Yesterday, the real Los Angeles Dodgers showed up and put an 8-0 beatdown on the Padres. You could clearly see the fear and confusion in the Padre’s eyes at the end of the game. In the process, the Dodgers raised their BA to .244 as a team (SD is at .246), and they have now scored 33 runs to San Diego’s 34 runs. They also dropped their Division Series Team ERA from 7.16 to 5.40. The Padres Team ERA dropped to 4.63. Baseball is a game of statistics and averages and the averages now are following the Dodgers. The series is tied at 2-2 with the final game in Dodger Stadium. The Padres may want to consider having the Governor call out the California National Guard to protect them. I am only half joking! The Young Whippersnappers don’t remember Dinah Washington. She was an American Treasure, and I barely remember her.
Dinah Washington was an amazing talent. Oftentimes, when you are given such talent, you are also given demons, and she had her share. She was married seven times and battled addiction and alcohol her entire life. She died in 1963 at age 39 of an accidental overdose of diet pills and alcohol. What a voice! What a shame! Now, back to Dodger Baseball.
I told you it wasn’t over, but sometimes, these guys test us as fans. Either they all hit, or no one hits. Last night, everyone except Andy Pages and Chris Taylor had hits. Remember when everyone wanted to get rid of Lux and Kike? Both are hitting .333 in the NLDS. Before the game, Dave Roberts asked each member of the bullpen to at least get three outs, and they did exactly what he asked! I realize that if the Dodgers do not win the World Series, he may very well be fired, but he does not deserve it… but that’s what will likely happen if they don’t win it all.
I have read on other blogs that Doc and Andrew should be fired. There are morons everywhere that have that as their bottom line, and every time something happens, it’s their fault. Well, Doc might go, but don’t forget that Ohtani has a clause in his contract that voids it if AF leaves. AF is not going anywhere, and hopefully, neither is Doc. Like Tommy, he is becoming the face of the Dodgers.
Tomorrow, every arm will be at the ready (except probably Buehler). Evidently, Yamamoto will start with Flaherty, Kanck, and the rest of the bullpen fresh and ready to throw an inning. I believe the Dodgers will get to Yu Darvish and punish him. It’s their turn to do that. Will Freddie and Miggy play? I would think not, but Freddie could see a Kirk Gibson moment. Miggy Ro is not going to get better until surgery, and Tommy Edman has been a revelation.
Mookie Betts now leads the Dodgers in OPS with 1.056, followed by Teoscar at .945 and Luxie at .886. Don’t be surprised to see Ohtani hit a few Big Flies in Game 5. Max and Will are looking like they might awaken. I like the Dodgers chances… a lot! Now we wait for Friday night!
BTW, I have heard from many Dodgers fans that Dave Dumbrowski (I spelled it wrong on purpose) just knows how to win the World Series and even Allana Rizzo picked them. How do you like him now? Look, the Dodgers have been extremely unlucky the past couple of years with injuries, especially to the pitching staff. By the way, do you think a healthy Freddie Freeman and Miggy Ro would make a difference? It is what it is. Next year, they will get back Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, (a fixed) Bobby Miller, and Stone, as well as Tyler Glasnow and Yoshi Yamamoto. Emmet Sheehan may be back in the second half, and then there is Clayton Kershaw, who has a player option. I look at Jack Flaherty and wonder if he is ready for Tommy John. There are now two types of pitchers: Those who have had Tommy John and those who will.
I think the Dodgers and other teams have to stop wringing out two to three more MPH from these guys. I remember when Tony Gonsolin could hit triple digits, but now, he seldom hits 95 MPH. In his 16-1 season, he was most effective at 94 MPH. The Dodgers will have the offseason to figure this out, but the human arm is only so good. Dial it back a touch!
So, unless Yamamoto wants to be considered a first-year bust and most overrated FA signing of the decade, he needs to show up and show out Friday night. This is his game. I’m not sure if believe but he has the chance.
Hoping for a few good innings from Yamamoto. I would rather go with the bullpen guys after that rather than hope that Knack and Flaherty can do it. Can bullpen and hitters do it 2 games in a row???? That’s why we will be watching
I sure feel a lot better today than I did yesterday at this time. Does anybody know what the Dodgers record is this year in planned bullpen games? Seems like they’ve done pretty well. Maybe it’s just my 76 y/o memory.
In their eight bullpen games in the regular season — straight bullpen games, as opposed to games in which they deployed an opener before a starting pitcher — the Dodgers were 5-3 with a 2.92 earned-run average.
Hopefully it was nerves for Yamamoto similar to the season opener. He will have a short leash for sure. I was very impressed last night with most of the hitters. Muncy had 1 hit but just missed a homerun. As doc said during the game he needs to control the strike zone. That’s going to be the key tomorrow. Making Darvish throw strikes. Does anyone think Tatis Jr exaggerated a little bit when Kopech’s pitch got away from him to try to fire up the crowd?
It seemed pitch was 3 feet over his head
Tatis Jr is a drama queen plain and simple, and heavy emphasis on “queen”.
Hope the Dodger fans are ready for Friday and give the team a lift.
The last time Yu threw in a game this big at Dodger stadium was in 2017, we all know how that went. Hopefully he sees the same results….
Concerning the 2025 pitchers, how about Shogun? Keep the pitching chaos going. Why not. All hands on deck! I can’t say it enough……what a great time to be a Dodger fan!
Book em
Great win. Eerily reminiscent of the ‘51 forced playoffs. Dodgers came back in a must win in game 2 with a 10-0 drubbing of the gnats.. In the deciding third game the Dodger s we’re comfortably ahead 4-2 in the ninth. I was listening to the game in my high school and had to leave at that point to catch my school bus. I was sitting in the bus when my giant fan friend came running out to tell me the gnats had won, in the shot heard round the world . I was shattered, having been an ardent fan since the exciting’47 series, and have been a gnat hater for 73 years! I have often been critical of Doc’s pitching choices, but last night he played them like a Stratavarias, everyone doing their job, leaving Pathetic Park an ugly (and quiet) sea of yellow. We have the mo now!
Doc is a genius when players perform. He’s an idiot when they don’t!
EXACTLY! Why so many supposed “fans” can’t see that is crazy. GO GO GO DODGERS!
He knows exactly when to put them in and when to pull them out better than anyone. When the choice doesn’t work it’s not because of anything he has done. It’s because a given player does or DOES NOT execute
I had a similar experience in ’62 where my best friend, a Giant fan, came over to my house to “rub it in”. I had stayed home from school that day and he arrived at the door to deliver my homework which was bad enough. For years after that he would say “4-2. top of the ninth…!” and it would drive me crazy. Thankfully, in ’63 we won it all.
What if we need to get an out in the 9th Friday to secure the win and the series…..Shohei in the bullpen?
It scares me… and I am fearless!
How electric would it be there?
K’s Manny to send us to the NLCS???
No. I’m hesitant to say it but no. Dance with who “brung ‘ya”.
(Though I admit the shock value alone of suddenly having to face him would be exciting to watch and possibly VERY intimidating to the batter!)
We know our Bullpen works, now if we can get our starters to keep the game from getting out of hand.
I liked how our hitters attacked Cease early in the count. Not sure that strategy works against Darvish.
Good to see Kike play, he’s not afraid of the bright lights.
https://x.com/billplunkettocr/status/1844125196271432166
HARD to argue with these ^^^ results from the bullpen. When they win they’ll be geniuses. If they lose the morons will pitch a fit over the use of stats.
Looks like a sound strategy. Hmmm.
It’s wild how the game is changing and I still love it.
Book em
Kopech being wild can actually help when he spots his off-speed stuff away. Hitters can’t get too comfortable and dive over the plate when they have to worry about an errant 100 mph fastball.
Great point.
Mark, Any idea whether Yoshi WAS or was not tipping pitches?
Also, IF they start him doesn’t it work in the Dodgers’ favor to SAY he tipped pitches? Then the Madres would be studying hard to see what has changed? Seems strategically advantageous to have the opposition questioning ANYthing. Slight moments of hesitations can make a big difference.
You may be right. I have no Clue right now
Thank you, Mark and others for my question about success in straight-planned BP games. I’d hate to think that’s the trend for the future. Dave seems to be pretty good at it.
If the Dodgers are eliminated Roberts will not be fired, why won’t it happen? because the office is smart and knows that they are a hospital for the injuries and that in no way is Roberts responsible. If the team was with all its best players and was eliminated then the situation would be evaluated differently. Fortunately the brain is Freidman and his boys and it is not K. Rosenthal
Amen. Short of pinch hitting Kershaw for Ohtani tomorrow night, firing Roberts would be unwarranted and unfair. I think he has done his best job of managing these last two years.
I’ve probably watched the highlight video of Kopech buzzing Tatis’ tower 50 times today. That was so glorious and gratifying.
Let’s Go Dodgers! Nine more wins to go!
Many years ago the Dodgers were knocked out of the playoffs. The interwebs were banging the drums for Roberts to be fired. The Dodgers rewarded him with a contract extension. Roberts has a better chance of being hit by lightning than being fired.
Probably
Well either Doc is a genious or Doc is a genious and is serving crow to those who say different. San Diego blocking ticket sales to Dodgers fans. Now there’s a tell and it’s obviously a silly tell. San Diego threw it now they can chew it.
2020 was Roberts masterpiece. This year’s team is held together with bubble gum and rubber bands. So far, the second best year of Robert’s career.
Some may like this post most probably won’t. Back in the old days when I was a high school basketball coach, we would have a team on the run. About once a season I’d break out my line that the players didn’t know rather to laugh or cry. “The turds are in the stool, the job is almost done. Now all we have to do is flush the turds and be rid of them.
I dont remember saying it. My assistant would tell me after games some of the things I said. I remember very few of them. When my wife would come to our games she liked sitting near the bench to hear what would come out of my mouth.
Anyway what I’m trying to get across, is flush the turds don’t the stool. They stink.
Not real confident the Dodgers are starting Yamamoto. Padres have hit him big time. Hope it’s a short leash. I would have gone with Flaherty,, dude has some dawg in him.
Yamamoto starting is confirmed . They’re going traditional. Don’t blame them. A lot of money was invested in that arm. As usual I am confident the Boys will win tonight.
Book em
Me too Dano, me too!
When you win tonight ill be at game 4 and 5 at Citi field. Never been there, been to the Old Shea (what a dump) so decided to check Citi off the bucket list. Hadnt been to a game all year and only one at the Ravine last year….Im due.
Take. Care. Of. Business. Tonight!
No quarter
Darvish makes claim of calmness but that is script and a big part of that franchise’s smoke and mirrors. If they’re so calm why did they block Dodgers fans ticket sales at Petco. The game is baseball and it ain’t at Petco. Silly Padres.