Impending Doom – Roster Crunch Edition

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1. Danny Duffy struck out all 3 batters he faced in the 6th inning with AAA Oklahoma City last night.

   Cassidy

   1. If TG can not return or if CK should go down again I think Duffy can be our secret weapon come October.

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

   2. Duffy struck out the side in order on 14 pitches. #Dodgers

2. Excellent analysis of our pitching situaiton. Nicely done, B&P.
   We got a preview of what it will mean to face the Mets come October. Anderson went toe to toe with deGrom but Mets pitching was just too much for our offense. Too many guys who do not hit their weight in the lineup at the same time vs a pitcher like deGrom and Diaz who is the best closer in the game this season.
   I really hate to face this Mets team in the postseason.
   Dodgers clearly are the best team in the regular season but the playoffs are a different beast and IMHO the Mets are better equipped for the postseason than any other team in MLB with their two aces and that closer. Their offense is just good to score enough runs.

   Oh, and Matt, that is not being negaitve or a glass-half -empty view, it is called realism.

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

   1. Scherzer is not on deGrom’s level. No one is really. Every pitcher has good and bad days. deGrom was on last night and it took a great catch by Nimmo to maintain their lead. I call this game a coin flip. Maybe next time that ball is out of reach and they can’t pitch deGrom every time. In six games this year, the season series is tied.

      1. Nimmo made the game saving catch ,not Marte.

         1. Thx, same point though 😉

      2. deGrom certainly is on another level if he is one. I agree on that.
         But Scherzer is right on the next level of starting pitchers.
         As yourself this question: Who of our starters would you like better in a Game 7 than deGrom or Scherzer ?

         If both remain healthy this is the best 1-2 punch of starters in some time.

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

         1. Consider this dodgerram. We sent our number 3 or 4 out there against the best pitcher on the planet in their own yard and lost by a run and it came down to a home run robbing catch. The way these teams match up, I would rather have Julio and the Dodgers offense and defense at home in a game 7, than Scherzer and the Mets offense.

            1. Thank you B&P!! SPot on

            2. I respect your opinion. I just disagree with it.
               I take deGrom or Scherzer in a Game 7 over any of our available pitchers. Walker is different, he is a proven big game pitcher . On the same level as Scherzer, a notch below deGrom.

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

            3. Of course, you disagree. You’ve been worried about this team all season, but here we are on Sept 1 with 90 wins.

         2. How much better is it really than Buehler and Scherzer????

            1. Exactly.

         3. Urias!!

      3. Great catch by Nimmo, you mean. Gotta tip the cap.
         But speaking of Marte, about 14 months he was a guy I was hoping the Dodgers would get last year…. Along with Chapman and Montas….
         But then AF got Trea and Scherzer, so it was cool.

   2. We had Scherzer and Buehler last year and what happened. Max wussed out in Game 6. Screw that guy man. He wasnt great in the WC game either. Good not great.

      Ill take our chances vs the Mets. I actually think STL beat the Mets…Mets are not a great team, good yes, great no.

      Go Dodgers and GO RAMS, we start the title defense a week from today!!!

      1. Yes we had MS and WB. Sad thing: Roberts and the Dodgers mishandled their usage. They both flamed out at the worst possible moment of the season.

         Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!And YES, Go Raaammmsss! Run it back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      2. I don’t follow the NFL nearly as closely as I follow MLB. I will be watching the Rams and Trojans. I’m also a closet Raiders fan. Don’t out me! 😉

         With that said, if Stafford’s arm doesn’t fall off, he’s gonna have another great season if his receivers and ends stay healthy enough. I can’t wait to watch the first game if it doesn’t conflict with the Dodgers.

      3. Gonna get off on a sour note when the bills beat ‘em!

         1. Not Really. The Bills are favorites in the game, go figure. Let’s see how many sacks we do, he?

         2. IF they beat them, not when.
            Rams and Bills easily could be the Super Bowl this season.
            both teams are absolutely loaded.
            But the Bills will have a tough time to come out of the AFC. So many good teams. Bengals.Broncos. Ravens.Raiders.Patriots. Chiefs.Titans.
            AFC will be a slugfest this season.

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

         3. Let me guess your a 49er fan? Prob thought yall had the NFC title won…..

            As a side note I was at SoFi for the SB probably the best Sporting event I was ever at.

            Game 1 of the 2017 WS was pretty good too.

   3. When Will Smith views his ABs against deGrom I’m pretty certain he’ll see he afforded to much respect through all the hype and a relaxed Will Smith will prove a dangerous weapon and that’ll get catchy with others. We’ll see but I’m pretty confidant I got the read spot on.

3. dodgerram: Max Scherzer post season stats: 128.2 innings, 7-6 record, 3.14 ERA. WHIP 1.1. Certainly good numbers but not great and certainly beatable. Any of our starting pitchers are more than capable of matching (and surpassing) Max’s performance. DeGrom is a different story and will require a great outing by anyone we use against him. Kind of got that last night. Also, DeGrom does lose games.

   Once again, Doc gets the blame re usage of Scherzer. He flamed out saying he had a dead arm also and said he was underused. Can’t have it both ways Max. Walker probably starting suffering with the elbow injury towards the end of last year. Remember he wasn’t himself for most of September and into the post season.

   1. deGrom has exactly 4 games of postseason experience. So, there’s that.

      1. By the way B&P, excellent analysis today.

         1. Get a room you two

      2. We will find out soon enough.
         And again: I am not worried about regular season with the Dodgers. With their depth They clealry are the best team in the regular season. Not even close. But IMHO they have serious weaknesses when it comes to post season play. Haven´t we seen that movie over and over again ?

         Too many easy outs in the lineup, no lockdown closer and with WB now out no true ace starter.
         Urias has to prove this, Clayton is so-so in the postseason and who knows if TG will be good to go.

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

         1. What makes a successful team are a little different for the regular season versus the playoffs. As you said, depth – and quality depth – make a successful regular season. During the playoffs you just need 3-4 stud starting pitchers and for position players to get hot.

            DeGrom and Scherzer are the best 1/2 starting pitching combo in baseball, and, even though the Dodgers are the best team OVERALL, those two pitchers could easily put the Dodgers in an 0-2 hole if they face them in the playoffs, which could be insurmountable.

            The last two games are a bit of a preview. Both of them were won with one run margins, and it was a dog fight for the entire game. The Mets aren’t the Marlins. When these two pretty closely matched teams face each other in a short series, it just increases the chance that Roberts doing something characteristically stupid will tip the balance in the Mets favor.

            1. A lot has to go right for the Mets in order for them to line up Scherzer and deGrom to pitch two games each in the CS. And then it would screw them for the WS. That’s a lot to count on. I’ll take Urias against the Mets and Scherzer any day of the week. I don’t think deGrom will be as effective the second time he pitches in the CS, likely on short rest. The Dodgers have the luxury not to have to use guys on short rest.

         2. I don’t know how you define ace. It seems like you can only be an ace if you’re on another team with you. How many Dodgers do you think will wind up with top 5 in Cy Young voting this year? I’m saying two at a minimum. Everything you say about the Dodgers, you could say about the Mets.

            We’ll see if deGrom or Scherzer will be good to go.

            Phillips could easily step in as closer.

            What the hell does Urias have left to prove? His ERA is .05 points higher than Scherzer with 6 more starts.

            The biggest risk to the postseason with this team is the same as it always is. But, he now has 7 years of experience and no longer has to worry about NL rules, Manfred might have fixed that problem for us. We’ll see.

            Maybe some people think I’m an optimist. I start every season being optimistic, but I’m way more of a realist. You would see that I guess if this team wasn’t so stacked. Maybe one year the Dodgers will suck and I’ll sound like you for good reason. But, to be afraid of the Mets just because we lost a one freaking run game to deGrom with a ball that should have been a homer is just nonsensical to me.

            So, many balls were hit to the warning track yesterday. What do you think is going to happen when they see him again? What about twice in a series?

            What about the lack of postseason experience on that team? What happens when they shit themselves under the bright lights?

            Edwin Diaz has never pitched a single post season inning and has 3 blown saves this year.

            Starling Marte has a career postseason batting average of 167

            Alonso, McNeil, and Nimmo have never played in a single postseason game

            That’s half of their offense! deGrom and Scherzer can’t do it all by themselves.

4. Filthy stuff by Diaz. Trea K’d out & missed by about a foot or more low and away. Nasty.

   Diaz looks ready.

   1. I’ll admit, I thought the trumpet intro for Diaz was pretty great. It’ll be really fun if the Dodgers play them in the NLCS

      1. I thought it looked fake like lip syncing. Too staged. But I’m stuck in yesteryear and don’t fit with the popular so well.

         1. Really. He missed the cue. Weak.

5. * Awesome game This looked like playoff baseball. It was fun to see 2 pitchers go about their business in 2 completely different ways. deGrom blowing gas from pitch #1 at 101 and Anderson finessing for soft contact. There was a robbed homer and Edwin Diaz looking like his old self.
   * You work to keep the game close and get deGrom out of the game. You finally get to their pen but then you get Ottovino and Diaz. You know how teams feel when they face our bullpen. Diaz looks like the Mariner Diaz last night.
   * I liked Doc knowing runs would be hard to come by, and put the game in motion, stealing with Trea and Freddie. Good baseball.
   * I need to see more out of Gallo very soon. Outman can do what he’s doing at the plate, and we had he and Belli back to back at the bottom again. I’d split these 2 up by playing Thompson actually. I still like Lux in the 9 hole.

   1. About a month until this shakes out. The postseason lineup could be much better than we’re seeing today.

      Mookie
      Trea
      Freddie
      Smith
      Muncy
      JT
      Lux
      Thompson / Vargas
      Belli

6. I think the Gallo experiment should be concluded. Put Trayce in LF everyday and be done with it. What more does he need to do? As for Gallo being a GG outfielder? Not impressed at all with his defense. Trayce exceeds him in all areas of the game. For the postseason I would let Cody remain the everyday CF. With Gallo and Taylor out of lineup the team should be able to accommodate Cody’s lack of offense. But, who knows. Maybe he will catch fire in the postseason. As for Taylor he has September to get his act together. How can a major league hitter swing and miss so many pitches for such a long period of time? My thinking is that CT3 will be ready for a hot streak come playoff time.
   And when he gets hot he can be a monster. The question is if and when might this happen? For this reason I would have Vargas on the postseason roster. He can always DH with Muncy if necessary.

   As for which pitchers make the playoff roster will be interesting to watch. Remember the first few years of the AF regime when they failed to put together a decent BP. It probably cost the team a couple of World Series victories. Talk about over compensating. But, a nice problem to have. I agree with B&P that the Dodgers have the personnel to staff two MLB teams right now. What an amazing accomplishment by this front office.

   Heading back home after spending a couple of days in San Diego. Beautiful city, but the traffic has become insane like LA. It’s going to be 108 at home. Yikes.
   Carry on.

   1. Bellinger has done his best postseason work in the Championship series. His BA in those games is .270. Taylor has been a monster in the NLCS posting a .350 mark. Muncy better in LCS games, not so much in the series. Bellinger has a .121 BA in World Series games. Kersh is 10-0 in his career against the Mets. 4-0 at Citi Field. I expect a win and heading home with a 91-39 record with 32 to play.

7. First BP old buddy, the final series with Colorado is 6 games not 5. And Y’all are putting the cart before the horse. The Mets have to get there first. Same with the Dodgers. The playoffs are always a crap shoot, and the best team does not always win. How many times since it was installed has the wild card team won? Two of the Giants 3 World Series wins were as the wild card. In the Rockies only World Series appearance, they were the wild card. The Dodger offense, despite the inclusion of 5 hitters at or below the Mendoza line, Muncy, Barnes, Gallo, Bellinger, Taylor. Is still the best offense in the league. Right now, the worst of the lot is Taylor. To quote Lasorda, he couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat. His confidence has got to be at its lowest point of the year. His K rate has escalated exponentially, and he hasn’t hit a ball on the screws for a hit in days. Bellinger and Gallo, who looked like they had turned a corner on the last homestand, have 2 hits between them on this road trip. One thing about Belli, he has not let his troubles at the plate affect his defense, which is still stellar. One move I make immediately is install Thompson in left every day. Probably will not happen. Gallo has hit Bassitt well. He, Belli and Muncy have all homered against him. Kersh has pitched well at Citi-Field. But he will no doubt be on a pitch count.

8. DODGERS ACTIVATE CLAYTON KERSHAW, RECALL MIGUEL VARGAS

   LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers activated left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw from the injured list and recalled infielder Miguel Vargas from Triple-A Oklahoma City when the Major League roster expanded to 28.

   Kershaw, 34, will make the start this afternoon and returns from the injured list since being placed on August 5 with low back pain. The nine-time All-Star is 10-0 with a 2.19 ERA (24 ER/98.2 IP) and 108 strikeouts in his career against the Mets. On the campaign, he is 7-3 with a 2.64 ERA (25 ER/85.1 IP) and 88 strikeouts in 15 starts. In his Hall of Fame career, he is a combined 192-87 with a 2.49 ERA (704 ER/2540.0 IP) and 2,758 strikeouts in 394 career games. He was originally drafted by the Dodgers with the seventh overall pick in the 2006 First Year Player Draft out of Highland Park High School.

   Vargas, 22, returns for his second stint with the club after having his contract selected on August 2. He went 2-for-8 with two RBI in two games for the Dodgers. With Triple-A Oklahoma City, he is hitting .304 with 32 doubles, 17 homers and 82 RBI in 113 games. The Cuban native has been with the Dodgers five minor league seasons, and he has hit a combined .313 (504-for-1612) with 49 homers and 265 RBI in 410 career minor league games. The Dodgers’ Branch Rickey Minor League Player of the Year in 2021, slashed .319/.380/.526 with 23 homers and 76 RBI in 120 games between High-A Great Lakes and Double-A Tulsa in 2021. He was originally signed by the Dodgers as an international free agent on September 7, 2017.

9. DODGERS RECALL PHIL BICKFORD

   LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled right-handed pitcher Phil Bickford and placed right-handed pitcher Brusdar Graterol on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation, retroactive to August 31.

   Bickford, 27, returns for his fourth stint with the team and he is 2-1 with a 5.14 ERA (28 ER/49.0 IP) in 51 games for the Dodgers this season. He has been in the Majors parts of three seasons with Milwaukee (2020-2021) and Los Angeles (2021-2022) and he is a combined 6-3 with a 4.26 ERA (48 ER/101.1 IP) and 110 strikeouts against 32 walks in 109 games. He was claimed by the Dodgers last season on May 3 from the Milwaukee Brewers. He was originally drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the first round of the 2015 First Year Player Draft out of College of Southern Nevada.

   Graterol, 24, returns to the injured list for the second time this season and made four appearances (4.1 IP/0 ER) since returning from the injured list last Monday against Milwaukee. The Venezuelan right-hander has appeared in 41 games for the Dodgers, and he is 2-3 with a 3.02 ERA (15 ER/44.2 IP) and 39 strikeouts. In parts of four seasons with the Dodgers, he is a combined 7-6 with a 3.65 ERA (45 ER/111.0 IP) and 89 strikeouts. He was originally signed as an international free agent out of Calabozo, Venezuela on August 29, 2014 by the Minnesota Twins.

10. Graterol back on the IL with an elbow issue.

11. If I’m not mistaken, the only reason we even have Bazooka is that the Red Sox wouldn’t take him as part of the Mookie trade (didn’t like his medicals), so in order to make it happen we took Graterol.

    Last time on the IL it was a shoulder problem, this time an elbow inflammation. I’m thinking we won’t see him again this year and he’s young enough that maybe someone should be thinking about surgery of some sort.

    Maybe Reed is leading a charmed life. All of us figured he’d be the second (after Hembree) to be dfa’d, but other guys keep getting injured. Maybe Reed was just meant to be this post season and will turn into one of the greatest post season stories ever…………………………………..or not.

    1. Too much optimism from Singing the Blue and DodgerRam today!

       1. Thanks for pointing that out Bluto.
          It could be dangerous to be a Glass Half Full guy with such a severe water shortage.

12. Thanks for the catch OldBear. You should edit my articles before they hit the web and save me some embarrassment. 😉

    You can add me to the list of Trace promoters, but we’re in postseason tryout mode. Some have a better shot than others at making a postseason roster and rosters will be adjusted series to series depending on the opponent leaving us with exponentially more second-guessing opportunities.

    Gallo has a good shot at a left-handed bench piece and defensive replacement if he can hit at all, so I don’t flush him down the toilet just yet.

    I think we need to continue rolling CT3 out there at least a few times a week to try to get him right since he’s had a lot of big postseason moments, especially coming off the bench in the past.

    We need to find AB’s and defensive innings for Vargas to see if he can Randy Arozarena his way into postseason stardom. Let’s not make any assumptions about his defense until he gets an opportunity to show it to us.

    Belli is by far the best defensive Center Fielder on the team. Let him bat last, take a walk, a HBP, or an infield squibber to get on base and possibly steal one or two. Every now and then, he’ll crush a mistake. Give him a couple of days off each week to let him know there’s other options.

    Hanser is unfortunately an unneeded spare part at this point. CT3 can do what he does. I’d rather have Vargas right now. If Vargas chokes the rest of the season, the decision is an easy one. If he excels, it’s also an easy one.

13. 4:10 PM ET

    Dodgers (90-39)
    Mets (83-48)
    SP Clayton Kershaw L
    7-3 2.64 ERA 85.1P 15BB 88K
    SP Chris Bassitt R
    11-7 3.34 ERA 148.1IP 37BB 139K

    Confirmed Lineup
    RF Mookie Betts R
    SS Trea Turner R
    1B F. Freeman L
    C Will Smith R
    3B Max Muncy L
    DH J. Turner R
    2B Gavin Lux L
    CF T. Thompson R
    LF Chris Taylor R

    Clear-day
    0% Rain
    85° Wind 12 mph

14. Just some thoughts

    1. Gallo is conspicuous by his absence today. I do not see him on the postseason roster. Do not put it past Freidman to turn him into a pitcher.
    2. I really think Vargas will make a difference. He might DH. He’s the RH hitter the Dodgers need at times.
    3, It Sounds like the Bazooka is “wait until next year”.
    4. I stick with Cody in CF for the rest of the season and post-season.
    5. In the offseason, the Dodgers will have to decide whether to offer him arbitration or trade for someone like Brian Reynolds.

15. Very much a bummer about Brusdar. He’ll get an MRI tomorrow and we’ll know more after that. With so many options, could it be that we can actually run out of pitching? I think not.

    1. Can they get a volume discount?
       Gonsolin’s forearm has not responded as hoped and he’s also going in for an MRI.
       Best case scenario – still back for the playoffs.
       Worst case scenario – we’ll be without Buehler and Gonsolin for 2023

       Twitter reporting we’ve signed Keone Kela to a minor league contract and assigned him to OKC. Had TJ last May so might actually be ready for the playoffs but how the hell do we make room for him on the roster?
       I have no idea what the signing means for 2023, if anything.

       1. Another AF project! Low risk high reward

16. Kershaw on a pitch count = likely 5 or 5+ innings even though he’s been more cooperative passing the baton but he still is who he is. I expect him to show his greatness and hopefully quiet the so called fans who continue with negative comments. He’s probably the reason so many credit this organization with fixing pitchers careers. The purist Dodger start to finish and still proving what he is. Total respect!

17. I seen enuf of Timmy.

    Mookie takes Diaz deep and they be lookin’ for Doja Cat.

    Corny AF:

    https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRPU5x1c/

18. I wish the Dodgers would give Vargas a shot and put him in LF for a week and see what happens. He can’t do any worse than Taylor, Bellinger or Gallo with the bat. Maybe we strike lightening for the playoffs!

    1. If our pitchers continue to go down we will need that kind of lightning there too
       Miller time ?
       Turn to Stone ?( as ELO would say)
       Go dodgers!.

19. To me the best pitching staff for the playoffs if everyone is healthy is:

    First, I will list among the starting pitchers who should only start games based on stats and who have the stats to relieve. Then the relievers.

    Kershaw (Has the stats to relieve)
    Gonsolin (Has the stats to relieve)
    Urias (Has the stats to relieve)
    May (Only a starter)
    Anderson (Only a starter)
    Heaney (Only a starter)
    Phillips
    Treinen
    Almonte
    Vesia
    Ferguson

    I’m assuming 13 pitchers in the playoffs, unless I missed a rule change (There’s been many rule changes recently).That’s only 11 pitchers (Remember my two suggested trades). This is where the loss of Buehler hurts and the fact that if he is on, he is an ace starter. I’m not high on Heaney starting and I don’t want him relieving, so maybe he shouldn’t be on the playoff roster at all. But whatever we’ll see.

    If possible, I like Urias or Gonsolin as a multi-inning reliever. But only if possible. Remember Urias in 2020 multi-inning relieving.

    The others that have pitched this year, as possibilities to fill the remaining playoff spots:

    Kimbrel – I love his career stats, but I don’t like his performance this year.

    Martin – I don’t like his career stats or his overall stats this year. But he has excelled as a Dodger.

    Graterol – I don’t like his career and 2022 stats against LHB, especially career against LHB.

    Price – If you look at his overall career stats, there’s nothing special there for a multi-year All Star and Cy Young winner. Anyways, I don’t like his overall performance this year.

    The others that have not pitched this year, as possibilities to fill the remaining playoff spots:

    Kahnle – Better than average reliever, but nothing special. Similar career splits. If you can’t fill the final spot or two with someone better, Kahnle is useful.

    Gonzalez – I don’t like his career stats against RHB. Too little innings pitched in the big leagues, in my opinion.

    Duffy – I don’t like his overall career stats and against RHB.

    As I said before, Heaney may not be a good choice for a playoff spot, but we’ll see. If Martin continues to excel as a Dodger then I’d probably go with him as one spot filled on the remaining playoff roster, but I wouldn’t be happy about it. Kahnle next, also wouldn’t be happy about it. Maybe Kimbrel will get his act together.

    I would not go with Graterol, Price, Gonzalez, Duffy. But we’ll see.

    All of this is just my opinion. I’m not saying I’m right or wrong and things can change. Also this is not a guess at what Doc and Friedman will do.

    By the way, good article up top BulldogsandPenguins. We just have different philosophies and that is OK.

    1. With the news that Gonsolin and Graterol might be done this year it throws a monkey wrench into my post. Along with a big big loss of my favorite pitcher Gonsolin.

    2. I worded this wrong like I sometimes do.

       “If possible, I like Urias or Gonsolin as a multi-inning reliever. But only if possible. Remember Urias in 2020 multi-inning relieving.”

       I should have mentioned that the Dodgers don’t have the luxury of doing that this year.

20. Eric – hope you’re wel and enjoying this marvellous season we’re having.

    You know a lot more than me about Pitching, but I’ve read with interest that you and others here do not necessarily see Martin on the playoff roster.

    I can’t believe the Dodgers traded for him, with the division already in the bag, to then only use him in the regular season.
    He throws strikes and doesn’t walk anyone, so I see him as a lock for the post season.

    B – nice job today. Enjoyed it.

    Clayton looks rusty but good to see CT get a hit. Hopefully it will help his confidence going forward.

    1. Thanks Watford Dodger. I’m actually doing better. I think you are right about Friedman and Doc having Martin on the playoff roster, and if so, I hope he continues to excel as a Dodger.

       1. GGMU

21. @Eric, as things are shaping out, Urias is not only our ace, but the only capable pitcher going 100 pitches. No way he get used in relief in the playoffs.

    1. Yep I know. I just mean that he has the stats capable of relieving. And I agree. The Dodgers don’t have the ability to use him in relief.

22. After first saying that it would not be necessary, it is now being reported that the Catman is going to have his arm looked at. He has not progressed as they would like.

    1. Not good. As mentioned above, worst case scenario is he needs TJ surgery and comes back about the time Buehler does … no 2023.

       So now the Dodgers have Urias and two journeyman and a former ace with a rickety back.

       1. And MayDay.

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

       2. Unless, of course, Gonsolin comes back. Which is considered the likely scenario? I think?

    2. The problem is if he is able to come back, but misses more than a couple weeks it’ll be hard to build him back up.
       We’are running out of time

23. Martin deserved better. I like his stuff out of the BP. Lux needed to make the play on Marte with a little more urgency. Gotta charge that ball rather than playing back and waiting for the nice hop.

    Trayce got robbed on a called 3-2 strike by the HP umpire. If he continues this .500+ OBP he will continue to play. I’m starting to dislike the Mets as much as I dislike the Giants and Cardinals.

24. That Gavin Lux play was really taxing.

    1. Yeah, there should be a rule for a mental error. The play by Lux definitely qualifies

25. Is Lux a Mets fan?

    1. Sarcasm? But he isn’t playing like he wants to be in there everyday.

26. Injuries derailed this team last season in the playoffs. It could well happen again. One more thing, in order to beat the best teams, you cannot make mental errors. Lux and Betts both guilty on that fly ball. Ferguson should be out of this inning with no runs. The defense has been a problem on this road trip. The fact that even if they lose this game, which at this point is very likely, they still have a winning trip. But plying this badly going into a stretch where they play the Padres, Giants, then the Padres again over their next 9 games, is not a good idea. Difference in this game, Mets have played clean baseball and capitalized on their opportunity’s.

27. So, let’s get to Sugar, then!

28. Well if that’s our playoff offense there won’t be any parade in LA this November.

    1. Cassidy, your total lack of faith just surprises me. Did you honestly think they were just going to keep scoring 6 runs a game? If you are going to win the title, you have to win close games like this. Okay. Let’s look at how the Mets scored their runs. Run one scored on a bases loaded walk by Kershaw. Kersh then shut them down through the 5th inning. In the 6th, Lux does not go after a weak grounder by Marte that gets beaten out for a single. Lindor doubles Marte home and Lindor scores on a sac fly. Then they put the icing on the cake in the seventh when after a leadoff double, Lux and Betts both have a brain fart and a run scores, that also sets up another run on another sac fly. 5 of the 9 K’s the Dodgers had came at the bottom of the lineup. What really gripes me the most is the boo hoo attitude of so many fans after they lose a game like this. Way too many fans are putting the cart in front of the horse. The playoffs are still more than a month away. Nobody has any clue how it will work out. The Dodgers still have the best offense in the league. The win in spite of having 4 players below the Mendoza line, and more than a few close to it. What players are doing right now is not necessarily what they will be doing in a month. That is the reason Chris Taylor was in there today over Gallo and Bellinger. Roberts is trying to get his offense kick started, because as we all know, Taylor is one of the streakier players on the team. Thompson’s misguided attempt to score on Taylor’s hit, took them out of what could have been a bigger inning.

29. Even though Lux screwed it up for Martin and Ferguson, it’s still their job to get out of the inning with no more damage done. Not a knock against those two, but still come playoff time.

30. You guys worry too damn much about one game. Lets see where things stand in about 4 weeks when the season ends. Anything said now is pure speculation. The offense you are seeing now, and the pitching you are seeing now is not what you will see come playoff time.

    1. Some people worry too much about what other people worry about…..LOL

       1. I like the LOL at your own joke!

31. If you believe today’s game gives you insight into the playoffs… you are wrong.

    1. It’s been too good of a season Mark, people have been waiting for something to worry about.

       1. 

32. Alonso 1-11 for series. He looks baffled at times. Slow bat mojo got him.

    1. Pete is not much of an upgrade from Joey!

33. Listen Carefully:

    The Dodgers have lost Walker Buehler. The Dodgers may have lost Tony Gonsolin.

    It makes no difference.

    Dustin May is back, and Julio Urias is here.

    Tyler Anderson, Andrew Heaney, Gavin Stone, Bobby Miller, and several others could have a say.

    This team is too deep. Andrew Friedman has plenty of contingencies.

    Oh, and this guy named Kershaw may play a role.

    Danny Duffy: Write that one down!

    The Dodgers have arms out the Wazzzzzooooo!

    I still believe!

    1. Speaking of Bobby Miller:
       Pitching today at OKC. 6IP, 2h, 2r, 1BB, 14Ks.
       Made one mistake when he gave up a 2run HR in the 2nd inning . After that he was lights out.Wicked stuff. Untouchable.

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

       1. Were you watching? If so, how did the stuff look?

          1. I was and it has never been better!

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