Kenley Jansen has blown six saves and broken Dodger fans’ hearts more than that this year. We can analyze until we are paralyzed but in essence, his problem has been the overuse of his cutter, which is still good, but maybe not as good as it used to be. It’s also likely that the advanced hitting coaches are helping hitters “key in” on what he is throwing.
Most Dodger fans have blasted Kenley for not listening to the catcher or coaches and throw sliders or even fastballs more. They have accused him of being stubborn or selfish which is just plain ignorant. Kenley wants to win for himself and for the Dodgers. In his latest meltdown, he threw 8 straight cutters to Rowdy Tellez who blasted the last one over the fence for a home run.
Pedro Moura wrote about that event and that event may be the single most important thing that happened this season. It could be the most important thing that happens all year. How on earth is blowing a save and giving up a home run the “most important thing that happens all year” you might ask?
It’s important because that was the very pitch that changed Kenley’s mind about the use of his cutter. To pitch at an elite level in high-pressure situations you have to have a short memory and supreme confidence. It also helps if you do it with a single pitch that no one can touch. You rely on that. You believe in that. You count on that… and even when it doesn’t work this time, you think it will work next time. That’s the short memory and supreme confidence part of this equation.
In The Athletic Pedro Moura writes about Kenley’s struggles and how this one is different:
By now, Kenley Jansen has learned his lesson. He understands he can no longer afford to throw his cutter over and over. Hitters are more talented and better prepared than they once were. The pitch does not travel as fast as it once did.
Still, sometimes he forgets. Say he throws three consecutive cutters past an opponent, as he did Wednesday in striking out Toronto’s Randal Grichuk. As the next hitter approaches, he finds his mind reverting to its old ways, intoxicated with adrenaline. There’s no need to mix in a slider, he thinks, though his sober self knows otherwise. They can’t handle the cutter, he’s certain.
“You’re like, ‘Fuck, let’s go,’” Jansen said. “But you have to continue to think, to keep mixing it up.”
Jansen did not mix it up to Rowdy Tellez, who followed Grichuk. He threw him eight pitches, all cutters. As soon as Tellez connected with the last, Jansen knew he had made the wrong decision.
The pitch was well located, not quite as high as intended but appropriately inside. Tellez, though, had it timed it perfectly. He golfed it into the right-field bleachers, and Jansen cursed himself on the mound.
That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Many Dodger fans pronounced that Kenley was through and that the Dodgers would not win a World Series with KJ as their closer. Before I knew Kenley had “flipped the script” I wondered if he would make the playoff roster if the struggles kept up.
It’s still a work in progress, but Kenley is going to change. He is changed as we speak. Pedro Moura wrote this after speaking with Kenley:
But Jansen spoke Thursday as a man who had clearly reached a crossroads in his season, in his career, as a closer. After another late-night meeting with Roberts and some self-reflection, he vowed to find more happiness in his job. He believes that vow will make him better.
Kenley said it best:
“A lot of the game is making adjustments. And I can still be so damn good,” he said. “I just gotta be smarter. You can’t fall in love with one pitch. That pitch can be even more nasty if you mix and match. It’s gonna be even harder to hit.”
Kenley knows that if he had thrown a slider in that 8th pitch to Tellez, we would not even be talking about this. When you are in the moment, the adrenaline flowing and you have muscle memory of how you always did it, that’s what you become. Kenley now understands the problem and that’s the first step in fixing a problem: Admitting that there is a problem in the first place.
There may be more hiccups as Kenley learns how to pitch again, but he’s got five weeks and I’m betting that he returns to form by the playoffs. When I see fans calling for a player to be traded or sent to AAA or just off the team, I usually know that the contrarian idea is correct.
- Fans were recently calling for Kike’s head and now he’s getting hot, with 3 hits in his last 4 AB’s.
- Joe Kelly was the focus of the wrath of the fans earlier in the year but has acquitted himself nicely.
- Earlier in the year, CT3 was their whipping boy – now he’s hitting .271.
- AJ Pollock was ridiculed by many (I am not a fan either) but now he’s showing his worth.
- With fans calling for Kenly’s removal as the closer, I predict he will make them eat crow.
The only one they were right about was Austin Barnes, who just simply “lost it.”
Other Dodger News
- The last two starts by Ryu have not been good. His ERA is up to 2.00 and this has cost him his favorite status as the Cy Young Award winner. Don’t count Clayton Kershaw out: He’s the Dodgers real Ace. I have said that all year. I hope Ryu gets past this “bump in the road” but It’s still possible that CK could get his 4th Cy Young. He right up there with the best: Top 5 in the NL and there’s a lot to be decided.
- I give a lot of credit to James Paxton who was filthy. 98 MPH on his fastball and pinpoint control.
- Yimi Garcia has great stuff and has only given up 33 hits in 51 IP while striking out 52. His WHIP is an amazing 0.87. The only problem is that of his 33 hits, 14 have been Home Runs. I think there’s an easy fix here (maybe not this year). He might even be tipping certain pitches, but mark my words, he will be a lockdown reliever next year! Write that down.
- This afternoon, we will find out what Goose is made of as he is called upon to right the ship. There’s no Urias or Hill or Stripling and no May (as he is going to be the 6th starter for a few days). The Dodgers need him to go a strong 6 innings against the best offense in baseball.
- Gavin Lux was 1-4 and is hitting .407 as the season winds down. Can he stay about .400? That’s quite an accomplishment if he does.
- Dennis Santana continues to shine in the bullpen. Last night he pitched 2 innings, allowed 1 hit and struck out 4. He did walk 2 but gave up no runs. He will likely pitch in LA out of the pen next year. His stuff is made for the pen.
- Game at 1:10 PDT; 4:10 EDT. Stay tuned.
Posting Problems
A few of you have continual posting problems, and all of your comments go to “moderation” meaning I have to OK them. This may be hard to believe, but I don’t spend all my time watching the site to see who needs to be moderated. Dirk Calderwald, Cassidy, Idaho Al and a couple of others fall into this category. It is nothing that I can fix, so I am going to suggest that you do this if your comments go into moderation:
- Set up a new account with a new name. For instance, Cassidy could be Cassidy2019.
- Include your e-mail in the setup process (it’s 100% private).
- Choose a new password.
- Then post.
- I have to moderate the first post, but then should not have to do it anymore.
I don’t want to moderate your comments any more than you want me to, so let’s try that.
Let’s not do an “In Memorium” for Kenley yet. He is a smart man and will figure it out. He has been through a lot with his medical problems. For some good things about last night, Caleb Ferguson pitched well as he did the night before also, Corey made a nice over the shoulder catch and CT3 and Kike has strong hits. Let us get those damn Yankees today.
He has been asked to mix his pitches, we have all seen how he does not obey his catcher and finally throws 8 consecutive cutters and that is not being stubborn ?, Lol, I think the ignorant is another.
Now Moura says that Kenley has accepted that he has to make a change, after a long time of not accepting, even until the last game I still throw 8 consecutive cutters, that shows me that I was right. What will Kenley do from now on? Well, what I said, make a mix, become unpredictable, play cat and mouse with the hitters, etc.
I congratulate Kenley for changing his attitude and showing his willingness to try different things, just what I asked him to do. Thanks Kenley, your own teammates and fans will thank you.
I suppose only those who have played at an elite level fully understand how difficult it is to change what has worked for so long. BTW, Kenley does not have to “obey his catcher.” Many pitchers shake off the catcher.
It is not necessary to play baseball at the elite level to know when things are not working, when the things that were done are not giving the same results, one must investigate why ?, once detected correct it trying new things, new alternatives, listen to people, etc., that is the ABC of life itself, not just baseball.
Pitcher decides. Catcher suggests
The catcher asks him for a slider and Kenley said, no, I want to throw my cutter, then a change, a quick ball? No, I want to throw my cutter.
“Many pitchers shake off the catcher,” “Pitcher decides. Catcher suggests” and what did Kenley decide? throw 8 consecutive cutters, Lol.
The sky is NOT falling. It was one freaking game. It is not a coincidence that a lefty had a great game against us. But, that umpire sucked and Paxton pitched the game of his life.
Ryu had a bad game. Skip a start. He’ll be fine. He’ll get a break pretty soon with May, Gonsolin and perhaps Urias available for the rotation. It really seemed like the ump was a Yankees fan last night. Ryu didn’t get anything on the edge and Paxton got a ball inside all night.
Let the Yankees get some false confidence and see how this plays out when the games really count.
I don’t think you’re gonna see another game where Smith and Belli, hitting back to back, combine for 7 Ks.
Quick turnaround with a day game today against another lefty. Let’ see if this is going to be a problem. Mark’s right, Casty would have helped especially against lefties. He just won’t help catching balls in the outfield. He should reconsider a move to 1B.
I still maintain that our lineup needs to be balanced a little better, but it is what it is at this point. Freese will help in a week. His hamstring looked fine two nights ago when he ran out of the dugout to mob Kike.
Well, it’s Kenley until it’s not Kenley. He has to figure it out and make the adjustments. Not exactly like you can pull him from the closer role and hide him in the seventh inning. My guess is he figures it out.
Maybe Paxton had great stuff and Dodger hitters were overwhelmed or maybe the Dodgers are in a little hitting funk. Maybe it was a combination. They didn’t exactly crush mediocre Toronto pitchers in the final two games.
What’s the deal with Ugly Uniform Weekend? The Dodgers and Yankees with iconic uniforms and they have to play in that crap. Some people at MLB need to stop coming up with these dumb ideas. Neither manager was pleased with Dave Roberts making a reference to ugly sweater day.
Ugly sweater day. I love it! The smartest thing Roberts has said all year. Orel mentioned the mistake to have the Yankees and Dodgers play this weekend as well. Whoever came up with these uniforms should be fired. What’s next, have them play in street clothes? So shit, now some numbskull’s gonna make that pitch for next year’s player’s weekend.
Kenley is either stubborn or stupid. Make an adjustment dude! It just seems like he wants to be Mariano Rivera. Just be Kenley Jansen!
Next year why they might just play in their PJs. Oops!!
Two thoughts on last nights outing by Ryu.
The good news is that I hate ‘Streaks’. Like no home runs all season, or no losses at home, or no missed field goals. It seems those streaks always end in the playoffs. So ok that is over with now.
The second, Is that I feel when a pitcher has a long great streak of starts, then has 2 or 3 in a row where he ‘lacks command, I feel it is not ‘regression’, but a prelude to a trip on the IL. So lets see what happens in the next start.
Losing a game or a series against the Yankees in August, even by sweep, does not mean anything and does not serve to evaluate a team, in a short series anyone can win it.
The Yankees come from losing their sweep series against Oakland, is the A’s better than the Yankees? Of course not, it means nothing.
I never log in when I post. However, I noticed on the spreadsheet where I keep my login passwords (in code) that I do have a password. Maybe that’s the reason why the browser on my computer remembers me, but does not do so on my phone where I’ve never logged in. Probably have a cookie on my computer, but not on my phone.
Many thoughts about Jansen but for now I hope he can change some things and be the closer the Dodgers need.
I don’t necessarily think that we find out what Gonsolin is made of today. He’s still a young, mostly inexperienced pitcher with lots more to learn. I just hope he has good stuff and command today. But whatever happens, it won’t convince me one way or the other if he has the right stuff. That conclusion will only come over time.
Yesterday was just probably one of those days. I am a little concerned that the Dodgers have not been as consistent as I’d like with the bats, but I am also reminded that they scored 16?rubs this last Tuesday, and did score a bunch of runs in several other games recently.
Let’s give Paxton some credit for having really good stuff last night, and also remember that he’s a pitcher the Dodgers haven’t seen. I don’t expect the same out of Sabbathia today, as he is no longer the dominant pitcher of we remember from the past.
And maybe Belli and Smith will have extra focus today after a rough time last night. Part of character is being able to bounce back from adversity.
Learning a bit about this site. I have just been entering my name and email address everytime I post. Forgot that I ever had a login with a password.
I’m logged in now, and will not logout after I leave the sight.
LA Times article mentioned today that Ryu is up near 155 ip for the year. The last 2 outings, vs. potential NLCS and World Series opponents, he’s given up several HR.
I agree that it’s the perfect time to give him a 10 day vacation somewhere, take a break, chillax his mind, and get re focused for Sept and Oct. He’s been amazing except for 3 starts all year. But perhaps he is a tad winded?
I LOVE that Gonsolin is going today. Let’s see what the not-so-young kid is made of. Today could very well show us that he’s meant for October!
Campy, hopefully you see a W today!
I hope my seats are in the shade
3generations of dodger fans together today
where are your seats? Down the left field line gets the shade first, and if you’re in like Row M or higher, you should be in the shade.
To me 25 is still young, especially when you add that he wasn’t drafted until 2016. In any case, I’ll just focus on the fact that he is inexperienced.
I think that these next two games are crucially important. Get swept by the Yankees, and there goes the home field advantage in the World Series, both NY and Houston will have it over us if necessary. But much more important, as I suggested after the game, is that there is a real question as to whether the Dodgers are good enough to beat the very top AL teams. We were outclassed by Boston last year. Are we as good as NYY and Houston this year? Off last night, no.
Certainly, it was just one game. But when your best statistical pitcher gets absolutely hammered, and a guy with fine talent who has been hurt much of the year, absolutely dominates your hitters, it is not a good sign. If we played NY in the Series, and it opened in New York, and it were Ryu vs. Paxton, let’s say, how confident would you be? If that were the matchup twice in the Series? Are our hitters going to hit against Houston or NY in a Series, or are we going to get shut down like last year? More concerningly, will our top three starters navigate the talent-laden lineups they would face? There is nothing comparable in the National League. unless to a much lesser extent the Braves, and we just lost two of three to them.
Ryu v. Paxton twice? I’d be quite confident.
Keep in mind that the Dodgers still have some trouble with LHP. If the bats don’t speak, the chances for winning lessen significantly, especially if you are playing at Yankee Stadium.
It’s at times like this that I say, you’re never as good as you look when you’re at your best, and never as bad as you look when you’re at your worst.
M.T. There you go telling us how right you are… We Know!!! That’s where we get our insight!!!
Dodger Mom I hope you go to bed early, because the cream really rose to the top at the end of yesterday’s post…
I was going to comment after I got home, but said the heck with it…
– Blue Bit__ slapped… Jeff
– Ryu over his normal range??? William
– Top Award goes to Dodgers dressed like sperm!!! I’ve leave name for you to find out…
I could go on, but I wonder if these folks are coming home early from a crack house or Gentleman’s Club to come up these…
It’s one game folks… Were at about 160 games (including ST) and it’s why us baseball fans call it the Dog Days of Summer…
Fan = Fanatic! They is what they is.
Another reasoned look at the closer situation from Jon Weisman:
https://www.dodgerthoughts.com/2019/08/23/what-does-it-actually-mean-to-demote-a-closer/
I love his line “Certainly, the end comes for everyone in baseball, as it comes for us all, but in the name of all that is Juan Uribe, we need to resist assuming the worst at every sign of weakness.”
All is not lost – – we have more than a month to go. The Dodgers remain a good team. As Chet Atkins sang:
“poverty stricken but still i’m stickin’
to things I know to be facts
one day it’s feathers and the next day chicken
while i’m pickin’ my yakety axe”
Let’s keep the faith!!! By the way those uniforms were hideous!!
2Demeter2,
Don’t try and change their minds and reason with them by confusing them with the facts.
Their minds are already made up.
I do not mean to imply that I played ay sport at a high level… because I did not. Basketball was my best sport, but I loved baseball more. I played City League Basketball until I was 42 and baseball and softball until I was 55. When I was 29, I tore the ligaments in my left ankle badly and was unable to dunk after that. However, it took me about three years where adrenaline and muscle memory took over and I still tried. It’s harder to break those habits than you might think.
M.T. – You’re gonna tell me you knew how to dance also!??!
I might tell you that… but people who watch know better.
DODGERS RECALL CATCHER AUSTIN BARNES
CATCHER RUSSELL MARTIN PLACED ON BEREAVEMENT LIST
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers announced that they have recalled catcher Austin Barnes from Triple-A Oklahoma City and placed catcher Russell Martin on the bereavement list.
Barnes, 29, returns to the Dodgers after being optioned on July 25. In 70 games prior to the demotion, he batted .196 (40-for-204) with 10 doubles, five homers and 23 RBI with the Dodgers. He played in 20 games for Oklahoma City, batting .250 (19-for-76) with six homers and 16 RBI. In parts of five Major League seasons with the Dodgers, he has amassed 17 homers and 78 RBI with a .227 batting average.
Martin, 36, has appeared in 69 games for the Dodgers, hitting .207 (36-for-174) with four homers and 15 RBI. On August 7, he delivered his 10th game-ending RBI with a two-run single in the ninth inning against the Cardinals. It was his first walk-off hit in a Dodger uniform since April 21, 2007 against Pittsburgh. The backstop has played in 1,679 games, recording 189 homers and 766 RBI in his 14-year Major League career.
What the Yankees are saying about Ryu and Dodgers pitching. Hope to see ya in the world series. Maybe Gonsolin will cool em down.
Dirk… You know that 1 game doesn’t mean nada…
Has anybody wondered whether the Blue is hopefully in a short slump???
Before I forget, Hudson owned us last night, but the notes about Hudson’s tendencies are being collected… I’d bet he’ll be hard pressed to repeat that in God willing Oct…
Agree 1 game means nothing…. except for building confidence….which means everything. I’m just feeling the negative thing right now. Take Atlanta. You think they aren’t thinking hey, LA is beatable. And it would be nice for the Dodgers to carry the home field advantage into the entire play offs. Just to increase the odds in their favor. Oh well. All I can say is GO DODGERS.
Thx for the info Mark. Hopefully it works!
OK now try again.
I listened to Nomar the other night. He feels that the weight loss that was necessitated from Kenley’s heart condition could be a contributing factor in the lower velo on his cutter and when he wants more velocity he’s going to have to go to his four seem fastball.
Like CK, Kenley not the sure thing he used to be. And like CK he always seemed a little tired in the PS. Though he had some success.
Like I posted last night, we needed a good punch in the mouth, and last night was a nasty left hook. This is the first time this season we have faced a team just as good if not better than we are, a mirror image. The Yankees drive up pitch counts(like we do). Their lineup puts constant pressure on the pitcher (like we do). And sooner or later, they break out the big stick and go yard a few times to break the game open.(Sound familiar? Just like us all season). I am really curious to see how we face real adversity for the first time against a really good foe. Will our young guys rise to the occasion and be patient at the plate, or will we try to hit 5 run homers all day? I’m going to go with what Roberts said last night, that besides Paxson being nails on, not a lot of guys on the team have seen him before. Looking for a good rebound game today, hopefully we stay patient and don’t start swinging out of our shoes.
Is it just me or does Gonsolin look like the big unit.
Gyorko at 1B seriously? Is he actually considered for a post season roster spot? Why not give Beaty a shot at left handed pitching, he did hit lefties in AAA? If the Dodgers are experimenting why experiment with Gyorko, why not Beaty against a lefty? Is Gyorko seriously in our future plans?
Didn’t we try a guy named Tyler White at 1B? Similar stats and similar out of shape, well shape. I’m assuming Dave Roberts is the decision maker. Didn’t he learn his lesson with Tyler White? Apparently not.
I know I’ve said this already, but my big point is that Gyorko is not a part of the Dodgers future, so why not give Beaty who is a part of the Dodgers future a chance at left handed pitching?
Gyorko is insurance in case Freese can’t come back. He hit 30 HR a couple of years ago and Roberts just gets to make out the lineup. Friedman is the decision-maker. I have no problem with it. In fact, it’s pretty smart.
it’s not smart to me. Career 246 batting average 734 OPS. I’m not impressed.
We have guys that can play multiple positions. Gyorko not needed.
Career .272 BA & .809 OPS vs LHP. Guess that’s why you aren’t a major league manager.
Hawkeye,
Just a reminder. Earlier this year the Dodgers took 2 of 3 from the Red Sox at Fenway.
And while the Dodgers lost the last two World Series, but in 2017 it was in 7 games. When it comes down to one game, anyone can win.
The Dodgers lost the WS to the Yankees in 1977 and 1978. If this blog had existed in 1981 I wonder what I would have been reading around here after the Dodgers lost the first two games in that series before going on to sweep the next four.
I’m fully aware that nothing is guaranteed, but my glass remains half full.
Hmm, someone else made a post using my name because I sure as hell didn’t post that.
Hawkeye,
My previous post was not aimed at you. Just the first paragraph.
I’ve had it with home plate umpires. ELECTRONIC STRIKE ZONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Justin, Justin, Justin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep it going.
I didn’t post that.
Hawkeye,
Apparently the site recognized that it wasn’t you, because it assigned a different icon. Maybe Mark needs to speak with his tech people not to allow a name to be used by more than one person.
I noticed that. I was wondering if anyone else had that happen to them.
Watching the Dodgers come up inning after inning with no results is becoming tiresome. Need to see some life in this offense.
A little break wouldn’t hurt. Cody just missed that one.
Didn’t post that…
Whats up M.T.??
In case this game continues like this (2-1) Jansen will come to the ninth inning? It will be interesting to see what happens …
Yes, he will.
Like Hawkeye, I didn’t post this either. Are we being hacked Mark?
LeMahieu, Judge, Gregorius and Torres.
I want to see that
Hey Mark, me, Hawkeye and PeterJ are being punked by someone, probable a Giants fan. Check out our last posts and you will see it doesn’t fit our personalities. What’s up?
I’ll second that…
My $ is on Jeff, William or the sperm man..
I may have hurt their feelings.
What feelings?
I’ll check it out when I get home.
I checked yours Roger and it was a different email and IP address. Someone posting as you. I blocked it.
Are you into that stuff Dirk??
Now I understand your lack of baseball savvy with a helatious
Underwear fetish on your back.
I don’t care what the Dodgers are doing this year WRISP. In this game the 3rd inning with two on and one out and again in the 7th with a runner on 2nd. Nothing both times.
Wow, Baez and Kelly really stepped up. Jorge, you ready for Jansen?
Kelly and Baez great job….uyyyyyy jensen is comming
Can’t believe that Baez went with so many changeups against Judge. I kept waiting for a fastball up and out of the zone. Can’t complain.
Now get some runs.
Chalk up that strikeout of Bellinger to the blind man behind the plate. Now please give those pitches to Kenley.
Its all on Jansen.
Here we go…
Dodger Mom you saying a few prayers under your breat??
I’ve been nervously working my beads since the 5th.
As the Dodger announcers said, I have been watching with my hand over my eyes, peeking through my fingers. Nerve-racking, nail-biting finish but Kenley came through. Good for him. Hope this helps him change his pitch selection and do well. Go Blue.
What were Kenley and Smith thinking. After the umpire gave him two consecutive calls on pitches up and out of the zone he goes with a slider. And then he does it again against the next hitter.
Exactly. I hate to beat him up for throwing a slider but two high strikes were just called. You have to throw a high cutter there.
I despise Gary Sanchez. Love It. Excellent job Kenley!
I guess Kenley’s okay after all!
Both hits were on sliders
Game cast had Jansen with a 95 and 96 MPH cutter
If he can throw it 95 and 96, he’ll be just fine.
Wow, that was awesome. I think I crapped my pants a little. I thought i saw a 95mph cutter.
Jajaja Jensen is my God…jajaja
Good game good outcome. Good pitching both teams. Gonsolin.
Great game and win.
Had the smell of a Playoff match up.
Pete you are on fire today.
Very well Kenley, you taught a little of what is coming, up, down, inside, outside, mixture of speeds, of visual planes, that is the way man, a new Kenley begins to be born, it is still a baby, but it will grow and improve .
I’m at the Colts – Bears game
Go Bears
But I watched it all
Did they boo him today at Dodger stadium
Magic Number 12
I definitely saw a 95 mph cutter, and I’ll take Mark’s word that he hit 96 also. But what I was most impressed with was the movement on his cutter.
Also, nice job by Gonsolin, who stepped up nicely today.
The Yankee announcers did not like Gregorious (spelling?) trying to lay down a bunt with two strikes. I was actually thinking that he might try it, and I still think it was a good play. To me it was a justifiable gamble.
Don’t think I can take any more of these type games. 🙂
Very, very big win, may actually have saved our season, though many would say that is overstated. Had we lost this game in the ninth, it would have shaken the confidence of the team, and certainly Jansen. . But Jansen made big pitches, even after some unfortunate situations on the ground balls. He deserves a lot of credit for that. Even so , it should not be like this every time he comes in. Closers must close, virtually every time.
The Yankees’ bullpen stifled us. We have to keep the lead against that team, because we will not rally against them. The bullpen came through in a big way today, particularly Baez.
Missed it earlier today, but according to the Dodgers’ website, Austen Barnes is starting tomorrow. Given that Smith broke the ice and got a hit his last time up, he’d be my starter tomorrow. To the best of my knowledge he doesn’t need a day off, tomorrow’s game will be a night game after a day game, and because he is the superior hitter with power, and is the better defensive catcher with a cannon arm, Smith is my catcher tomorrow. Don’t want to see Barnes’ pitiful
bat tomorrow.
Barnes was Kershaw’s personal catcher when he was up before and he was sitting next to him in the dugout. Give the kid a blow and Barnes a chance, he may surprise us. Martin due back on Tues.
If someone impresses me against the Yankees, they have a spot on my post season roster and Tony Gonsolin impressed me.
Since it sounds like Rich Hill could be good to go in the post season but possibly limited in innings, a combination of Hill and Gonsolin as the 4th starter sounds good to me. That will also improve the bullpen by leaving Urias in the bullpen.
A bullpen mostly of Kelly, Urias, Baez, Jansen is pretty decent if they bring their A game. The other 4 spots in the bullpen won’t be used much if the starting pitching and offense do their jobs.
The Dodgers offense seems like its in a mini slump. Hopefully it comes alive tomorrow.
By the way I think Baez has what it takes to close games. I’m not saying this because of Jansen. I’m saying this strictly because of Baez himself.
Wow what a finish. The stadium erupted
So, who called the time out with a runner on the move? I have seen hurt players before, and the ump didn’t call a time out while the play was still developing. What did I miss?
Seems to me that Boone might have a pretty good case for a protest. Anyone know how long you have to protest a game?
The home plate umpire immediately raised his hands, signaling a time out.
Gary Sanchez I think the hitter
Yo’re talking about is a dead high strike hitter according to announcers.
Oh well, we won let’s repeat it tommorow.
I’m happy for the victory, but again the ”Jansen Show”, is this what we want in the playoffs? I don’t remember the last time there was a ninth inning of 1 2 3, and I don’t think I’ll see him again, at least not this season,
And being clear, I’m Dodgers fan of all my life and I don’t hate KJ, but I don’t I think it is convenient that we have our hopes on a man who, at least this season, does not see anything reliable, why do we have to wait for him to suddenly be the same dominant as before? Hopefully, I’m wrong and he makes me swallow my damn words when he has the last out in the WS, but in the meantime …
It is what it is Jorge. Any way you look at it, you have to rely on Kelly, Beaz and Kenley at the end of the game. Kenley has the most experience and is the most comfortable out of the three pitching in the ninth. Kenley can blow a game in the 7th or 8th just as easy as in the ninth if he isn’t right. The best bet is to try to get the best out of him and that’s what they’re trying to do.
I agree that he hasn’t had a lot of clean 1,2,3 innings this year. But, tonight should have been. If it weren’t for the shift and two infield hits which were not his fault. And I’m also not buying that the sliders he threw were ineffective. They should have been outs with decent defense.
I’m not convinced that he’s all the sudden “fixed”, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction against the top offensive team in baseball. I’m also not convinced that this isn’t the turn the corner game either. This has to be a big confidence booster for him. It certainly was for me. Let’s just hope he starts putting more heat on that cutter like he did tonight.
After tonight, I’m less concerned with Jansen than I am with another crappy showing against a left handed starter.
Only complaint I had with Jansen was he was late covering 1st on one play. He looked cool and calm and made some big pitches. This was a huge step for him to come through with the bases loaded and 2 outs to get. He mixed the cutter, 4 seamer and slider and put 2 pretty good fastball hitters away. The Dodgers bullpen matched the Yankees pen today. He seemed to tighten up his delivery with men on base and ticked up his velocity-well done KJ!
100% agree with all of that, Vegas. To strike out 2 guys after that weird inning was super impressive.
So happy for Kenley (and all of us)
That is the word that I was looking for since last night’s game … INTIMATED.
I think the same, I think it was more difficult to play against the uniform than against the man under the uniform
The uniforms? Did not the person who selected them recognize or realize that black attracts heat and if you are playing in a hot, humid stadium, it probably is very uncomfortable. Sorry, I think it was a dumb choice. Glad my Dodgers and Kenley won. Now for the series win tomorrow.
Today’s game felt like a turning point for me in the ninth inning when the Yankee’s had the bases loaded after the call at second base was over turned. It looked and felt like Kenley Jansen threw harder and better than he has all year to strike out the last two batters. I believe Kenley the super human closer is back!
Maybe and Hopefully the 2017 Kenley has returned and will be better than ever in the playoffs.
If we get the 2017 Kenley back it has to be without the WS game 2 tying HR pitch to Marwin Gonzalez.
I don’t know which Kenley is back right now, but if it’s the good Kenley, I’d like him to stick around. My glass is half full, but I understand how difficult it may be for Kenley to maintain quality consistency. This baseball stuff is hard.
So I deleted all the fake comments. They all came from the same IP address: 67.250.123.110
It’s in upstate NY, but that could be a “mask.”
Andrew Luck just retired at 30 and left $58 Million on the table. This is not surprising to me. That’s all I can say and I can’t say why.
At least the Colts have the #1 Mascot in the NFL… OFFICIALLY!
That’s like a Super Bowl… right?
I used to love football, but it’s hard for me to watch it now. We left in the 2nd quarter… and we were in a Suite!
I wasn’t able to watch the game as I was busy hacking into some posters accounts. I was so happy to see the results, especially from Gonsolin. He has been my choice for #4 if Hill cannot return, and I think his win might go a long way towards giving him a shot. May is good, but Tony has something different. I can’t put my finger on it. It’s in his energy.
Good bounce back from Kenley. Tomorrow’s game should be a great watch. Two dominating pitchers.
Go Niners! Jimmy G.
Nice k dog, 94 and 95 cutters to punch Gary s, where are the savages Boone? Spare me, want to throw up when he talks or comes out, send them home tomorrow Kersh!! Come on offense let’s bring the bats against their ace, send a message for the post season. Going to be a long charter home Spanks!!
And Luck retiring on August 24th is weak and selfish Timmons. Sorry for your Colts, no way JB is a viable starter, incoming 7 and 9 season for them, book it! Future bets on the Colts off the board I imagine, again my condolences MT.
As a Colts ticket holder I would have booed him too. Quitting on your team two weeks before the season is weak. I’ve already sold my season tickets for this season because I just can’t make the drive from Iowa every weekend but there are plenty of season ticket holders who spent money from their budget because hopes were high this year and he didn’t have the nerve to get out there. I also don’t make the drive every week because I’m sick to death of the over officiating of the game.
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The Colts will survive. Brissett isn’t bad. Ballard knows what he’s doing. They have a good o-line. Drafted the top two rookies in the NFL last year.
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Luck didn’t have good lines in front of him until last year. However they drafted more olineman for him than they did for Peyton his entire career. Andrew Luck from day 1 in the NFL held onto the ball way too long. They had just put in the rookie salary cap the year he was drafted and I wanted to trade him for the kings ransom that it was worth. He was supposed to be the next Elway. He wasn’t the next Elway, Peyton or even Bert Jones. Those guys were warriors. The Colts set everything up this year for him to win big including a system that gets the ball out quick with a top notch o-line and he bailed on them. Good riddance. I will root for Brissett more than I ever did Luck even if he’s half as talented.
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I would not of booed Kenley the other night and I won’t think less of the Dodgers if they don’t win it all. I don’t feel sorry for Luck getting booed tonight though.
Because colts fans are scum of the earth.