This is a few days old, but the latest player discrediting the Dodgers championship in 2020 is none other than former teammate Alex Verdugo. His quote: “A 60-game season, it’s still hard to judge to this day. Like yeah, it’s a World Series, right? Yeah, they got a ring. But they didn’t play any games at their home field. They didn’t. There weren’t any fans there. It was 60 games. Anyone could ball out for 60 games. That extra 102 is a big difference. They won it, it’s a true one, for what we call it. But I still call it as I see it; it’s still a 60-gamer.”
Yawn…Here we go again.
I will say this about the 2020 Dodgers. They were every bit as good as this 2022 team. They dominated from start to finish and were, without a doubt, the best team in baseball that year. As fans, we were robbed of seeing more games and of viewing that season in person for the most part, but it was awesome to watch on TV. (*note: I actually flew to Dallas for Game 2 of that Series, one of their losses). What few recognize about 2020 is that it was as awkward a season as there ever has been.
Baseball players are dependent on routine and consistency regarding schedules. If you have success, then you repeat the pattern over and over. It is how hitting streaks are formed, fielding prowess is mastered, and pitching success is prolonged. It is necessary because the game is such a mental exercise for months on end. 2020 was anything but that. Stops and starts, two spring trainings, off-site taxi squads, intra-squad game conditioning, playing before empty stadiums with cardboard cutouts and canned music, and piped-in crowd noise. It was odd and a logistical nightmare. The team that won that year was the team that adjusted and adapted the best to the abnormal conditions.
The Marlins did an excellent job of that, and they had a few Covid outbreaks that stalled their season, forcing them to insert numerous minor leaguers on the big club and play a bunch of doubleheaders. The Dodgers did their best at adjusting, and you can credit Dave Roberts, Andrew Friedman, and their staff for doing that. It was an exhausting season on that front, and that success deserved the just reward of a legitimate championship.
Initially, players were forced to be isolated from their families, which was in and of itself a difficult mental strain on many. Then there was the restriction from leaving hotels and going out. There were teams that strayed from those rules, and they paid the price with covid outbreaks that canceled games and forced them to play a ton of doubleheaders and with shortened rosters of their normal MLB players.
Moronic minds can’t get past the 60-game schedule and ignore the fact that there was no home-field advantage for the best-performing teams in the playoffs that year. Being stuck in a bubble drove most teams crazy, but the Dodgers made the most of it and became closer as a unit. 2020 was a championship for the Dodger families…dads, wives, parents, brothers, sisters, children, et al. Detractors can bash that championship as much as they want, but it was as legit as any ever won because the circumstances that surrounded that season had so many obstacles in the way. For the Dodger family, it probably even had more meaning as they got very close as an organization.
Add to the fact they had to win more postseason games than any team in baseball history (13) with fewer off days. We are talking about the most pressure-packed, mentally taxing games played. Thry were essentially played straight through.
Critics of the championship have an incredible case of sour grapes, with most opining it was a “Mickey Mouse” championship only “after” their team was eliminated. Now, a few years later, it has become a common thread of their conversation when speaking of the Dodgers, much like fans bashing the Astros for their cheating scandal five years after the fact. They can’t get past it. The difference, though, is stark. The Dodgers couldn’t control the circumstances of 2020, while the Astros drove their controversy and will justifiably have to live with the accusations.
At the conclusion of the 2020 World Series on the Fox Postgame show, some poignant points were made that best explained the legitimacy of that World Series.
Kevin Burkhardt: “It’s a team that has been here before. They won eight straight division championships. It took them a few World series to get here. There’s a lot to be said about intestinal fortitude. They kept on getting back on the horse and getting back here, only to find a way to do it.”
Frank Thomas: “You’ve gotta love this team. We all felt this team would eventually win the World Series. They are that good. I mean pitching, defense, hitting, they had it all, and Tampa gave them one heck of a fight to get that trophy. They deserved this. No one is second-guessing here about talking about how the Dodgers won the World Series. We all expected this. This is the first time in the last 20 years that I thought a team that would win a World Series within a 60-day spread, but they did it legitimately. They didn’t let us down at all throughout this process. They were the best team throughout the 60-game sprint and throughout the playoffs.”
Thomas’ comment was brief, but he made a key point. Baseball seasons are a marathon, but 2020 was a “sprint.” The Dodgers were the Carl Lewis of baseball. This year here’s hoping that they are the Frank Shorter of the game.
Dodger bullets in the final couple of games:
- In recent postings on Twitter and other social media platforms, I have seen numerous posts of Dodger fans complaining about the playoff format and the fact that the Dodgers, as the team with the best overall record, will have the toughest road to the World Series. I will admit that the fact that MLB does not re-seed teams after the first round does seem a bit unfair, but the rules are the rules. I think it is safe to assume that the Dodgers will need to defeat the Mets and the Braves to get to the fall classic. That is the case, and they have to roll with the fact that the Braves will have the easier route to the Series. They still must go through L.A.
- It wasn’t too shocking to read from Jon Heyman that Xander Bogaerts’ agent (of course, Scott Boras) has announced that eight teams are interested in signing him. They are St. Louis, Atlanta, Minnesota, Boston, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago Cubs, and the Dodgers.
- This Dodger team has set the all-time MLB record for most wins by multiple runs. So far, they have 93 wins by multiple runs (tied with the ’98 Yankees). With two games remaining. It looks like they may probably eclipse this record. With that said, their record in one-run games isn’t that hot. Is this a reason to be concerned going into the playoffs?
- Kenley Jansen recorded three consecutive saves against the Mets over the weekend in their most important series of the year. Didn’t someone tell the Mets that all they needed to do was get one guy on base, and the “rattling” of Jansen would begin? Those Dodger fans that are complaining that we didn’t re-sign Jansen over this past off-season have incredibly short memories. He has not been a top-notch closer for a few years now, and there is no reason to fear this guy whatsoever. This is strictly my opinion, but Jansen isn’t close to the pitcher that he was in 2015 or 2016, and that cutter isn’t anything close to what it used to be. With the new rules in place next season with the pitch clock and limited throws to bases, Jansen is in trouble.
- Never have I seen so many options available to a manager regarding filling the post-season roster. There are bound to be some disappointed players left off the 26-man roster. I’m just hoping that team chemistry isn’t affected by some bitter player(s) that don’t make the cut. Amongst those left off should be Joey Gallo and Craig Kimbrell.
- Michael Grove has done his part in saving the staff by burning up a lot of late-season innings. Regardless of his subpar ERA and his lackluster statistical line, his value was extremely important to this team. If the Dodgers do win the whole enchilada, it should be remembered that the health of the pitching staff was instrumentally affected by Grove eating up crucial innings that would have otherwise taxed a browbeaten and injured Dodger starting five.
- As of this writing, Freddie Freeman attaining the coveted mark of 200 hits this season, is up in the air. He will definitely have to rally to get here. If he doesn’t, again, no major leaguer will reach 200 hits this year. Jeff McNeil overtook him in the batting crown race by one point. McNeil is really swinging a hot bat, but he’s far short of 200 hits. The last time a National Leaguer had over 200 hits was six seasons ago when Charlie Blackmon had 213 for the Rockies in 2017. Last year the MLB leader in hits was Trea Turner with 196. Remember when Steve Garvey would regularly get his 200 hits? I know analytics frown on Garv, but I can’t help believing that he should be in the Hall of Fame.
- Dave Roberts has done what was expected in getting the boys to rest in these final two weeks. It was no easy feat to keep the team focused on winning, and they have pretty much accomplished that and remained healthy in the process. This recent lapse against Colorado is not a setback. It is a rest, and what do the Dodgers have to play for other than remaining fresh and healthy? They haven’t played risky baseball. Few dives for catches, and no stolen base attempts in crucial times. It is to be expected. Not a concern.
- So much talk has referenced the Dodger’s all-time record of wins. What few seem to notice is that no National League team has accomplished this number of wins in over 110 years. Not the John McGraw Giant teams, not the Gashouse gang Cardinals dynasty, nor the Big Red Machine in the 1970s, or those Atlanta teams in the 90s. What the Dodger teams of the Dave Robert’s era have done may go down in history as the greatest ever in the National League. A title or two is so important to cement that legacy. With two or three WS wins, these Dodgers will be remembered for decades to come
- Clayton Kershaw can silence all the detractors this year with a solid postseason. To this day, there are those that discount his career achievements on lackluster post-season play. Few recognize his masterful performances at times as well. Most notable: games 1 and 7, 2017 WS, and Games 1 and 5, 2020 WS. People seem to forget those and remember WS Game 5 of 2017 when the Astros knew what pitch was coming. Yes, it’s tough to recall some other key post-season losses, but Greg Maddux wasn’t that stellar on the big stage, either.
- I was wrong in my prediction on Trea Turner, Freeman, and Lux hitting over .300. Lux has fallen quite remarkably due to injury. I hope he regains his swing because when he is hot, he can be a significant addition to the Dodgers lineup.
* Well I’ve finally heard it all from Orel. I’ve lived through he description of how he would rough up one seam a micro millimeter to enhance his grip. How the had extra cushioning on the right toe of his sanitary sock; his drag toe off the rubber. How he would pitch to a batter at the exact moment the wave was passing by. But he red lined the Bullshit-o-meter yesterday. He claimed that when he wasn’t feeling quite right with his pitching mechanics, he would go down to the bullpen and throw lefthanded for 20 pitches, to reboot his brain. Piss in my ear and tell me it’s raining Orel. Maybe that will reboot my brain.
* Orel quickly redeemed himself, however, when he said Doc should be Manager of the Year in the NL. I’m all in on that one. The DH has helped him not over-manage and he (and the Wizard) have done a great job navigating through injuries, especially to the starting pitching and using our deep bullpen. Who else would it be? Buck Showalter? Brian Snitker? Both are great but nobody else won 111 games. I think it’s Doc’s year to win that honor and it’s richly deserved.
* What a great final game and broadcast.
* Another fitting tribute and goodbye to Jaime Jarrin. What a classy man.
* What a season. 111 and 51
* I hope Jeff McNeil enjoyed his day off and his batting title over Freddie by 1 point. Ted Williams must be turning over in his grave over that one (without his brain, of course, which is still frozen somewhere)
* ESPN will broadcast all the Wild Card games this fall. They will have 4 announcing teams, obviously. The most interesting to me will be Michael Kay, who I think is great paired with A-Rod, who isn’t. How does he keep getting these gigs?
I certainly glad to get to listen to Joe Davis when Fox starts with the Division Series’. What an improvement over Joe Buck. Now if John Smoltz can learn to let the game breathe a little bit…….
* I get to catch up on recorded movies for a couple of days.
Orel’s bullshit-o-meter is redlining lately. I laugh when he comes up with this stuff. He’s got a little bit of ass-burgers. I know the correct spelling, this one is much funnier!
Recorded movies? Who does this still?
I agree that Doc should get the award this year. He’s not getting in the way of the team as he has in the past. I just hope it doesn’t.
It seems that Jarrin’s sendoff wasn’t quite as grand as Vin’s. Was Jaime wearing a soccer track jacket?
I expect the booth for all the games to be horrible. It will be nice to have Joe in there since everyone else is constantly underselling the Dodgers.
When the Dodgers win it all this year, I’ll get a Dodgers Tattoo signifying the Title, Year, and the historic number of wins.
Probably means he DVR’d it.
Who does that still?
Back in June, Mark published his ‘predictions’ (ok tongue in cheek) of what he thought final OPS for hitters would be. So here it is with final results:
prediction–final
Mookie- 1.000–.873
Trea——-.920–.809
Freddie—.960–.918
CT3——-.800–.677
Smith—–.840–.808
Lux——–.780–.745
Cody——.770–.654
JT———-.790–.788!!!
Max——-.800–.713
Not on list was Trayce ended with .901 on Dodgers
lol – So, he went from predicting 1.000 for Mookie, to trading him for Verdugo mid-season. That’s some funny shit. Pretty close on some. Not bad all in all. Players fluctuate a lot year to year, so if you get within 50 points, I would say good job. He got there on Freddie, Smith, Lux and JT. Just outside that mark on Max. Way too optimistic on Mookie and Trea. Belli wasn’t very good and had extremely bad luck. I’ll go ahead and predict right now that he’ll be over 800 next season.
I don’t want to trade Mookie, but he was once thought by many to be the best player (next to Trout). He is a very good player, but after two straight years of OPS in the .800s after three years of .900 – 1.000, he is no longer a superstar. He is probably out of the Top 10 Best Players.
Shhhhhh, don’t keep saying that. You’re making it more difficult to trade him before the 5/10 rights kick in.
So who are the Top Ten Best Players?
Unless we’re grouping both position players and pitchers here, I’d say Mookie still has a strong case for Top Ten position player.
I understand how Mookie’s batting average is disappointing, but his OPS is much higher than Trea’s. If we use OPS as a metric, then it’s true: Mookie was not a Top Ten MLB performer at .873.
He was 11th.
Perhaps Mookie sacrificed some contact in favor of power. He was the first Dodger since Babe Herman to hit 35 HRs and 40 doubles in a season. In terms of slugging, he was 2nd in the NL to Goldschmidt–and4th in ML, trailing also Judge and Yordan Alvarez.
He did this although he missed about 17 games to injury–and he still tied with Freddie with 117 runs scored, second only to Judge.
Of course the OPS doesn’t factor in the Gold Glove defense and his baserunning abilities. What is that worth?
Consider this another way: If any other Dodger had put up the offensive numbers that Mookie put up, would any of us be expressing disappointment?
He was 0-9. In any other scenario if someone made a series of predictions and he was 0-9 you might question his prognosticating abilities.
But we’re Dodger fans. When it comes to the Dodgers there is built in bias towards favorable Dodger outcomes. That’s the nature of being homers. Ya know. … like the Superfans skit on SNL? “Daaaaaaa Blue!”
Ok, fine. I’ll give him JT. 1-9. He’s batting .111
Speaking of busts – Juan Soto.
What happened to “future HoF” guy?
In 182 ab’s with Madres he hit a robust .236 with 6 hrs. Was hitting .246 with Nats.
I was on the Soto bandwagon.
Max, Cody and CTS screwed me real bad, but I wasn’t that far off.
I could see Xander Bogaerts as a Dodger SS. His defense has been criticized, but it is probably on par with Treas. He could move to 3B in a year or two. Xander had the higher WAR this year (4.9 to 5.4) against Turner.
I’d be shocked if he left Boston.
Devers however….
Lets focus on this year….so who do we want SD or NYM? Id say SD and hope it goes 3 and all 3 games are 15 innings. That work?????
Works for me, but fans always start speculating on what the team will look like next year. I want to see CK come back, get to 3000 K’s and over 200 wins.
I did not think he could do it a year ago… but I have changed my mind. Even if they win the WS, I think he will be back.
I want him back.
2023 Rotation:
1. Urias
2. Kershaw
3. Gonsolin
4. Anderson
5. Stone
6. May – or Closer
You’re funny.
Gavin Stone pitched 121 innings this year. This is the Dodgers. Stone will be slow walked at the beginning of the season in order to make sure they don’t go past 130-140 in the regular season so he’s still somewhat fresh for the post season. He’ll have to do a good portion of those innings in AAA where it can be a controlled environment. Plan on seeing Stone on the MLB roster around the All-Star break unless something goes terribly wrong.
I believe the one position in the minors that they have yet to develop a top tier prospect is SS At least from a hitting standpoint. Amaya is supposed to be very good with a glove, but his hitting is suspect. A lot of free agent options at the position this year. Fans love Trea, but his late season malaise and some of the very easy plays he has blown make one pause.
1. I think Trea Turner will get a contract in the $325-$350 Million Range;
2. I do not think it will be from the LA Dodgers;
3. If Amaya can hit .210, he can bat 9th and play SS;
4. If Belli and Max can put up .800 OPS, the Dodgers will be OK;
5. If Miguel Vargas can be the 2023 NL ROY (and I say he can), then LF is secure; and
6. Leave Gavin Lux at 2B and play him everyday.
2023 Lineup:
1. Betts RF
2. Vargas LF
3. Freeman 1B
4. Smith C
5. Muncy 3B
6. Turner DH
7. Lux 2B
8. Bellinger CF
9. Amaya SS
I agree. If Muncy and Belli step up. However, many people are predicting the two will improve because of the lack of a shift. However, we can’t forget that our pitchers will lose the benefit of the shift as well. So it’s likely to be a wash in terms of runs gained and runs lost in the aggregate. So Muncy and Belli would really really have to step it up to take a chance on Amaya at SS, given he we simply don’t know how his bat will play in the show. I really like the kid. Super nice guy from a hard core Dodger family. But I can’t see the Dodgers taking that risk without adding or upgrading on offense.
I haven’t seen Amaya play that much. The question for Mark is who is his comp on defense? If He’s Caesar Izturis and he can hit 240 with a 700 OPS, I’d put him at SS. If he’s Trea Turner, I go with Lux at SS and Busch at 2B.
I’m not buying the end of the shift will be a wash. There are few players who stubbornly pound the ball into the shift with the consistency of Muncy and Belli and we’re lucky enough to have two of the worst offenders on the same team. Even Gallo isn’t close.
Also, every team plays a rover against Belli in short right field. I hardly ever see the Dodgers use a rover like that. Making the infielders play on the grass is going to make Belli get a ton more hits.
No way that’s the offense next year. Amaya is not going to sniff Dodger stadium ever. Vargas needs more time in AAA.
Looks plausible to me.
I wouldn’t want to overpay Trea the way the Rangers are overpaying Seager. Trea’s an excellent player but he’s not as critical to the Dodgers’ success as Freddie, Mookie and Will.
Amaya has earned a shot. So has Outman. We expect Trayce to be back too, right?
If Lux can regain his first-half mojo, he’d be a great No. 2 hitter. For much of the season his OBP was second only to Freddie for much of the season. I hope Vargas proves he’s worthy. I also hope Outman gets his due: His OKC numbers were nearly as good as Vargas’s, and his defense is far superior.
Getting both Muncy and Belli back to .800 OPS would be sweet. I have more confidence in Max than Belli.
Ok so Mets or SD…who do we match up better with and why?
Who pitches game 3? Anderson, Gonsolin??
Anderson… followed by the Kitchen Sink.
Anderson. No brainer. He’s fully built up and will be on extra rest. Gonsolin will have to pitch a sim game to get to 4 innings before he pitches again. Give him an extra day to save him for game 4. The Mets are much better against righties than lefties. The Padres are neutral.
I want the Padres to win, only so we can send them home. I would love for the Mets to get eliminated in the first round after signing Scherzer for that kind of money.
No pick here till we get the DeGrom update. Minus JDe I’d say Madres will win.
Verdugo got traded for a reason, and that reason was simple, his attitude stunk. Also, the Dodgers felt that he was lackadaisical in his rehab in 19 when he lost time when Pollock returned, then he sustained a supposed back injury, which some said he faked in order to not return and see reduced playing time. He was always cocky, which can be either good or bad depending on the player. He can still develop into an All-Star caliber player, but that is up to him. What he said about the Dodgers 2020 title was nothing more than sour grapes.
I remember the first time I saw Verdugo come out of the locker room in Rancho when my son was waiting for autographs. He immediately reminded me of a character Sacha Baron Cohen created for a BBC show called “Ali G”. The character was a white British rapper. Somehow, Cohen got interviews with incredibly famous people who thought he was a journalist. Only to be asked the dumbest questions on earth. Reminded me of Verdugo instantly. My first impression was correct.
https://twitter.com/chloeevansj/status/1414641454945914884?s=46&t=5VwVWJrIGUhzGitO4lwWhQ
Except Ali G claimed to be black…!!
Bear, I thought that Verdugo was more intelligent and did not know those attitudes of the one you describe, what a pity it seems that he is very resentful of the change. What a way to embitter the guy’s life.
But in the end, the Dodgers came out on top, on the one hand, they discard that negativity and acquire a super player who is a delight to watch play.
Cheers
Jose, I totally get it. The guy was a player I thought had a lot of good things in him. But his demeanor and cockiness in the end just turned me off. I remember well all the stories circulating at the end of 2019. Especially when they could have used his LH bat against the Nat’s in the playoffs. There were plenty of rumors also that he was placed on the IL and was not injured, but the team wanted to get Pollock ready for the playoffs, so he was going to get the bulk of the playing time. Kind of like the attitude Caleb Ferguson had when he went on the IL and claimed he wasn’t hurt.
What could be the cause or excuse for the Dodgers not winning the World Series this year? No more removing Hill early from the game, no more broken ribs from Hanley, no more poor fielding from Puig in right field, no more injury to Muncy in the last game of the season, no more blown saves from Jansen, no more homerun against Kershaw in relief, no more poor fielding from the infield against Mets….
Could it be that Gonsolin can’t go more than 3 innings?
I know that anything can happen, and that’s part of the game, that doesn’t count as an excuse, maybe as a reason
And the most important: No more cheating from Asstros!
Atlanta scares me. Every year they seem to peak for the playoffs, and they’re playing great baseball right now.
Dodger flaws that could be exposed in the playoffs by a good team –
1. Too reliant on the big three of TT, Freddie and Mookie. JT is hitting his stride, but the Dodger fortunes could hinge on the bottom of the order players such as Gallo, Belli, and CT3. As we’ve seen the past week or so, the Dodgers offense slows considerably when the top three aren’t hitting like MVPs, and if one or more of the top three choose the playoffs to go into a funk, that could cause the offense to grind to halt.
2. Too much uncertainty in the bullpen. The Dodgers have lost Treinen, Hudson and Kimbrel has stunk all year. The Dodgers have done a good job of plugging the holes with castoffs, but it hasn’t exactly been lock down consistently, and I would say Atlanta’s bullpen is better right now. It takes just one guy to shit the bed for it all to come crashing down.
3. Depth doesn’t mean as much in the playoffs. Playoff series are won by the stars performing at a star level or role players being heroes. You need to first line to show up. Depth is great over the long sample size of the regular season while beating up on mediocre teams, but the playoffs bring the best teams with the best players. In that scenario, depth does not always match up well against elite.
4. The Trashtros crush left handed pitching. The Dodgers will most likely be starting Urias, Kershaw and Anderson.
“Too much uncertainty in the bullpen. It takes just one guy to shit the bed for it all to come crashing down.”
Yep I’ve been saying that for a long time.
Atlanta is the next best team in the NL. Astros are the next best team overall. The Dodgers are a historic team this season. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different result. Last year, the Braves got really lucky in those first two games, both wins in the bottom of the ninth on the road for us. They’re a very good team, but when you have a 111 win team, you shouldn’t be scared of the others. At least until you get to the 106 wins Astros.
Too reliant on the big three is a nonsense statement. They’ve won plenty of games this year largely because of the bottom of the order. You won’t see Gallo, Belli and CT3 in the same lineup very often, mostly because two of them play the same position. If they decide to platoon everyone, we’re doomed.
Too much uncertainty in the bullpen? Go check the stats. We have the best pen in baseball. 2nd in ERA, 1st in WHIP and 1st in Ave against. They’ve been lights out in every game I watch.
Depth is another nonsense statement. The starting players on this team are top-notch compared to any team in the league. As long as we play our best lineup, we’re fine. Depth was just icing on the cake. We had the 4th most days on the IL this year.
By the time we face the trashstros, May and Gonsolin should be built back up. We can also load up the pen with righties.
One point for the Braves: They have the momentum. They’ve been as good, if not better, than the Dodgers in the second half. Beating DeGrom and Scherzer at the end was impressive. If Strider comes back from injury, they’ll be very tough.
The Dodgers haven’t really been challenged the way the Braves have, simply because they’ve been so dominant. Somebody here suggested, half-jokingly, that the Dodgers wrapped up the division back in May.
Some of the baseball scribes have said they’ve never seen such a talent gap in the majors. The top tier teams are all very, very good–and history shows that wild card teams are capable of getting hot and winning it all.
Dodgers will soon be facing their first real challenge of the season.
I am fearful that chickens will develop lips.
Incredible the amount of negativity for a team that just won 111 games. Wouldn’t it be something if the Dodgers went out and dominated the playoffs this year?
Philjones, love your posts.
Regarding those MLB commercials where Judge hits the bomb, Crawford makes the nice play at short, etc. The one where Vlade Jr. hits his blast. When he’s putting on his Home Run jacket, is that Mark Timmons impersonating a Toronto Blue Jay bench coach?
Matheny fired by the Royals. Entire Reds coaching staff sent packing. Bell will return as the manager. With Mattingly, Larussa and Matheny gone, 3 managerial spots open. Angels gave Nevin a one year deal while they wait to be sold. No doubt Geren will be one of the many candidates for those open skippers jobs.
I have to believe that the Giants are going to make a very strong push for Judge. Hometown boy and all. Correa leaning towards opting out of his Twins deal. Hope that guy never sniffs Dodger blue. I also believe AF has the beginnings of a plan about how he constructs the team for next season. Sorry all of you Gallo haters, Roberts confirmed he will be on the playoff roster.
Gallo will be on the roster–but is he actually deserving?
Outman had a terrific season every which way on every level, but he was denied that “runway” the Dodgers like to talk about.
I’m definitely rooting for the Padres (wash my mouth out with soap) While it’s an emotional rivalry, I think we are in their heads at Dodger Stadium. I know Darvish, Snell, Musgrove and Hader on the back can be tough but everybody is tough or they wouldn’t be here.
I know the Mets had some pitching issues lately but deGrom, Scherzer, Bassitt with Carrasco and Walker look more formidable to me. Diaz is a bitch as a closer. They are extremely right-handed with suits our LHB’s.
I’ll root for the Padres for 3 games hopefully but I think the Mets will win. Just spend that pitching.
Amaya is hitting better as he matures. He hit .264/.870 in AA and .362 the last month. He struggles with RHP but hit .320 versus lefties. At 23, there is still hope here. I want to sigh Trea, despite his struggles down the stretch. I don’t see the tool kit he brings from Swanson or Bogarts who I don’t think are leaving Atl or Boston. Tim Anderson has great skills if the Sox let him go. So, if we sign Trea, Amaya could be a valuable trade piece. If Trea leaves, Amaya is in the picture. I know .264 in AA isn’t the Big Leagues but as mentioned, if hit at all, he gets a big look from me. It’s not like we haven’t play this whole season with 6 guys who are hitting .220 or less. 3 under .200.
Amaya would be a major defensive upgrade over moving Lux there.
ps – I didn’t mention Carlos Correa for reasons obvious to me. If we sign even ex-Asstros I will start watching pickleball instead of MLB.
Maybe Tim Anderson doesn’t cheat, but he’s every bit of a Grade-A jerk that Correa is. No thank you!
I’m rooting for Amaya, South Hills High School, and from El Monte, CA, my hometown.
Jacob Amaya 23 years old split season at AA and AAA
964 Fielding %
3.45 RF/9
Gavin Lux 21 years old split season at AA and AAA
961 Fielding %
3.69 RF/9
Hmmmm Major Defensive Upgrade? I call Shenanigans.
I am rooting for Amaya. I think it would be great for the organization and the fans to have a homeboy at short stop .
RF/9….?
Defensive stats aren’t very reliable. A guy with good range might get penalized for an error while the guy with no range suffers no consequences. We’ve seen enough of Lux to appreciate that his minor-league fielding was overrated.
All of the scouting reports I’m aware of say Amaya is the best fielder in the farm system. I’ve seen a few dazzling highlights that give me hope. Outman is ranked as the best outfielder.
If the Dodgers wind up flopping in the postseason, it’s reasonable to ask whether they really fielded their best possible team.
Mets, Braves, Astros.
Gonna be very very tough.
Tough on them too. Atlanta was 2-4 against LA. They did not play Houston. Mets were 4-3 against the Dodgers, but they have to beat SD first, and Good pitching has been beating the Mets. The title will go through LA one way or the other.
16 pitchers on the active roster right now. Treinen activated from IL. Also on the roster, and most likely to be at the alternate site for emergency’s, Eddys Leonard, Edwin Rios, Jorbit Vivas, James Outman. Jacob Amaya called up and then placed on the 60-day IL. Also called up, Beau Burrows, and Ryan Pepiot.
Something to chat about:
Who are the winners in today’s 4 games?
Indians, Jays, Cards, Pads
Looking forward to a full day of baseball today. Let the games begin.
Why the Dodgers will win the World Series in 2022:
* It’s a team with veterans who know how to win. Of the 100 win seasons in Dodgers franchise history, four have come in the past six seasons.
* We can pitch. We lead the Majors in ERA. The bullpen is loaded with arms, especially LHP. We can mix and match like no other team.
* The lineup can be dangerous and relentless with past MVP’s
* The Dodgers are the best team in baseball and have been all year.
* We stay injury free throughout the playoffs
* We play selfless team baseball by moving runners, timely hitting and solid defense. Make routine plays, routinely.
The Dodgers could lose because:
* The bats can struggle with quality pitching. In our losses we hit .200. The faucet can be wide open but can shut off for stretches.
* The bottom of the order fails to hit and K’s too much.
* Doc makes questionable moves. He’s been good all year but pulls a dead rabbit out of his hat.
* We just run into a hot team in a short series. It’s hard to win the World Series and that’s why there are no repeat winners since 2000.
* Shit happens. They say they all even out but maybe not in a 5 or 7 games series. Luck is in play.
The Dodgers don’t have glaring weaknesses. So the most likely reason they don’t win the World Series has more to do with what another team could do rather than what LA can’t do.
I think we win it all!