So, the Dodgers took two out of three from the Nationals on their home field and you are upset that Stephen Strasburg, the hottest pitcher in baseball, beat them? Let’s not lose sight of the ultimate goal. You have to remember a few things:
- The Ultimate Goal is to win the World Series. Nothing much else matters.
- The front office, coaching staff and the manager are very smart.
- The Dodgers saw Strasburg but the Nats didn’t see Darvish.
- Do you think the pitching patterns are going to be the same in the playoffs are they are now? Personally, I think the patterns will be different in the playoffs. That’s part of the game and how you thwart scouting.
- Buehler and Ravin will not be on the playoff roster and it’s possible that Ryu and/or Stripling might not be either. Right about now, I trust Stewart to pitch 2 innings more than I do Stripling.
- The Nats and the Dodgers will both vary their pitching patterns and you saw that the Dodgers are going to be prepared to run… unlike last year.
- Both teams are delivering false signals to each other right now. What’s real? What’s a decoy?
We are not going to learn a lot from this series. Roberts and Baker aren’t tipping their hands. These teams know that they are likely to have to play each other to get to the World Series. Ryu was excellent until he lost his focus – pure and simple – it was a mental lapse. He has to get better at that. He has had those lapses frequently. Two words: Sports Psychologist!
Ryu is simply losing focus or concentration by letting up at times. Actually, he has been very good this year. His walk rate is up be he has delivered for the most part. He should be a very important part of the rotation next year. While we are talking about next year, Stripling, McCarthy and Maeda are all trade candidates. Believe it or not, a lot of teams would love to have Stripling and there’s a market for Maeda and McCarthy. Not all three will be traded, but I could see two of them gone. The big question is whether the Dodgers will try and sign Darvish?
Speaking of McCarthy… he’s supposed to be back this week. Can he pitch out of the pen? Maybe! Maybe not…
The Dodgers were 3-3 this year against the Nats and their magic number to clinch the West is 4! The Indians and Dodgers are 1,2 in team ERA with 3.35 and 3.40 respectively. However, the Dodgers team WHIP is 1.15 compared to the Indians 1.17.
Discussion (33)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I gather Kershaw was off all night. He was pitching on an extra day of rest which never seems to work out to well. Meanwhile Dodger starters held the Nationals to 2 runs during their 3 game series. Yes Stripling blew the game but after that whatever happened didn’t matter. Beuhler is being tested (and does not seem ready) with Ravin mopping up.
I’m more interested in how Darvish pitches. We was sharp in his last outing. Has he turned the corner with his mechanics?
I agree with what you say about ray but I am going on what we have done against ray which is nothing. Kershaw is not pitching like an ace but maybe he is hurt. It’s my opinion but I just don’t have confidence that kershaw will be any different in this postseason than he has been in the others. Because of him being the number 1 starter he has to produce for us to win, after all that is why he is getting 35 million to produce. Although you can’t compare careers ray is currently a shutdown pitcher but hopefully not this playoff. I hope I am delusional but 2 bad 7th innings don’t quite sum up kershaw post season problems. One only has to look at his vintage game against the cubs last year which I don’t believe he made it to the seventh.
Magic Number 3!!
Yawn!
To make my point about the Dodgers’ offense, here’s what True Blue LA had to say about the Phillies’ starting pitcher tonight:
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“Phillies rookie right-hander Nick Pivetta ranks dead last in ERA (6.75) among the 126 major league pitchers with at least 100 innings in 2017, is averaging just 5.04 innings per start. Pivetta has recorded an out in the sixth inning just once in his last eight starts, and since the All-Star break has allowed 58 runs on 76 hits in 57 innings, covering 12 starts.”
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They managed 2 runs against him.
I posted this on 9/17:
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I am not yet ready to concede that the problems that the Dodgers had during the horrible streak are solved. One thing that Roberts has stated is that it all starts with the starting pitching. Kershaw, Darvish, Wood and Hill have all had good starts so they won all of those games. During their incredible 3 month run, it didn’t matter if the starters pitched well – they usually figured out a way to win anyway.
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I will be convinced that they are “back” when they grind out some tough wins, come from behind, and the offense is hitting on all cylinders. Lately, too many hitters aren’t hitting. They have a giant black hole in LF, Grandal isn’t hitting at all, and 2B has usually been bad too. Seager has lost his power stroke and Taylor is looking tired. They need to get it ALL together again before the post-season. The last 4 games have been a good start – can they recapture the magic of May – July?
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So – they win 4 in a row when the starters dominated. They lost last night when Ryu couldn’t get out of the 5th. They lost tonight when Kershaw got slammed.
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The offense isn’t working any more. There is no margin for error. The hitting with RISP has stopped. The coming from behind hasn’t happened in weeks.
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They haven’t really come out of the late August tailspin yet. They don’t have much time left to do it.
Yep, now there’s a comment that has shut down the wire for awhile…
Reminds me of Twitter guy in D.C…
We got folks like AC and Hawkeye that inform and generate thought and then there’s twitter guy!!!
Kershaw is not going to win 20. He is a good pitcher but his greatness is certainly overstated. If you can’t beat the worst team in the league well I just wouldn’t talk about greatness. He is not worth 35 million or whatever it is. The dodgers have been unbelievable at times but the post season is another animal. The nationals have fantastic pitching and a great lineup. The dbacks the same. I would take Robbie ray over a head to head matchup with kershaw. I’m sorry but I find myself diasappointed with him over and over. When we were in the midst of the terrible losing streak our ace can’t get through 4 innings. When we had greinke game 1 should have gone to him but the hype chose kershaw. A great pitcher is sandy koufax. When it got tough he was tougher where kershaw wilts. Anyway klueberpitches like an ace, bumgarner I don’t like but if we had him instead of kershaw we would have had a World Series. I know the statistics are blah blah blah but the bigger the game such as the last cubs game he owes the dodgers a refund.
An interesting FYI from CBS Sports. Baseball may not have a 20 win pitcher for the first time in almost10 years. The only non strike no 20 win seasons are 2006 & 2009. The only pitcher who seems to have a chance is CK. He has 3 starts (including tonight) and the other three 17 game winners are lined up for only two more starts. Assuming the Dodgers don’t hold CK back from one of his starts and he wins all three he will be 20-3 in 27 starts.
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As the velocity of pitches goes up, and it seems to have done so in the last few years with almost everyone hitting the 90+mph mark, the TJ surgery rate is going up, the IR list for pitcher is getting longer and the starts pitchers are making is going down.
When you live on the West coast and post after the game no one sees it because a new thread is started in the morning. So, without meaning to sound too vain, I will repost my last post from yesterday (also the last post in the thread).
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1- Our bull-pen continues to give up HRs at an alarming rate. That can’t continue in the post season.
2- Granderson was 9-78 since coming to the Dodgers. That’s .115. That’s like playing with 8 and throwing in an out.
3- Grandal got a hit tonight to break a 20something hitless streak. That’s like playing with 8 and throwing in an out.
4- When you add the pitcher’s spot, that throws in another out. With 3 almost certain outs in your lineup you can’t expect to score many runs.
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The Nats have a great team it is going to take everything we have if we meet them in the playoffs. We need to fill the black holes
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Either needs to play so we can see if he can still hit. Not playing him seems to be saying he isn’t going to be in the playoff line-up. Agon isn’t really able to perform. His career is over due to his back. Can’t see him being on the post season roster.
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Does anyone have any news of Towle’s progress?
Doc must have put down $50 in Vegas that Granderson gets a hit today. It’s the only logical explanation why he’s in there again.
Based on what I’ve heard and read, I think we may be seeing Barnes and Grandal more of a catching platoon.
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Nice look at some minor league top-liners and an under-radar guy by FanGraphs:
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http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/a-minor-review-of-2017-los-angeles-dodgers/
Today’s lineup:
Taylor
Turner
Belly
Puig
Barnes
Granderson
Utley
Kike-SS
Kershaw
AC you have made me interested in our Minor League System with your very easy to read round ups. Good work & thanks.
I have a feeling these next couple of weeks are gonna drag.
I’m ready for Post Season Dodger Baseball for the 5th year in a row.
Just wanna get going now.
Badly jaded after 5 days in Spain with 28 pals playing golf between the drinking.
Didn’t see any of she Nats series, but
To win 2-1 is very positive.
However, they will be a tough nut to crack in the Playoffs behind Scherzer & Strasburg.
The 2017 Minor League Season for the Dodgers has come to an end. Yesterday two league championships were on the line, and the Dodger affiliates split them. The Tulsa Drillers lost a heartbreaker 1-0 to the Midland RockHounds (A’s). This was the fourth consecutive Texas league championship for Midland. In yesterday’s finale, the Midland leadoff hitter got on board on a throwing error by third baseman Erick Mejia, and later came around to score the game’s only run. Dennis Santana pitched very well, going 6 innings allowing the 1 unearned run on 6 hits, 1 walk, and 7 strikeouts, taking the loss. Dennis Santana had a very fine ending to his AA promotion…0 earned runs over 13 playoff innings. 9 hits, 3 walks, and 18 strikeouts. The lone offensive highlight was Matt Beaty going 3-5, in undoubtedly his AA swan song. Drew Jackson and Kyle Garlick had the two other Driller hits.
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In the Pioneer Rookie League, the Ogden Raptors needed to complete 2 games to win the league championship. The Raptors lost Game 1 in a 15-3 laugher. Connor Heady was 2-3 and Rylan Bannon hit his third championship series HR. In Game 2, the Raptors won 8-3. The Raptors never trailed in nightcap. Donovan Casey, Romer Cuadrado, Brayan Morales, and Kevin Lachance each had 2 hits. Edwin Uceta went the first 4 innings allowing 1 run on 3 hits, 3 walks, and 1 strikeout. Conor Costello picked up the win with a scoreless inning, and Justin Hoyt finished the game and season.
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6 of the 8 minor league affiliates went into the playoffs, and two came out on top…One of the two DSL teams, and the rookie league Pioneer League champion, Ogden Raptors. Two teams came in 2nd, the second of the two DSL teams, and the AA Tulsa Drillers. The AZL Dodgers and the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes both went out before the final series. There were a number of players who had outstanding seasons to loo back on. I am working on creating a year end report for each of the teams.
Yesterday’s game was nothing more than playoff auditions, primarily for the bullpen. I agree with Dodgerrick’s and Hawkeye’s assessment of Walker Buehler that he has great stuff, but just is not ready for prime time. He needs to continue to pitch at this level for the next two weeks to work on that command against major league hitters. Depending on which starting pitchers are still with the team next Spring, Buehler may start out at OKC, but it will not be long for him to move to LA permanently. And maybe that is out of ST, but he needs better command and more confidence that he can beat the hitters with his best stuff. That will come, and then watch out.
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If there was any question that Josh Ravin would be on the playoff roster, that was answered. Josh is another example that pitchers need more than a high 90 MPH fastball to compete at the ML level. I am pulling for him, because he is a good local kid. He still has 1 option, so hopefully he will work on that off-speed pitch to go with the #1. One thing we have learned with FAZ is that the bullpen is very fluid, and many pitchers will get a chance to prove themselves at the ML level.
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I feel badly for Ross Stripling. He has been used quite a bit this year (45 games and 70.1 innings). He is probably gassed. I watched that same fastball being blown by Nolan Arenado earlier in the season. It is now dropping down into the zone, and very few pitchers throw hard enough to get a letters high fastball by ML hitters. He needs that pitch at the shoulders, and enough juice so that it doesn’t drift down. This is his first full year as a reliever, and I think he will become a very good one, but I think he is one of those who is tired and will probably not make the initial playoff roster.
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I think Ryu was also auditioning for a playoff reliever spot, as I do not think he will start. He proved he can get ML hitters for a playoff team out. Just not as a starter (yet). Can he pitch in back to back games? I do not know as he has not tried that (that I am aware of). His status will be determined based on which other LHRP are selected.
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If Ryu is added to the bullpen, he becomes the long man, and Brock Stewart should go all out for one inning. He has been dominant at times when pitching one inning. He was unscored on in 2017 until he started on July 26 against Minnesota. His first two innings were excellent. It was that 3rd and 4th inning that did him in. He has not been the same pitcher since, and he has started three other games since then, all with the same results. But if he is told…”go out and give me everything you got for one inning”, I do not see a downside (unless perfection is the standard). Even Kenley cannot live up to that standard.
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I have no idea what to expect from McCarthy. I am not sure he is a reliever. I think he gets to audition for that role, but I just do not know what to expect.