When I saw this, I immediately knew the game today wasn’t going to be too big for the Dodgers. Dave Roberts is doing his best to keep them loose, and I think it is working. Watch as Doc “attempts” to race Hyeseong Kim around the bases (with a head start):
Little things like this can create bonds and feelings among the people who play this game. The team appears loose, and they know it’s win-or-go-home. They are putting the saddle on Yamamoto, who has delivered this entire postseason… does he have one more great outing left? Does Mookie have something left? Can Freddie, Shohei, Max, and Teo rise to the occasion? This is why they play the game.
It will be disappointing if the Dodgers lose, but it’s still the best time in history to be a Dodger fan. I have a sneaking feeling they are not done… because I still believe in magic!
Listen to this song sometime. I think it is incredible.
Looking forward to game 7
HEART OF A CHAMPION on display tonight.
ALL IN ALL THE DAMM TIME
The Dodgers were down 3-1 to the Braves in the the 2020 NLCS and went on to win. Last year 2-1 to a solid Padre team in the NLDS and went on to win. They were sleepwalking the last 2 games put themselves in a big hole, but if anyone can do it. It’s this team. They are a strong willed veteran group that knows how to win in big moments. I know they won’t do it but this would be my lineup tonite.
ROJAS 2B
FREDDIE 1B
SHOHEI DH
MAX 3B
TEO RF
WILL C
MOOKIE SS
KIKI CF
CALL LF
I’m fine with Roberts and his advisors tinkering with the lineup. But I wish he started earlier.
Months ago, when Mookie was first struggling, a lot of people suggested he be moved down in the lineup. There was also an extended stretch in which Pages was outhitting Teo… so why not flop them in the lineup?
And Will Smith, with his OBP, always seemed like he could be a No.2 hitter.
Anyway, here’s my proposed lineup:
Shohei DH
Smith C
Freddie 1B
Mookie SS
Max 3B
Teoscar LF
Kike CF
Pages RF
Kim 2B
Yes, I’m giving Pages a chance to redeem himself. And I want to see Kim’s spark in the lineup. Roberts, I think, has done the team a disservice by not giving Kim more opportunities. And why wasn’t Teo moved to LF months ago?
I think that at this point in his career, Pages is a better CFer than Kiki.
Agree with your points Duke.
Pages has a cannon for an arm and Kim was a GG in Korea at SS and 2B, plus s pretty good hitter. Because he came cheap, do you treat him with less respect? Plus having Edmon on the bench gives Doc a switch hitting pinch hitter, limiting the Jays pitching options.
Gus – I’m with you. Rojas should’ve played before now instead of Edman who is struggling badly. Rojas has a different mentality and approach, just trying to get on base. Call as well for the same reason. Forget Pages for now.
We can still win this. Pressure suddenly on the Jays. Always hard to get over the line.
A good start is essential.
BELIEVE
Love love love the song. Thanks for sharing
I had always assumed that the 1994 song Lightning Crashes by the group “Live” was an original. Interesting!
That makes two of us.
Its an original by LIVE no idea who that other group is
it’s been a crazy 2025 in LA! injuries, slumps, slow deadline, surprises, you name it! And i’m not convinced it ends tonight! No matter what, we’re all Dodger fans. The winter meetings will be here before we know it. Free agency, trades, cutting ties with some. Tomorrow night it ends 2025. Sad but true. i believe the core will be back and healthy next year. the bullpen should get back to being in the top 5 of baseball. The starters? loaded! The outfield is where i believe we will see dramatic changes. Call me crazy, but i believe there will be 2 new outfielders starting in Dodger stadium next year. I believe Tommy Edman goes back to a utility role, as will Kim. Alex Call i believe is signed for next season, so i say he stays. nice bench piece. Dalton Rushing? i have no clue! Ben R. ? again no clue. Kike? gone in my opinion. Rojas ? probably back for his last season, then a coaching job with the dodgers. They need to begin getting younger. Max ? probably back for 1 more year. Where does Freeland fit in? i guess it’s possible Rojas doesn’t come back and Alex takes his spot. lot of possibilities! But for the next 2 days, it’s time for DODGERS baseball!!! A little help from you Vin! please!!
Yes, a lot of possibilities.
Rojas says he plans to play one more season–and he’s been so clutch I expect the Dodgers to bring him back. (The Dodgers do love veterans–until they don’t, as Barnes and Taylor found out.) Alex Freeland had some nice moments in the majors, but didn’t really prove he belonged. I expect him to be back at OKC to raise his game and be ready with the first injury to an infielder.
Rortvedt is a revelation. Who saw this coming? To me, the Dodgers seemed to like Rushing as a backup catcher, but they love Rortvedt for his defense and the way he works with pitchers.
Rushing could be a big trade chip that could be paired with one of their many OF prospects and promising pitcher. But who should they target?
8:00 PM ET FOX
Dodgers (93-69) WS (2-3)
Blue Jays (94-68) WS (3-2)
SP Y. Yamamoto R
12-8 2.49 ERA
SP Kevin Gausman R
10-11 3.59 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
C Will Smith R
1B F. Freeman L
SS Mookie Betts R
RF T. Hernandez R
3B Max Muncy L
LF E. Hernandez R
CF Tommy Edman S
2B Miguel Rojas R
In Domed Stadium
I like this lineup!!
Road field advantage! Oh yeah!
First of all, I want to give major kudos to all the folks in the front office, all the folks in scouting , all the coaches and all the players. The two best teams in baseball will fight it out in the last game in 2025. Whether it’s tonight or tomorrow. This is no crapshoot. Both teams are nails. Just being a Dodger fan during one of the greatest runs in baseball history during the twilight of my life, is thrilling, to say the least. I can’t believe we are on the cusp of two championships in a row.
Just beautiful! I wish Vinnie were here to see this. Last but not least, just win baby!
IT’S TIME FOR DODGER BASEBALL!!!
Book em
So hitters are going to have to find a way to put ball in play. I saw where Freddie says we are getting away from running up the pitch counts on SP. Well not so easy when they have guys who can throw strikes. once down 0-1, or 0-2, hard to keep to that plan. This is it. Yamo can’t win the game
The Blue Jays out-hit the Dodgers…. but the Dodgers got hits at the right time.
Tomorrow shapes up as an epic:
Shohei vs. Scherzer…. and probably every pitcher except Yamamoto and Gausman will be available in relief.
Which might be necessary, because we could wind up with another marathon…
So. Not seeing much change in hitting strategy yet. 2 innings
Yay
Teoscar didn’t get a single strike and managed to strike out.
reasonably decent World Series.
another dull ending
A favorite moment from watching the highlight came when the announcer described a ball hit by Shohei as a “pop up”…. and then had to correct himself as the ball soared to the wall for a double.
maybe teo is saving his heroics for game 7!!! doc was manager of the year tonight!!
Ohtani, Glasnow and Snell in the 9th. Hopefully the offense explodes for 4 runs tomorrow night.
I gotta admit the Ohtani Rule is kinda lame.
In this case, the rule keeps the Dodgers from overthinking their game plan for game 7. Starting Ohtani regardless of the rule makes too much sense
I can breathe again.
Keekay to Rojas ftw
Helluva win….
Obviously Roberts saw my lineup suggestion and put Mookie in the cleanup spot. Brilliant. But he wisely rejected my suggestion to start Kim ahead of Rojas.
While I grouse plenty about trades that never got made, AF’s decision a few winters back to deal prospect Jacob Amaya for aging Miguel Rojas just keeps paying dividends. Miggy Ro is so clutch.
Just saw a fun stat: Roberts just passed Bochy in the arcane stat of “postseason wins facing elimination.” It’s now 14 for Bochy.
And now the Dodgers have a shot an epic repeat…. with Shohei batting lead-off and later taking the mound.
Oops…. 14 “postseason wins facing elimination” for Roberts, to 13 for Bochy.
Current Dodgers who could be Hall of Famers:
So when the players perform, the Manager is a ‘genius’.
Roberts genius moves from yesterday:
1. Not sending out a gassed Yamo to try to get 1 or 2 more outs in 7th inning
2. NOT sending out Treinen, Banda or Henriquez to pitch(hopefully they are done for the year)
3. Sending out Sasaki to get last 6 outs.
4. removing Sasaki when it was clear he wasn’t getting it done
5. Not saving Glasnow for a game 7 which might never have come.
6. Having Kike, Rojas, Dean in to make headsup plays.
With all of that we just squeaked by.
Hoping for a great finmish tonite