Some of you think you have a better way or that you have special powers about writing this blog. OK, here’s your chance. Say what you have to say. Have a take and do not suck!
By the way, that applies to the next Dodgers’ game as well – Put up or Shut up time!
I’m 100% confident that we got this on Wednesday. Exciting prime time matchup with Strasburg Buehler, but we WILL take care of business at home (and open the NLCS at home Friday vs the hated Cardinals)
Mark I disagree with you often but your blog creates discord and arguments; that is why it is so good and has staying power.
On to our Dodgers, tonight’s quick analysis:
1. Maeda should have pitched longer, Robert’s used his book rather then his eyes. No need to pinch hit for him there especially with a guy who is either hurt or completely lost.
2. Baez struggled last time out, looked off so bringing him in the highest leverage spot was not the best choice. I feel Jansen might have been the play there, never would have happened but the game was in the balance.
3. Forget the numbers against Sherzer, how does he not pinch hit Freese in the 7th over Taylor with the bases loaded and one out. I guess his 3 for 3 showing last night was not enough to warrant an at bat there but in the ninth with one out and nobody on was okay.
I am excited for the kid on Friday, 6 innings by WB, one by Maeda, one by Kersh, and Jansen to close. Grind a few off Strasburg, come out early like we did tonight. Thought Turner’s blast was a sign of good things, a few runs early on Wednesday will likely rattle Washington. We have been there before and they really have not, advantage us. Close the door.
Adam
Your #3 comment is spot on.
Is it too early to think we might need to start CT3 or Kike’ at 2B on Wednesday? Love Luxs’ potential (I think he’ll be a Dodger mainstay for a long time) but the Strasburg put away slider might be a tall task for Gavin. He’s 1 for his last 8 AB’s with 6 K’s.
I like the move Doc did with sitting AJ and Beaty should get the start again. I think in an elimination game Doc goes with two only two rookies in the line-up. Does Gavin or Smith sit Wednesday?
Before anyone gets “butt hurt” I’m not bagging on any Dodger player, just starting a discussion to get some perspective on what others think. No one needs to convince me they are all knowing and no one needs to accuse me of being less of a fan, just curious what others might think.
No not Hernandez or Taylor at 2B. Move Muncy to 2B and start Freese at 1B which is what should have happened in every game. And you are right about Beaty in LF over Pollock which again should have happened in games 2 and 3. Game 2 is the key game in this series, should have went for the kill in that game by starting Freese and Beaty instead of Pollock and Lux. You cannot give the Nationals any breathing room because of those 2 dominant starting pitchers they have.
Regular season OPS splits favor Freese and Beaty over Pollock and Lux.
G1, Corbin: 6 innings, 2 runs
G2, Strasburg: 6 innings, 1 run
G3, Sanchez: 5 innings, 1 run
G4, Scherzer: 7 innings, 1 run
14/19 runs scored off the Nats’ bullpen; can’t happen in G5, with Strasburg, Corbin, and probably Scherzer all available. Hunter Strickland isn’t pitching.
The exact same problem as last year’s final series If you don’t hit, you don’t win.
Pollock struck out in his pinch hit appearance. I sit him again and give Beaty another start. I also give Lux a day off and get Freese in there at 1B.
Joc RF
Muncy 2B
Turner 3B
Belli CF
Freese 1B
Seager SS
Beaty LF
Smith C
Bueller 6
May 7 and 8
Urias 9
59 – I’m 100% with you on this line up for tonight. I might even consider Martin behind the dish. Freese needs to play every day if he can and he looks like he’s moving fine to me. The game is all about adjustments. What a match up with Ferris and Strassburg.
If a team is ever built for a 5 game series it is the Nationals, literally in position to advance with absolutely no pen. Nats would have little chance in a 7 game series against us. Wednesday could conceivably be an all starters game( besides dual complete games) for the first time in history? Who flinches first?
First, we have to worry about the win-or-go-home next game. But even if we get by that, we have to be concerned with the depth of the pitching staff. Hill is a real competitor, but obviously we cannot count on him for more than a couple of innings, which leaves us without a legitimate fourth starter, not at all good in a best of seven series. The bullpen just has too many iffy pieces, which certainly includes Kelly and Stripling, and even Baez. Who do we have in the bullpen whom we can feel really confident about when he goes in? Urias, I think. It is almost impossible to win a long series against a very good team, when you don not have enough relief pieces to go game after game. If we had four starters who could go seven innings, it would be fine, but we do not, certainly not Hill. I don’t know what the Dodgers should have done at the trade deadline (I really wanted Vazquez, but I don’t think anyone outside of maybe the Pirates, knew about any personal issues, so we escaped there). But we didn’t get anyone who can pitch an entire inning. We should have done more in the offseason to have addressed the bullpen, and I was saying it then, not later. This is not our way, though.
I’ll feel very bad if we lose on Wednesday, after such a great regular season. There is always an emptiness when the season is over. All I really want from this franchise is that they honestly do everything they reasonably can to win titles, so that we can enjoy the hot stove league, and excitedly anticipate how we will be better the next season. But as I have said, I think that they have more concerns about profits than titles, which was the converse of what Steinbrenner did with the Yankees.. If we lose out again, independent of any vagaries in the next game or series, I will attribute it to not having sufficient pieces for championship winning. I really wanted us to go after Scherzer when he was FA, and I know how expensive he was, but some writers thought that the Dodgers would go after him, but we didn’t. Understandable, but there are only a few great players who can make you a long-term title winner, and he was one. Yelich would have really helped, too a couple of years ago. I wanted Stanton, and maybe we escaped there, but he might come back big next year. I wanted Goldschmidt, he is a difference maker. I know that we cannot spend unlimited funds, and we certainly couldn’t get all of these, but how about a couple? Not one major FA or major trade since Greinke. We need to do this at least sometimes, but we have determined that we will not, apparently. Top players whom we don’t get, go to other teams, and usually make a difference there, so it there is a price to pay for how we do it, albeit not a monetary one.
I will leave that subject until our season is over, because we want to root, and we want to focus on winning that next game. We are going to need some members of the bullpen to come through in the key moments. We are not going to get many runs at all, so we have to drive in runners on base, which we haven’t done enough of this series. Let’s go! Winning games like this is what makes a franchise; think of the Giants and Cardinals in recent past big playoff series. If we can win, we will have a luxurious day or two to worry about how to get past the Braves or Cards.
IT IS NOT THE PITCHING WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT!
If Joe Kelly does his job in game #3 with a 6 run lead, Kenta doesn’t have to come in and relieve him. If Kenta doesn’t have to pitch in game #3 he can go longer in game #4, maybe 3 or 4 innings. If Kenta pitches 3 or 4 innings in game #4 he can keep the game tied and perhaps we’re in the driver’s seat.
I know some will say yes, but if my aunt had testicles she would be my uncle, but you’ve got to your job when called upon and Joe put some unnecessary pressure on the BP by his ineffectiveness. Just saying.
The Dodgers scored one run.
I think Bluto is correct. They are not hitting, and they are definitely struggling against top pitchers. 5 hits, 1 run, an HR by our main man, JT. This inconsistency of the bats could cost us big time on Wednesday. Even if Urias didn’t give up 3 runs, we would have lost because of the bats. I don’t know what their problem is. This is supposed to be the best hitting team in the NL!
It did them in last year in the World Series too.
Guys, once again, step back from the ledge. Turn it around and look at the positive. We got Bueller going against Strasburg, who is due to get his bell rung, in a a sea of 55.000 plus Dodger maniacs at the Ravine. Lookin at a sign in my office that John Wayne quoted, cowboy hat and all. “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway”. Love the moment!! Goin out in a blaze of glory!! This is what we live for, last game of the series, our home stadium fans going nuts, the adrenaline through the ceiling! If you can ‘t feel the buzz, then you ain’t a Dodger fan. How many times have we had our butts hangin out the window of a fast moving car, yet we still man up and pull it out. We got Striker Bueller going, baby!! The one guy on the staff who has the biggest brass balls of them all. Feel for the Nats, we will wear them down, get past Strasburg and finally celebrate on our home field. If you ain’t livin’ for the moment, your dyin’. Get all the boys and girls on this site all in and celebrate the moment. This is DODGER BASEBALL!! (And you know Vin is going to be checking it out on Wednesday) Win or lose, wouldn’t have it any other way. Bring it on baby!!!
The only one who is on the ledge are the Dodgers. Strasburg is a monster and has owned us. Haven’t you noticed?WTF is up with the hitting? Where has it gone? Over the ledge? Did I make a prediction? NO.
Stop with the BS cliches.
I think the Nats are on the edge more than the Dodgers. After all, we’ve scored more runs in the series, and we’re the ones that are at home for the finale. Bueller and Stras have almost identical stat lines.
In the 2 games we lost, against Strasburg and Scherzer, we chased too many balls out of the strike zone and looked at too many good fast balls down the middle without swinging. We need to be aggressive on the good pitches and stay away from the bad pitches, especially those that end up in the dirt. This will need to change in order to win on Wednesday.
Concur with that Mike.
Found myself shouting at the TV that it was virtually the 1st pitch of every AB that was the most hittable, and we stood with our bat on our shoulders.
It must be said that after leaving LA with the series tied, we would all have taken a game 5 decider back at the Ravine, so let’s not get too despondent.
I would have used May in the spot where Baez came in, and PH with Freese with the Bases Loaded, although CT3 did have a decent AB.
As I said yesterday, need to get Freese as many ABs as possible.
I guess the plan is to work up the pitch count by taking the first pitch. Ok so when that is a strike hitters immediately in the hole and end up striking out or hitting weakly against off speed pitches. So how do you turn around a year long strategy in one game?
i’m with you on being aggressive early on Aces who are dealing. For me, driving up pitch counts against the Max’s and Strasburgs is a neat idea that will find you hitting in the hole all day and walking back to the dugout. Get the first best fastball you can and let it rip. If you’re lucky enough to get to an advantage count you simply can’t take that pitch. It drives me crazy to see guys take a 2 -0, 2-1 fastball down the can. That’s a green light special. You work to get advantage counts and you must take advantage of them. You live on the optimistic theory that you’ll get one hittable pitch in every at bat. You better not take or miss it. That said, I’ve gone 0 for 4 against a dude and never saw one pitch I wanted to swing at the entire game. These are the elite guys and you better not chase and you’d better get your hack. Easier said than done.
Sorry Mark but Belly, Seager and Kersh are buried in the post season rabbit hole and this year Pollock jumped in with them. Just sayin if your best players don’t perform on the biggest stage then tough to win a WS! Let’s see who comes through against Strasbourg! Muncy and Turner need some help and Freese has to be in the lineup even if he has to crawl to first base
I am so sorry the Dodgers lost. But look at it this way. Like roger askew said, it will be good to celebrate the victory on Wednesday in our own stadium. Good things about the game? Maeda and May both pitched very well and were the only Dodger pitchers to not give up a run. Cody made a nice catch in CF. Justin had his 2nd HR, And I thought it was interesting to see the 3 rookies, Beaty, Lux and Smith all on a base for the bases-loaded 7th inning I think it was. Disappointed they were stranded though. Now I will leave before I say something to get myself in trouble, lol. Go Blue.
You’re really praising Belli for a great play in center and not bringing up the fly ball he horribly misplayed? Take off the blinders please.
It seems to me that Ryu and Kersh both had decent enough games.
Game 5 start these 8 guys:
1B Freese, which should have been done all along.
2B Muncy
SS Seager, there’s really nobody in this situation that is a better option but I wish there was.
3B Turner
LF Beaty, which should have been done games 2-4.
CF Bellinger
RF Pederson
C Smith, he’s hit righties better than Martin in the regular season.
Buehler to start and go as far as he can effectively, then Kershaw and Ryu to back him up.
We’ll see how bad they want it on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, my 49ers crushed Cleveland. They are 4-0. This is something I never expected. They haven’t done that in 34 years since Montana and Rice with a few other condiments thrown in.
Game 5 lineup:
Taylor LF
Muncy 2B
Turner 3B
Bellinger CF
Freese 1B
Seager SS
Hernandez RF
Smith C (only cuz Buehler is used to him behind the plate)
Buehler P
I totally agree with everything u said, even right down to the back-up pitchers to back up buehler. After the season may the Dodgers please send Lux back to the minors! He’s nowhere close to being ready for big league pitching! Lux Sux!
Pedro Moura of The Athletic wrote:
“The Dodgers have created a player-development machine three-quarters of the sport envies. They have accumulated enough depth to employ two 25-man rosters’ worth of players better than a quarter of the sport’s top 25. But, at one point or another, depth will become irrelevant, and a team’s fate will depend on its stars. It almost always does.”
So who will step up? Who will be Podres? Snider? Koufax? Garvey? Hersheiser?
Yeah. It’s just not about depth in the playoffs. The Dodgers are built to win the NL West every year. And that’s not a bad thing, as you can’t win the World Series if you don’t make the playoffs, but I do think they need to adjust the formula a little.
What that means to me in the near term is going all in on Gerrit Cole in free agency.
I would spend the money on Rendon
Tough loss tonight, but not entirely unexpected. This 5 game series was probably destined to go the full 5 anyway, so I think we’re right where we should be.
Best home record in baseball, that’s why we went out and got those 106 wins, to stack as many advantages as we can once we get to the ultimatum game. We’ve got our best playoff pitcher starting, who at least in the playoffs, is on par with the Schwerzer, Strausberg, Cole, and Verlanders of the game. I think the power stroke will return in the less humid, drier SoCal environment and like it or not, we need and rely on the long ball for offensive production. How does Strausberg respond on two games rest? All hands on deck? Well, Corbin is done, I don’t think they would trust him except for a single out. Scherzer has already pitched in two games and started the wild card game. These guys are tanks, sure, but Dodgers also feast off mistakes and odds are increasing they’ll make some. I think it will be tight for awhile, maybe thru the 5th, before we go off and runaway with it. Final score Dodgers 11 and Nationals 3.
And we’ll be grateful for the experience, because it will be a nice primer for the Astros in the WS and I think the Braves/Cards will be a cupcake matchup coming off this one.
There you go! Right on.
It’s fiction that a team is built for the regular season but not the playoffs. That makes no sense on any level.
Young players sometimes meltdown in the playoffs. Some players choke. It doesn’t mean that they are not made for the playoffs. The fact that they didn’t execute is the issue.
Joe Kelly put every batter he faced on base in game 3. Last year, he was lights out in the World Series. What’s the difference? Lack of execution.
BTW, Freese has a .143 BA against Scherzer. Taylor hits over 100 points higher.
Steve Garvey had a .338 BA in the Postseason, Mike Trout is the owner of a .083 BA. Is Trout a choke artist? It’s all about execution. The pitching moves made no difference – They only scored one damn run! You don’t win often when you do that.
Hitters got to find a way to hit. It Strasburgh can get his offspeed pitches in for strikes that is a problem Its not just LA that struggled against him this year.
By the way. Hats off to Rich Hill. Sure he walked 4 and was just a little off with his curve, not wildly out of control. Basically all starters on both sides got the job done and gave their team a chance to win in all 4 games.
Did anybody really think going into this series that this was going to be anything but a dog fight? Yes, we struggled against Strassburg in game 2, but we did manage 2 runs. In game 1, they managed zero runs and only one hit against Beuhler. ONE HIT!! All is not lost.
Today may define Striker Buehler’s career… or give him a good start.
BTW, Zack Greinke, who will be 36 before the World Series is over has a higher career ERA in the Playoff than Clayton Kershaw – 4.58 to 4.33.
Scherzer has a 3.60 Playoff ERA while Strausberg has a 0.64 ERA. Buehler is at 3.03.
Look, most people thought this was going 5.
This is playoff baseball, the two best teams in the NL.
We will need a couple guys to step up tomorrow, no doubt, but they also do too.
Game is at home, we got Buehler on one more day rest than their guy, we got more guys (better guys) ready in the Pen.
We got this.
I think the Blue “wants’ the next game pretty bad Jeff..
I think we get it done.
I too was happy for Hill, but wish he goes longer.
It’s a shame 6 inn. Is considered a quality start nowadays. . It’s a shame bunting is extinct.
1988 is along time to wait.
Someone should tell Eaton that bunting is extinct.
It is kind of hard to make any conclusions on Mike Trout’s post season capabilities since he is only 1 – 12 in three games. Three post season games for arguably the best player in the game. That is a shame!!! You might be able to draw a different conclusion that no matter how much you pay the best player in the game, that it takes a team to get to the playoffs. But since Mark brought up Trout, I will bring up a name that many on this site would undoubtedly bench because of his post season ventures. There is a player who from 1990 to 2000 (baseball age 25-35) was in 5 playoffs (no WS). That included 116 PA and 97 AB with an accumulated post season slash line of .196/.319/.299/.618. Then at 37, he took off in 2002 and had a great post season culminating in a WS loss. He played in one more playoff series where he was 2-9 (2003). So absent his 2002 post season, Barry Bonds was a sub Mendoza line hitter in the playoffs. I think I would like my chances more with Bonds in the lineup rather than on the bench, just as I do with Belli and Corey.
I do not want to be “butt-hurt” so whatever lineup norcaldodgerfan wants is okay with me. I am ambivalent to Matt Beaty over AJ Pollock. For a must win game, I would have no objection to Matt starting. He has proven himself that the game is not bigger than he is and deserves the chance while AJ continues to struggle. I do not feel the same with Belli or Corey. They should start and play every inning, no matter if they strike out every AB. And IF Freese is healthy enough, he should start at 1B and Max at 2B. It is a must win game, and Freese does give the Dodgers a better chance to win than does Lux, or CT3, or Kike’.
I for one have NEVER questioned (formally or silently) anyone’s loyalty to the Dodgers. I have never gotten “butt-hurt” by anyone disagreeing with my take. Quite the opposite. I like disagreements as long as they do not get personal. Two guys I have had the most disagreements with on this site are Mark and Dodgerrick. I have never met either one, but I consider them friends and would cherish the opportunity to argue with them over a beer at a local pub. Which is where I used to have these discussions before the internet.
This is a big Sports week for me as the Dodgers are involved in a great 5 game NLDS, and my Trojans travel to South Bend to take on the hated Irish. (Note to PeterJ – I will not be in South Bend this year, but it will feel like it as i will be enjoying the game with a bunch of Irish Catholics from Church). Believe me, if I got “butt-hurt” about any sports event it would be from my Irish buddies who love it when they are big favorites. But we will remain best of friends no matter the outcome, and one group will have bragging rights for a year. But even though most pundits do not give my Trojans a chance, I fully believe in my heart of hearts that my Trojans will prevail. No matter who starts at QB or who the head coach is. That is who I am with the Dodgers as well. I do not believe they will be beat no matter who is on the mound, or LF or 1B or 2B or C. I am not all knowing and I am not not trying to convince anyone that thinks differently that you are not a fan, but IMO the time to do an autopsy of this year’s team is AFTER the season. Believe me, win or lose, I will be critical, as I have the last several off seasons on this site. But for now, whether it is Buehler/Kershaw/KJ/Beaty/Pollock/Freese/Smith/Martin/Lux/Joc/CT3/Kike’/Freese/Belli/Corey/JT/Max, I will go into the game believing that Doc and his staff will come up with a plan that gives the team the best chance to win.
Wasn’t singling you out with the “butt-hurt” comment and never advocated sitting Bellinger or Seager, just AJ Pollock many times after game #1 and 2. The “butt-hurt” comment was an attempt at levity and directed universally to those (not named) who seem very sensitive to any comment or suggestion offered that is not in agreement with theirs. I enjoy the site for entertainment leisure, but don’t seem to understand the need for others to get “one up” on other bloggers.
We should all just enjoy the divergent opinions and less so about laying claim to who is right and wrong and then “spiking” the football. If you took my “butt-hurt and all knowing” comment personally I apologize for that, I never once directed those comments to you or anyone else by name or directly.
We all want to win and have a thousand different suggestions on how Doc get us there. If someone suggests Lux starts and Freese sits that is their opinion. If others suggest we use Ryu and not CK out of the pen in game #5, that is their opinion. If others believe Pollock is going to break his slump in game #5 and should be in the line-up that is their opinion. Lets just enjoy the divergent of thought, and if someone roots with “rose colored” glasses or through a negative lens, who cares.
norcal, in all honestly no offense taken. I thought it was tongue in cheek and I chuckled when I read it, but I just had to add it back because I know I am one who does not fall in line with the “facts”. It is easy to argue “facts”, but until the games are played on computers, sports involve emotion (good and bad – relax and press). How do you explain the Colts beating the Chiefs (that’s for you Mark)? I like it when a manager has a gut feeling. “I just know he is going to go off or pitch the game of his life.” How do you explain Alex Cora even including Steve Pearce on the post season roster after batting .180/.245/.258/.503 during the season or Joe Kelly. The pitching coach had a feeling about Joe Kelly. I have not talked to the doctors, or coaches, or Doc, or AF to find out why they are doing things they are doing. There is plenty of time to tear apart their strategy after the season.
I know you were not one who mentioned Belli or Corey, but others have. As I indicated above, many of these same guys would just look at numbers and bench Barry Bonds. I object to commentary about not picking up players at the deadline or last winter…during the playoffs. How is that helpful right now? The Darvish/Verlander issue has been diagnosed ad nauseum. After the season, great. Why are some bringing up Gerrit Cole now. He is an Astro. Dare I bring up “The Trade” again. Why are some talking about profits over championships now? After the season, have at it. The “I told you so’s” will be out in full force IF the Dodgers lose. But this Dodgers team, with no outside help coming, has 9 games to win. I still believe they will.
One final comment by me on this. while I may object to the timing, I would NEVER object to anyone bringing up any point/opinion at anytime. As you stated, they are all just opinions and EVERYONE is allowed to voice theirs, even if they dare to speak against any of my facts…er opinions. This is a great forum for that purpose.
great post
Great post AC. You and your family are still in my thoughts and prayers. Now just a quick comment. I apologize if any of my comments offended anyone or that It seemed I was questioning their loyalty as a fan. It was just a knee-jerk reaction on my part to a bunch of complaints after our 2nd game loss which I was as disappointed in. I believe we all want the Dodgers to succeed.
By the way, if anyone is interested in going to game 5, I am selling my 2 extras. Tickets are in Reserve 51, Row K. For members of this blog, the tickets are yours for face value ($38 each) .
Let me know if interested!
Maeda is not a long reliever for this series. Roberts was not going to leave him in when he pitched the night before and will most likely be needed tomorrow. I was not a fan of bringing in Urias. The Nats are an excellent team against LH pitching and Urias threw 2 innings the night before. The only lefty I would have thought about there was Kershaw, but my choice would have been May or Stripling.
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The real issue was the offense though. I thought they would get to Scherzer. They didn’t do the little things early to add on. Seager not tagging on Beaty’s fly ball. I wasn’t a fan of Beaty swinging 3-0 his next time up. Their weakness is the pen. Make him throw pitches instead of bailing him out on a 3-0 pitch. I agree with those who have stated that Freese should have been hitting 3-0 not Taylor. Did Doc really think there was a more important AB to save him for later in the game? And how did Taylor miss that fat slider in the middle of the zone to strike out?
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Freese must start Game 5 at 1st base. Lux has looked overmatched on good breaking stuff. The Dodgers need professional AB’s against Strasberg. Pollock should sit too. I don’t really care for who. Taylor, Kike, Beaty. Anyone other than Pollock who has been a bust. I don’t want to hear how he had big AB’s and did well after the DL stint. He was brought in to be a big RH bat to upgrade over Puig. Puig the last two years was .870 OPS in the playoffs. AJ is zero so far. The team was significantly better with Vergugo than Pollock. He did nothing prior to his injury and didn’t play in a meaningful game after his injury. His postseason AB’s have been pathetic. If I’m AF, I’m doing everything I can to unload him in the off season. He’s a brittle player who’s game is in the decline.
Sorry, I meant Freese should have been hitting with the bases loaded not Taylor. I had 3-0 on my mind I guess.
So Hawk, you’re telling me that there’s a chance that Pollock can redeem this postseason! It’s tough to watch him struggle right now but I still think he’s a good player and I’d give him a chance next year.
I hope they win the series. He relaxes and thrives the rest of the way out. However, he’s been terrible vs righties all year. He’s always hurt, he’s on the wrong side of thirty and his defense is declining. Right now, he looks like he’s never seen a slider in his life. He’s pulling off of every pitch. I would love to eat crow and have him be the star of game 5, but the guy is absolutely lost and choking.
I would give him a chance next series, and I would play him against any left handed starter. He can flip the switch at any time.
You know that’s not true, 59. Chances are deserved, earned. Pollock has earned very little here. I’m not saying he is useless, just useless NOW.
Here’s Houston Mitchell of the times about how individual Dodger hitter have fared lifetime against Strasburg and the Nats have done against Buehler:
“In fact, let’s look at how the Dodgers have fared against Strasburg, including postseason games:
Matt Beaty, .667 (2 for 3), 1 double, 1 RBI
Russell Martin: .500 (3 for 6)
A.J. Pollock: .412 (7 for 17), 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 homer, 3 RBIs
Jedd Gyorko: .412 (7 for 17), 2 doubles, 1 homer
Justin Turner: .250 (4 for 16), 2 homers, 6 RBIs
Will Smith: .250 (1 for 4)
Kiké Hernandez: .222 (2 for 9), 2 homers
Joc Pederson: .143 (2 for 14), 1 double, 1 homer
Cody Bellinger: .118 (2 for 17), 1 double
David Freese: .091 (1 for 11)
Corey Seager: .071 (1 for 14), 1 homer
Chris Taylor: .063 (1 for 16)
Max Muncy: .000 (0 for 12)
Alex Verdugo: .000 (0 for 3)
Gavin Lux: .000 (0 for 2)
Team: .191/.276/.382, (33 for 173) 7 doubles, 1 triple, 8 homers, 4 walks, 66 strikeouts
And the Nationals vs. Walker Buehler
Brian Dozier: .600 (3 for 5), 1 double, 1 homer, 2 RBIs
Howie Kendrick: .500 (1 for 2), 1 walk
Victor Robles: .429 (3 for 7), 1 triple
Anthony Rendon: .375 (3 for 8), 2 doubles, 2 RBIs
Gerardo Parra: .235 (4 for 17), 1 homer, 1 RBI
Adam Eaton: .167 (1 for 6), 1 walk
Juan Soto: .143 (1 for 7), 1 walk
Kurt Suzuki: .143 (1 for 7), 1 double, 1 RBI
Trea Turner: .000 (0 for 8)
Matt Adams: .000 (0 for 4)
Yan Gomes: .000 (0 for 5)
Wilmer Difo: .000 (0 for 3)
Asdrubal Cabrera: .000 (0 for 2)
Team: .205/.278/.341 (18 for 88), 4 doubles, 1 triple, 2 homers, 7 walks, 27 strikeouts”
Ironic isn’t it that the top two hitters against Buehler are both ex-Dodgers.
Absolutely agree that Roberts should of left Maeda in and it was too early to pinch hit.
With some struggles with Bellinger in the 4 hole here would be my starting lineup for Wednesday game 5.
1. Bellinger CF
2. Seager SS
3. Muncy 2B
4. Turner 3B
5. Freese 1B
6. Pederson RF
7. Smith C
8. Taylor LF
9. Buehler P
Fight On! and beat the NATS
I’m playing Pollock. He and Turner have hit Strasburg well this year, pretty much no else has. If the shift is on, the lefties should drop bunts down the third base line. Need to put pressure on the Nationals. If they give you the third base side, take advantage. I don’t see Corbin coming in to relief. They tried that in game three and he got lit up. I have no expectations how the game will play out, one way or the other. But hitters must produce in the clutch, if the Dodgers are to win. Obviously, Walker Buehler needs to be on top of his game.
Doc used your Pollock strategy the last time Strasburg pitched. Results for AJ – 0 for 4 with 3 strike outs.
This game is all about us scoring early and often. J-Hair on Dodgertalk mentioned today that he would move up in the box on Strasburg and treat every pitch like he has two strikes. If he gets a good one, he puts his A swing on and PUTS THE BALL IN PLAY. He warned that the last thing you want to be with Strasburg is 0-2 or 1-2. Also, you gotta have Freese play the whole game, this is what we got him for. I would also take Martin over Will Smith. Martin is one of those guys who could struggle all night, then hit one either out or in the gap to win a game.
I think J-Hair has the right idea. Whether it works out on the diamond is another question but it seems like good strategy.
What you said about Martin’s hitting could also be said about Smith, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Martin get the start just because of his long experience in calling games. No one has criticized that part of Smith’s game but it’s an elimination playoff game so maybe you go with the veteran.
Scoring early and often is a recipe any team would like to cook up. Against Strasburg, your chances go way down. The guy is an outstanding pitcher having an outstanding year, and pitching outstandingly good against the Dodgers. Any pitcher can be beaten, but it is going to take the bats being their best to do it. Maybe Martin does get up for big games. Freese should certainly be playing, but we need everyone to strap their cojones on and play BIG.
Verlander being thrown out there on short rest, and so far Tampa has lit him up in the first inning. 3-0 Rays and he threw like 33 pitches.
Rutt Row. Verlander getting tagged early. I wonder if the Astros fans ready to fire the manager and GM yet for starting him on short rest. RELAX EVERYODY!! Listen to Buehler today, saying you can spin it the other way and have fun with the pressure. No other pitcher on the staff that I would rather have in game 5 at Dodger Stadium than him. We just need to score abot 4 or 5 and we got this.
My starting line-up to win is:
1. LF C. Taylor
2. CF J. Pederson
3. RF C. Bellinger
4. 2B Max Muncy
5. 3B J. Turner
6. 1B D. Freese
7. SS C. Seager
8. C R. Martin
9. SP Walker Buehler
This line-up will win the game, I already simulated this game 10 times & this line-up won 9 out of 10 times, that’s a 90% chance to win. Courtesy of MLB 19 on my PlayStation 4. U wouldn’t believe me if i told u how accurate this whole season was. Every team made the postseason & some scores were exactly how it ended. Last thing, Lux Sux! He needs to go back to the minor leagues, he’s not ready for major league pitching! Manager Dave Roberts needs to stop being stupid in believing in this guy & stop starting him in the line-up, he’s just simply not major league material. Gavin Lux Sux!
You lost me at “my”…
Your guess may be as good as anyone else’s!
Lux was only the minor league player of the year! He’s facing really good pitchers. It’s not like any of our other guys are lighting it up against Washington’s starters! I’d go with Beaty in left tomorrow. I thought he had some good ab’s against Scherzer and has some success against Strasburg.
We are going to see Scherzer if the Nationals are ahead late. He has amazing reservoirs of endurance. We cannot let Washington get ahead in this game, because we won’t be seeing much of their relief staff if they do. On the other side, I don’t know why we are talking about Buehler for 7, Kershaw for 2. I would not be excited to see Kershaw , not after all the recent games where he gave up runs in the first two innings We have to hope that we can score first, and that Buehler can go a great 7, and then we could use Maeda, Urias or Jansen. I do not expect that the last two innings are going to be anything but grueling for us Dodgers fans. We just don’t have a bullpen which can cleanly close out the 8th and 9th in a close game. We have to hope that Roberts has the right feel for which pitchers to use, unlike some of the playoff games in the last few years.
I read it over again, and I do not see anything more than debatable opinions among fans. Kershaw has had slow starts in a few recent games, indicating to me that he is having problems finding his stride early in games. That is why I am leery of using him in short relief. I have no idea what the other part is that you are having problems with. The problems our relief staff has had in many close games this year, including Jansen blowing saves? The fact that we have no legitimate closer? The four consecutive batters that Kelly put on base in Game 3?
As far as “fools” are concerned, perhaps I should give back my J.D. finishing in the top 15% of my law school class at USC? And the MBA from UCLA, too? Oh, but that is just law and management, not the arcane realm of baseball analysis, where if the Dodgers lose, it is just because they did not execute.
USC and UCLA? Is that possible without being torn apart as if you enter a black hole? Did you attend Anderson School of Business? If so, good job.
It must be tough being so “brilliant”!
Great win by Tampa. Gets me more motivated for tomorrow!
Astros just lose. Interisting two next baseball days.
I thought that I knew that game pretty well but apparently not. Can someone help me understand a move/non-move from the other night?
I think it was the 5th with Trea Turner on 2nd and Urias on the mound. 1 out I think but I could be mistaken……less that 2 anyways.
Rendon is up. Probably their best hitter. 1st base open.
They pitch to Rendon and even get 1-0 to him.
Why not IBB him?
That give you a matchup against a lesser hitter in Soto. Much less patient hitter in Soto.
Gives the Dodgers a L on L matchup against Soto, and put the double play in order with Rendon on 1st.
Of course Rendon ripped a long double to score Turner.
I just don’t understand why they didnt walk Rendon. Announcers didn’t even mention it as a possibility.
Again, I just don’t understand. Maybe I would have been a fool, but I walk Rendon every time in that spot.
I have read many good observations and I appreciate everyone’s insight. It all comes down to playing the game between the white lines – and you win by executing pitches and swings at key moments. I feel good about my Dodgers – go Blue, win tomorrow and then on to the NLCS! ⚾️
How do you live with yourself? lol, or anyone else for that matter?
BTW, I removed two comments that were spoofed to be me. They were not mine. We have hacker doing that and I catch most of them, but went to bed early, so I deleted them this morning. We are getting close to finding who it is.