That has been the Dodger’s mentality this year. It was never more apparent than at the end of the game when Blake Treinen was struggling, and Doc brought in Alex Vesia, who threw just one pitch to close out the game. I’m sure that Treinen wanted that save, but here’s what he said about the move:
“In a perfect world you’d like to go finish your inning. It’s not fun being pulled, knowing the pressure’s on you. You want to do your job. But, end of the day, I have full faith when he came in. … He’s been our most lockdown guy all year, consistently. He’s had a phenomenal year and has pitched in huge spots, and what he did tonight is no different.”
–Blake Treinen
It was, and is, the “next man up” mentality! It seems that all year, many Dodger fans were begging for Andrew Friedman and Brandon Gomes to trade for a closer. They wanted David Bednar, Devin Williams, Mason Miller, Emmanuel Clase, and Edwin Diaz, but not anyone named Evan Phillips. Phillips did what he could, Kopech did his part, Blake Treinen returned and shined, and Alex Vesia was nails all season. In the post-season, Blake Treinen has three saves, and Alex Vesia threw one pitch and got a save. The Dodgers had fourteen pitchers with saves this year. The Yankees had ten. All across baseball, there are more teams with multiple closers than just one closer.
Shohei Ohtani, who sustained a left shoulder subluxation, is allegedly doing well, and it is reported that he will play on Monday in Game Three. Just so that you know, a subluxation is a partial dislocation. I once dislocated my right shoulder in a basketball game. There was a nurse at the game, and she put it back in (that hurt more than the dislocation). I was fouled in the act of shooting, and I insisted (stupidly) on shooting the free throws. The first was an “air ball,” but I made the second one. My shoulder has never been the same. I think I was 37 when that happened.
BTW, I played City League Basketball in Indy until I was 42 years old. I was a natural center and played at 6′ 4″ and 240 lbs. but in the end, I was playing against 6′ 9″, 280 lb. youngsters, and they were beating the hell out of me. That’s part of the reason why I am a mere 6′ tall now. My youngest granddaughter stayed overnight and woke me up this morning to make her breakfast. She said, “You are really old, Obi-Wan!” I said, “You are really young, Rey Skywalker.” She said, “I know.”
Juan Soto
I hear that Juan Soto will not be a Dodger, and that may be right, but it’s not a character issue. I hear he’s not a good defensive outfielder, and that is true (the Dodgers would play him in LF), but he does possess a plus arm. Teoscar was not a great outfielder, but he has gotten better. Soto could too. Here’s the long and short of it: Juan Soto (at age 26… and he just turned 26) has a career .953 OPS. His average year (in his early 20s) is 31 doubles, 35 HR, 102 RBI, 133 BB and 120 strikeouts. His average OB% is 421! He is a game-changing generational talent! If he could be had in the $500 Million range, I would do it. He has already said he wants to play with Ohtani.
I am pretty certain that Mookie Betts will be the Dodgers 2B next year. That means Lux will be moved. For who or where… I have no clue. Maybe Milwaukee, along with Knack and Wrobleski for Devin Williams? I am eagerly waiting for tomorrow night’s game. It’s Striker Buehler time. Monday could (likely) determine his future with the Dodgers. Lots of fans are talking about next year, probably out of boredom. I get it. Teoscar Hernandez will be 33 years old this time next year. I would be down with signing him to a 3-year/$80 Million deal. Willy Adames will likely get $150-180 Million over six years and will be 30 years old next year. OTOH, Alex Freeland is looking like he could play the position at a high level, and Miguel Rojas has an option. The Dodgers need a CF and have one on the team (Edman), so I think it’s more likely that the Dodgers sign Teo and stay away from Adames. Still, you never know…
Aging Ungracefully
But I digress! Getting old is a bitch. I fell yesterday (the dog tripped me), and here is the result:
I’ll leave you with this:
When someone feels they have no effective counterargument in a debate, they are more likely to experience frustration and anger. Take a deep breath and look at the big picture. Politics should not be in baseball, but Rob Manfred injected it. That’s all I have to say about it. Feel free to disagree, but history and the truth is not on your side. Consider this:
Great stuff, Mark.
Love your comment on politics. I played town team until I was 57. The last five or six years I may have skipped a season or two. Some people don’t learn that you can’t let old white guys set shoot. We played three on three until I was 60. We had to quit because nobody could get to 11.
I humbly disagree with you about Lux. I think we keep him and we are glad we did. But I also wanted to keep Miguel Vargas, so there is that.
Profound and correct sir.
Book em
I would be very surprised if the Yankees let Soto get away. I know that Cohen has the biggest checkbook and that the Mets probably make a play. Giants too. He’s from the Dominican and I have heard that he prefers the east coast.
Lux’ status is very interesting. You may well be right. But he’s a cost-controlled bat and a LHH infielder. A real conundrum. I personally think that the Dodgers are best with Betts in RF, but I know that he prefers the INF.
Lots of interesting roster decisions coming up. Do they exercise the team options and keep Rojas and Barnes? (probably yes)
Players that are free agents next season – Teoscar and Kike Hernandez, Joe Kelly, Blake Treinen, Daniel Hudson, Jack Flaherty, Kevin Kiermeier. Kiermeier is retiring – who do they keep from among the others?
Treinen, Kike, & Teo.
Hudson?
Kelly- $3M
I remember the 1978 world series when the Dodgers had a 2-0 lead vs the Yankees, only to lose the next four games. A total melt down! I hope history doesn’t repeat itself!
It won’t
IMO we were very lucky last night with Treinan in the ninth. He was gassed after 22 pitches Friday and then he totaled 33 Saturday. When he is not gassed he is so nasty and our best option without Philips to close a game, but he was grooving some curves, we were lucky no one hit one. I was hoping for Vesia to pitch to the two left handed hitters, Chisolm and Rizzo, but they left Treinan in to get them both out? Chisolm hit one and Rizzo moved into one, bases loaded. So all they needed was a single and the game is tied, or over. Treinan then grooved two inside curves to Volpe and he fouled them off, whew. Treinan then makes a great pitch, strike out, 2 outs. Then, Roberts brings in Vesia to pitch to lefty Wells, but they used righty Jose Trevino to pinch hit. One pitch to Trevino, middle up, and Treveno just missed a game winning double or homer. We win, up 2 – 0. Easily could have been 1 – 1. Easily could have been 0 – 2. We were so lucky, but I would rather “be lucky than good”. We were both.
Yes it the narrow difference between being a genius manager and not. If Volpe gets a hit and we lose the game, I think people would be saying we need to fire Roberts before game 3!
Of course in the 1981 world series the exact opposite happened: the Yankees were up 2-0 against the Dodgers only to lose the next four games! How’s that for synch?
Unfortunately the aging ungracefully has not been monopolized by you:)
That is a big dog that you supposedly tripped over, are you sure he was at fault?
The last photo you showed of him, he was sleeping in the middle of the floor – just saying.
Mixed thoughts on 2nd between Mookie and Lux.
I have always been rooting for Lux, but while he had a great 2nd half, he hasn’t looked that good lately – he seems to have regressed to pounding the ball into the ground for an easy out.
I definitely like the thought of Soto in left as he is on a HOF track with his current career stats.
Isn’t Lux fighting off his latest injury?
That looks like a nasty fall Mark. Hope all is good!
In terms of Soto: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/10/dodgers-expected-to-be-in-on-juan-sotos-free-agent-market.html
It’s all good!
Why do some let the “what if’s” become a worry? Yes it became tense and yes should Vesia have been brought in sooner?? And yes that last guy could have hit a game winner, but he didn’t and we are up 2-0! Chill and enjoy all of it. It is a game and what a year it has been!!!
Don’t give ’em any hope. Jump on ’em early. Be ready for Casparius, Honeywell or Knack for a couple innings, Graterol & Hudson late. Put their backs against the wall tomorrow night.
Love it!!!