playoff games, we have scored three runs, on a home run, and then walk and home run. All the players who struggle, to put it mildly, in the playoffs, are doing it again. And the absence of Muncy removes a major home run threat. Once we get past the first five in the order, we are looking at four outs in a row, and it is very hard to win like that unless you have greet pitching.

    We don’t look like a team to inspire confidence that we will win this series. We need the next three starters to pitch superbly, and someone, Betts, or Seager, to carry us. I see no reason to expect that we will put together any rallies, we need someone to hit a three-run home run. And next year, we need a lineup which can score two.or three runs in an inning without a home run. Kapler is not going away, and he is an excellent manager, he has gotten his team to play smart and resourceful baseball,and they expect to win. Our work is cut out for us, not only in this series, but next season as well.

59. Doc said Cody at 1st tomorrow. CT3 in CF. He didn’t mention LF

    Doc very unhappy with the quality of AB’s at the bottom of the order and mentioned the top of the order too. I think he was talking about Trea.

60. If the offense keeps this up (or is it down?), we’ll certainly have a lot to talk about in the off season. Largely, about how the Giants with inferior talent are beating the Dodgers at their own game.

    Two temperature gauges for measuring the Dodgers success thru the Friedman era: are we getting strong starting pitching thru 6 innings and are we consistently hitting HRs. Pitching has been there all year and the cherry on top is the bullpen work. However, the HRs have not been consistent. Meanwhile, Giants who lifted the blueprint are getting both. We’ll have a game with multiple HRs, but can we get three games with multiple HRs? Otherwise, we’ll need one or two shut out performances and none of our SPs seem in that great a groove. At least we know they’ll fight and claw, although, I really thought we’d win game 1 handily. Disappointing for sure.

61. Just another example of what nothing looks like. Maybe all will show up today.

    Farhan has put together a team that doesn’t make mistakes. Have to give them their due.

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