The Playoff Roster Remains in Flux If you have been living under a rock, then you may not know that the Dodgers clinched the NL West last night for the 5th straight year. They now have 98 wins and it’s a forgone conclusion that they will win more than 100 games. You have to love a guy like Rich Hill who is peaking just in time for the playoffs. I…
With just 10 games left until October 1st, when the season ends, the playoff roster remains a mystery. I think we all have a pretty good idea that certain players will be on the roster. Position Players Grandal Barnes Bellinger Forsythe Utley Seager Turner Hernandez Granderson Taylor Puig Ethier I left off Adrian Gonzalez because he is not anywhere near healthy. The Dodgers would love to have him on the…
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…
Let me dispel a rumor: Curtis Granderson will be on the playoff roster. Bet on it! I don’t care if he hits .000 the rest of the way. He will be on it. The playoffs start new season and Grandy will be there. That’s why the Dodgers traded for him in the first place. Also, I think he will be ready! Here’s what I see in my crystal ball: Starting…
In a word, YES! I was against the acquisition of Darvish or Verlander because I felt both of their arms were about to fall off. Well, it looks like Verlander glued his back on but Yu Darvish has struggled mightily this year. Frankly, he looks no better than Ryu or Maeda… except that he pitches deeper into games…. well, except that he didn’t last night. In fact, last night was…
Anyone who suggests that the bullpen is somehow the problem hasn’t been paying attention. Even after the past two games, the Dodgers starting pitching and bullpen remain the very best in baseball. I am not a meteorologist but I do know that sometimes it is more humid than others. Barometric pressure, humidity, air temperature and other such things can create a good or poor environment for a pitcher. No excuses….
Last night’s game? Forgetaboutit! Move on – nothing to see here folks. The team is still on pace to win 115 games. To break the record they will have to have a .717 winning percentage. With the resting of players and looking at roles for the playoffs, it seems unlikely that they will go the requisite 25-9 the rest of the way in order to beat the record. The record…
Would it surprise you to know that for the past 365 days, Pedro Baez’s ERA is 1.62? Would you be shocked to discover that with RISP, hitters are batting .104 against Pedro? Would you believe that Pedro Baez is much better in a high leverage situation that a low leverage situation? All of that is true. Look at the stats (all from Baseball-Reference): Low Leverage Situations: BA – .271 Medium…
Doc is what is up! Dave Roberts, who in his rookie season as the Dodger’s manager, won the Manager of the Year Award is a shoo-in to do it again in his second year. He’s so far ahead, there’s not a second place. Of course, FAZ gave him an embarrassment of riches, but he has managed it almost flawlessly. I still know of three or four morons who criticize FAZ…
Yu Darvish did not disappoint Friday night. I have to admit that I flat out did not want him (because he would most likely be a pure rental). But, Hawkeye Dodger and a couple of others, kept clamouring for him and then the Dodgers finally traded for him and the rest is history. Clayton Kershaw would be the Ace on any team in baseball. Yu Darvish would be the Ace…