The pitching staff got a much-needed day off yesterday, and now the Dodgers will face King, Cease, and Musgrove as the Padres are looking to sweep the Dodgers and tie them for first place in the NL West. The Dodgers just announced that it will be Knack, Flaherty, and Buehler who will start, but this is all very, very interesting.
This is what it all comes down to, and this is why they play the games. Some fans will say that these three games are “must-win games.” Well, every game is a “must-win” game, isn’t it? But you don’t win them all. The Rangers lost a “must-win” game on the last day of the season to drop them from the AL West Champion to a Wild Card, and I think it turned out OK for them. They won the World Series riding the coattails of five or six pitchers after backing in as a Wild Card.
But, for the first time in quite some time, the Dodgers are in a Dogfight to win the NL West. They have three games with the Friars and three more in Denver. Ohtani could hit six or seven HRs in Coors! 60/60 is within reach, and he is hot!
Andrew Friedman has always been at the forefront of change. When he ran the Rays, he learned that he had to sell early and play within the margins. He learned not to “fall in love” with players and maximize return on investment. He was at the forefront of “launch angle,” exit velocity,” and that strikeouts weren’t leprosy! Andrew pushed sabermetrics and analytics where they had never gone before and built what may be the biggest and baddest analytic departments in all of baseball. He was also at the forefront of what Driveline Baseball was about: Spin Rate, weighted balls, stronger pitchers, extreme training, and maximum-effort pitching. Additionally, the Dodgers farm system is well-oiled machine.
Everything does not work as planned. Usually, new ideas require adjusting and tweaking. The Dodgers are still a work in progress. The problem is that many fans are not used to change: “That’s not the way we used to do it, so we should never do it that way.” They want baseball to stay static… keep it the same. There is no such thing as staying the same – you are either expanding or dying!
Grumpy old men (and women) have a way of not accepting new ideas. I do really miss DodgerMom, MJ, and a couple of other ladies who posted on this site. I ran the morons off so that maybe some ladies might return and give us a little balance. Damn, I miss MJ and Dodger Mom! I would welcome you back. I went to the other side and was amazed at how I am still in their heads. I own them! Dang! If I really were a narcissist, that would be most excellent! Most of you get my humor… but the morons don’t! The next big thing is:
Legends of the Fall
Some players just have that reputation as being clutch in the playoffs. When you think of the 2024 Dodgers and being clutch, you automatically think of …. NOBODY. Reggie Jackson was called Mr. October. Who will step up and be Mr. October for the Dodgers? There are candidates Ohtani, Betts, Freeman, Teoscar, Will the Thrill, Max, Clayton, Jack, Yamamoto? Who knows?
The Legends of the Fall is one of my favorite movies, and this is my favorite part:
Will the Dodgers have a Legend of the Fall? Who will it be? That’s why they play the games. BTW, don’t even count out Bobby Miller (Last game: 5 IP/3 H/1 ER/1 BB/ 6 Ks at OKC) or Michael Grove. Take note that Dalton Rushing caught on Sunday.
I am not sure what the rest of this week will bring. My wife and I are going to Cleveland Clinic on Wednesday, where I will undergo an ablation on my heart on Thursday or Friday. A heart ablation, also known as cardiac ablation, is a minimally invasive procedure that treats irregular heartbeats, or arrhythmias, by destroying small areas of heart tissue. The goal is to restore the heart’s normal rhythm by blocking irregular electrical signals. Here’s what they told me as to how it works:
- A doctor inserts a catheter into a vein in the groin and guides it up to the heart.
- Electrodes on the end of the catheter measure the heart’s electrical activity.
- The doctor identifies the area causing the arrhythmia.
- The doctor uses radio frequency to destroy the tissue.
Recovery from heart ablation is usually quick, with most people feeling back to normal within a few days to a week. However, it’s important to note that everyone’s recovery is different, and you may feel tired for several days or weeks. My doctor told me that no one has died from this, so let’s roll. I also meet with my back surgeon today and will schedule surgery to have L1 and L2 Fused. Old age is a bitch, but only the good die young. You are going to have to put up with me for a long time.
Man, I remember when I had hair like him. Well… I barely remember!
Thinking of the “five or six pitchers” quota referenced above that helped the Rangers win last year:
1. Flaherty–pitching for his legacy and a new contract.
2. Yamamoto–simply put, he’s a bust if he doesn’t show out.
3. Graterol–first guy in from pen; let him go two IP; energy.
4. Vesia–will pitch every game; can end rallies; more energy.
5. Phillips–return to form; provider of a clean IP a game.
6. Kopech–closer pitching for his future role on 2025 club.
Honorable Mention:
7. Treinen–crazy stuff can get away from him sometimes.
8. Gonsolin–I really believe he could make roster as bulk guy.
9. Buehler–I still believe but does Roberts?
The ultimate Wild Card:
10. Knack–Could you imagine if he started Game 3 and pitched his best game? What if Kershaw piggybacked him?
Best of luck and Godspeed MARK!
Concur.
I second that…..
Best of luck Mark on your procedure!
Let’s get the first one tonight!
Sending our best wishes Mark. We’ll be praying for a quick recovery. Godspeed!
Thanks – I’ve got my beautiful wife by my side.
Godspeed Mark!! Hell, i don’t fear the three starters this series ! Happy Darvish ain’t one of them! The offense? I’m worried about Lux. not criticizing him, he’s had to sit a lot lately. Seems to have lost most of the momentum he had gotten! They will need his bat in october! Everyone else? good to go! .. What’s the word on Barnes? …. Reading this morning, “Will dodgers move on from Roberts’ if they exit early? He hasn’t lost control of the clubhouse. He hasn’t made any questionable decisions yet. AND, he’s shown “fire” more than usual this season! So no, he ain’t going nowhere! …. Have enjoyed Chuck Nasty play with the Rockies! Maybe he should retire before this coming weekend! …. Tigers a good story. AJ Hinch? never ever a fan ! Bang the cans! … Listening right now to Cora on MLB network, good manager? yeah, bang the cans! i’ll tahe Doc! Character matters! …. I don’t want to get involved with the drama from the other side. i do miss Bear posting every day! But i didn’t like the other site(no disrespect towards anyone). if Matk shuts down, i’m done! No butt kissing involved! lol . Just like the posts on this site! Baseball, Baseball, and more baseball! The human element is great too! No one fan likes the same players on the roster that the next guy does, but we all agree, they’re all dodgers while they’re here! Some such as Justin Turner, Piazza, Garvey, Cey, Lopes, Hersheiser, Fernando leave but they really never leave us! .. Hold on tight! The next 6 days are coming and coming in like a tornado! .. At Sundays end, another division title will be in the books! Then the fun(i hope) begins! .. Again Mark, safe travels and all the best results my friend!
Hola tramposo a mi también me preocupa Lux por su aparente falta de caracter o interés (lo mismo de Teoscar), buen post felicidades.
Good luck today OLD MAN from an OLDER MAN!
Mark –
Best wishes on your heart procedure! As someone who has had four surgeries in the last four years I know both the mental and physical toll of any surgical procedure. Wish you and your family the very best throughout the entire process….glad you have rejuvenated LADT!
Tom
Thank You!
Mark, be strong my man. Thoughts and prayers from my side of the world. Appreciate your work here and wishing you health and a full recovery from your procedure. You’re a good man, I know it, and there are probably many others here who will admit that too.
Thanks Evan!
Good luck Mark!
Good Luck Mark, I will have you in my thoughts…. Go Dodgers
Godspeed!
Go Dodgers.
I had to comment on the movie ‘Legends of the fall ‘. I have a farm in Michigan. Own 640 acres. Milked cows for 40 years. Now we grain farm, just under 2000 acres, many acres rented. I have three sons.. so parallel to the movie. My youngest joined the marine corps. Although he didn’t die… the family dynamics are so similar. My oldest left for greener pastures and will be political one day, cause my wife was. The story is about the second son, Tristan. My second son will take over my farm some day. Has the same wild spirit. Is well liked by all. Doesn’t let any grass grow under his feet. And at the same time, very respected and respectful. Although we don’t have a 10,000 acre ranch, I see similarities. The ending where the oldest returns to protect his family and brother was the perfect ending to a perfect movie
Even the old Indian and convict hired hands are similar in my world. In the Padres series, we just need to win one game, to stay in control. SD will be very hungry. They are getting a cockiness everytime we play and they are loud, proud and obnoxious. Hats off to their very solid outfield. Go Dodgers… let’s make our own legends this fall.
Rec
Very cool.
If I remember correctly, MJ passed away. I seem to recall Badger and others talking about that several years ago.
Yes, she did. So did Dodger Mom.
I am hoping that someone like them comes back.
I agree they both came across as quite nice in their posts.
If I recall, MJ had some accident at a younger age, and battled for a long time post accident.
Time to see what Landon Knack can do in big moments! I”m excited for him.
Yes, she did. She was quite a fighter… never complained.
The was when we found out Dodger Mom had died:
https://ladodgertalk.com/2021/04/04/dodger-blue-mom/
I had an ablation 2 years ago for AFib. The worrying before was actually the hardest part. The procedure itself was a piece of cake. I was in and out of the hospital in about 5 hours and never felt any side effects. Because you are already healthy you will do great. Enjoy the trip with your wife.
I am not worried. I am actually not in A-Fib right now. I had a second Cardioversion done is May and it is still working, although it has jumped into A-Fib a second time. A-Fib sucks, but happily, I have not had to experience it like some people, thanks to the cardioversions. The upcoming back surgery worries me more.
That was a walk down memory lane: MJ and Dodger Mom.
I miss PeterJ, Bulldogs & Penguins (the good side), Daniel Estrada, RichieF, Dodgerpatch, 2demeter2, and Jayne Cobb… among others. I hope all are still walking on the earth and not with the Big Dodger in the Sky!
I’m still here, Mark. I’m Dan in Pasadena – though I don’t live in Pasadena anymore. I didn’t realize I had used my real last name at some point.
FYI: I had catheter ablation over 20 years ago at Good Samaritan Hospital in L.A. I use to have Wolfe-Parkinson-White or “WPW” Syndrome. The procedure was easy to take and a lot less proven back then. I’ve only ever had a couple times since when my heart rate seems to WANT to go into arrhythmia but doesn’t quite “start” – hard to describe.
Best of luck with yours. I’m certain it’ll be fine.
PS: The morons online and on sports talk that are saying Dodgers will “choke” or are a bad team are, well….morons. Could they go 0-6? Yes it’s possible. Could they go 6-0? Yes, that’s possible too. BUT the entire season is telling us they are among the 2 best teams in the entire National League. I think their drive and grit will win out for Mookie and Freddie at least. Ohtani may show us all another gear – if that’s even possible. At least I am hoping.
Vinny used to say the Dodgers always did things the hardest way possible. Who am I to disagree with the most knowledgeable Dodger of all time?!
Thanks a lot!
I know it’s not popular but I’m going to use a little foresight instead of hindsight. Wow, that’s a vision thing!
Knack stymies the Madres and pitches a masterful game 3! Hmm. He might also pitch Sunday. I’m big on him.
Book em
Oh and Mark, you had fun this month. What a great time for Dodger Baseball.
Book em
I keep reading in the news that today the battle for the division leader between LA and SD begins… What stupidity!
The real fight will be between Mets and Braves.
That will be another fun series to watch for sure.
An ablation and back surgery? Getting old is the pits Mark. I plan on a knee replacement next year.
I was supposed to have one in October, but I put it off, and I’m glad I did. Very little pain… no explanation.
The Dodgers are going to promote right-hander Edgardo Henriquez, reports Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic on X. The righty isn’t on the club’s 40-man roster, so a corresponding move will be necessary to add him, per MLB Trade Rumors
10:10 PM ET
Padres (90-66)
Dodgers (93-63)
SP Michael King R
12-9 3.04 ERA
SP Landon Knack R
3-4 3.39 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
LF T. Hernandez R
3B Max Muncy L
C Will Smith R
CF Tommy Edman S
2B Gavin Lux L
SS Miguel Rojas R
69° Wind 10 mph Out
” Los Angeles officially selected RP Edgardo Henriquez’s contract while optioning Ben Casparius to clear a bullpen spot. The Dodgers transferred Gavin Stone to the 60-day IL to open the 40-man roster spot. Manager Dave Roberts announced last week that Stone’s season was likely over because of soreness in his throwing shoulder. That’s now officia”l.
“The right-hander went a combined 1-2 with a 2.72 ERA and 1.23 WHIP while collecting 88 strikeouts in 53 innings over 43 games (five starts) this season.
Henriquez possesses a fastball that exceeds 100 mph and pairs it with a sharp slider that sits in the mid-90s. He’s drawn comparisons to the likes of Francisco Rodriguez, Camilo Doval and Orion Kerkering, is a hard-throwing pitching prospect who has the potential to make a significant impact in the postseason”.
In Berkeley at Mitski concert. Greek theater still beautifu.
My wife used to have a condo in Berkley.
Still lots of family in the Bay Area.
Kershaw out, Henriquez on bubble?
Kopech
Phillips
Treinen
Hudson
Vesia
Graterol
Kelly
Banda
Flaherty
Yamamoto
Buehler
Knack
Gonsolin/[Henriquez/Grove]
I am not shocked that the Dodgers called up Edgardo Henriquez, who started at RC, moved to GL, then Tulsa and was recently at OKC when recalled.
Here’s what worries me… his WHIP at each level:
RC: 0.968
GL: 0.973
TULSA: 1.075
OKC: 1.895
His Hits per 9 innings have gone this way: 3.5. 5.1, 5.6, 9.9.
His BB rate has also risen in the same fashion.
Of course, I am just a hack and AF knows a lot more about Edgardo Henriquez than me, but this screams: “I am not ready.” Maybe it’s just the opposite. We shall see…
Only positional battle is Pages vs. Kiermaier with Pages the favorite.
Done Deal… unless Barnes doesn’t return… then it’s Feduccia … or Rushing.
I have two things to say:
1. I live in their heads; and
2. Personality disorders are a group of mental disorders. They involve long-term patterns of thoughts and behaviors that are different from what is considered normal in our culture. The thoughts and behaviors are unhealthy and inflexible. They cause serious problems with relationships, work, and social activities. They can make it hard to deal with everyday stresses and problems. The people who say I need help are the ones that need help. I have no problems with relationships, work, and social activities. In fact, my life is amazing. I pity the fools.
BTW, this only applies to people who like to talk about me because I am in their mind (not this site). I am being vilified elsewhere. So be it! Mental illness is no joke. I hope they seek help! Mentally ill people tend to cluster together. Maybe I should name names!
But you see
It’s not me
It’s not my family
In your head
In your head
They are fighting
In your head
In your head
They are cryin’
In your head
In your head
Zombie
Zombie
Zombie-ie-ie
What’s in your head
In your head
Zombie
Zombie
Freaking Bunch of Zombies! I can do this all day long, MORONS.
OK, mental illness is no joke. I am sorry I called you morons.
I will make it up to you if you seek help. See a licensed therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist, and send me the bill for your first session. I will gladly pay it! Please seek help and get well soon!
Gotta say it, surprisingly the pitching was there, but the stars are paid for this time of year to do what they do , regardless of the good pitching they face. You gotta show up, and we didn’t , Hate the damn Padres , but their guys got it done and our top 6 didn’t . We move on .
Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than have Ohtani on deck . It happens. Would I bet on it? Hell no. Dodgers will blow out the Pads tomorrow.
There was a pitch clock violation on King vs Betts when the bases were loaded that wasnt called.
If that count starts 1-0 could have been a whole different ballgame. Why have that rule if its not enforced.
It happens, we move on. Win tonight!
My foresight is lacking, oh well. Dust um off and go get em today. Obviously home field advantage would be nice. But we’re in the playoffs. I am fine starting the postseason on Monday or Friday. Texas backed into a wild card. Why can’t we? What a great time of year.
Book em
We are going to the win this division.
Even with 1 of 3 vs SD. If we won 2-3 in Colorado, SD would need to sweep in AZ. Aint happening.
Lets go!!!!
Wow. I’m replying to myself. Is that a sign of mental illness?
Bottom line, Madres have secured a playoff spot too. So really these games are meaningless. Stay healthy and kick it into gear next week.
Book em