First of all, the keyword is “Don’t Panic.” OK, it’s two words, but you get my drift. In both games against the Padres, the Dodgers have played like a team that has had a number of off days and is not sharp, and does not feel a sense of urgency. Actually, here are the four things the Dodgers need to do to beat the Padres.
- The Stars Need to Come Out,
- The Starting Pitching Needs to be a lot better;
- The Defense needs to tighten up; and
- The Team needs a leader to step up.
1. The Stars Need to Come Out
Mookie Betts had an OPS of .873 in 2022. That puts him at just below “superstar status.” His .269 BA is not very “staresque”, and his .340 OB% is only number 5 on the team. As Mookie goes, so the team goes, and with those kinds of stats, it is “feast or famine” in many games. If the Dodgers are going to win this thing, Mookie has to come out! So do Justin Turner, and (one of) Cody Bellinger or Trayce Thompson. Freeman, Lux, Muncy, Trea Turner, and Smith have mostly done their jobs. Look at this:
POSTSEASON OPS:
- Trea Turner – 1.444
- Max Muncy – 1.357
- Freddie Freeman – 1.301
- Will Smith – .889
- Gavin Lux – .875
Justin Turner, Mookie Betts, and Cody Bellinger’s OPS are, respectively at .542, .472, and .334. If you think TRayce Thompson is the savior, you are nuts – his Postseason OPS is .250. Someone needs to step up and it needs to absolutely be Mookie and Justin Turner! The Dodgers have 25% of the Top 12 players in MLB in WAR. They need to step up along with a few others.
2. The Starting Pitching Needs to be a Lot Better
Urias and Kershaw underperformed… PERIOD! Tony Gnsolin needs to give the Dodgers the 16-1 version of Tony Gonsolin before he got injured. If he can go three, four or even five innings, so be it. Follow Gonsolin up with Andrew Heaney (but only for two innings). That will be a leather combination. Something tells me that Tyler Anderson is ready to pitch the game of his life in Game Four.
3. The Defense Needs to Tighten Up
Max Muncy and Trea Turner have not played solid defense. They need to step it up right now! I would like to see the Dodgers player Lux at 2B against Snell, but they probably won’t do it. JT will play 3B and Max will play 2B (that’s my opinion of what I think will happen). I also think it is a mistake to move Bellinger out of CF, when Thompson is not playing well, either. I’ll take the defense over the matchup. If you are going to weaken the defense, put Taylor in CF and Vargas in LF against Snell:
- Betts RF – R
- Turner SS – R
- Freeman 1B – L
- Smith DH – R
- Muncy 2B -L
- Turner 3B -R
- Vargas LF – R
- Taylor CF – R
- Barnes C – R
You want Righthanders – I’ll give you right-handers. Freeman and Muncy hit LH ers or RHers.
4. The Team Needs a Leader to Step Up
That leader is not Mookie. He is the strong, silent type. JT is close to being that leader, but this team is ready for Freddie Freeman to step up and speak out to the team. It’s been a process, but Freddie had earned that right with his bat and glove and with his attitude. Freddie needs to “take over” the Dodger locker room. Its his team for the taking. He has the pedigree, the panache, and the MVP-TYpe Stats. He is the “chosen one!” Step on it, Freddie. The Dodger players respect the heck out of him.
Manny Machado
I have heard a lot of Dodger fans disparaging Manny Machado, and I get it. However, you need to understand that this is not the same Manny Machado of 5 or 6 years ago. Manny has matured at age 30 and had a great season… an MVP-Worthy Season as he led the NL in WAR. Like many talented baseball players, Manny was coddled and spoiled by his handlers and press clippings. He was immature and it showed… on many occasions. Manny still plays with fire… and he hates the Dodgers… and you can hate him too, but he is damn good. He is the best #B in the NL and maybe all of baseball.
He is the Padre’s leader, and while his progress as a leader has not been linear, he is their “spiritual leader.” He has gone from spoiled brat to spoiled bad boy, to the edgy team leader that he is. I’ll take a guy with his fire any day. I don’t have to like him… and I don’t. I didn’t like Barry Bonds or Pete Rose, but man-o-man were they good! I feel the same way about Manny! On a “Character Meter,” he ranks ahead of Manny Ramirez while not quite having that bat!
Game 1 & 2 Observations
- Clayton Kershaw has a personal catcher, namely Austin Barnes. If Clayton pitches, Barnes should catch. End of story! Clayton likes to pitch to Barnes. Barnes has been his catcher since practically after AJ Ellis left. The truth be told, with better defensive support, Clayton could have given up just one run… not three. I thought that was a bonehead move.
- Blake Snell has a lot to prove against the Dodgers tonight, but the Dodgers have a lot to prove against Blake Snell.
- It goes without saying that the Dodger’s Bullpen needs to do what they have done all season.
- The Bazooka is a great athlete, as was seen on his fielding the bunt and throw to get Wil Meyers at home. He needs to hang around Tommy Kahnle and learn that changeup. FASTBALL and CHANGEUP is all he needs.
Miguel Vargas
Some people wonder what Miguel Vargas brings and why he is on the playoff roster.
But the biggest thing Miguel Vargas brings is his ability to go the other way. Miguel is not a guy like Mookie Betts, who will hit 35 HR and bat .269. He is more like a RH’ed Freddie Freeman. He is not fast, but he is a very good baserunner with above-average speed. Miguel will hit and ultimately become a good fielder… wherever he plays. The fact that he is on the team speaks volumes about a guy who has never really had a chance at the MLB level.
Vargas has a long long way to go to be declared the RH Freddie Freeman! We’re the better team, just play like it! Otherwise it’s Robert’s fault! Just shocking that Bellinger has the worst OPS!
I assume Vargas will be a solid MLB player, perhaps an All-Star, in due course. Suggesting he might be a righthanded Freddie Freeman is high praise–and premature, too.
He’s has about 50 plate appearances–so not much ML experience, but a lot more than Outman got, and 50 more than Rios got in the second half of the season. (At one point Vargas had only 1 walk in 47 ABs, but he eventually got his second later.) Vargas bats righthanded, and that seems to be his key advantage under the current roster circumstances over lefty swingers Rios, Outman and Michael Busch.
If Vargas gets a chance and helps the Dodgers beat the Padres, that would be swell. But if he fails–or if he just warms the bench–we have to question the construction of this roster late in the season.
First, consider the Beeter-for-Gallo deal.
Basically, AF figured that Gallo, despite his slump, would be an upgrade over Jake Lamb, whom he dealt to Seattle. AF saw this as too good a deal to pass up–but if wanted a new lefty bat he could have summoned Outman, Rios or Busch. The change of scenery hasn’t helped Gallo much. Now he seems like Belli 2.0: a former star who is a source of frustration. Until Gallo proves me wrong, I’ll contend that promoting from within and keeping Beeter might have been the smarter course.
Now consider the Vargas roster spot. Yes, he is unproven–and yet here he is on the playoff roster! Does that seem like prudent roster management??? If AF & Company figured they would need another proven righthanded bat for the playoffs–and clearly they do–perhaps they should have dealt for one instead of Gallo.
But who?
Well, how about Brandon Drury? Right now I’d say he’d look better in a Dodgers jersey than in a Padres one. With his plus-.800 OPS and 28 HRs, he’s been a nice addition to the Pads, much nicer than either Gallo or Vargas. (Not sure what the Pads gave up to get him, but I get the Dodgers could have topped it.)
So imagine: Instead of Barnes pinch-hitting for Belli, it might have been Drury. Or maybe Drury would have started–and Justin Turner could have been summoned. Bonus: Drury wouldn’t be batting against us.
Now of course I am hoping that both Vargas and Gallo step up and prove the Dodger brass right for investing so much faith in them than in other options.
Oh well.
Here’s hoping that Gonsolin does the Gonsolin thing…. and Heaney doesn’t give up any HRs.
Not keen on Gonsolin starting this pivotal game. Would have started Anderson myself. Win this one then the Bullpen game, and back to LA if necessary, for Julio and the Kitchen Sink.
Also lines Anderson up for game 2 of the NLCS if we get there.
Also wouldn’t be leaving JT on the bench.
Also, glad to see you recognise that people are allowed to evolve and change, and don’t have to be typecast for life.
But then again, you have vision.
I acknowledge his skills as a baseball player, and the fact that he is the Padres leader. No argument there. But he is still a jerk.
Lets all pull on the same side of the rope.
I dont give a flip about Manny and SD. Lets go win the frigging game tonight!!!
Think Blue!
Pitching matchups favor the Padres in the next two games. Amd the Padres after game 2 win believe in themself that they can eliminate us . Will be very tought for the Dodgers to survive that NLDS.
If you put Vargas on the postseason roster you HAVE to bat him and not Barnes. End of story.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t understand how the pitching matchups favor the Padres. We have shown we can beat Snell, d Musgrove, Clevinger, and Darvish in the past. I think the pitching favors the team with the deepest and best staff in baseball.
Some folks just like to be negative all the time….tough way to live.
Tougher than with rose coloured glasses on all day. I agree with you on that.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was talking about the starters in the next two games.
Musgrove is coming off a gem vs the Mets. Snell has always given us trouble. If not for Cash he might just shut us out in game 6 in 2020.
Gonsolin is coming off an injury and nobody knows what he can give us and how long he can go.
Anderson has had a career regular season but has not been in a playoff game yet.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your kidding, right? Snell finished the 2nd Half with one of the best ERA s and Gonsolin on the IL. Tyler Anderson as a playoff pitcher? Don’t think so.
Very worried that Gonsolin will not have his good stuff after coming off the IL and pitching just 3 innings since being activated. Bottom line is the Dodger offense has to step up and someone has to come up with a big hit when needed most.
The lack of quality AB’s with RISP after the five run outburst on Tuesday and 3 solo HR’s for all of the scoring on Wednesday underscore the need to manufacture runs. Hit the ball oppo, hit behind the runner, hit a sac fly etc. Take an extra base when possible and for God’s sake get to second base when you hit a line drive off the wall and over the OF’s head.
Hoping Gonsolin and Heaney can cobble together 5 or 6 innings of good pitching and then turn it over to the BP. Snell can be very wild so it will be important for the Dodger hitters to stay in the strike zone and pass the baton.
Go Dodgers!
It seems like confidence is low that the Dodgers can win. Lots of blame on the management, roster construction and who hits. Let me remind you that all Freidman does is make a roster, and all Doc can do is put them out there. The Dodgers have won one game and lost one game but have not executed very well in either game…. led by Mookie Betts and Justin Turner.
You can blame it on Doc or Andrew, but so far, I blame it on the Defense and poor execution by Mookie, JT, and the outfielders. If they step up and play, the Dodgers will win
And I blame it on Doc for once again refusing to call a bunt when small ball would give you and easy run when the flow of the game already had proven runs were at a premium and the Dodgers not able to come up with the key hit.
Two easy runs left on the field and we lose by two.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!
Things we learned / were confirmed after the first two games:
– The Dodgers could be up 2-0 if situational hitting was better.
– Max at 3rd base is nervous time, especially against a manager that likes to bunt.
– Graterol is not reliable b/c he gets hit, hard. Not enough swing/misses for high leverage situations.
– Philips, Khanlie, Martin are up to the task.
– Trace is not.
– The fans want CT3 in the line-up, even if he’s 90%.
Tonight will tell me how fragile our pitching is. Sure we won the regular season pitching match-up and our ERA was terrific, but this is the playoffs. Snell and Musgrove are absolutely better than Gonsolin/Anderson at this point in the season.
Snell?????
The guy that pitched 3.1 innings and had 6 walks and a HR his last time out to a crappy Mets lineup, that Snell??
Some of you “fans” need to have a liitle more faith in your team. Im glad you are not in the clubhouse. Yeesh….
dodgerram: you act like a bunt with a man on 3rd and less than 2 outs guarantees a run. How incredibly naive. You don’t have to go further than the Padres failure to score the run with a bunt in the same game. Granted it took a great play by Graterol, but resulted in an out, none the less. Stop saying things like “two easy runs left on the field” when that is incredibly false.
If they were easy runs, no team would ever forego the bunt in that situation and yet, the bunt in that situation is a fairly rare play. Historical stats argue against the bunt. You can give up a strike or two if the batter doesn’t execute and you can give up a very important out if it doesn’t work.
You and a few others on this site continue to always find any way to blame the Manager. How bout JT’s strikeout with no outs or Muncy’s base running blunder or any other time when the player did not execute. Unfortunately, that’s baseball.
Look at the defensive alignment the padres employed in both situations. Sure, the play can fail and Graterol proved it.
But as you said it took an unreal play to cut the runner down. Baseball is a game of percentages and they say the play has way better chances to succeed than fail.
But the thing here is the Padres tried . The Dodgers under Doc dont. Always playing for the 3run bomb.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Dodgers do not try the bunt because, “Statistically speaking,” it is not a smart play. Not to say you never do it, but it’s not the norm.
A close playoff game like with Pads is not the normal game. The way this game was going and with our inability to hit with RISP I would have gone for the bunt.
And statiscally speaking it might not be a smart play in the big picture of a 162 game season but you have to look at it in the context of the game you are in.
Game 2 the way it was going , being down a run called for the bunt .
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” Not to kill the messenger, but….
Stolen bases are not smart. Bunts are not smart. Hitting to the opposite field is not smart. Anytime you can force your opponent to throw the ball it increases the chance of them making an error or creating an opportunity to score a run. All the actions mentioned above allow the other team to make a mistake. Striking out is considered a positive outcome and smart in the eyes of analytics. I will never accept that concept as a positive outcome because the ball is not being fielded by the defense. Thus, nothing further can come from that at bat unless the third strike is a wild pitch and the batter can advance to first.
The Dodgers started about a third of the way through to concentrate on making contact as opposed hitting HRs. So far in this series they look like they are reverting back to their old ways. Not good when they are facing outstanding pitchers in most games. We’ll see if that approach conintues.
Actually, it was even noted when the Padres did that, that if they had bunted toward first the run would have scored almost automatically. That would have been the call.
My sentiment exactly.
There is/are a myriad of reasons why bunting doesn’t happen anymore. It’s much more of an informed decision than, “The manager doesn’t call it enough”
There are 2 distinct camps when it comes to bunting. The never-bunt crowd is convinced that giving up an out under any circumstance, is a mistake. It isn’t statistically a smart play.
Others, like me, think it has its place, especially in short series playoff baseball. I grew up with a dad that pitched fast pitch softball at a high level and bunting was a fundamental necessity. Especially when a team is struggling to hit and score runs, I would go to small ball in the right situation. Now it seldom crosses my mind because teams, like the Dodgers , don’t bunt. But a safety squeeze is practically indefensible. Graterol showed against an athletic pitcher, it takes a quality bunt. But against most pitchers any decent bunt, scores the run.
The problem is most players can’t bunt well. It’s not practiced, it’s not used enough, and players are fundamentally disinterested and shitty . And that’s a whole other conversation.
Small ball critics even critiqued the Betts steal attempt. The review was so close after 5 minutes, that the original call stood. Had he been called safe, that call would have stood. So a steal to get in scoring position became critized as a bad play. Some faction, not mine, are content playing conservative, station to station baseball, waiting to string together hits against playoff pitching or wait for home runs.
One of the 2 camps will never be satisfied.
All this doom and gloom after just two games. Sure anything can happen in a short series, but the Dodgers’ talent and experience should win out. These lineup changes made by the front office (Roberts?, please) for today’s game are troubling. As difficult as runs are hard to come by in the playoffs defensive is paramount. No way, no how do I remove Bellinger out of CF. Especially to get Taylor into the lineup! Vargas is on the roster, play him in LF. I know it contradicts that “defense is important” point I made above. To replace Bellinger/Thompson with Taylor/Thompson you weaken your defense and most likely don’t get any offensive help. Taylor strikes out more than Bellinger and I don’t think is 100% right now. Granted Vargas may not be an offensive upgrade and definitely isn’t a defensive upgrade. I say give him a shot and see what he can do. If you’re not going to use him, then why is he on the playoff roster? If only for PH duties then where was he when Barnes PH the last game?
As much as I would like to see it small ball isn’t going to be part of the Dodgers strategy. There’s no way TT is going to lay down a bunt. Mookie steal attempt was a good move and it took a perfect throw to get him out. Those things happen. It would have been nice to see a replay when Max hit his “single” off the RF fence to see if he was running hard after contact or pulling a Manny Machado watching the “HR” go over the fence. It was a huge play with Max being held to a single in that the next batter, Lux, grounded into a DP to end the inning. But, the announcers were to distracted cheering for the Padres on the DP to comment on the importance of Max being held to a single. A replay would have been nice to see. The important thing was that the Dodgers failed to score, the Padres are awesome, Yu Darvish has 47 unhittable pitches, and Manny Machado is the best baseball player in the world.
Carry on.
Why I love baseball.
https://twitter.com/jomboy_/status/1580743417377660928?s=21&t=FycOosYxkP0quNtXcIYYJQ
I would love to see the Dodgers win another Championship. One of the many things I hope to see again. That being said, this is baseball. The best team does not always win as was proved last season and many times before. What would make losing this series worse is losing to this particular team. Bad enough they finished second to the Giants last year, but they took care of business in the NLDS only to lose the NLCS to a inferior, at least on paper, Braves team. The Braves were hungry and out for revenge since they blew a 3-1 lead in 2020. This Padres team, with a few exceptions, suffered a three-game sweep at the hands of the Dodgers in 2020. The Dodger vets, who have seen this story before, need to step up and step up big. I am not worried about Gonsolin. I think however far he goes; he will keep the game close and give the offense a chance. The guy was 2-0 with an 0.71 ERA against them this year. I do think the 5 days off affected the sharpness of the team no matter how many intrasquad games they played. I believe they will play solid baseball and win. They are after all tied, not down 2-1 like they were to the Giants last year. Tonight is the biggest game of the year so far. Play Dodger baseball and they will win. Have a hiccup or two, and tomorrow it will be win or go home.
This is a three-game series now after we split the first two matchups. No need to panic. We’re facing the only lefty in the Padres rotation and he’s been mostly very good in the past against us. Barnes has had some success against him, and Smith can’t start every game. When Smith DH’s, Muncy at 2B and Turner at 3B is the way to go. Cody has been pretty bad against Snell in the past, so I can understand why he’s going to sit now. Trace is the second best CF on the team, but he can’t hit lefties either. CT3 has been mostly injured and blew a game in CF in the 2020 World Series. Maybe it’s best just to leave Cody out there, but 4 k’s in 6 AB’s screams “Sit me down!”
So, go ahead and do what you gotta do…
Mookie RF R
T Turner SS R
Freeman 1B L
Smith DH R
J Turner 3B R
Muncy 2B L
Barnes C
Trayce CF
CT3 LF
Get to Snell early and get Cody back in there when they go to the pen. Gonso and May need to step it up if we’re going to have a deep run, so run Gonso out there and hope for 5. Make sure you have a lefty ready to face Grisham and Soto when their turns come up. No need to use Heaney for 2. Get a lead and use Almonte, Phillips, Martin, Kahnle for everyone else.
Don’t stress, we still have Anderson and Urias for games 4 and 5 if necessary.
Some people should be a little more objective. If Lux makes a bad throw, everyone loses their shit. Trea, two errors in one game? Crickets.
PhilJones. Have I mentioned that Trea’s defense is highly overrated? He’s average at best. Lux is a better shortstop. You’ll see next year.
It took some time for me to see just how cool Gonsolin is at handling pressure. To me he first appeared like a pitcher that was just to fill in the 4-5 of the rotation. His demeanor is constant without flash he goes about business. His 1st inning looks the same as his last with results. This game tonight has meaning and I expect TG to do what TG does. With ice water running in his veins. I don’t really know what his injury consisted of but likely part of it was smoke – a secrete weapon for emergency. The All Star game was meaningless but fits with the plan. Maybe he is superhuman. We’ll see.
If you never bunt during the season, you don’t do it in the postseason.
Muncy crushed that ball and it caromed off the wall, right to Soto who has a gun. He would have been out from me to you.
Lux hit into a double play, it’s rare, but it can and does happen. 3 times all year to be exact. Credit the Padres defense for a nice play. Lux had two other hits on the night.
The geeks aren’t always right…
Stolen bases are good. It puts pressure on the pitcher and gets better pitches for the hitter.
Bunting for a run is good in tight games. It’s easier to lay down a bunt than to hit a sac fly or get a hit. But, it also limits overall run scoring because it almost guarantees an out. Bad for long haul, good for short run.
Walks aren’t as good as a hit. No one scores on a walk unless bases are loaded.
Strikeouts are the worst kind of outs. The only good thing that comes from a K is that you stayed out of a double play. If you put the ball in play, anything can happen. Ask Trea Turner.
Doc didn’t do anything to screw up the game. We just lost. You can question using Barnes, but it’s not like CT3, Belli, Gallo, Vargas were much better options in that situation. If Doc did something blatantly wrong, you would hear about it from me.
If you want to put blame on anyone for the loss, look to Trea Turner. You can’t turn two routine plays into hits and expect to win a close game.
If you don’t bunt or hit and run all year, you don’t start doing it now. It won’t work without practicing it during the season.
Oh, how things get magnified in the post season. We lost a game. One game. It isn’t the end of the world. I know tonight’s game on the road is extremely important with this format. While not exactly, it’s close to a must win game as we could have. It’s a short, emotional crap shoot in a 5 game series.
Regardless of who’s out there, each guy has to do his job. So far, some haven’t. Now it’s time. It will be raucous and the Pads will still attempt, I suspect, to get under our skins. We can’t let that happen. And I wouldn’t let beat us if at all possible.
The additions and subtractions to the line up are interesting. Snell can be tough but our options against LHP are not great. As we attempt to load up on right handed bats, the usual top 6 stay in the line up and need to play better. Again it’s the bottom of the order and the outfield candidates that give me pause. Barnes, in a limited sample size, has had success against Snell. But in his last 7 games, Barnes is hitting .105 and against LHP all year he’s at .182. El Bench for Belli is interesting and I don’t like it. I want his glove on the field and he’s hitting .325 his last 11 games. So Thompson moves to Center to stay in the line up. This one is a head scratcher. While he has huge reverse splits, he hits .174 vs LHP and is still at about 50% whiff rate. I anticipated CT3 in the lineup vs LHP, so no surprise here. But it’s by default since while better, he is at .200 vs LHP. And he’s been Bigfoot. Gallo needs to sit again as he is helpless vs LHP at .110. Obviously, Vargas is an option that doesn’t seem ready and trusted enough for this stage. Makes you wonder why he’s on the roster. You hope Gonsolin is a good choice over Anderson. So, Doc/the Wizard’s job is to put the best guys in situations to be successful. They have tons more data than I have going into these decisions and I hope they are right. But my gut and eyes come to a different conclusion. We’ll see.
The bottom line is you can’t have 3 poor performances in a row and not be on the ledge and we haven’t played well enough.
* By the way, if I had a dime for every time I’ve heard the same response to any questioning of the Dodgers, “yeah but we’ve won 111 games”, I’d be a rich man. That’s nice. I enjoyed each one of those wins. But it doesn’t matter right now.
A few days ago I posted Why we would win. Here were my reasons why we could lose.
* The bats can struggle with quality pitching. In our losses we hit .200. The faucet can be wide open but can shut off for long stretches.
* The bottom of the order fails to hit and K’s too much. (left field can be a problem)
* Doc makes questionable moves. He’s been good all year but pulls a dead rabbit out of his hat.
* We just run into a hot team in a short series. It’s hard to win the World Series and that’s why there are no repeat winners since 2000.
* Shit happens. They say they all even out but maybe not in a 5 or 7 games series. Luck is in play.
* The Dodgers don’t have glaring weaknesses. So the most likely reason they don’t win the World Series has more to do with what another team could do rather than what LA can’t do.
Great analysis Phil. Ya lose one game and most fans lose their minds. I have faith in the boys, but I also know the baseball gods can be cruel.
MLB announced the passing of Hall of Famer, Bruce Sutter at age 69. RIP.
I disagree with Mark on a few things.
The Dodgers need more hits and less walks. So I’m not looking at OPS, I’m looking at batting average against LHP. So the best options besides the top 6 in the lineup are Lux, Bellinger, Taylor. So I think 7-9 should be in this order Lux, Taylor, Bellinger.
I don’t want to see Andrew “Home run allowing machine” Heaney. I’d rather see May start followed by Gonsolin, then the best in the bullpen.
Kershaw doesn’t need Barnes, he’s pitched to Smith many times and did fine.
Moot point Eric. Bellinger is not playing.
8:37 PM ET
Dodgers (111-51)
Padres (89-73)
SP Tony Gonsolin R
16-1 2.14 ERA
SP Blake Snell L
8-10 3.38 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
SS Trea Turner R
1B F. Freeman L
DH Will Smith R
2B Max Muncy L
3B J. Turner R
LF Chris Taylor R
CF T. Thompson R
C A. Barnes R
Partly-cloudy-day
3% Rain
68° Wind 7 mph Out
The career hitting stats for Dodgers against Snell were shown on Twitter with some interesting notes:
Betts 9-39
Trea 3-15
Freeman 4-9
Smith 5-20
Muncy – 1-17, 1HR
JT – 3-18
Taylor 5-19
Barnes 3-7
Thompson 1-5
Gallo 3-5, 2HR.
Bellinger 1-9
Small sample size, but maybe a chance to get Gallo into game..
The Dodgers need hits. The batting averages against LHB in the regular season are:
Lux .263
Bellinger .213
Taylor .193
Thompson .188
Barnes .182
3 guys in the lineup under the Mendoza line. Good luck with that.
If those 3 don’t hit IT IS DOC’S FAULT. I’m tired of the people making excuses for Doc like the players didn’t execute excuse. Doc is suppose to use the best players in the best situations and I’ve seen MANY MANY MANY times that not the case. That excuse is flat out bu!!sh!t and I’ve seen Doc not use the best bullpen pitchers in match ups and flat out crappy bullpen pitchers in key situations over the course of his tenure.
If the bottom 3 in the lineup somehow deliver and I’m not talking about a single walk or a single base hit, then I will praise Doc tomorrow or maybe after the game tonight. Again not just an ofer with a walk or a 1-4 or 5 with a single or even a double. I’m talking about delivering.
Oops Taylor is starting. So scratch the bottom 3 and replace it with the bottom 2.
You are misplacing the blame. See below.
Robert’s is good 163 game manager. When it comes to the play offs he should be left off the roster. First two games, both right handed pitchers for San Diego. No Joey Gallo. I know he strikes out a lot, but he does hit HRs. Trace Thompson plays both games. He now playing tonight. Put Taylor in CF and Vargas in LF. I would of pitched Tyler Anderson tonight and Gonsolin on Saturday. I do not have a good feeling about this series. Anderson may have to pitch a great game on Saturday.
MLB raises the qualifying offer to 19.5 mil.
I had a nightmare last night.
Astros and Padres in the World Series.
Let’s Go Dodgers!
Why is Vargas on playoff roster if hes not starting tonight! And Im sick of people blaming Roberts because players dont perform! If this is the team that won 111 games and was 14-5 against apafs then play like it!
Braves lost. They’re in a do or die situation now. I hope they get knocked out.
Those of you who question Dave Roberts moves, like who starts, should they bunt, who they bring in for relief are showing a high level of ignorance about the modern game. I did not say you were stupid – just ignorant of how it works. The lineups are a collaboration between all of the Dodger’s brain trust, including Roberts. Whether to bunt – who to start or who comes in for relief – all of this is a collaboration.
I was listening to an interview with the Mariners manager, and their Brain Trust had discussed exactly what happened when Yordon Alvarez came up with two runners on and trailing by two runs. The consensus was to bring in Robbie Ray. It didn’t work, but that doesn’t make it the wrong or right move.
As much as some of you would like to blame Doc, most decisions are a collaboration and pre-determined.
BTW, these decision are based upon about 1000% times more data than you have.
Well this is not going good.
Dodgers look like they have tight butts. Good job pulling Gonso, he clearly didn’t have it. Nice job Heaney! Padres gonna have to fix that dent in the wall in left field. Ouch!
2 bunts by SD = 2 outs.
Andrew Freaking Heaney.
He should be good from 2 more innings.
Turner strikes again. I hope he can make it up at the plate.
Is he thinking about next year’s contract ?
Andrew “ Home run allowing machine“ Heaney strikes again.
Well their horrible hitting left hander didnt have any trouble hitting a lefty! Thats how series are won!
Anyone have anything bad to say about Barnsie?
I said I would praise Doc if the bottom two deliver and they have so that’s what I’m doing praising Doc. Two times on base for each so far.
It’s not just Doc who makes that decision…
TT is making it easy not to resign him!
He shit the bed last October. He’s doing it tonight.
Is Justin Turner’s age finally catching up with him?
Suffice it to say, this is getting frustrating.
We thought that early this year, and then he came back with a vengeance, but he is nearing the end.
It may be time. He can’t just “will it” anymore.
The hitting sucks and so does the home plate umpire.
Could we see Miguel Vargas bat against Hader? Might as well throw him to the wolves if the pitcher comes up. Baptism by fire!
Home plate umpires always suck. I haven’t watched particularly closely in this in this game, but they usually suck for both teams.
In my humble opinion it’s past time for the electronic strike zone. But that’s a matter for another time.
Now it’s time for the Dodgers to create a happy memory for us all by coming back to win this one against Josh Hader. Go Dodgers!!!
Well, that ain’t happening
It’s time to win or go home tomorrow.
Now can we worry?
LoL!
Live by the home runs die by the home run
No hits with RISP had more to do with the loss than that homer. They had a lot of chances and no one stepped up.
In 2021, the 106-win Dodgers were eliminated by the 88-win Braves.
In 2022, the 111-win Dodgers are one game from being eliminated by the 89-win Padres.
But please tell me the playoffs are what determines who the best teams are!
All we need is a two game winning streak.
Even early in the game when the camera panned the Dodgers dugout they already look defeated. I can’t say I blame it on Roberts, but there’s some reason for a lack of fire on the team. Everybody walked back to the dugout like a dog with his tail between his legs
Tommy would never stand for it
Well, if you are 18-0 with RISP, I suppose there shouldn’t be much to cheer about.
True but you don’t hang your head. I know they didn’t give up, but the perception of defeat was there.
For some reason the Dodgers didn’t do well under pressure this year. All you have to do is look at their record in one run games and extra innings
It could be lack of a true leader. It used to be JT, and maybe he was trying to pass it off to Freddy, but Freddy didn’t really want to take the reins. Hard to say for sure. It’s a hell of a conundrum
Here’s to hoping the Dodgers show up tomorrow. They sure haven’t so far this post season. This ain’t the 111 win team. I don’t know who these guys are. They’re playing like the Black Sox.
1 run. You don’t win games, much less playoff games, scoring 1 run.
This lineup needs to step up. Period.
No over analysis. Hit the fucking ball.