Reggie Jackson had the moniker of “Mr. October,” probably due to some really big World Series at-bats, especially one or two against the Los Angeles Dodgers. But I won’t go there! All in all, Reggie Jackson was in 17 playoff series and hit .278 with a .358 OB% to go with a .885 OPS. He also hit 18 home runs. Kike Hernandez has also played in 17 playoff series and is batting .274, with a .351 OB% and a .893 OPS. He has hit 13 home runs in the playoffs. The thing is that Kike has over one hundred fewer plate appearances! If I were managing the Dodgers, and especially if Miguel Rojas is still injured, I would start Kike in CF EVERY GAME.
To me, it does not sound promising that Miguel Rojas will be able to play at a high level in the playoffs (I hope I am wrong). It is said that his groin injury will require surgery in the offseason, so I think it may be difficult for him to play in the playoffs. That means that Tommy Edman will have to move to SS. Kike can play CF at a high level, and he also has a cannon for an arm. It sounds like Freddie will be back… maybe not 100%, but he has to be fine… there’s no choice! That leaves a lineup that looks something like this:
- Shohei Ohtani DH (anyone who thinks he should not hit here is crazy)
- Mookie Betts RF (he is aching for retribution)
- Freddie Freeman 1B (same as above)
- Teoscar Hernandez LF (ready to show what he has on the big stage)
- Max Muncy 3B (this guy has something to prove)
- Will Smith C (maybe healthy? – Look out!)
- Tommy Edman SS ( Switch hitter – looking to make a name)
- Gavin Lux 2B (Just let him start every game)
- Kike Hernandez (Mr. October)
Bench: Chris Taylor, Austin Barnes, Andy Pages, Kevin Kiermaier
The thing is, if Miggy Ro starts the playoffs and aggravates his groin, they cannot bring on another player. Maybe he is worth the risk… I don’t know, but if the keep Miggy on the roster, then Kevin Keirmaier is the causality. MiggyRo was the biggest surprise of 2024, and he is beloved by his teammates and coaches. KK may be a causality, as it looked like he had a serious injury to one of his fingers. Rojas could still make it, or would they take a chance on James Outman? This is all conjecture, but Kiermaier hurt a finger and may be out anyway!
The pitching staff is a little trickier. Here’s who we are (almost) certain will be on the playoff roster (at least the first round):
- Ryan Bassier
- Anthony Banda
- Walker Buehler
- Yoshi Yamamoto
- Jack Flaherty
- Daniel Hudson
- Landon Knack
- Evan Phillips
- Michael Kopech
- Blake Treinen
- Alex Vesia
- Joe Kelly
That leaves one spot for Michael Grove, Ben Casparius, Edgardo Henriquez. Bobby Miller, Brent Honeywell, and Justin Wrobleski. Maybe by the end of the day today, we will have a better idea… Wrobleski made a great case to be on the playoff roster yesterday. The Dodgers need only three starters, and Flaherty, Yamamoto, and Buehler are the best they have right about now. It looks like Kershaw and Gonsolin will not be options in the first round, but they could be available later… or not! It’s a bullpen game today!
Farewell to the Morons
It’s been a year, like most others, since Andrew Friedman and Dave Roberts have been in LA together. For most of the year, I had to listen to the Morons talk their “morontalk” whereby Friedman and Roberts should be fired… or killed… or worse! It’s been that way every year, but the difference is that this year, I got tired of it and started to run them off in July. The morons are gone now, and I do have to say that it is wonderful that they have all migrated to the same site. LONG LIVE THE MORONS… Just not here! If the morons had their way, Chris Taylor, Kike Hernandez, Austin Barnes, Miguel Rojas, and others would have been released. That’s why they be morons! It turned out that with all their warts, the Dodgers have the best record in baseball and have home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Sorry if I offended you… but F______ you if I did! At any rate, the Dodgers are the best team in baseball and will have the Home Field Advantage throughout the playoffs! Shohei Ohtani is hard-charging toward the batting title. A 4-4 might get it. That little chicken___ B__tch, Luis Arraez, did not play yesterday to protect his average. Most morons talk about batting average, and he currently leads with a .314 BA, but his OPS is .737. MiggyRo’s OPS is .747. He is an imposter! Ohtani’s OPS is 300 points higher. What a sham! I would rather have Max Muncy leading off than Arraez.
I’m Back!
The ablation was not a piece of cake. It was successful, but there were complications, and I was out for six hours. However, I am back and OK. I have a back MRI on October 10th and am facing another surgery. “Let’s get it over with.” The last time I was in the hospital during the World Series, the Dodgers won it all (2020).
Glad you are feeling better. I had a similar journey and my ablation has stuck nicely, hope yours does too! I am very eager for the Dodgers to stick their landing this post season. The team has made this year and the 50/50+ season so enjoyable. Bring it home lads!
KK injury a dislocated finger. That should be good to go in time if they decide to keep him. To me Rojas is more troubling. I would leave him off until round 2 and hope for the best.. Edman can play shortstop. Freddie will play, hopefully good enough to swing the bat. On another team he could probably DH. Great comparison of the two ‘Mr. Octobers’.
Mark – Glad you are progressing. But would be great when you can finally say that this is ‘behind you’.
Glad you’re back and feeling better. I agree about Kike. He has hit well since he got his glasses and lately he has been on fire. If Miggy is heathy our best line up has him at short, but if he isn’t at 100% we are better with Kike in the line up. He has always played well in the postseason.
great you’re ok! i don’t think i’ve ever been called a moron! but as long as it doesn’t pertain to my mother i’m ok with it! lol! A few weeks ago i had my reservations about ohtani being the mvp. After watching the guy for the last 5 weeks? it should be unanimous! it’s not his fault he couldn’t pitch this year! now if all he did was hit homers, yeah, there might be a question. But his base running , power, and straight up all around offensive game? He’s heads above the rest! Hopefully the rest of the lineup can stay productive this playoffs season! Kiki? i eat crow. dude is valuable! Taylor? i eat crow, dude is valuable! Pages? i eat, well you know! valuable! If Rojas can’t go, no problem. Edman is a defensive wiz! And Mark i agree totally, let lux play ! If the pitching is good, skies the limit!
I always forget about Brasier when I draw up my postseason staff. Watched almost the entire Mil/NYM game and it felt like postseason baseball. And by the I meant an endless parade of relievers. For a franchise that has seen its share of bullpen failures, our strength this year could be our pen. Lock it down.
Good to hear your on the mend for now. I believe you can replace an injured player but the player that is injured is ineligible for the next round. Good luck on your MRI.
A club may request permission from the Commissioner’s Office to replace a player who is injured during the course of a series, but that player is then ineligible for the rest of that round and the subsequent round, if there is one.
Hello, Mark,
Glad you’re back. Happy that you were able to get through the ablation. Sorry you still have surgery in your future. As a retired Clinical Exercise Physiologist working in hospital Cardio-Pulmonary Rehab for the last 20 years of my working career, I almost said the other day that the ablation was one the less scary procedures a patient might have. Glad I didn’t.
3:10 PM ET
Dodgers (97-64)
Rockies (61-100)
SP Anthony Banda (opener)
3-2 3.14 ERA
SP Ryan Feltner R
3-10 4.66 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
RF Mookie Betts R
LF T. Hernandez R
3B Max Muncy L
SS Tommy Edman S
1B E. Hernandez R
2B Chris Taylor R
CF Andy Pages R
C A. Barnes R
87° Wind 3 mph R-L
09/29/24 Los Angeles Dodgers optioned LHP Justin Wrobleski to Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
09/29/24 Los Angeles Dodgers recalled CF James Outman from Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
So, who is this Shohei Othani that you speak of? Are we talking about that guy that can’t hit with runners in scoring position?
Bwahahahahaha
I hear there’s an all-you-can-eat Crow barbecue on some other site somewhere!
And you forgot, ‘strikes out too much’!!
I add: last year when someone suggested, before the deadline, that the Dodgers should bring back Kiké, he immediately responded: “the Dodgers are not going to bring back Kiké”.
He made that comment dozens of times!!!
Before Saturday’s game, Roberts said his best guess at the moment is that Jack Flaherty will start Game 1 next Saturday.
Since his three-homer, two-steal game on Sept. 19 to clinch the first 50-50 season in MLB history, Ohtani has hit .706/.737/1.412 with six homers, six doubles, 14 runs, 20 RBI and eight stolen bases. That is an OPS of 2.149.
Mark you are a savage. I love it.
You know, the Boys in Blue are like a freight train about to hit top speed. With Sho as the locomotive, and Mr. October as the caboose, there is no stopping it!
Book em
You are correct>>> I am a savage!
If Ohtani gets an extra base hit today he will join the the 100 XBH club. I think it’s happened 16 times.
If this level of offense can continue, I think we can go all the way despite some reservations about the rotation.
Arraez playing today.
As far as I’m concerned the Dodgers have already proven they the best regardless of any outcome of the 2024 championship. I want to show the record to substantiate the fact as such but in my book they’ve already won it all. All teams had to play all teams and the whole season is the large sample size so it’s already established which team is best. Those that think it’s yet to be determined aren’t looking at it as realistically. But I have little doubt Dodgers won’t substantiate this with the historical title. I’m back on hospice and the morphine allows me the exorcise needed to cheat death. I’ll give it my best shot. Can’t say I have no regrets, I have busloads. It is what it is till it isn’t. And Dodgers are champs.