It's that time of year again
Playoff Baseball is Here.
Ah, the first day of fall and there is a chill in the air. Some teams will be heading home come Sunday, others will meet to tussle for the Championship of major league baseball. The Dodgers will be trying to threepeat, something no National League team has ever accomplished and only the A's and Yankees have done so in the American League.
Soon the announcers will start talking about the major awards for this year's performances. Ohtani will not threepeat as the NL MVP, Pete Crow-Armstrong is a virtual lock for that award. Yamamoto will get some Cy Young votes, but the front runners for that award are the Miz and Sanchez of the Phillies. Sale has fallen off some. LA has no players in the running for Rookie of the Year, but next year, if there is one, DePaula would be a strong candidate.
LA has has one of the two NL byes. I'll settle for one of the byes any day. By this weekend we will know who is playing who. Arizona catch the Phillies for the 6th WC team. The Phillies will be playing for their playoff lives. They play the Rays, best team in the AL on Game 162.
The D-Backs have a slim chance of making the playoffs. They need to beat the Padres on Sunday, and hope Tampa does the same thing to the Phillies. As of today, the Padres would host the Cubs in the Wild Card series. The Cubs are playing Boston at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay for their final game.
As it stands right now, the Padres will host the Cubs, and the Braves will host the Phillies unless the D-Backs make it interesting by beating the Padres. LA lost five of the six meetings with the Braves, and they were 4-2 against the Phillies. So, who presents the bigger challenge? Both have LHP with Cy Young numbers, Sanchez for the Phillies and Sale for the Braves. Behind Sale is Holmes as the #2 starter, and not much else. The Brave's staff is pretty beaten up. They are going to have to use their best to beat the Phillies while the Dodgers will be able to line up their staff accordingly.
Sanchez and Wheeler are the Phils 1-2 punch. They also have a staff that is depleted due to injuries. Nola and Painter have records under .500 and ERAs over 4. They do have some good bullpen arms. Atlanta's pen is pretty decent too. The Braves slug a little more than the Phillies, but the Phillies have NL HR leader Schwarber. It was announced today that Luis Arraez, the current NL batting leader has a bad ankle. He could miss the Wild Card round and is just .002 ahead of Moreno of the D-Backs for the title.
The Phillies team BA is .240, with 180 homers. The team's pitching staff has a 4.01 ERA. Atlanta is hitting .248 as a team with 201 homers, their staff has a 3.62 ERA. The Dodgers are hitting .258 as a team with 199 homers. The staff ERA is 3.59. I think they match up better with the Phillies than the Braves. Yet it is awfully close. Soon we will know exactly who the opponent will be.
OKC Comets 5 - Rochester Red Wings 3
OKC started out well. RF Zach Ehrhard led off the game with a single and LF Josue De Paula followed with a BB. After the next three batters, that is where the runners remained.
RHSP Emmet Sheehan did not have command of his fastball in this game. The first batter he faced hit a sinking line drive into CF where CF Alek Thomas made a fantastic sliding catch. Sheehan got the first two batters but walked the next batter. That set up back-to-back singles for a run.
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In the 2nd inning, Sheehan gave up a monster HR, which isn’t hard in Vegas. But there was nothing cheap about the HR from Rochester’s 1B Liover Peguero. It was crushed.
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Ehrhard singled again in the 3rd, and for the first 5.0 innings, he had the only hits for OKC.
Sheehan was battling without his best command all night, but he kept the team close. His only clean inning was the 5th. In the 6th, Sheehan struck out the first batter, but hit the next and walked the third batter. RHRP Kyle Hurt was called to relieve Sheehan and on one pitch got a 3-4-1 DP to end the threat. He ended with 5.1 IP, 2 runs, 6 hits, 3 BB, and 7 K.
Hurt continued to pitch in the 7th and pitched a clean inning. Hurt looked very good in this game.
OKC got off the floor in the 8th. 1B James Tibbs III led off the inning with a BB. A WP put JTIII on 2nd where he scored on DH Mike Sirota’s single. CF Alek Thomas sacrificed Sirota to 2nd. 3B Ryan Fitzgerald hit a double off the wall to score Sirota tying the game. But Fitzgerald was left stranded.
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RHRP Jerming Rosario relieved Hurt in the 8th and got the first two batters out. The next batter hit a blooper into short right field that seemed to fool 2B Hyeseong Kim who had the ball hit off his glove for a single. RHRP Paul Gervase came in to get the final out of the 8th.
In the 9th, Ehrhard got his 3rd hit with one out. JDP then hit into a DP to end the inning. But on the replay the next inning, it showed JDP beat out the throw, but there are no manager challenges in MiLB.
In the 9th with Gervase still on the bump, he gave up an infield single. The next batter reached on a fielder’s choice beating out a throw to 1st on a DP attempt. Gervase walked the next batter. With runners on 1st and 2nd, Manager Scott Hennessey called on RHRP Seth Halvorsen. Halvorsen got a ground ball force out at 2nd and a routine F-8 to end the inning.
In the 10th, old friend Clayton Beeter came in to pitch for Rochester. With JDP the placed runner at 2nd, Beeter walked both JTIII and Sirota to load the bases. Thomas hit a bases clearing double on the first pitch, and that ended the night for Beeter. Fitzgerald hit a medium fly ball to CF who made a great throw to 3B in an attempt to get Thomas. The umpire called Thomas safe, and that was a gift as a replay showed the tag beat Thomas.
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The umpires continue to show they are not ready for MLB. With the placed runner at 2nd, the Rochester batter hit a ground ball that JTIII ventured well off 1B and made an awkward throw to Halvorsen covering which he miraculously caught and beat the runner to 1st. But the umpire saw it differently. Halvorsen got the next batter to GIDP, and while a run scored, there were 2 outs and the bases empty. Halvorsen struck out Leandro Pineda to end the game.
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OKC Comets are the AAA champions for 2026.
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· Zach Ehrhard – 3-5
· Alek Thomas – 2-3, 3 RBI, HBP, Sac Bunt, double
· Mike Sirota – 1-4, 1 BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI
· Ryan Fitzgerald – 1-5, 1 RBI, double (2)
There were some excellent players in both dugouts who will be playing MLB, maybe next year. I think we will see SS Seaver King at SS next year for Washington. RHP Jarlin Susana looks ready for MLB, for yet another player involved in the Soto trade to reach MLB for Washington. He was throwing 104 in the game. OF Leandro Pineda looks ready to join James Wood in the Nationals OF.
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Zach Ehrhard had a great year, and even better playoffs. For the 4 games and 17 AB, Ehrhard slashed .529/.619/.882/1.501, 3 doubles, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB, 1 K. He has more than earned a chance to make a MLB team. JDP, JTIII, and Mike Sirota should get ML service in 2027. Noah Miller should get a chance as well. He has a GG caliber glove and should be able to entice a few teams for a defensive oriented utility player.
From Mark. I tried to publish this in the comments, but the picture wouldn't show up. I love this time of year.
Discussion (44)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Well I guess they just did!
For crying out loud, will the pitchers please show the hitters where the switch is!
Tuesday schedule:
Phils at Braves 11am White Sox at Tex/Hou 2pm Boston at NY 5pm Cubs at Pads 7pm
Hey, nice job there by Bobby Miller!
This time of year every team dealing with guys who are not 100% or out for the season. So you look at our roster and just about everyone who we hoped would be ready for playoffs in beginning of year is suited up and ready to go after winning 99-100 games!! Plus Skubal!!!!!
Hello!....as I knock on the tops of your heads....is anybody in there! Do you have any idea what the 14th position player on the playoff roster does? Do you? I thought so. Justin Dean ring a bell. Hello! I like Alex Freeland. He was good in the second half. Hello! He won't be on the playoff roster because 'a AAA player at best' runs faster, is better on the base paths and plays really good defense at multiple positions. God I feel like I'm spinning my wheels. A little critical thinking gives you the answer every time. Book em
The Comets championship lineup doesn't have but a few Dodgers draftees.
RP Bobby Miller recalled from Oklahoma City and RP Blake Treinen placed on the Day IL.
Congratulations to the Comets. Great comeback. Kike was clutch yesterday, what I would love to see today, Ohtani actually hit with some slug and have a game where he doesn't strike out multiple times. Would love to see Max get his 30th. Treinen had some great moments for LA, including his gutsy performance in the 24 World Series against the Yankees. I sincerely hope he enjoys his retirement. This could also be Vesia's last year with LA. He is a free agent after the season and LA has plenty of leftie reliever options.
Edgardo Henriquez’s injury progress "Henriquez told The Athletics’ Fabian Aradaya that he threw a bullpen session on Wednesday, September 24th, his first since being placed on the injured list.
He feels like his back is in a better spot, and that he can get ready for the National League Division Series on Saturday, October 3rd".
It may not matter that much in the long run, but I really want that 100th victory today! A season where,Mookie,Will, Edman, Teo, Max, Pages, Dalton, Ohtani, and numerous pitchers all have missed time. Some lengthy stretches of time. Money can’t buy health. Money can’t buy team comradely. Of course it helps that the Dodgers can and do spend money. Sometimes it’s money well spent. Sometimes it isn’t. We’ve talked till we’re blue in the face about how 50-60%of the owners are cheapskate owners. Money can’t make teammates like and respect each other. (Kent and Bonds). It can create an atmosphere where free agents want to play. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that! If the Pirates had spent instead of shipping out star pitchers and signed some quality players, they could have contended year after year. Soon the older guys will be gone. A couple probably need to move on after this season. The front office will spend. But they will also promote from within. They will scout and trade for some youth. They will not let the Dodgers become the pirates. Baseball is such a beautiful game. I’m sitting in the bleachers waiting on my grandson to get started. Windy but beautiful day. Nothing better than being here. Nothing better than being a Dodger fan. So go Paxton! Get this tournament today. Go Dodgers! Get number 100! It does mean something!
3:05 PM ET
Dodgers (99-62) Giants (65-96)
RP Jack Dreyer L (opener bullpen game) 5-2 3.16 ERA RP Carson Seymour R (opener bullpen game) 0-2 4.70 ERA
Confirmed Lineup DH S. Ohtani L SS Mookie Betts R 1B F. Freeman L RF Kyle Tucker L LF T. Hernandez R 3B Max Muncy L CF Andy Pages R C H. Feduccia L 2B Tommy Edman S
60° Wind 14 mph Out LINE LAD -250
This is interesting. It's been 38 years since Gibby and Bulldog beat the A's. Let's break it up into two 19 year blocks. First 19 years Went to the playoffs 4 times And won, wait for it, 1 game Second 19 years Went to the playoffs 15 times And won 85 games and 3 WS Championships That's not a fairy tale, that's not homerism and it's using my eyes not my heart. That's real and that's perspective . They are a dynasty and it won't end any time soon. The Dodgers are overwhelming favorites and it won't be over until the fat lady sings. Book em
Good call on N. Miller. Should get a chance somewhere to make a big league squad.
Worst-case scenario: The Astros win the AL West with a losing record.... and then somehow proceed to power through the postseason and win the World Series, defeating the also-unworthy Diamondbacks. That would suck. Have we ever had Wild Card teams face each other in a WS?
So I guess this is the final farm report of the season, right? Thanks much, Jeff. Whenever something seems a little bit wrong with the Dodgers, the prospect news cheered he up. The AAA championship underscores the Dodgers' ridiculous depth. Looks to me like ten Comets, give or take, should have a good shot at the majors in '27, a few with the Dodgers, others not. Noah Miller and HS Kim should be in the mix with Alex Freeland to replace Rojas and Kike--assuming they decide to move on. One guy I wonder about is Tibbs. He's more than proven himself ready, but by all indications Freddie will be back with his achey ankle. Tibbs is more of a Garvey-sized option at 1B, but he can also play a corner OF (perhaps with better defense than de Paula). He's not a great fit for the roster, but he's a good guy to have stashed in OKC in case Freddie gets hurt. He could also factor into a trade for a SS or another position of need.
/media/ladodgertalk/2026/09/steam-02d7f2.jpg (I don't know why I can post this picture. I'll post it above after Jeff's Minor League Championship Report.
This is what I woke up to this morning. It's 48 now, with a high of 75 today. The pool water is 88 degrees, and you can see the fog.. My wife and I are drinking our coffee by the pool. Shadrack doesn't drink coffee. I love this time of year.
Our son, Steve, just sold his house about 45 minutes away and is moving about 10 minutes away. The Closings on both houses are tomorrow, and he has to be out of his old house by 9:30 AM Monday and close on the new house at 10:30. His family is staying with us tonight, and I am driving the moving truck tomorrow as he begins this new adventure in his life.
He bought his old house when he was 18 and is now 27. He worked on it most evenings and every weekend. It was 120 years old, and he gutted it down to the studs and made about $300K on the deal. They have 2 kinds and want to have one more so he moved up to a bigger house.
I wasn’t surprised to see Trienen hit the IL.
In his last outing, the way he pitched, with absolutely no conviction, made me very suspicious. He was definitely not right. He’s been a great servant. I don’t think we win it all in 24 without him .
Congratulations to Oklahoma City on winning the AAA National Championship game. Hopefully we will see some of those players on the Dodger's roster in the near future. I doubt many will, but I hope a few can, rather than let them rot in AAA as Ryan Ward did and we get NOTHING in return for them. Who gets called up today to replace Treinen on the roster? Going for a 100 season wins today against the lowly Giants in a bullpen game. It will be the 6th time in the last 10 years the Dodgers have achieved a 100 or more-win season if we win today. Quite an achievement under Doc's watch.