Legends in Their Own Minds

Posted By on September 21, 2025

Well, the 800-pound gorilla in the room is Blake Treinen. Some fans question why Dave Roberts keeps rolling him out only to see him get bombed again. Well, all I can tell you is that fans obviously know more than Dave Roberts, Mark Prior, the training staff, and the front office. I’ll give you a hint as to why Dave Roberts keeps rolling him out there, and you choose the right answer:

  1. Dave is trying to tank games so that the Dodgers will not win the NL West. He’d rather get in by Wild Card; or
  2. The staff, including the pitching coaches, think that Treinen is close to being “fixed.”

But, I don’t know… the fans always know more than the manager. That’s why the fans are paid so much and why they are legends in their own minds. I mean, no fan EVER wanted to get rid of Max Muncy, or move Mookie back to RF, or get rid of Conforto, or Kershaw, or OK… cut the bullshit! Most of us have no clue. I think Treinens cord is growing shorter, but if he can get it together, he would be devastating in the playoffs. Nuff said!

Will Smith’s Hairline Fracture

Here is another case where fans think they are so damn smart, but if stupid could fly, they would be jets. “Why didn’t the Dodgers discover Will Smith’s hairline fracture earlier?” Like they are medical experts or some such thing. OK, smart guys, hairline fractures (also called stress fractures or microfractures) are often difficult to detect. Here’s why:

1. Imaging Challenges

  • X-rays: Standard X-rays frequently miss hairline fractures, especially in the first 10–14 days after the injury, because the break is very thin and doesn’t always create a clear gap in the bone.
  • CT scans & MRI: These are much more sensitive. MRI in particular is often the gold standard for detecting stress fractures because it can reveal bone edema (swelling) before the fracture line is even visible, but MRI’s are not given out like candy. An X-Ray is generally the first method.

2. Symptoms vs. Severity

  • Hairline fractures often cause subtle symptoms — localized pain, swelling, or tenderness that gets worse with activity but may improve with rest.
  • Because they don’t always cause obvious deformity or severe pain, they can be mistaken for a sprain, bruise, or muscle strain.

3. Healing Indicators

  • Sometimes the first sign of a hairline fracture on X-ray isn’t the fracture itself, but the new bone formation (callus) that appears as the body begins healing — usually a couple of weeks later.

So, in practice, they can be missed early on unless advanced imaging (like MRI) is used, or unless the patient is re-evaluated after symptoms persist. This is consistent with what the Dodgers just discovered with Will Smith. Either way, he will be back for the playoffs… or he won’t! (P.S. ChatGPT at work)

Emmet Sheehan & Company

I have a sneaking suspicion that Sheehan will be a considerable force in the playoffs, not necessarily as a starter. Also, look out for Brock Stewart and Andrew Heaney. Maybe Kyle Hurt? The Comets got 10 hits on Sunday… and one run! Bobby Miller struck out 2 in his one inning.

Six games to go. Magic Number = 3

This article has 67 Comments

  1. I haven’t seen anyone worry or wonder why the fracture wasn’t seen.

    Is this a conspiracy thing to elevate Rushing?

    Is this an anti-expert silliness?

    1. You can find it at your old stomping grounds.

      Here’s an example: “Not buying the Dodgers’ docs just discovering Smith’s fracture yesterday that he’d already been dealing with 17 days earlier.”

  2. It’s been obvious for a while now that Sheehan would move to the bullpen in the playoffs. He can save us from more appearances of Treinen and Yates.
    Sheehan’s throwing so well, I wonder if he should be starter. He’s out-pitched Glasnow lately. Going with Sheehan would be a pretty bold move, and I don’t expect it to happen. But if this is supposed to be a meritocracy, well…
    One big name was omitted from the candidates for the playoff bullpen: Sasaki.
    He’s got his velocity back, and his talent is unquestioned.
    Instead of relying on Treinen and Yates from the right side, perhaps we’ll see Sheehan and Sasaki.
    And yes, Hurt and Stewart and Henriquez are options. Casparius too.

    1. If the Dodgers are going to use Hurt, Sasaki or Stewart, I would hope that they are used during the next 6 games. Stewart should be back and ideally Yates let go. Sasaki replacing Klein? And the big question, Treinan. I expect he will be used a lot over the next 6 games to see if he’s found it.

  3. Mark,

    Colts at Rams Sunday, do you like their chances?

    I think the Rams win going away…..they are going to be pissed.

      2. I knew the offense was loaded if they could get at least average play from the QB. I think they were winning 8-11 no matter who was QB. I am pleasantly surprised by Jones willingness to throw downfield. He hasn’t made bad plays worse so far. I’m
        not handing out a huge extension until I see a lot more. I’ve made the first two home games.

    2. “…but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes”

      The great Benjamin Franklin, who has also wrong on occasion.

      1. Ben’s Greatest Phrase:

        “In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria”

        Actually, he probably didn’t say it, but it sounds good.

        1. Franklinism#1: Democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well-armed sheep contesting the vote. Franklin got it.

          Sheehan to starting and Saski to the pen
          .

  6. While it’s true i don’t claim to be a baseball genius, i do understand Doc has to use who he has at his disposal. Yesterday , the dodgers spoiled an excellent pitcher performance by Emmit! Now if the offense had been awake, we wouldn’t be having this conversation! A win yesterday would have been huge! Now the dodgers have to go to Arizona and try and win a series. the padres play a brewer team that has only one thing to play for, home field advantage. the dbacks do not fear the dodgers, just the opposite! Then they travel to seattle to play a team that rakes! And by the way, can throw the damn ball as well as the dodgers starters! So yes, yesterdays game wS important! But, as i said earlier, the offense has to share a lot of the blame for yesterday’s loss! …. Just curious, anyone know why Kim hasn’t played any lately? Injury? just curious.

    1. this all sounds great to me, it’s good for the em to be playing playoff caliber teams who are playing for something.

    2. I personally would NOT trust Glasnow as I have stated many times on this site in a Big game against playoff teams. His control is the issue and when things start going wrong, his emotions get the best of him

  9. Someone asked about Kim. If he has a nagging injury, they are not going to disclose it. However, look at his recent stats:
    HY

  10. no more questions your honor!!!! the proof is in! i guess he’s just there for pinch running for the most part?

  11. They will only need 3 starters for the Wild Card round and the rosters revert to 26, so only 13 pitchers. If the 1st 3 starters are Ohtani, Snell, and Yamamoto then I can see Glasnow left off the roster to start Game 1 in the NLDS. Kershaw? Will he pitch out of the ‘pen or start Game 2 of the DS?

    If Sheehan is moved to the bullpen that leaves room for 8 more relievers. If Kershaw is one of them that’s 7.

    Locks – RH
    Sheehan
    Treinen ?
    Henriquez

    Locks LH
    Kershaw ?
    Vesia
    Scott
    Dreyer
    Banda
    Wrobleski

    So do they keep Kirby (the propane torch) Yates, Will Klein, Ben Casperius, or maybe Brock Stewart returns from the IL? Boy do they need RH relievers

  12. So, are the Dodgers going to celebrate once again in the Arizona pool? Aside from last season, I can’t remember the last time they celebrated at home after winning the division title.

  13. So here’s we go! 3 in the desert with the snakes! ohtani goes 5 and then hands it over to the bullpen! Enough said. …. I might be crazy, but i’m seeing little signs that Emmit will be a MAJOR piece in the bullpen. Does major mean closer?? Why not? i think he could easily be the number 3 starter if they so choose. But he may just be the answer to their problems! …. What a crazy year this has been! Toronto looks like they will win the AL east. Can the Guardians pull off one of the greatest comebacks ever and overtake the reeling tigers? Seattle is on the verge of unseating the aaaaaassssstros!!!! The mets have totally collapsed! The brewers have exceeded expectations and dominated the central! the cubs are extremely dangerous! padres? who cares! And the reds. they could be very dangerous in the wildcard! They can run out some dominant starters! the national league is wide open. i think the AL runs through Seattle! Very good lineup and excellent starting pitching. In order to win it all the dodgers need to avoid playing the cubs in the wild card . Which means winning the division! So going back to sunday’s game, they can’t afford to give games away! Should be fun,if not nerve wracking!

    1. I liked your analysis of the teams that will be in the playoffs, but your opinion about the idiots was the best… I totally agree!

  14. In 2023, the Texas Rangers had an ERA of 4.28. That was good for 18th in MLB.

    The starters had an ERA of 3.41 while the relievers had an ERA of 4.77 and blew 33 saves.

    Oh, and they won the World Series.

    This year, the Dodgers have a team ERA of

    The starters have a 3.81 ERA, and the relievers have a 4.28 ERA and have blown 25 saves.

    Overall, the Dodgers have a 4.02 ERA, which is good for #18 in MLB.

    We all know how injuries have impacted this staff.

    I like their chances in the playoffs… a lot!

    It’s not how you start. It’s how you finish.

  15. Houston Mitchell of the Times had an analysis of the Dodgers’ bullpen this year – it has the 6th worst ERA since the Dodgers moved to LA. It’s about middle of the pack for ERA plus. But Blake Treinen has the Dodgers’ last 5 losses.

    The Dodgers’ bullpen has allowed 26% of inherited runners to score including Yates at 42%, Treinen at 40%, Scott at 38%. (the “aces”). They have blown 37% of save opportunities, including 9 for Scott, 4 for Vesia, 3 for Treinen.

    The stars of last year’s bullpen were mostly wiped out by a season where they didn’t have a starting rotation. Treinen, Kopech, Phillips all missed most or all of the season and have been ineffective when they did pitch. I believe that the Dodgers knew that this would be a problem. So they went out and got Yates and Scott, which simply hasn’t worked.

    So who will carry the load this offseason? Certainly not Yates, Scott, or Treinen. Sheehan? Sasaki?

    1. Everything resets to Zero on the 163rd Game.

      The 2023 Texas Rangers Josh Sborz had a 5.50 ERA in the Regular Season in 2023, including a 14.54 ERA in September.

      Then, in the playoffs, he had a 0.75 ERA, allowing 1 ER and 4 hits in 12 IP.

      Go figure.

      I don’t recommend proceeding that way, but it worked then.

  16. Upon further review, the ABS Challenge System has been confirmed for the 2026 MLB season.

    “The Joint Competition Committee voted Tuesday afternoon to bring the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System, powered by T-Mobile, to the big leagues following several years of experimentation in the Minor Leagues and use in MLB Spring Training and the All-Star Game this year.

    The ABS Challenge System runs on a 5G private network from T-Mobile for Business’ Advanced Network Solutions.

    Though MLB has had various iterations of video replay review going back to 2008, this will be the first instance within the championship season at the game’s highest level in which the home-plate umpire’s ball-strike calls will not be ironclad.

    With Hawk-Eye technology running in the background and monitoring the exact location of each pitch, relative to the batter’s zone, players can request a challenge of a ball or strike call they feel the umpire got wrong.

    When a call is challenged, the Hawk-Eye view is then transmitted over a 5G private network from T-Mobile’s Advanced Network Solutions and nearly instantaneously shown to those in attendance via the videoboard and to home viewers via the broadcast. The ball-strike call is then either confirmed or overturned, and the game goes on having only been briefly interrupted.
    Here’s a review of how the ABS Challenge System works and the particulars of the system that will be used in MLB.

    How many challenges does each team receive?
    Each team will start the game with two challenges apiece.

    Do teams get an extra challenge in extra innings?
    If a game goes into extra innings, any team that starts the extra inning out of challenges will get one challenge for the 10th inning. If they exhaust that challenge, they will then get another challenge for the 11th, and so on. If a team has challenges remaining at the start of the 10th inning, they will not get an additional challenge for that inning, though they will for any subsequent inning if they are out of challenges at the start of the inning.

    Will the ABS Challenge System be in use for every MLB game at every ballpark?
    Yes.

    And during the postseason?
    Also, yes.

    Who can issue a challenge?
    The batter, the pitcher or the catcher can challenge an umpire’s call. No one else — no, not even the manager — may do so.

    Challenges must be made immediately after the umpire’s call, without assistance from the dugout or other players.

    How is a challenge issued?
    The player taps his cap or helmet to alert the umpire to his desire to challenge the call.

    How is the call reviewed?
    An animated pitch result graphic is shown to those in attendance via the video board and to home viewers via the broadcast.

    How much time does the review add to the game?
    In 288 games with the ABS Challenge System during Spring Training 2025, there were an average of 4.1 challenges per game, and those challenges took an average of 13.8 seconds.

    Are successful challenges retained?
    Yes. A team only loses its challenge if the umpire’s call is confirmed.

    Because challenges can be lost, it is incumbent upon the player to be judicious about asking for a challenge (i.e., not “wasting” it in a low-leverage spot so that it is available to his team in a high-leverage spot). So in that sense, the ABS Challenge System adds strategy to the sport”.

    1. Each team will have to figure this out. I am guessing that the Bench Coach will give thethumbs up or thumbs down, but some hitters will have a green light (Muncy).

  17. 9:40 PM ET

    Dodgers (88-68)
    Diamondbacks (79-77)

    SP Shohei Ohtani R
    1-1 3.29 ERA
    SP Brandon Pfaadt R
    13-8 5.02 ERA

    Confirmed Lineup
    DH S. Ohtani L
    SS Mookie Betts R
    1B F. Freeman L
    3B Max Muncy L
    RF T. Hernandez R
    LF M. Conforto L
    2B Tommy Edman S
    CF Andy Pages R
    C Ben Rortvedt L

    In Domed Stadium

  24. Jose Luis, por qué culpas a Roberts? El no está lanzando, o a quien habrias puesto a lanzar? Menciona un solo pitcher que haga su trabajo…

    1. Pero Jorge el tipo a demostrando hasta el cansancio que no puede con el encargo que le hace su manager. Disculpa mi frustración.

  25. Está derrota es culpa exclusivamente de Roberts y su necedad de meter a ese pendejo de Scott,( sin dejar pasar ese error de Pagés en ese elevado al central en el octavo ining)

  27. I don’t care what anyone says. This loss is on the offense. If we could score 9-12 runs per game we would be winning 75% of the games

  28. El responsable de esta derrota es Tanner Scott. Si vamos a asignar culpa a alguien mas, deberia ser los que decidieron contratarlo como el cerrador de este equipo.

    Roberts solamente esta usando los jugadores que fueron contratados por el gerente.

  29. “Blake, hold my beer.”
    Or something like that.
    Tanner Scott reminds everyone that he, not Blake, is the go-to guy in the bullpen. Go-to-lose, that is.
    How many blown saves for Scott is that now? Way too many. Surely more than Treinen and Yates combined.
    Just when it seems like the Dodgers might be in good shape for the playoffs, the back end of the bullpen shows that nope, we’re not okay at all!
    But hey, it’s not like AF could have added somebody better than Brock Stewart at the trade deadline… if we don’t count Mason Miller or Jhoan Duran or David Bednar and somebody I must be forgetting.
    Did AF try to land any of these marquee closers?
    Did he perhaps place a call to Anaheim and see what it would take to get Kenley back in Dodger Blue? Kenley, sporting a 2.68 ERA and 0.98 WHIP and .188 BAA, has saved 27 games in 28 chances this season. …And since I looked up Kenley’s stats, I can see that Tanner Scott has 4.75 ERA and has saved 22 games in 31 tries.
    Meanwhile, Treinen’s ERA is 5.55, and he’s recorded on 2 saves in 5 chances.
    Oh wait. Please pardon my impertinence! I read the Book of Moron and know that it is heresy to question the wisdom of AF.
    Suit up, Roki. You are going to be needed.

    1. But you know the “geniuses” with all the inside info and metrics showing that Scott is “better than his outcomes show” and “he is THIS CLOSE” ..,,, same with Conforto. These guys with their Hobo Kelly magic glasses….
      If you get the last part you are old & been around LA for a long time 🙂

  30. Another wasted brilliant performance by our starting pitchers. Right now if the Dodgers don’t figure who can close out games innings 6-9 or maybe 7-9, it will a short post season. Can’t believe what I’m witnessing when the game is on the line. We praise AF for his great trades and roster building, but his signings of this year’s bullpen has been, nothing less than awful! Watch the body language of Yates, Scott and Treinen when they come into the game, they show NO confidence waiting for something bad to happen. Hope we can hang on and win the Division.

  31. Game 1: Ohtani/Sheehan
    Game 2: Snell/Glasnow
    Game 3: Yamamoto/Kershaw

    BP: Vesia, Banda, Dreyer, Sasaki, Casparius, Treinen

    Lets get unconventional……

  32. i’m at a loss for words! we all knew when ohtani came out that there was a 90% chance that the dodgers would lose. Why not let Dryer finish the inning? probably should not have asked that! maybe they can hold on for the division? maybe not. I wouldn’t use scott or trienan again! but. they will.

    1. It will be interesting to see what the BP will be in the playoffs. Certainly it will not be the same as now. Only a few days left to ‘audition’ guys. But I guess Kershaw and Sheehan will be in that role. Will Scott be left off? That would be a great statement

  33. I would NOT have Scott on the roster….he has zero confidence.

    Bring back Benny C at least he has conviction.

    Hell bring Bobby Miller in….

  34. i’ve been asking for 3 weeks, where’s Ben C.? i guess he didn’t blow enough saves!!! lol. not a member of the BSC( blown save club) Seriously. is he hurt? i really don’t understand why he is not there and yates is! i’m just curious.

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