Dodgers and Padres faced off at Petco Park in game three of the NLDS. Buehler against King. In the first inning, after Ohtani went down on a strikeout, Betts hit a deep drive to left that Profar leaped for, but this time the ball just missed his glove. Mookie did not realize he had hit the ball out and started to cross the infield when he saw the umpire signaling HR. Freeman flied out and Hernandez walked. Muncy then hit a shot right at Arraez who got him out.
Padres went 1-2-3 in the first and it looked like Buehler was off to a great start. LA went quietly in the second on a Smith strikeout and two groundouts by Lux and Edman. The bottom of the second was a disaster. Machado singled. Merrill hit a ground ball to Freeman, but Freddies throw to second hit Machado and caromed away from Rojas. Machado went to third on the error by Freeman. It got worse. Bogaerts hit a grounder to Rojas, who instead of tossing it to Lux for the force, tried to tag the bag himself and was late to the bag and the throw to first was late. Machado scored. Peralta then hit a ball down the line past Freeman scoring both runners. He ended up with a double. 3-1 Padres.
But the inning was far from over. Cronenworth then singled on a ball to deep short sending Peralta to third. Higashioka then hit a sac-fly scoring Peralta, 4-1 SD. Arraez popped out for the second out of the inning. Buehler then hung one and Tatis Jr. hit his 4th HR of the series. 6-1 Padres. Buehler then gave up a single to Profar before getting Machado on a fly ball to Edman.
Buehler was visibly upset in the dugout tossing a helmet and then a trash can. In the top of the third, Rojas, Ohtani and Betts all singled to load the bases. Pages replaced Rojas on third since he was obviously not running at full speed. Freeman hit a line drive to left that Profar caught for the first out. Teo then unloaded on a King pitch for a grand slam homer. 6-5 Padres. The bullpens for both teams took over in the 6th. Neither team could score after the third. The Dodgers did not get another base runner until Freeman singled in the 8th. The Padres got two runners on in the bottom of the 5th and that was it.
Suarez got the last four Dodger hitters striking out two. Summary: Despite the error, all six Padres runs were earned. Except for that inning, the Dodger pitching was excellent. But once again, the offense failed them This time it was the bottom of the lineup after Teo. Muncy 0-4 3 Ks. Smith 0-4 1 K, Lux 0-4 1 K, Edman 0-3. Rojas had a single in his only at bat. Pages was 0-2. Ohtani was 1-4 and struck out twice. Mookie was 2-4 with an RBI and 2 runs scored. A positive sign. Freddie was 1-4. Teo 1-3 with a homer, 4 driven in a walk and a K. The bullpen pitched 3 scoreless innings.
So, tomorrow’s game is win or go home. We have been here before. There was a roster change prior to the game as Michael Grove was placed on the IL and Ben Casparius was placed on the roster. No starting pitchers for either team announced yet. But my gut is telling me that it will be a piggyback game. Probably an opener and then Knack will get the bulk innings with Casparius here, he should be in the game at some point. I am also guessing, with Musgrove out, they will either start Waldron or have a BP game of their own with Cease starting game 5 if needed.
One other thing, there is nothing wrong with this team’s intensity or desire to win. They showed a lot of fire. Especially Buehler and Teo. One other thing, you cannot in the playoffs take borderline pitches without at least protecting the plate. Ohtani’s 8th inning K was a huge example of that. We will see how hard they come out to play tomorrow. I expect the team will play really hard. All hands on deck.
Tomorrow is a must win, we all know that. You can bet the team is very aware. I expect a lot of intensity in tomorrow’s tiff.
Almost, does not count. Buehler should never have been on that mound with the way he has pitched this season. Of course, our injury list is significant, but Buehler has no track record to stand on since returning. Bullpen games make sense for the Dodgers. There are some very good pitchers we have and we need to use them, even over-use them in situations like we are facing. As Bear said, ‘all hands on deck.’
Teo gave us hope but no one really stepped up after his HR. No doubt it looks bleak, but we all know what kind of explosiveness the Dodgers are capable of. However, Two more starters knocked out due to injury, Freddie, a two way stalwart on this team, and Rojas, a veritable magic man at SS. Without these players, our chances shrunk. Doc is not responsible for all this. Either we win or we really are cursed.
I’m still a little confused about the inside/outside the basepath thing.
As per a post that may have gotten lost on the other thread, does this mean a baserunner going from first to second could just barrel into the 2nd baseman in who is waiting to catch a pop-fly on his way to second base?
Per Jack Harris:
Both Miguel Rojas and Walker Buehler thought the umpires should have called interference on this play. Rojas said the 2B umpire told him he was looking at the bag, not Machado’s route
Freddie Freeman, however, did note he would have done the same thing if he was the baserunner
Roberts said it’s not replayable.
I’m shrugging.
Very exciting and competitive game.
Buehler is kind of snake bit. As he’s gotten better with each start, he doesn’t get away with anything. By the way Jeff “Buehler should never have been on that mound”, you are so full of shit, your eyes are brown. With all due respect.
You can’t give the Padres 6 outs in an inning and not dig a deep hole.
But good on Walker keeping us in the game after we scored, to get to 6-5. And good for Mookie showing up.
Once again Machado was at the center of controversy.
The no-call by the umpires on Freddie’s throw to second in the 2nd was huge.
Machado did what all baserunners are taught to do in that situation; run right at the shortstop (Rojas) covering second and slightly to the inside. You want to get hit by the throw or force a wide throw. This is just fundamental base running.
I believe the rule says a baserunner establishes the baseline initially and then has 3 feet on either side. A runner would be out if they intentionally interfere with a throw. The issue is since Machado wasn’t facing the throw, an umpire could 100 percent establish intent, that Machado clearly moved into the way of the fielder at second base.
The question is, can he then make a hard left turn 2 feet onto the infield grass and still be considered in the baseline? The umpires ruled that he didn’t run out of the baseline and there was no interference call. Doc couldn’t argue the point because interference calls are not reviewable.
So the play stood.
That and the failed double play when Rojas failed to flip the ball to Lux to at least get an out, coupled with the gopher ball to Tatis, led to a 6 spot.
Huge No-Call.
I was disappointed the Joe and John Smoltz didn’t make a bigger issue to explain.
Great job by both bullpens to throw zeroes up.
Rojas and Freddie are such gamers. We may have seen the last of both, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see both of them lobby to play tomorrow.
All of you fans, I can’t say idiots or morons, that think these guys are mailing it in with no passion, just watch these guys playing injured and trying to win. But as Bear points out, Muncy 0-4 3 Ks. Smith 0-4 1 K, Lux 0-4 1 K, Edman 0-3. Rojas had a single in his only at bat. Pages was 0-2. Ohtani was 1-4 and struck out twice.
SSDD.
I think the Padres have a bullpen game with Musgrove out, so this isn’t over yet. But we better find the bats.
ps. No Bluto that doesn’t “mean a baserunner going from first to second could just barrel into the 2nd baseman in who is waiting to catch a pop-fly on his way to second base?”. That’s not at all what happened on this play.
Yes, the Dodgers are playing with “intensity” and “passion”–but that’s not the problem. It’s the O-fers in this game in the middle of the Dodgers line-up that exemplifies THE problem–how too many players have tightened up and are coughing under the bright lights. Everyone can see for themselves which players are succumbing to the pressure of this moment.
If you told me before the game we score 5 runs vs King in 5 innings I would have taken that in a heartbeat.
But when your starter with no help from his defense gives back 6 in 5 innings, different story.
Buehler battled like a warrior but at this stage of his career he just can not put hitters away. And that is especially dangerous vs a team like the Padres who put more balls in play than any other MLB team. And they have power to go along with it.
Bullpen once again did a fabulous job but the offense just stopped after Teo´s GS.
Needed 7 and only got 5 runs.
Now it is do or die in Game 4. Will they call up KK for Rojas who appears to be done for the season. At 100 percent I think he beats that runner to 2nd base and might even get the double play.
Padres announced they will start Cease . Dodgers made a roster chance before the game bringing in Casparius for Grove. Looks like a piggyback game. with an opener, than Knack, than Casparius . Or full time bullpen game. We will see.
Lets see how they do with their backs against the wall and the season on the line.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good listen from Alanna . Where is the fire, why did NO one say anything about that Machado play even if it was legal ?
I am 100 percent with Alanna on this.
GAME 4 IS THE TRUE TEST FOR DOC.
You go with your best and your best is the bullpen. The Dodgers have 7 good relievers, they would have 8 if Graterol wasn’t injured. Hell, they would have 9 if there was a legit multiple innings starter that could relieve like take your pick of Gonsolin, Stone, May, Sheehan, Ryan, but they’re all injured. Plus the team wouldn’t be without a legit starter if Glasnow wasn’t injured. Those bolded words in this paragraph might bite the team in the ass this year. Injured starting pitching.
Now we have Freeman and Rojas injured and if they’re a no go, then we have Kike and/or Taylor starting. Yeah, that will be fun (would suck). There’s that word again, injured.
The 7 good relievers that Doc should use in the next game in alphabetical order:
Banda (Keep him away from RHB)
Brasier (Keep him away from LHB)
Hudson
Kopech
Phillips
Treinen
Vesia
Either go all bullpen game with those 7 relievers above, OR IF you have to use Knack, use him with A VERY SHORT LEASH and WITHOUT facing the top of the Padres lineup 2 times. He’s prone to allowing HR’s.
If the Dodgers win, then game 5 starter should be, in my opinion, Yamamoto. With all 7 of those relievers available.
In this situation, you go with your best for the rest of this series.
If Freddie is so smart and would have done the same thing as Machado why didn’t he throw over him. Machado pulled the Reggie Jackson play and got away with it as well. Terrible decision by Rojas. Merrill is doing what a lot of players should do hustling and getting a good jump off first. The padres are just a step ahead of the Dodgers in all areas. The Dodgers have certainly got their moneys worth out of Hernandez and Ohtani. But Smith Muncy Yamamoto zero zero zero. This team just looks old and not good enough to beat a young team with a quality manager. I will say Buehler pitched well enough. Over and over the Dodgers defense can’t make plays behind him. Freeman and Rojas should have made those plays and he would have never faced tatis. Like a high school team the Dodgers beat themselves again.
It’s not that I don’t have faith in the Dodgers, but how can I have faith in a team that seems defeated even before the start of the game?
Plus, with so many injuries, it’s giving too much of an advantage to a team that not only seeks and needs to win, but also wants to humiliate and they do so in every turn at bat and in every out they get…
The Dodgers have too many delicate pussycats, when what they need is a fucking lion!
I’m sick of so many smiles, hugs and kisses to every player from the opposing team that reaches base.
It’s still possible, remember when they were down 1-3 against Atlanta, and they ended up winning the World Series!
It doesn’t matter if Machado ran inside or wherever he wants, they still lost, enough with the stupid excuses!
Need Muncy and Smith to show up today. Be nice to see Tommy get like a triple or homer today with runners on base and get the scoring going early and don’t let up. And get ready for game 5.
What a disappointing loss. The Dodgers had a nice comeback and then nothing offensively in the last few innings. That’s been their MO all year. They have one crooked number inning and then NOTHING!
Walker Buehler showed some heart and grit in shutting down the Padres after the Dodger defense failed him. Walker certainly does not get much help from his teammates when he pitches. Unfortunately, it may be the last time we see Walker in a Dodger uniform.
How can that bullshit move by Machado be legal? If it is allowed, why don’t we see it all the time? And the umpire’s explanation is that he was looking at the base and didn’t see what Machado did is plain incompetence. WTF? For Roberts to sit in the dugout and not react is a reason the Dodgers need to move on from him. He should have gone out there to get at least an answer to why it wasn’t called interference. His passive reasoning is that the play isn’t reviewable. Who gives a shit. Show your players that you’ll fight for them! Show some real passion to your team and the fans. Every time Roberts goes out to argue with an ump it’s a few seconds of faked anger and then he apologizes to the ump for bothering him and returns to the dugout.
I enjoy watching the young Detroit and Kansas City teams play and compete. I don’t who most of them are. But, they seem to be never out of the game and aren’t afraid of the big moments. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a San Diego – Detroit World Series. Not many would watch. It would be what baseball and Manfred deserve with this current playoff system. Why play 162 games when it really doesn’t mean much in determining who wins the championship? It’s like two different seasons. With one having absolutely nothing to do with the other. It will never change being it’s all about the money and not about the integrity of the game.
Carry on.
I read somewhere here that when asked an umpire said he didn’t see it because he was looking at the base. If that’s true that ump needs to go back to school. You follow the ball. Once you know it’s clear, you then eye the base. Umpiring 101. Not seeing interference should be embarrassing to MLB. Somehow I doubt it is. Getting it right hasn’t been a priority for a while now.
Ohtani and Betts don’t only need to match Tatis, they need to better him.
I have said all year the Dodgers defense is less than. I did not expect a play like that out of Rojas.
Today? You gotta hit with them to play with them. If the Dodgers don’t hit, they will not be playing after today.
Padres are starting Dylan Cease on short rest tonight. They want this series over.
Let’s see if we show up or fold! I won’t be shocked if we win, I won’t be shocked if we lose, and I won’t be shocked if we get blown out early.
I am with Phil on whether Buehler belonged on the mound. This was not even close to being Buehler’s fault. Two bone head defensive plays, both because the players were playing hurt led to the LAD demise last night. If Freddie is healthy, he gets up and if he does not have a throw to 2nd, he gets the out at 1st. Why Rojas did not flip the ball to Lux, I have no idea. Lux was standing on the bag. Maybe without the adductor tear he makes it to 2nd before Merrill and can get the out at 1st. We will never know.
If the rest of the team had as much fight as Buehler had, the results might have been different. There is no question that this is not the 2021 version of Walker Buehler, but he fought through it all and should have got out of the 2nd with minimal damage. With even routine defense, the Padres score 1 run. Machado single. Merrill’s ground ball, get the out at 1st, Machado to 2nd. Bogaerts ground ball to Miggy, make the play 6-3. Machado to 3rd. Peralta double scores Machado. Cronenworth infield single puts runners on the corners. Kyle Higashioka flies out to CF and no run scores on a sac fly. Buehler leaves the inning tied at 1-1.
He did not allow anything after the 2nd, and his pitch count really was not out of control. 77 pitches in 5 innings is just two over the 75 you look for after 5.0 IP. No, Buehler was not the problem.
I also agree that Doc should not have let the Machado play go without a fight. If the 2nd base umpire said he was not looking at the runner, go out and ask for the umpire crew to get together. Somebody was watching Machado. Smoltz said it was a legal play as long as Machado was not avoiding a tag, which is what I was referring to. It does not have to be reviewable. If the play was illegal, and if Doc asked for the crew to discuss it, it could have been changed after the discussion. If it was legal, so what. But you do not give up on it without a fight. Maybe you let it go in the regular season, but not the playoffs.
One thing we do know, is that Machado did the play without regard to whether it was legal or not. He did it to get an advantage. That is how he plays. And he succeeded. And that play snowballed into a 6 run inning. I cannot think of any LAD player who would think about doing the same thing. The only one I can think of who might do it is Tommy Edman. You just know Chase Utley could do it.
No, Lasorda would not have let that go. Maybe the play does not get changed, but the team would know he was out there fighting. A nice reminder:
We are now in an era with robot managers.
I too liked the Alanna and Clint show. They are saying the same thing many of us have been saying. There is just no fight or sense of urgency for this team. Just because they say what they are saying does not make them Non-LAD fans, as so many want to label those of us who expect more just because we do not drink the LAD Kool-Aid hype.
If the Dodgers do lose this NLDS, I do believe that there has to be a change. I do not blame Doc for the losses. He even left Buehler in as he should have. He made the right moves. I saw the comment on the podcast, and I agree. Doc may not be the problem, but he is not the answer. Who that is…I do not know. But you have to keep opening doors to find the answer. More on that later.
I generally want to wait until the season is totally over before contemplating 2025, but I wrote about it before, and I will write it again. RE-SIGN TEO HERNANDEZ. He doesn’t shrink from the playoffs. He may be the only one. If it costs having Dalton Rushing play for the Big League team in 2025, so be it. We know what Teo can do in the clutch. He loves playing for LAD and I do not think he would insist on 4 years for LAD. But who knows, maybe he changes his mind and decides he wants to go to another team with more fight…say San Diego. Even Ohtani who has been waiting for this moment is 3-13 and 6 K. His three hits: 1 HR and 2 sub 80 MPH singles. He is striking out nearly 50% of his AB. He has basically disappeared after the 2nd inning in Game 1. The 50-50 guy seems to have disappeared.
Hopefully tonight is a change for the team. Dylan Cease has been named the starter for SD. The team has to come out and beat him in the 1st inning. You cannot let him get in a groove and let the SD fans into the game.
Buehler is not a top end pitcher any more – at least not now. No strikeouts in 5 IP? If you are Tommy John or Claude Osteen and you get people out with grounders, that’s fine, but it isn’t Buehler’s game. He needs to be able to get the K and he can’t.
Many past Dodger world series winners had pitching heroes. 1955 had Johnny Podres, ’59 was Larry Sherry, ’63 and ’65 were Koufax, 1988 was Orel. I don’t see a pitching hero on this team.
It appears nobody knows the rule.
Have they changed it? Does it read differently in the book now?
https://sports.yahoo.com/dodgers-cant-overcome-disastrous-inning-035741395.html
Yeah, that’s what a Major League umpire told a player. I would have been livid if it happened to me. Roberts said nothing. “Heady play by Machado”. Really Dave?
One terrible awful f’d up inning wasn’t the only story of that game. I heard the Dodgers set a Major League record for most consecutive outs in a playoff game. Happened after Teo’s dramatic home run, which will soon be forgotten.
I do of course look for a Game 5. Put last night in the rear view, go out and pound those punks tonight.
Hard to win a close game when half the lineup doesn’t show up. I’m talking to you Muncy, Smith, Lux, and Edman. Still could have pulled off the win if Freddie and Rojo don’t have brain farts.
I think the Dodgers have to do something different today if they want to force a game 5 and save their season. I agree with Jeff D about the defense being a problem because you have injured players (Rojas Freddie) playing hurt. Freddie is just not able to field right now on that ankle, but he can still swing a bat. I know this is not typical, but why not ask Ohtani to play outfield, move Muncy to 1st and DH Freddie? This way you keep his bat in the lineup, he can’t mess up anymore plays at first and Ohtani has played a few games in the outfield in years past. Mookie can play center, and you move Edman to short. Kike plays third. It’s not ideal, but this situation is not ideal.
As for the pitching, since they have no starting pitching whatsoever, there are 6 relievers that need to get 27 outs, and two of them will at least have to go 2 innings. Vesia, Hudson, Phillips, Treinen, Banda, and Kopech. Maybe Casperius can get an inning, but I would stay away from Knack unless they absolutely have to. All hands on deck for everyone else, and tell the rest of the guys to be prepared to pitch today if called upon.
But we know the Dodgers, they’ll just roll out the same lineup and do nothing different. This is probably going to be a blowout, and if so, hopefully signals the end of the Friedman era. If they lose tonight, I would clean house with the entire coaching staff, and give friedman and Gomes their walking papers. You would have to sit Ohtani down and tell him about the plans and let him know the club is moving in a different direction, I.E. no more chase rate obsessions, focus on starting pitching and defense, no more load management, etc. To do that they would need to bring in different leadership. If he doesnt like it, he can opt out and go play in New York. Of course I hope I am wrong on this, but I know I’m not. I would prefer they win with everyone they have now and keep everyone in town, including Friedman and Gomes.
Start praying.
Playoff Baseball!!!! I can’t wait for tonight.
The play with Machado was not reviewable. Period. The Dodgers practice that same play in spring training. Smith and Roberts commented on that to Juan Toribo. He was a couple of feet on the infield grass when the throw hit him. It is win or go home. Or if you are a very positive person, win, go home, win again.
I cannot endorse this write-up from Bruce K. enough.
I agree with nearly every level/aspect of it:
https://blakeharris.substack.com/p/last-night-was-flat-out-embarrassing
Watching Dodger post season baseball the last three years makes me wonder who will be our next Koufax, Hershiser or Gibson .
1965 Koufax pitched game 7 against the Twins on three days rest allowing three hits and striking out ten in a 2-0 win.
Hershisher pitched in the 1988 NLCS getting the save in game 4 and the win in game 7. He then pitched a complete game in game #5 of the World Series allowing four hits two runs and striking out 9.
We all know what Gibby did in game 1 of the WS.
In 2020, Bellinger and Will Smith with HR’s against the Braves in a playoff games putting the Dodgers in the. WS. Seager seemingly getting big hits in every AB and the entire team putting up ten runs in inning #1 against the Braves in the NLCS.
Hell, CT3 hit a walk-off HR in the 2021 Wild Card game against the Cardinals.
I watch the playoffs hoping for a big hit from anyone who comes up in a big moment where clutch is needed only to be disappointed in a strikeout, weak ground ball or easy pop fly. Teo met the moment last night, but where was the big hit after that?
Freaking David Peralta got a 2-run HR in game 2 and a run scoring double last night. Now is the time for Muncy, Smith, Lux to step up and be a hero.
Go Dodgers.
On the brink again; same song, different year! With their thin pitching staff it doesn’t look good for the boys in blue, but anything can happen. And win or lose Doc will be back. In his usual round-a-bout fashion AF pretty much confirmed as much in an interview he did with the Athletic a few days ago.
Did the Dodgers batters go to NY for the game against the Phillies? NYM loaded the bases in both the 1st and 2nd inning and did not score. Now that’s Dodger Baseball. 😉
Brasier named the opener against Cease. Starting lineup. Ohtani DH, Betts RF, Freeman 1B, Hernandez LF, Muncy 3B, Smith C, Lux 2B, Edman SS, Kike CF.
Cleveland scored 5 runs in the 1st inning of Game 1 and 2 runs in the 6th. They have not scored since. That is 20 consecutive scoreless innings. Detroit now leads Cleveland 2 games to 1.
Break up the Tigers. Detroit beats Clevland 3-0. Now up 2-1.
After critical articles about Machado and Tatis in the Athletic, Padres banned Rosenthal from their dugout and refused to do interviews with him. NCAA cancelled the rule about national letters of intent. Players no longer need to sign them.
The medical and training staff need to be looked at and considered for a change. I’ve seen that short Asian guy that’s part of the medical staff in the dugout for years. What makes him special, maybe he’s part of the problem.
The #2 seed who had a first round bye is 9 outs from being sent home.
Lindor just pulled a Teo and hit a grand slam homer to put the Mets up 4-1 against the Phillies in the 6th inning. Philly has just 2 hits.
This might be a controversial statement and I don’t care, but an argument can be made that one of the best apparently at SS (Rojas) for not flipping the ball to Lux and the umpire that wasn’t watching Machado blew the game. Teo would have put the team ahead and the bullpen did their job. Not to mention Buehler was a gamer.
Freeman has been scratched from the lineup Muncy at 1st Hernandez at 3B Taylor in center
Another division winner crashes and burns in their first series. More to follow!