It sucks without baseball, and we have all week to suffer. On Friday, October 25, 2024, it will be 1,459 days since LAD last appeared in a WS game. Since 2020, there have been 6 different teams reach the WS. Since 2017, the Dodgers have reached the World Series 4 times, the same number as the Houston Astros. No other team has reached it more than once. The last team to reach the World Series a second time was 2015 and the KC Royals.
Not bad for a team that mismanages and constructs bad rosters with the same bad manager and incompetent POBO. We have already discussed ad nauseum as to how the Dodgers some how some way had the best regular season record and found their way to the World Series, with their injuries to the pitching staff, and then late season injuries to Freddie Freeman, Miggy Ro, Gavin Lux, and Alex Vesia.
It makes sense, for those of us who have no chance at determining the outcome or making changes, all we can do is complain and try to educate others how smart we are and what we would have done differently.
Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Dave Roberts have been highly criticized for the NLDS losses in 2022 and 2023 (Betts), 2023 Freddie, and every year that Roberts has been the LAD manager (save 2020 for the most part). The Dodgers do not have the only fanbase with questioning fans. There were three different Fansided articles with three to blame.
- Francisco Lindor, Francisco Alvarez, and Reid Garrett
- Sean Manaea, Ryne Stanek, and Carlos Mendoza
- José Quintana, Starling Marte, Carlos Mendoza
Sean Manaea pitched a career year and threw more IP than he ever has. Manaea has not always been successful against LAD, but he changed his mechanics after watching Chris Sale, and Manaea became a different pitcher. The Dodgers had not yet seen the new Manaea, and that could have been a reason for the Game 2 results. But the Dodgers made him work, and he only was able to go 5 IP. Manaea told Mendoza that he hit a wall.
The second time the Dodgers faced Manaea in the NLCS, they had a better feel for his adjustments. Manaea is almost a cinch to opt out and reenter free agency. He will get a lot of attention.
Carlos Mendoza? I will give Bluto credit on this one. He was on the Mendoza bandwagon from the beginning. I think he did a masterful job with NYM. Some were blaming him for turning to Jeff McNeil over José Iglesias. And not including Jesse Winker over JD Martinez as the DH. Again hindsight is 20-20. The NYM bullpen was not very good outside of Edwin Diaz.
There was a reason why Roberts did not want to use his high leverage relievers (or limited usage) in Game 2 or Game 5. Whether fans want to believe it or not, Roberts wanted to limit the exposure of the high leverage guys to the NYM batters. Agree with the strategy or not, it worked. The LAD high leverage was outstanding.
I am going with 6 high leverage relievers: Daniel Hudson, Anthony Banda, Ryan Brasier, Michael Kopech, Blake Treinen, Evan Phillips.
Ryan Brasier was the only reliever to face a NYM batter three times, Pete Alonso. He also faced Starling Marte twice.
- Daniel Hudson faced three batters twice (McNeil, Alvarez, Lindor)
- Anthony Banda faced three batters twice (Lindor, Nimmo, McNeil)
- Michael Kopech faced three batters twice (Lindor, Vientos, Nimmo)
- Evan Phillips faced three batters twice (Vientos, Alonso, Nimmo)
Only Blake Treinen faced more than three batters twice. He faced 8 batters twice in three games. He pitched more high leverage innings than any other LAD pitcher.
Margin of victory record – 40 runs – 6.7 runs per game. The LAD difference in runs was 30 in their 4 wins; NYM run difference was 10 in their 2 wins.
The Dodgers scored 46 runs in six games against the Mets, more than any NL team in any postseason series. Two more runs than the Braves in the 1996 NLCS, and two more than the Giants in the 2002 World Series. Both series lasted seven games. They scored 46 runs without a lot of help from Teoscar Hernandez.
As we all know, Tommy Edman won NLCS MVP on the strength of hitting .407/.393/.630, tying the LAD postseason series records of 11 hits and 11 RBI, the latter shared with Corey Seager in the 2020 NLCS.
Edman was not the only offensive star. Mookie Betts drove in nine runs with his four doubles, two home runs, and an 1.182 OPS, including a four-hit, four-RBI contest in Game 4 in New York.
Both Shohei Ohtani and Max Muncy reached base 17 times in the 6 games. Both hit a pair of HRs. Ohtani had 9 walks while Muncy had 11 walks, breaking his team record in a NLCS. Ohtani scored 9 runs, more than any LAD player scored in any postseason series, one more than Corey Seager in the 2020 NLCS.
As a team, the Dodgers had a .395 on-base percentage during the series, including 42 walks to set a major league record. The only other postseason teams in which a team walked at least 40 times in a series were the Cardinals in the 2011 World Series (41 walks) and Cleveland in the 1997 World Series (40).
Now we get a series many have been hoping for since Spring Training. Judge vs Ohtani. Soto and Stanton vs Betts and Freeman. NYY has a clear advantage with Gerrit Cole as the Game 1 starter. Bear is working on a matchup article, so I will wait until then to comment. The two best teams in MLB. At least the two #1 seeds in their respective leagues.
NYY and the Dodgers have faced each other in the WS 11 previous times with NYY holding an 8-3 lead (1941-1981). NYY and LAD have faced each other 4 of those years (63, 77, 78, 81). The two teams have split the 4 World Series, with the Dodgers winning the last time they faced each other in 1981.
May the best team (Los Angeles Dodgers) win.
You could actually add two series to that. They have split the last 6 WS they have played against each other. 55 Brk win, 56 NY, 63 LA, 77-78 NY 81 LA.
A lot of questions as to who will be on the World Series roster. Usually those are no posted until early the day of the game. So, I expect to see them either late Thursday or early Friday. The Dodger and MLB site will have their matchup post probably Thursday. It is the same post just put on both sites. Just so everyone knows, I apologized to Eric in a personal email to him. The ball is in his court.
Been critical of DR in the past (and I think some of that was and is well deserved) but this postseason he has done a masterful job, especially considerung all the injuries.
Only two decisions that might be debatable:
Game 2: Not taking out Knack after that ringing double , replacing him with one high leverage arm to try to stop the bleeding right there. If not successful could have still gone the same route with the low leverage guys .
Game 5; Same thing with Flaherty. Could have brought in Banda (who was already warming up) when Flaherty walked the first batter in the third. If Banda gets the jjob done, fine, go with the high levrage arms with the off day coming up.
Or could have saved Flaherty for Game 6 because he was under the weather and go with the pen from the get go.
But hey, the end result has proven Doc right this time and I am perfectly fine and happy with it. 😀 Kudos to Doc for staying with his direction and strategy.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!
I have always liked Daniel Hudson. Awhile back I read that he is considering retiring after the season. When I watch him now he looks like he plans to retire and looks like a guy who wants it all to be over but still has to dig deep to perform at a high level. I’m referring to his facial expressions and body language.
Does anyone else notice this? I could easily be reading more into it but I predict he does retire after this season. I hope he dominates from here on out and helps us.win the.WS!
“Not bad for a team that mismanages and constructs bad rosters with the same bad manager and incompetent POBO.”
I do not think I have ever seen a moderator that trolls his own blog more than this guy LOL. Just trying to understand your mindset. No one can ever criticize Dodger personnel. Is that right?
I am a VP. I do not spend a lot of time trolling our customers. They do not appreciate it and things of this nature.
And this is right after they win a pennant. Too funny.
Dodgers deliberating their starting pitching alignment.
IMHO they should go Flaherty in Game 1, then Yoshi Game 2(that enables him to come back for a potential Game6 on his regular rest), Buehler Game 3.
That way we would need only 1 bullpen game (Game 5)
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Dodgers/Yankees ’77, ’78, & ’81 WS match-ups were epic tv spectacles.
This one will be the same!
MLB News: Cardinals have hired Brant Brown as their new hitting coach and Robert Cerfolio as their new AGM. Brown was formerly a Dodger hitting instructor. He spent 23 with the Marlins and moved to Seattle in 24. But he was fired 5 months after taking the job. Cerfolio was the director of player development for Cleveland. They also hired former outfielder, Jon Jay as a coach. Nominations for the Gold Glove were announced. Only two Dodgers, Will Smith at catcher, and Kike Hernandez as a utility player were nominated. Chunichi Dragons have announced that LHP, Shinnosuke Ogasawara will be posted as per his request. He is a 27-year-old LH starting pitcher. Has pitched part of 9 seasons in the NPB. Slight frame, similar to Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga. His fastball sits at 91-93. He also has a knuckle curve and change-up. His career high in innings is 160.2. He had an excellent walk rate last season, 3.7. But he also had the worst K rate of his career, 13.6. That should limit his appeal to MLB teams. He should get at least a 4-year deal, but at a lower rate than Imanaga got. Mets announced that Paul Blackburn underwent a spinal procedure. Apparently, he had a leaky spine. The Astros hired Tony Perezchica as a third base coach. He had served the D-Backs in the same capacity for the last 8 years. Dodgers announced that several players will be available for the press later today including Freddie Freeman. It is also possible they announce the pitchers for the first two games.
Here is an amazing stat. Juan Soto going into his age 25 season is 20 (twenty!) wins behind where Mike Trout was (going into age 25 season.)
obviously, defensive value holds Soto back a bit, but wow!
Been busy today and just got around to reading posts.
Jeff D. your report about Doc not using high leverage guys in games 2 or 5 is interesting and spot on.
Yesterday I commented: “ I hope we can we piece together more terrific game plans with our pitching against the Yankees. Doc and the staff has been magnificent despite what some of the semi-professional manager trolls on this site want to do and empty the chamber in lost cause situations. I’m glad the Dodger staff know when to piss on the campfire and call in the hounds in order to prosper another day.” Posters who wanted to pitch the same high leverage guys every day, even if it meant pitching with a deficit, just don’t get it.
To your point, A-Rod, in his pre-game analysis prior to the last game, stated that he was confused by some managers use of relief pitchers. He couldn’t understand why a Skipper pulls starting pitchers so they are not faced a third time yet they allow the same reliever to face the same hitter multiple times over the course of a Series.
As you point out, that’s exactly what Doc DIDN”T DO.
Why let hitters see your high leverage guys in Games 2 and 5? Knowing when to take your foot off the game was just smart management. It isn’t as simple as just saying you need to try to win every game.
This really is the playing chess while a few posters are playing checkers.
Dave Roberts says Alex Vesia is throwing to hitters today or tomorrow. He and Brusdar Graterol will be last-minute decisions as far as being on the roster submitted before Game 1 on Friday
Dave Roberts also said he expects Gavin Lux (hip flexor) in there for Game 1. Miguel Rojas has “made strides” with his torn adductor, but isn’t a lock to make the World Series roster.
Finally, it’s official: Jack Flaherty and Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Games 1 and 2 in LA.
There will be a bullpen game, RN I expect it to be game 5, but too many variables.
I hope all the experts in the media pick the Yankees to win the WS. Like they picked the Puds and Mets. Look how that worked out.
Poll: I was wondering how many of you trust Pages in center field in a huge ballpark like Yankee Stadium. I do not want to see him out there defensively late in a tight game.
Its official. Flaherty game one, Yamamoto game two.
Google sports had a report that Freeman expects to be ready for the World Series. If he is healthy enough to put up some numbers, that is huge.
Just announced on the Dodgers twitter Fernando has passed away
Well this certainly is horrible news and puts a damper on the upcoming WS.
The Dodgers announced that six-time All-Star Fernando Valenzuela has passed away. He was 63. MLB will honor Valenzuela during the upcoming World Series games at Dodger Stadium.
I am totally stunned and very saddened.
Rest In Peace El Toro. You will never be forgotten.