Toronto hitting coaches apparently advised the Blue Jays hitters to attack the first 4-seamer over the plate. Toronto hitters must have paid attention as both Davis Schneider and Vlad Guerrero Jr. jumped on Blake Snell’s fastball over the plate and drove it out of the yard. Schneider hit Snell’s 1st pitch, a 96.4 MPH 4-seamer, above the belt, inside zone. and Vlad Jr. hit Snell’s 3rd pitch, a 96.0 MPH 4-seamer, thigh high, inside zone. First time for back to back HRs to open the first inning in WS history.
Contrast that to LAD first inning. On a 2-2 pitch, Ohtani swung at a 4-seamer middle outside the zone, and hit it back to the pitcher. Something tells me that Toronto would have taken that pitch into LF.
Will Smith in his new spot in the batting order swung at a 4-seamer and hit a weak fly ball into LF for an out. John Smoltz advises us every game that Mookie will not swing at the first pitch in his first AB. So Mookie looks at a 95.3 MPH 4-seamer right down the middle for strike 1. He then swings at 2 sliders dropping out of the zone for a K.
In the 2nd, Freddie saw one 4-seamer that he fouled off and K’d on a splitter. Teoscar both saw one 4-seamer that they fouled it off, and K’d on a slider, while Edman K’d on a splitter.
Kiké Hernández hit a 4-seamer on a pitch location very reminiscent of Snell’s pitch to Schneider, and he did the same thing with a HR. That was the last time the Dodgers would cross home plate for a run,
With that HR, the Dodgers got to within 1 and then give it back in the next inning. Daulton Varsho hit a flair into RF that Teo tried to dive for a catch he really had no chance at, and he turned a single into a triple. Ernie Clement hit a sac fly, and Toronto had their 2-run lead again.
Going into the 7th Snell was pitching well, but Trey Yesavage was even better. In the 7th, Snell allowed a one-out single and walk. He struck out Schneider for the 2nd out, but also had 2 WP. Edgardo Henriquez came in and both inherited runners scored. One on a WP and one on a Bo Bichette single.
Anthony Banda threw another WP for another Blue Jays run in the 8th.
I thought Game 4 was bad, but Game 5 was pathetic. The Dodgers got 3 singles (2 infield) and 1 HR for 4 hits, 1 BB, and 15 K. They only got 1 runner in SP. 4 WP/PB whatever you want to call them. Could have gone either way (except 1). Dodgers led MLB in that category this year. The bullpen was horrible again, and again they could not keep the inherited runners from scoring.
The Dodgers very meekly went down to defeat 6-1. I did not see anything positive from the Dodgers in this one. No fight at all in the last two nights.
This is the team we saw in July and August. Perhaps Game 3 took it all out of this older aged team. At least we get to see the one LAD highlight that has shown his mettle in a complete game victory, as the SP in Game 6, Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
You expect Vlad Guerrero Jr., George Springer, Bo Bichette, and Alejandro Kirk to hit, but it was Addison Barger, Ernie Clement, Davis Schneider, Daulton Varsho who have put their stamp on this WS. Toronto has 5 hitters batting north of .300, including Addison Barger at .471. They have 8 hitters batting .250 and above. This team lost their leadoff hitter and clutch bat in George Springer for two games, and won both. Their role players stepped up. The Dodgers’ HOFers have not shown up except for Shohei in one game, much less any role players.
The Dodgers have 2 batters with BA north of .300 (neither over .318), and 1 at .250. They only have 5 hitting north of .150. How can you win a WS with that kind of offense?
The Dodgers have scored 2 runs in 4 innings. None more than 2. 1 came on a meaningless 2-run HR by Ohtani in an 11-2 game. They hit two solo HRs in another inning.
Toronto has scored 9 in an inning, 4 in an inning twice, and 2 in an inning 4 times.
The Dodgers have 38 hits, 8 HRs (7 solo), 24 BB and 55 K. Toronto has 53 hits, 7 HRs (3 solo), 22 BB and 44 K.
It will be loud and raucous in Toronto on Friday. Can Yamamoto spin another gem? Will any LAD bat go off? Will Kevin Gausman have a Trey Yesavage type game?
I am hoping but not overly optimistic about a back to back WS championship.
Right about now the Reds, Phillies and Brewers are thinking “We lost to these guys?”
This team has not been good most of the year. We did have a flurry toward the end. It was the starting pitching that ignited the flurry. Our offense sucks and has for a very long time. I said that earlier and one of the posters said that basically I was full of it but I stand by it. Snell pitched good tonight not great but u have to score to win. Our offense just can’t do it. Pages, Betts, Edman, Teoscar, have been awful most of the playoffs. Freddie has had some moments but also has trouble staying in the strike zone. He had a solid year but has been chasing n striking out a lot. Ohtani has had a monster game or 2 but not consistent. Kike has had moments but has been mostly cold. Will smith has been solid but also had a game where he struck out 4 times. Last year Teo was huge n clutch, kike was hot, Edman was red hot, Freddie had his usual clutch hits, and the rest did enough to support the hot hitters. Our bullpen is awful n that is where injuries have hurt the most but bad performance as well. Injuries to kopech, Phillips, treinen, Graterol, with Scott and Yates awful. Vesia missing has hurt while Banda cat get anybody out. Toronto has outpitched, out hit, out defensed us, and frankly show a much greater desire to win. I hope things change but I don’t expect it.
Have to take a break. Family emergency. Baseball taking a back seat for now. I have little hope they can win 2 in Toronto. But anything is possible. Yoshi pitching game six, so they could tie the series.
Take care, Bear!Hope this family emergency turns out good.
SEA won two games in a row in TOR. Dodgers can do that too but my hopes are not high looking at the last two games.
I really thought that Game 3 broke the spirit of the Jays but the opposite appears to have happened. Weird!
Dodgers need someone to step up and take charge.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pathetic offense that looks old and slow. Poor defense. They do excel on k’s. Amazing they made it this far. They show little desire I agree with Bear winning two in Toronto seems unlikely. Hope all turns out well Bear. God Bless.
I appreciate it guys. Thanks for all the support. Reading the Dodger site, seems like the writers think the Dodgers are a determined bunch. Sandy. They are old. The only starter under 30 was Pages and he has been the worst of the bunch. Your stars don’t play like stars; you are going to lose. Right now, Toronto is a much better team on the field than the Dodgers.
Best of luck to you Bear with this emergency. Godspeed.
“This is the team we saw in July and August”
Yep.
Toronto is hungrier. They are a complete team and they are on a mission. That said, it isn’t over yet.
How will it be written? The old, broken down Dodgers ran out of gas, or the $400 million Super Team defending champions stormed back and did what they were expected to do.
I still have hope of course, but I’m prepared for a long off season.
The poor play by Conforto this year seems highlighted this WS. His inability to hit prevented him from making the post season roster resulting in the Dodgers being rather limited in their ability to mix and match. The Blue Jays line-up with Lukes and Schneider gives them more options with righty/lefty match-ups.
Love Kike, but Doc has no such options to PH for him or Pages when the situation calls for it. We don’t have a versatile roster and it’s on full display the last two games. Dean and and Kim (apparently) are not offensive options at all.
Doc sat Pages, now it’s time to sit Edman in game #6. Give Miggy Ro a start.
I refuse to say the post season is a crapshoot, but it does seem the Blue Jays are getting everything to break their way. A bloop hit, a pass ball, a non-called strike on a check swing, the Dodgers inability to turn DP etc.
Last year we got the breaks. Off the top of my head I can think of the Verdugo falling into the stands, the IBB to Mookie to get Freddie up to hit the GS, the dropped fly ball by Judge, the failure of Cole to cover 1B, the low Volpe throw to 3B on a force out etc.
Team looks slow and old where the Blue Jays are energized. Not expecting the Dodgers to win the WS this year, but hoping Yammamoto pitches a gem and we force a game #7.
If we don’t pull this thing out, and even if we do, AF has some BIG work to do this off season. SP is good with the returning pitchers from injuries but what to do with an aging roster and the need to infuse some young talent with more athleticism?
WS……Mookie is 3-23 .143, Muncy is 3-20 .150, Edman 3-21 .143, Pages 1-15 .067. Win or lose this thing, I’m with Jeff D. It’s time to see a new hitting coach..RVS has to go.
Yeah that was well said. I’m in shock with how poorly this offense has preformed. It’s downright pitiful. These hitting coaches should quit on their own. They sure don’t deserve the money they’re getting paid
Well said Northcal. This team hit 244 dingers and ked 1353 times. How about looking for some hitters who make contact with solid fundamentals along with a new hitting coach.
The answer to the title question is choking. Which is why I know they can go up to Toronto and win tomorrow.
That being said, time to go make history.
The thing I love about baseball is that I have no idea what will happen on Friday. Yamamoto could pitch a complete game shutout and turn this thing around. Toronto could score 5 runs in the first inning and blow the Dodgers out for the series win. It’s one of the major reasons I love following baseball 🙂
That said, I will not feel anything but content (as a Dodgers fan) even if the scenario is the latter. This team has given me some amazingly fun, unexpected games this post season — a true surprise gift given how bad they were over long stretches of the regular season. I have enjoyed these playoff games immensely, and that “joy” does not disappear if they fail to win the ridiculously arduous “tournament” that is the present MLP playoff system.
I have said it before: I feel super-spoiled as a Dodgers fan. Sure, I want them to finish the job when they get to the World Series, and I want to see them play good baseball (and get beat as opposed to beating themselves), but man this game is hard, and this team is exhausted, and I don’t feel like pointing fingers if they don’t pull this out. Whatever happens, they were (at worst) two games from another championship, and that is impressive.
When it’s over, and the braintrust looks ahead, I am all in favor of focusing on contact over slug, for getting younger and more athletic, for being more versatile offensively and defensively — but tomorrow night I am going to feel privileged to watch my team play in game 6 of the World Series, and I think there is a good chance I will get to see them play one more game after that 🙂 .
My sentiments exactly.
In 2020, we were down 3-1 to Atlanta in NLCS and it looked very bleak.
Last year we were down 2-1 to Padres in NLDS with a bullpen game at Petco.
Seems this team has the capability of climbing back from the brink of defeat.
Im not giving up just yet. If Yamamoto can do it again, then we get a game 7 against Scherzer with Glasnow. It’s doable. As bad as it seems right now.
Agree 100%
To answer the question above, I don’t think the Dodgers are good enough.
The team’s current lack of hitting was on display for much the regular season. Because of their reliance on slug they were able to beat up on most of baseball’s weaker teams. I think the way they played and still came out on top of the division shows that many teams aren’t that good.
The Dodgers have three HOFers and several other All Stars. Unfortunately, most are over 30 and past their prime. The regular season is a marathon as is the current postseason format. To have that kind of talent and be shutdown by a pitcher who started the season in A ball really reveals the reality of the Dodger’s
“talented” lineup. It’s disappointing and sad to watch.
Going into the series I thought the Dodgers had a real advantage against the Toronto pitching. There was no real ace to fear and their BP wasn’t much better than the Dodgers. Again, the Dodgers just picked the wrong time to go into a complete deep freeze with their hitting. After sweeping Cincinnati the offense was producing enough to gets to the WS. Once in the WS the offense became a no show.
With Toronto, I was well aware of Guerrero’s and Bichette’s outstanding offensive skills. But, I’d never heard or knew anything about the other Blue Jays’ hitters. I’m very much impressed with most of them. Why? Because their approach to hitting is more in line with what I enjoy watching. Lots of contact, base hits, and the not relying on slug to win games. These youngsters grind away and seem to have a plan with each AB. Maybe, the Dodger higher ups are taking notes.
I’m still hopeful that the Dodgers can pull this out in Toronto. But, I’ve been hopeful that Andy Pages would wake up at the plate. That didn’t happened.
Let’s see what Yamamoto can do Friday night. Bottom line though the Dodger hitters HAVE to be productive.
Carry on.
Good post Ted. I too didn’t follow the Jays enough to be familiar with their line up besides the guys you mentioned.
What irks me most about the season is how we stuck with Conforto the entire season when it was obvious he didn’t have it. Doc and AF hung their hats on hope instead of reality.
Conforto played 138 game in left, with 418 at bats. Those wasted at bats could have gone to another player or two who may have helped us develop a better outfield.
Ryan Ward comes to mind and his .290/.937 in AAA. Had he gotten any opportunity to see what he could do with the Big Club, we may have a left fielder now.
But we will never know.
Well said philjones. AF/Gomes DID waste an opportunity to try someone else in LF instead of sticking with Conforto to the bitter end of the season. Yeah, I know someone can come along and say “20/20 is hindsight.” But that’s baloney! While I’m not paid to make the right decisions on personnel matters, Friedman and Gomes ARE paid and ARE accountable for being “right” on those decisions! And the fact is — they got it WRONG with Conforto for not jettisoning him by the middle of the season, and thus wasted a chance to find another option that could’ve helped us in the post season. FAIL!
One vote for choking
The Dodgers are choking because they are just not that good. A lot of fundamental flaws.
Bottom line the dodgers need to get younger.
I would like to see that.
All but one Blue Jay starter got a base hit last night. 3 of the Dodger’s starting nine got a hit. The Dodgers struck out 15 times. The Jays 7.
Bad hitting by the Dodgers or superior pitching by the Jays?
The Jays approach to hitting is so good. Contact. They hang in counts until they get a pitch to put in play. What a radical concept.
As I mentioned before, I would find some coach in the Brewers or Jays organization and bring him to the Dodgers to provide a voice that is anti RVS.
The Dodgers again committed no errors but every night there are plays that aren’t made, defensively. An extra out given to the Jays.
The better team, at this point in time, is winning this Series.
Yes to everything you wrote Phil. It’s a damn shame for the organization and the fans.
Phil, if you don’t mind sharing, how are things going with your treatments and health?
Take care.
Thanks for asking Ted.
I finished by last treatment Tuesday and all is going well. I’m off to Phoenix this Sunday and I’m scheduled to be seen at the Anderson Cancer Center in Gilbert for testing and further treatment, as needed. So far, so good.
It looks like they got all the cancer and it didn’t spread. This is obviously the best case scenario. The medical treatment has been excellent and we caught it early.
I just take it day by day and hope for the best, controlling what I can control; and that’s my attitude, keeping my humor, spirit and faith. Attitude and positivity is everything.
Like I said before, I have lost a step or two but I’m still on the roster.
Keep your fingers crossed, mi amigo.
All good to hear the treatments went well.
Been there myself about 20 years ago and was too caught very early. All good since.
You’re so right about attitude and especially a sense of humor.
Carry on.
Hang in there Phil Jones no easy putt. Hope they did get it all your faith will get you through. Your attitude is infectious God bless you
warmest regards Sandy
Thank you Sandy.
Too early to be so negative. If the Dodgers win the WS we will have different takes.
Maybe Smith should have not started the game after the 18 inning game. Maybe Rushing should have been on the 26 as a 3rd catcher instead one of the guys that isn’t playing. Maybe Ohtani should have had a day off before pitching. Maybe Sheehan, Dryer, and Wrobleski could have been used differently and Treinen used less. Maybe Casperious should have been on the 26. Maybe Outman should have been the CFer all year with Pages in RF and Teo in LF.
Whatever happens, it will be achieved as an organization.
Good post Bum. Lots of maybe’s to ponder.
Unlike many here, I don’t see this as a lack of desire or not being “hungry”.
I’m with tedraymond: we’re not good enough. The Jays are just playing better in every phase, Regardless of payroll and pedigree, factors like team slumps, age, hitting approach, holes in the line up and roster construction are the problems I see
Poor seasons by Conforto, Scott, Yates Treinen, among others were an issue.
Now underachievers are killing us w/ Mookie hitting .158/.431 in the Series along with Muncy’s .150/.611 with 1 homer and a 40% K-rate. And that isn’t because they aren’t trying.
It was decided at the end of the season that Edman was the everyday starter at 2nd due to the fact that he couldn’t play the outfield. Edman’s season numbers were .225/.655.
Miggy Ro hit .262/.715 for the season but Edman’s return as the everyday 2nd sacker has eliminated completely any opportunities for Miggy Ro to help the Dodgers this post-season. He can really help the Dodgers in many ways but there’s no spot for him.
This post-season Miggy has player in 6 games with a total of 10 at bats. He’s hit .300/.664. compared to Edman’s 56 at bats w/ .232/.646.
We’ve missed Miggy’s defense too.
Had Edman been capable of playing center with Miggy at 2nd, perhaps things would be different.
That’s baseball.
I say Dodgers bring back Bellinger as a free agent to play left field okay they also then sign free agent Harrison Bader to play centerfield, they need a scrapper on this team a guy that would run into the wall to catch a fly ball that is what this team is missing. Not old guys that have been good so outfield will be taken care of with Teoscar in rightfield. I just thing the outfield will be that good unless the Dodgers go after Tucker. Did you see he got hurt in the playoffs do here he could platoon dies that, so Tucker is a no go rather get Bellinger and Bader. Then infield I think they’ll for a new third baseman I loke Max but injuries and he is getting old for fielding he news to play a bit at DH and he won’t do that with the dodgers pitching wise okay one guy to get would be Aroldis Chapman as out closer and Suarez from the Padres and you have Graterol and Phillips and Kopech and Klein and Vesia right so pitching is better shortstop is set with Betts and Edman at second base and Freeman at first base and Smith catcher so basically outfield and a closer are what this team needs in the off season. Dodgers will win both games in Toronto cuz MLB wants Dodgers to win not the Bluejays they want a game 7 for ratings and revenue made. Takes fans away from NFL and NBA for two more games. It’s all theater now and money.
I am not sure I would feel differently about the non-existent offense. If the Dodgers do win it will be because Yamamoto was extraordinary in Game 6 and Glasnow good enough in Game 7 with Smith batting behind Ohtani hopefully going off.
Just saying if the offense perks up in games 6 and 7, the picture changes.
That was fun to read. Im going to try reading it after an edible and see how it goes
Let’s not play ostrich with our heads in the sand. THIS IS THE DODGERS OFFENSE. They breezed through the NLDS and NLCS because of elite pitching, not because of offense.
Phillies:
· 5-3 W
· 4-3 W
· 2-8 L
· 2-1 W
Brewers:
· 2-1 W
· 5-1 W
· 3-1 W
· 5-1 W
That is averaging 3.5 runs per game and winning 7 out of 8. They finally scored 6 in WS Game 3, but that was in 18 innings. That allowed the Dodgers to increase their run production to 3.6 per game. If calculating runs per 9 innings, that is a very disappointing 3 runs per 9 innings. They do not get any runners on base to get a big inning.
Through May, the LAD wRC+ was 127, good for #1 in MLB. The decline started in June, although through June, the LAD wRC+ was 121, still good for #1 in MLB.
For July – August the Dodgers played 52 games and scored 223 runs (4.29 per game). Including September, in 77 games, the Dodgers scored 77 runs (4.51 per game). Their slash line metrics were not even pedestrian. Their wRC+ for July and August was 99, not even league average. Adding September, the team got all the way up to 104, good for 12th in MLB.
By comparison, Toronto had a wRC+ of 123. Who do you think has the better approach?
The Toronto Hitting Coach, David Popkins, was in the Dodgers organization from 2019 thru 2021. He was the Dodgers Arizona League hitting coach in 2019 and Great Lakes hitting coach 2021. He became the Twins MLB hitting coach in 2022 before joining Toronto for 2025.
Carlos Correa, in particular, spoke about his appreciation for Popkins towards the end of the 2024 season.
It seems that Popkins has taken that approach with him to Toronto.
If the Dodgers do not get elite pitching, they will have a hard time staying with Toronto.
I understand there are the RVS apologists out there, and they absolutely can consider him a good coach. I do not consider him a good coach. RVS had exactly 79 High School AB. I do know if he had any at Cuesta College. In two years at Hart High School he was 22 for 79 (.278), with 18 singles and 4 doubles. If he cannot hit HS pitching, just exactly how can he make adjustments for all of the MLB players on the team. Yes personal bias. He wants to take credit for changing Chris Taylor for 2020 and 2021. But what did he do for him in 2022-2025. Coaches do not have to be All-Stars, but they should at least learn what it is like to hit professional pitchers.
All I have to do is watch the hitting approach from both teams to see a huge difference. RVS loves pull side power. Trey Yesavage bested Blake Snell twice and pitched brilliantly. Snell did not pitch poorly, but David Popkins had a plan for Snell, and it worked. For me, the key game of the series was Game 4. Shane Bieber only had 5 whiffs meaning the Dodgers were making contact…a lot of routine fly outs and pop ups. What do you think the Dodgers hitters were trying to do with all of those fly outs and pop ups? There has been no change in philosophy since June.
Time to make a change in coaching.
Great info Jeff.
So how does a David Popkins not make enough impact with his time in the Dodger Organization for them not to promote his approach to hitting? And how does a guy like RVS with lack of any real professional credentials have his approach become the Dodger’s Organizational philosophy?
Was it his supposed success with JD Martinez and Chris Taylor and a handful of others. Justin Turner?
My guess is AF and Doc must buy into RVS’s work or he’s be gone.
I agree it’s time to rethink that one starting with a new hitting coach and philosophy.
JT did follow the RVS approach, but it was not RVS who turned JT around. JDM and CT3 are his two biggest disciples.
Popkins went directly from Great Lakes (A+) to MLB. How the Dodgers did not retain him, I have no idea. Popkins worked with Ryan Ward, James Outman, Andy Pages, Jonny DeLuca, Jorbit Vivas, and Miguel Vargas.
I agree with Wayne, AF has to buy into a change in philosphy.
Yes, but the FO must first admit their current hitting approach doesn’t work anymore.
I think the FO would have trouble admitting they’re style of offense doesn’t work anymore. Why? Maybe because the current approach is successful in the regular season where most pitching is flawed at worst and average at best. The WS is a different game because pitching is usually dominate.
The Jays pitching isn’t that dominant. But, it has becoming dominant because of the Dodgers slug approach.
Of course, this is my humble opinion.
A line-up consisting of mostly aged, past-their-primes hitters coached by RVS. A perfect recipe to create an ugly offense.
The Jays have clearly outplayed the Dodgers through 5 games.
So as of now, the answer to the question is — Just Not Good Enough.
I am sure that every team has a special non playing/coaching employee they can point to with pride. For the Dodgers that is RJ Peete. I loved watching Rodny Peete play at USC. But this story is about his son, RJ.
That was so touching. I loved the player’s reactions when asked about RJ. Big smiles followed by moments about his attitude and value for everybody around him.
My favorite was Mom’s comments that as a kid the experts predicted he’d never drive of live independently.
He’s doing those things now.
Bless the Dodgers for giving this guy a chance. And he made the best of the opportunity.
Amen!!!
He was awesome….that ball was dropping so nicely. Reminded me of our YY.
The best I think we can achieve is to win a 2-1 game with YY pitching another complete game. This at least brings us to game 7 which I don’t think we can win with Glasnow because he is too fragile. One error and he goes berserk mentally. And then the floodgates open up.
I also don’t see us scoring more than 2 runs in each game. So, it just seems to me that losing in game 7, 6-2, may be what will happen. Of course I don’t want this to happen and of course I want us to break out and score bucket loads of runs, but I’ve lost faith in Betts, Muncy, Pages, Edman, and even usually reliable Will Smith just can’t seem to be relied upon this series. Not to mention Ohtani goes small with a good pitcher who knows how to locate his pitches where Ohtani looks ugly when swinging at.
Plus Toronto does seem like the much better team in all facets of the game….so unless we can do an abrupt about face, Toronto in 7 looks to be the best bet, with Toronto in 6 the next best bet.
I sure hope I’m wrong….again.
A very gloomy TM
If it goes 7, we’re winning this bitch
Is Yamamoto pitching game 7 also?
The Dodgers were in a team slump for nearly 3 months that ended in late August. It’s a bad time to start it up again. And they have one day to fix it. Because the other problems with execution, especially relief pitching, isn’t fixable now.
Friedman’s efforts to avoid paying for relievers at the deadline didn’t work, but he wouldn’t make the moves necessary to restock the ‘pen. Brock (Broke) Stewart for 4 games? So they have to rely on the likes of Hernandez, Klein, the corpse of Blake Treinen, Banda, etc. The Dodgers’ bullpen has a 4.54 ERA, a WHIP of 1.64, BAA of .266, and 30 walks in 49 innings.
Teo shouldn’t be playing RF. They need his bat but he’s horrible out there.
Cannot argue with any of that. They have won two in a row this year. Maybe they do it again.
His bat hasn’t been all that good this WS.