Flip the Switch It s Go Time!

I just love it when players like Taylor and Barnes force the manager into more playing time. They just keep grinding and when they get an opportunity to play they do well. JT did the same thing. They start out as subs and pretty soon they have a starting job. Love it.

Hawkeyes, I agree with everything you say about Barnes except one. I think he is a better play caller than Grandal. He makes the pitchers work. He certainly makes Baez throw his slider and change up and Grandal does not. He is much quieter behind the plate. He is smaller and that may help him. He needs to start more.

Gonna be tough to keep Barnes out of the lineup. Every bit as good a pitch framer as Grandal, better hitter, can run, less pass balls, weaker arm, probably not quite as good calling games.

That was the most complete the team has looked in some time. I know it’s the Padres at home but they out scored them 28 to 5 in sweeping. Hill looked tremendous, Barnes looked great and Cory, Grandy and Puig went deep. Even McCarthy looked pretty decent. I feel bad for AGon but the team did not miss a beat. A much deserved day off tomorrow then a trip to Coors and the Rocks are about ready to clinch their WC spot after tonight.

Viagra overdose eh?

IMO, catcher and 1b are the most important positions in the infield and perhaps on the field. Those positions handle the ball much more often than any other position on the field and thus have the opportunity to save runs or give them up more often. I believe it is imperative to have good defensive players in those two positions. That’s why I like Cody at first, be just may be the best in baseball.

Brooklyn

I know how important a first baseman can be, but it is still the first place any team will put a DH on the field, and that is because it is the easiest position on the field, to play!

But I never said Cody should play other then first base, at this point in his career, but he much more talented then most first baseman, by quite a bit.

But I always enjoy your words, and your thoughts!

Hawkeye, I had some people all over me, because I said Russell made a lot of throwing errors!

They also made it sound, like Russell was the best guy in the infield on defense, at his position.

I was young, but that is what I remember Russell doing a lot!

And they were still were using the excuse, that Russell was converted from being a centerfielder, to a shortstop, and that was after Russell had played at shortstop in the majors, for quite a while!

MJ, Cody Bellinger is an asset no matter where he plays. But I also think that first base is an extremely underrated position. As far as I’m concerned, an exceptional first baseman is worth his weight in gold. As I said in my previous post on the previous thread, first base is the anchor of the infield. A good first baseman saves countless errors, and instills confidence in every infielder making a throw to first. Living in NY, I learned to appreciate how important the first baseman was just by watching Keith Hernandez and John Olerud of the Mets, both exceptional defensive players.

Dodgers got their mojo back? Be nice.

That’s an excellent question, Watford and it makes sense to me.

#1 Kershaw

#2 Hill

#3 Darvish

#4 ???

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But, maybe Clayton pitches Game one on Friday, Hill pitches game 2 on Saturday, Sunday is an off day, Darvish pitches Game 3 on Monday and you bring back Clayton on 4 games rest in Game 4. He is not gassed this year and has a better ERA on 4 days rest than on 5!

Update: Gonzalez shut down for the rest of the regular season due to back tightness. That certainly puts his playoff spot in jeopardy, but then again he would be asked to do anything other than pinch-hit. Also, no Darvish or Wood on Sunday. Another bullpen game. Oh joy, I’m sure the Brewers are thrilled by that decision.

Tonight’s lineup;

Taylor-CF

Seager-SS

Turner-3B

Bellinger-1B

Kike-LF

Forsythe-2B

Barnes-C

Puig-RF

Hill-P

AC – a hypothetical question.

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I guess the general consensus is that Kershaw will start game 1, followed by Darvish for game 2.

Presumably, Hill will start game 3, or possibly Wood – either way they are pencilled in for games 3/4, or possibly Kershaw on 4 days rest for game 4.

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My question is this – if Colorado happens to beat AZ in the WC game, would you consider moving Hill up to pitch game 2 at Dodger Stadium, where he seems to pitch well, rather than Coors where his curve doesn’t seem to work?

Let Darvish pitch game 3 at Coors?

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In fact, is that an option even if we end up playing Az?

What do you think?

I believe that they will take at least 12 pitchers. I think Rudy’s 11, plus Maeda or Ryu (that may depend upon the matchups).

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I can see Ryu or Maeda starting and Wood coming in from the pen. Actually, I think it will be Maeda with Ryu being hit in the arm his last start.

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Farmer will not make the playoff roster – he is not familiar enough with our pitchers.

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A-Gon turned my head last night!

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I would love to see Buehler.

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Please, Big Dodger in the Sky, No El Gasolino!

There seems to be some very interesting discussions going on as to who will be the 4th starter, and who goes to the bullpen. I know it is not a secret to anyone how much of an Alex Wood fan I am. I believe he has more than earned a spot in the starting rotation. However, Ryu has pitched well the 2nd half of the year, and is not really a consideration for the bullpen because of how long it takes for him to get ready, and an apparent inability to go back to back games. On the other hand, Alex Wood can be (and has been) dominant for 1-2-3 innings in relief. Is the team better with Ryu as the 4th starter and Alex Wood in the pen, or Alex Wood as the 4th starter and Luis Avilan in the pen? In October, in a short series, the team has to be the center of attention, not the individual. So no matter how I feel about Wood as a starter, I beleive the team is better with him in the bullpen. I think he can go two innings if need be in Games 1, 3 and 5. Ryu cannot.

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Is the team better with Brandon McCarthy in the bullpen or better with Walker Buehler or Kenta Maeda? I do not see Maeda being left off the roster. So if the roster makeup is 14-11, I would switch McCarthy with Maeda, and Avilan with Ryu. If they choose to go 13-12, that would make Maeda absolutely the long reliever, and that would open the door for McCarthy/Buehler/Avilan. I think Buehler is the longshot, but Friedman has used a rookie in the post season before in David Price. They all need some additional appearances over the next four games to make the determination. Also, can Fields and/or Watson go again tonight?

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If the roster is 14-11, I agree 100% with your position players. If 13-12, I would leave off Farmer, but he would travel with the team as the emergency catcher if something happens to Grandal or Barnes. I think AGon proved last night that he still has a few more hits in that bat, as does Ethier. Also their experience or leadership abilities cannot be matched by Farmer.

No one asked, but this is my playoff roster prediction, alphabetized for your dining and dancing pleasure.

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PITCHERS

1. Avilan

2. Cingrani

3. Darvish

4. Fields

5. Hill

6. Jansen

7. Kershaw

8. McCarthy

9. Morrow

10. Watson

11. Wood

Outside looking in – Baez, Buehler, Font, Maeda, Paredes, Ryu, Stewart, Stripling

BATTERS

1. Barnes

2. Grandal

3. Bellinger

4. Farmer

5. Forsythe

6. Gonzalez

7. Seager

8. Turner

9. Utley

10. Ethier

11. Granderson

12. Hernandez

13. Puig

14. Taylor

Outside looking in – Culbertson, Dickson, Segedin, Pederson, Thompson, Verdugo

Brooklyn

Of course Cody’s athleticism isn’t wasted at first, because he is a very good first baseman!

But with his athleticism, and his wheels, he would be much better served, playing a tougher, and more important, defensive position!

And especially if this was done, earlier in his career, or while he was still, very young!

Can you imagine how his bat would play, in centerfield?

The thing is that Cody is not just fast for a first basemen, he is one of the fastest players, on the team!

But as he gets older, and starts filling out, it will be better, that Cody is playing first base, and not in the outfield!

But Cody did make a real good throw last night from center, and I think we might have more outfield assists this year, then we have had, in quite a while!

Maybe.

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Let’s see how they do playing a team that has something to play for (Colorado – last series of the season) and not the dregs of the league (SF and SD).