Momentum, Talent and Depth

Posted By on October 9, 2022

And all the other nonsense you’ll hear before we play our first postseason game…

Momentum is defined as Mass X Velocity.  In this case, the mass is the longest lineup and the deepest pitching staff in the game.  Velocity is the 111 wins in a season.  No one has more momentum than the Dodgers.

And so it begins.  As a Dodgers fan, it really irks me the negativity of the National Media toward our favorite team and we’ll have more of that from the Likes of Chris Russo, John Smoltz, and Harold Reynolds in the coming days before we play our first series.  Instead of all the National Broadcast types coming together to celebrate such a historic season, we get “The Dodgers are overrated and the Braves are the best team in the NL” out of the mouth of Harold Reynolds who might as well be Kurt Bevacqua. A big mouth that couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a “F$#&ing Boat!”.

Let me start off by saying that Harold Reynolds is a chump and a loser.  He’s a chump for the comment he made without backing it up with facts.  He’s a big mouth, do-nothing, participation trophy loser of a ballplayer.  But, like many these days, he fails upwards. 

He does broadcasting for a living, even though he doesn’t speak eloquently, much less effectively or even competently.  As a player, he somehow won a couple of all-star appearances because the Mariners were so bad they didn’t have anyone else to send on a team that needed a minimum of one representative. He somehow won three Gold Gloves while committing 17, 19, and 18 errors.  (Gavin has nine errors this year, and he has the yips!)  He stole 35 bases one year, his second-highest total in his career, and was caught 29 times that same season!  He played parts of 8 seasons before finally having a winning season in 1991, finishing in 5th place with 83 wins and 79 losses. He spent just one other year on a winning team (85-win 1993 Orioles) and never played in a single postseason game. 

Excuse me, Harold, but you’re hardly an expert on good teams and/or winning.

Harold Reynold is one of those guys who just says stuff.  He comes up with a narrative with little thought or analysis put into a problem or situation to come to a reasonable conclusion based on logic or fact.  We get a lot of that these days, and there are plenty of examples right here at the home of LADodgerTalk.

One of my personal favorites is the notion of Gavin Lux being a bad fielder.  Yes, he’s had some problems throwing, but labeling him with the “Yips” is beyond an exaggeration.  It’s slanderous.  To say we’ve seen enough of him at shortstop to know he can’t play there or has failed more than once is equally ridiculous. 

Gavin Lux has played 502.1 career innings at Short Stop so far in his career, just a little more than a 1/3rd of a full season, and owns a .968 fielding percentage at the position. All the while doing it as one of the youngest shortstops in the league with a DRS of 1 on that total while being shuffled in and out of the second base and the outfield while doing it.  Yet Trea Turner, basically a lifetime shortstop with 1386 innings of nothing but Shortstop this year and a veteran at the position, has the same DRS in almost three times as many innings.  His 969 fielding percentage is just 001 points higher.  Somehow, everyone thinks Trea is a great defender, or at least “Above Average,” yet the same people say we have seen enough of Lux.  This is a false narrative.  I don’t know who started it.  I remember AC constantly bashing Lux because he thought the Dodgers should draft Bichette.  Yes, that same Bo Bichette that has 23 errors at SS this year and has a -16 DRS.  That’s funny!

Moving on to the Braves.  Somehow, the Braves are more “Battle Tested” and have momentum on their side, making them scary.  So, how are they battle-tested?  The Dodgers would be in the midst of a Dynasty if it were not for some postseason shortcomings.  Every team plays their best and puts their best lineup on the field when they play us.  They don’t rest their regulars when they see us on the schedule. 

This year, the Dodgers are 50-27 against >.500 teams.  The Braves are 40-37.  Does that look “Battle Tested” to you?  Yes, the Braves recently swept a struggling Mets team with aging pitchers looking a little gassed and an injured Starling Marte.  But, at the beginning of August, they lost 4 of 5 to the same Mets team and finished the season 10-9 against them.  That is hardly any kind of dominance.  The rest of their division is pretty bad, with the absolute worst team in the NL, the Nationals, with 107 losses! And don’t forget about the 93 loss Marlins.  Conversely, our worst teams had 94 and 88 losses.  In all, our division notched 423 wins as a whole, while the East tallied 413 wins and the pitiful NL Central had just 377.  So tell me, who’s battle-tested?

And what about momentum?  Since September 1st the Braves have won 21 games.  How many games do you think the Dodgers won during the same timespan while clinching early and having nothing to play for?  If you guessed 21 games, you would be right.  So much for momentum. The Dodgers were on cruise control, and the Braves had to battle for the Division title, and yet their win totals were the same during the stretch run. The Braves having momentum is a lazy boast without actually doing the homework.

As for our poor closer-less bullpen?  A worry for some for an unknown reason.  The Dodgers set team records for most pitchers recording a save (12) and most pitchers recording more than one save (6).  I told you this bullpen would be historic if healthy.  They weren’t healthy, yet they were historic anyways, even after losing Treinen and Hudson for most of the year.  They currently hold the second-best ERA, best WHIP, and best Average Against.  The pitching staff as a whole is so good they can take their top 13 ERA leaders and have NO ONE with an ERA above 3.10!!!  That would include a full five-man rotation and seven relievers that have had saves this season.  If you were to include Andre Jackson into that mix, the highest ERA on the staff would be 2.84.

The Dodgers scored 40 more runs than the next-best offense and still managed to give up five fewer runs than the next-best pitching staff.  They lead the MLB in both of these categories.  Their run differential is almost 100 runs (94, to be exact), better than the next team.  But, “The Dodgers are too dependent on their top three, and it’s stars, not the depth that’s needed for the Postseason.”?  This is an opinionated boast as I’ve ever seen.  If we’re smart enough to play our best performers, our lineup is better and much more dynamic than any other team. Just look at these numbers!

When Muncy and Bellinger are the two worst hitters on your team, you know you’re stacked!

No one had heard of Rosario before last season, and no one had heard of Arozarena the year before.  It takes a couple of guys to get hot and others to play a role.  The Nats got that in 2018 when Adam Eaton and Trea Turner set the table for Soto and Rendon.  In 2020 it was the Mookie and Seager show and was the only good postseason Seager had during our current run of success.  There are a lot of ways to get the job done.  Generalizations are just observations without the fortitude to check them with facts.

There are no perfect teams.  That’s true in any team sport.  But, this team is as close as a team has been to perfect for maybe 100 years.  You just don’t win 111 by accident.  If you honestly think this team isn’t the best in the league this year, you’re not too sharp, Harold Reynolds and the rest of you!

This article has 49 Comments

  1. I like Chris Russo and Harold Reynolds but that ain’t saying they’re right with their predictions very often. And they are certainly wrong when it comes to the Dodgers. They are outsiders where Dodgers are the most loved by their fans and Dodgers have the most fans. That’s also the reason Dodgers are one of the most hated. Looking at these wildcard teams play for a tomorrow has the look of NO SWEAT! We have all seen games where the Dodgers offense has looked flat but usually when push comes to shove the Dodgers are at the ready for the call. Anything could happen but the likeliest outcome will be a 2022 victory for LA. Dodgers aren’t simply better, they are far better than the next contender. It ain’t the Braves and it ain’t the Mets or the Pads or the Phillies and it ain’t any AL team that stands with the Dodgers. Dodgers will answer the call. Watching the postseason pitching so far doesn’t seem vary threatening All of it looked weak to any LA hitters.

    1. Betting odds favor the Dodgers to win the World Series above all other teams. I still think we’ll be facing the Yanks in the final matchup for 2022.

      1. Yanks are a good team, but their pitching is not nearly as good as Houston. I believe the Astros will win the ALCS barring some huge meltdown by their staff. They do not give up a lot of homers, and the Yankees live and die by the long ball. Also, Matt Carpenter is the second best hitter on the Yankees by average. Their power scares people, but they are not a bunch of very good hitters. Of the teams that could possibly be in the World Series, only the Padres, Guardians and Phillies and Mets have less homers than the Dodgers. Astros, Yankees, and Braves have out homered LA>

  2. Great stuff BP. Reynolds was not the only broadcasting analyst to dis LA. Pleasac, another loser, also dissed LA> None of them pick the Dodgers to even advance to the World Series. Mets bounced back to win, and did it convincingly, but it was deGrom who got them there. Nola shut down the Cardinals. Padres had the sacks loaded down 7-3 with 2 outs in the 9th. Musgrove-Bassitt tomorrow. Dodgers will submit their roster Tuesday.

  3. It’s good that the Dodgers aren’t getting respect from the pundits. Doesn’t bother me in the least.
    Critics give the Dodgers someone to prove wrong. A little extra motivation can help.

  4. Homeruns are the solution to winning in the post season. Hopes are that the Dodgers have their power game on. Runs come at a premium against the better pitching staffs at this level .

  5. 10/07/22 Los Angeles Dodgers activated RHP Dustin May from the 15-day injured list.
    10/07/22 Los Angeles Dodgers recalled LHP Justin Bruihl from Oklahoma City Dodgers.

  6. I’m a little surprised that only one series will go 3 games. I’m pretty amazed that the Cardinals rolled over on the Phillies, who really didn’t go out and take control to grab that final Wild Card winning just 4 of their last 10.

    Just a couple of weeks ago, Hunter Pence was so excited about the Cardinals and the team formerly known as the Indians. At least the Indians delivered even though yesterday’s game seemed like a game that nobody wanted to win. The Indians managed to score just 3 runs across their two games and the Rays’ offense is pitiful. Those games were like watching paint dry.

    I’m glad to see Seattle take care of the Blue Jays. Good pitching trumped good hitting in this series. Castillo really turned it up a notch in the postseason and held a good-hitting Jays team to nothing. The Jays offense turned on against Robby Ray, but the pitching melted down and coughed up a hairball to the tune of a 7 run lead. Wow, that was really embarrassing.

    Now, the only thing left to decide is whether the Padres or the Mets will step it up so they can play the Dodgers.

  7. B&P: We’ve certainly had our disagreement re Doc. I do have to say thanks for giving him some credit the other day. What you posted today was really well written and fully supported how incredibly special this year has been. I fully agree with all you said in that post but I have to admit there is still that sense of nervousness about the next (hopefully) 3 series.

    We’ve all watched too much craziness and uncertainty in the post season which unfortunately leads to anxiety. However anxious I will be, I am going to enjoy the ride and unlike some others no outcome will ever make me think this season was a bust. 111 wins is just too remarkable.

    Thank you for what you do on this site.

  8. With games Tuesday scheduled in New York, Atlanta, Houston, and LA:

    my guess is the Atlanta game is at 10am, Houston at 1pm, NY at 4pm, and LA at 7pm for game times

  9. B&P, what you wrote above was your all time best! I agreed with everything you wrote. I. mean. everything. My dislike for Harold Reynolds has been ongoing for years. The senseless crap that comes out of his mouth it’s a wonder he continues to keep his job. You can be sure that the so called experts will laugh and carry on with a “we told you so” smugness if the Dodgers don’t win the WS. But, when the Dodgers win the championship it will be “well, they should have with the season they had”. The national media gives no respect at all for what this team accomplished this year. You used stats and facts. They used feeble, mindless projections. It’s the only way they could have come to the conclusions that they expressed.

    Anxious to watch the Padres and Mets this afternoon. The performance by Snell was right on line with most of his outings. About 80-95 pitches in 4-5 innings. Toronto has to be sick that they lost an 8-1 lead and the series to Seattle. Definitely a surprise that St Louis fell to the Phillies so easily. The Cards manager looked lost during critical moments of the games. I was happy to see Cleveland advance, but damn that was a hard game to watch. Between the two teams I believe the strikeout rate was about 40%. The three outcome rate (k, bb, hr) was 47%.

    Looking forward to seeing who’s in and who’s out for the first playoff series for the Dodgers. And, how the front office is setting up the pitching rotation. With the Scherzer situation, I have no preference to who the Dodgers play on Tuesday. Or for the rest of the playoffs despite what Harold has to bloviate.

    Bear, I really enjoyed your write up on Orel yesterday. You have really become quite a storyteller. I appreciate your knowledge, time, and effort you use to make your articles interesting and enjoyable to read. The Athletic is missing out on some terrific talent!
    Carry on.

  12. I agree and calling someone or some team ‘overrated’ is well— overrated. What does that even mean.? Its easy to pick against one team out of twelve. The odds are in your favor to be correct. Just a lot of babble.

  13. B & P, I agree with just about everything… except Gavin Lux.

    Trea Turner is not a great defensive SS. Truth be told: He’s Corey Seager with slightly more range.

    Truth be told: Gavin Lux has had the “yips” – mostly as a SS. We saw it slightly at 2B on a couple of occasions. It’s not because he made an error. It’s that sheer terror, deer-in-the-headlights look that he gets on occasion. Keep him at 2B where it will not be a huge factor.

    The “Yips” are hard to describe, but I know them when I see them… and so does Phil Jones. I do not think Andrew Friedman will ever consider Lux a SS. My opinion!

  14. Great read B. Not gonna ease my usual Post Season stresses tho lol.

    Having seen a bit of the ALWC action, I cannot see beyond the Astros. They look at a different level, and may not be too extended by the time they reach the WS.

    Can’t make up my mind who I wanna win tonight.

    The NL has a tougher look by far. Winning it all from the NL is gonna take some doing.

  15. Hyun-il Choi missed all of the 2022 season with what was initially called “forearm inflammation.” Now he is trying to pitch in the Arizona Fall League and is struggling mightily with a 10.80 ERA. The Dodgers have been very close-lipped about him. He was once thought to be a solid back-of-the-rotation starter… now? Who knows?

    Andy Pages is also struggling in the AFL, as is Ben Harris. It’s early, but it’s getting late.

  18. Fxxx, Harold Reynolds!! Dude has an IQ of 50 on his best days. No secret why MLB hired him despite his firing from ESPN for sexual harassment. Don’t give a shit who wins tonight. Either one is gonna get an ass whoppin’!!!!

    Mark, whatever you do, don’t go to Vegas!! Safe travels.
    VIVA AZUL !!!!

  19. The first time I ever saw Harold Reynolds on TV I thought who the hell is this guy. Then I listened to him mention he was a former player and I thought with what team. Then I listened to him talk and I changed the channel. lol.

  20. Games 1 and 2 times are out:

    If it’s NY, we play 5:35pm Tuesday and 5:07pm Wednesday

    If it’s SD, we play 6:37pm Tuesday and 6:07pm Wednesday

  22. Are some of you seriously in favor of SD? So much is the fear of a couple of Mets pitchers, who cheer for that shitty team? WOW!

    Fortunately, the Dodgers are the best team, the best pitching, the best hitting, at least that’s what I read EVERY DAY… I think I just needed to clarify that those numbers were against all the other teams, with the exception of NYM.

    That explains the fear against that pair….

    1. Personally, after:

      StL in 2013
      StL in 2014
      Mets in 2015
      Cubs in 2016
      Cheating Trash in 2017
      Boston in 2018
      Washington in 2019
      Atl in 2021

      I’m scared of everybody.

  23. Well, the Mets got the only boricua in this series in Sugar Diaz and I will like to pound & kick Max ass!

    So Mets for me.

  24. With the Pads up 4-0 in the 5th, and Musgrove finally giving up a hit, it’s looking like at Pads-Dodgers match.
    Pads played some small ball to get to increase its lead, with Soto laying down a sacrifice bunt to move a runner to 2nd. Machado brought him in with a single.
    Think about that: Soto, AKA the new Ted Williams, bunting. As a former president might put it, the strategery paid off.
    Really don’t like Machado, but he is a beast, the Pads’ true MVP.
    Whichever team wins–the underdog Pads, or the Mets roaring from behind–the Dodgers will face an opponent with some emotional momentum.
    The Dodgers dominated the Pads this season. But as I check my IRA I am reminded that past performance does not guarantee of future results.

  27. I hate to admit it but Dago played textbook baseball tonight.
    They took their walks, stole bases, didn’t try to do too much , just putting the ball in play .They also bunted and hit the ball the other way.
    I know we owned them during the regular season, but we can’t take them lightly.
    I still think we have a better team and should win ,but we have to play like it . Like Duke Not Snider said earlier they’re going to be coming in with a lot of momentum.
    If we play team baseball no one can beat us…….GO DOGERS !!!!!

  28. Jorge, the Padres are “Little Brother”. If your little brother is going to fight the bully in the neighborhood, you show up and support him. But, if he reaches over the table to grab that last piece of fried chicken, you put him back in his place. Now, lets them reach for that chicken.

    This outcome is better for us in every way possible.

  33. It should be pretty interesting to watch High Heat on MLBN tomorrow. Alana will be serving Chris a dish of crow. San Diego outplayed their usual game by leaps and bounds. Their bottom lineup stepped up big. May they be full after tasting their supper and unable to down dessert. Dodgers vs Padres regular season 14 -5. Dodgers vs Mets 3 -4. vs Braves 4 -2. vs Phillies 3 -4
    Judging by the regular season matchups we need to fear the Phillies as much as the Mets which the least of our fears took Mets out. Well this ain’t the regular season and The Dodgers will only bring a better version of themselves and probably won’t lose any game through the World Series. At least on paper. Did Reynolds really say Dodgers aren’t battle tested? That is the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard. They just made it look like not a battle.

  35. A little stat that really resonates with me about how variant the MLB playoffs are is (are is?):

    Geoff Pontes of Baseball America, who knows more about baseball than all of us put together, went 0-4 in his picks for the Wildcard round.

    Zero for four.

  36. I thought I was strong willed. I thought if I put my mind to something I could do it. But I was wrong. I want to apologize to everyone here. I tried to root for the Padres but I couldn’t go thru with it. I lasted an agonizing 11 innings before I couldn’t take it anymore. The Pads are the most irritating team and try to use it as a weapon.
    It didn’t take Soto long to to fit right in to the Padres bullshit Gamesmanship and hot-dogging. He might have been talking to himself at the plate but it sure looked like Soto was talking to the pitcher to throw him a strike. Tauting the pitcher. It makes me long for Gibson or Drysdale on the bump and see how that would have played.
    * This game begged for a pitch clock – and batter’s clock. Now I understanding trying to break a pitcher’s rhythm but come on! It’s designed to just piss off the other team and get into their heads. The stepping in and out of the box, like 4 time outs per plate appearance, is more irritating than effective. So the pitcher starts stepping off, throwing out the baseballs…….can we please play here?
    * Then Showalter has to retaliate, requesting Musgrove be strip searched on the mound. So Musgrove does the little nose wipe thing toward Buck as he exited. Even Eddie Perez said why do that? Don’t rile the Mets up. Why did Musgrove do it? Because they’re pricks, Eddie.
    * Next year the pitch clock will hopefully be enforced and put an end to this nonsense. The pitcher and batter get ONE time out per at bat. Stall tactics and Gamesmanship over. I really do understand an attempted to disrupt the pitcher but this got ridiculous. There’s no evidence that I know of to suggest it works and certainly not the 3rd and 4th time. It would be the opposite for me. If I was an infielder during this crap I’d be digging a hole to China.
    * But why can’t the HPU and the Umpiring Crew put an end to it? Just deny the times out? They can do that with requests by the batter for a late time before a pitch and we all know the batter doesn’t have to be awarded the time out. Just say NO.
    Why can’t the Crew Chief and umpires communicate with both Skippers, that the time outs are over and they won’t be granted. Get up there and pitch. Get up there and hit. Let’s move along.
    * After the strip search on the mound, David Cone said something interesting. Now days they check for sticky stuff. In older times they checked for slippery stuff to load up the ball. KY Jelly, Vaseline, Spit.
    * You know the Padres are going to try to get under our skin as well. There is some desperation on their part and they know, despite the arrogant exterior, that we are better than they are. We need to play our game and not get caught up in the rat poison.

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