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.
And just who Jeff would you have out there? Wrobleski and his plus 5 ERA and a ton of homers allowed? Knack? His record against +.500 teams is awful. They had no other choices. Casparius hasn’t logged more than 4 innings as a starter. Roberts has to win or lose with what he has.
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.
I didn’t see Machado purposely obstruct anything and he didn’t run into Rojas.
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.
My eyes are blue, Dodger blue, Phil. Stop flinging shit.
My understanding always was with the new rules that you can not go out of the base line at 2b to take out the fielder . In this scenario he was not going after the fielder in an attempt to take him out but he smartly left the baseline to obstruct FF in his throw to 2b. So IMHO a legal and smart play on the part of Machado.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In my opinion Machado went out of the baseline and deliberately interfered with a defenders ability to get an out. And as I remember it that is how the rule reads. It was smart of Machado to do it but the umpire should not allow him to get away with it. It was a huge play in that game and I was kinda surprised not more was made of it by Roberts.
Robert’s said it can’t be replay reviewed, but you are saying address it with the umpire I think.
So you can obstruct a throw but not a person?
Weird distinction. I wonder what the reasoning is/was.
“So you can obstruct a throw but not a person?”
Yes. But it’s not obstruction, it’s interference. It’s the right of way rule now I believe. If, in the judgment of an umpire, a base runner deliberately interferes with a fielders opportunity to get an out, he shall be declared out, the ball is dead and all runners must go back to the base they occupied at the the time of the interference.
https://www.mlb.com/glossary/rules/fielder-right-of-way
Are you daft?!??
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.
That’s a good video. The most interesting part was when they talked about Will Smith. Their solution is play Barnes in game 4, I disagree. But they touched on the wear and tear that a catcher goes through for 162 games a season. I agree with that and that’s why I’m hoping the only reason why Rushing played LF this year is to make him versitile and NOT a permanent LF. I think a combination of Smith and a good hitting Rushing catching somewhere near a 50/50% playing time would keep that wear and tear from happening to Smith.
They made a good point about NOBODY in the Dodgers dugout calling out Machado for running out of the baseline. The guy in that video made a good point that there might be a need for a new leader (manager). He even said he’s been a staunch supporter of Doc.
Yes. Good video.
I too was surprised Roberts wasn’t out on the field railing at the infield umpires. You can bet Lasorda would have. What Machado did was, again in my opinion as an umpire. deliberately interfere. And he got away with it.
It already has been mentioned but I will say it again, Rojas made a terrible decision not flipping the ball to Lux. It wasn’t registered as an error in the scorebook but it was a very serious error in judgment.
It’s also my opinion the Padres are playing with far more intensity. If the Dodgers don’t match it, the Padres will move on.
Even the so called best (Rojas) make very serious errors in judgment etc. That’s why I don’t believe in the philosophy of giving up a good amount of offense for whatever gain in defense. This isn’t directed at anyone in particular and DEFINITELY NOT you Badger. It also has nothing to do with me wanting Rojas to sit in the playoffs.
Maybe Will Smith’s meh performance as a batter these last 2 years (and his “slump” in this series) can be attributed to “wear ‘n tear” playing catcher, ..or.. maybe it’s actually who he really is at the plate NOW. I’m just not sold anymore that his problem is the former.
Starting @26.51/mins into this video, Alanna sang my song about the Dodgers state of mind in this series.
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.
I just saw an interview with Doc, he said one of the relievers will start game 4 and it will be a bullpen game. No mention of Knack. He also said Yamamoto and Flaherty in game 5. I didn’t know Flaherty would be available anymore in this series. I agree completely with Doc. But don’t be affraid of using the bullpen in game 5 if necessary.
Flaherty pitched Sunday. He could go a few innings on 4 days’ rest. You can add Casparius to your list of pitchers. He will likely get an inning or two depending on how effective he is.
If Doc uses Casparius unless it’s late in the game and the Dodgers are blowing out the Padres, he should be fired.
By the way, I want to make it clear what I meant about Flaherty. If Yamamoto sucks in game 5 and I don’t think he will suck, but if so and it’s early in the game and Flaherty needs to eat an inning or two to get to the good relievers in the bullpen, then that’s OK. Flaherty is also prone to giving up home runs just like Knack. If Flaherty can be avoided, that would be best.
Eric, Casparius has pitched in 3 games. He is 2-0 with 12 Ks in 8.1 innings. He hasn’t given up a homer yet. And he faced Arizona and Colorado in Colorado. Those are not bad hitting teams. Kid has K stuff.
Small sample.
Yes, but the kid is a rookie. And at this point, they don’t have many other options. I seem to recall more than one time they called on rookies in post season, and they performed well. Steve Howe and Fernando. Casparius has very good stuff. Not saying use him in a high leverage situation, but if the opportunity arises to get the kid in there, do it. People here bitch enough about how the Dodgers never use their kids enough.
Doc’s swan song. A mutual parting if we lose.
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.
He was on his knees when he made the throw, doubt that throwing over him was an option.
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!
My faith in this team is low. Very low. Looking at their body language compared to the Padres iit is like day and night.
They do not show confidence in the field or at the plate.
And look into their eyes during their post game interviews. They look defeated.
I hope I am wrong but it would not surprise me if todays game is a blowout and the Dodgers are done in the NLDS for the third year in a row vs a division rival.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!
They mirror their manager who certainly is not a Lion. If body languagge tells the story a blowout it is. Sad part is they wont make any changes in philosophy or managers. Same as it ever was imo just keep trying to buy a world series. how did that work out for the modern Yankees?
How did it work out for Texas?
Body language and eye focus!
we are deep into something this morning.
We can talk tomorrow about it.
Hope you can say “i told you so”.
But be honest before the game: How is your confidence level in this team ? With our without body language and eye focus.
Do you think they will beat the Padres two games in a row ?
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m hoping they do.
i wouldn’t bet they do.
but I am 💯 sure that body language and eye intensity are subjective and useless
Okay, lets agree we disagree on body language and eye intensity.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The deep something is actually known as We are in deep shit!
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.
Muncy and Smith have already showed up. What we’ve been witnessing from them is who they really are.
Have they homered or hit base hits with runners on thatss what I mean by showing up we get guys on base and then dont drive them in but the Padres sure do.
Padres are 6-22 WRISP. The Dodgers are 6-25 wRISP. No real difference in knocking in runs. In yesterday’s game, the Dodgers were 2-4 and the Padres were 2-3 wRISP. The Dodgers are NOT getting runners in scoring position. They were 4-16 in the game they won. Since that game, the Dodgers have only had 9 runners in scoriing position the last two games.
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.
Agree
Total YES to your last paragraph.
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.
I think you and I have been the two lonely voices who have complained about the LAD defense. If you want good pitching, you better have a good defensive club. You want your pitcher to pitch to soft contact ground balls. Buehler got 2 in the 2nd inning and got no outs. Tommy Edman made an excellent play on a Luis Arreaz liner to left center in the 1st. That and Lux’s play in Game 1 are the only two better than routine plays made, and last night they did not even make the routine plays.
U were not the only 2. I posted in this thread about it.
I talk about defense a lot. They lose it when Pages is in center, and with Rojas injured like he is, they lose some there. Peralta’s double down the line was a hit I believe a healthy Freeman would have gotten. Arraez stopped 2 or 3 balls hit in exactly the same spot.
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.
Dodgers got to him for 5 in 3 innings last time. BP game for LA. Score early and a lot and hand it to the pitchers.
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.
The Dodgers must do something or someone to change their attitude for the playoffs. They have Ohtani, Betts, Freeman, and Smith signed long term. Adding another older player such as Teoscar might be a mistake. My point is you can’t get rid of the players listed above. And changes need to be made. So, unfortunately, the winningest manager in baseball history needs to be replaced. Skip Schumaker, come on down!
This is the 2nd time I’ve seen Schumaker offered as a possible replacement.
Why?
What is connecting him with what Friedman is looking for?
I’d hate to see Kapler (had just one notable year, although he’s a Red Sox) but wouldn’t he be the early favorite?
What would Schumaker offer? Take a look at the Marlins record in one run games last year. Schumaker won the manager of the year award last year as he should have for the record the Marlins had in one run games.
2024 is not the fault of Skip Schumaker. The Marlins lost, which some argued would have been the best rotation in MLB.
• Sandy Alcantara
• Eury Perez
• Jesus Luzardo
• Braxton Garrett
• Edward Cabrera
• Sixto Sanchez
• Max Meyer
Skip Schumaker had AA/AAA talent to work with in 2024, after he got the Marlins into the playoffs last year. The owner then decided to go backwards. He will not pay for talent. Their farm system is not very good. They started the year with the 29th best system, and after all of the trades they acquired enough talent to get them to 15th. Schumaker saw the writing on the wall and asked out of his team option for 2025.
I know some thought that Craig Counsell was/is a great manager. I guess it did not happen in Chicago, while Milwaukee continued to win and make the playoffs. Maybe it changes next year.
Yep about 2024. I didn’t understand though. Are you agreeing with me that he’s a good manager?
Well said Jeff.
My only rebuttal would be regarding “This was not even close to being Buehler’s fault.” After the bonehead play and the umpire duh moment Buehler gave up a hard hit double and a monstrous home run. He needed a strike out in there somewhere. That’s what Kershaw would have done. Buehler didn’t get one. Not one strike out for 5 innings. Has that ever happened before? Yeah, maybe I guess. I don’t recall seeing it.
The Dodgers have to face the fact they have to do this with no help from the starting pitchers. Every team they play will be scoring 5+.
As Rick said, the 2023 Walker Buehler is not the same as the 2021 Walker Buehler. He does not have a strikeout pitch, and that would have helped. The double to Peralta was well inside, but too much central. He needed to get that pitch down, but he does not have the command of that 4-seamer he used to have. The Tatis Jr. HR was almost center/center on a flat 4-seamer. I think Buehler still believes he has to do it himself. He no longer has that ability, just like Clayton Kershaw. So yes he made mistakes, but if the defense had come through, he would not have had to face Tatis Jr. in that inning. Maybe he doesn’t groove him a 94-95 flat 4-seamer down the middle. Sometimes grinding can get it done.
A little better defense and Tatis would have never come up in that inning. Peralta’s hit went right down the line.
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.
You may be right about Buehler (and I agree), but he was not the problem last night. It was the defense and the fact that the team could not hit after Teo’s GS. 16 consecutive batters were retired after the slam, until Freddie hobbled to 1st after a 2-out single in the 8th. Then the last 4 went down without hitting the ball out of the infield.
It was a team effort for sure. One could say Buehler deserved better but that was one very high very deep incredibly impressive what proved to be a game winning home run by Tatis. This team will need a Tatis performance out of their $700 million dollar man if they intend to carry on.
What about the 2 HRs he delivered? Sorry, the HR he delivered and how many hits in the first few innings? How many runs in the first two innings? It’s not his fault?
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.
Never been a Dave Roberts fan, he is a terrible in-game manager plus he inspires no one on his team. I don’t want a FN calming influence in that seat, I want a fiery, ass kicking, mad ass hell leader, Dave is a mild-mannered Dave, actually he would have been better named Larry.
Sorry folks but this thing is over, even if the Dodgers accidentally win tonight.
Love this inane line on so many levels :
Sorry folks but this thing is over, even if the Dodgers accidentally win tonight.
Are you just stupid or just a game with you?
The initial point that Bear made last night is the essence of the Dodger’s problem “as Bear pointed 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.”
What 16 straight retired after Teo’s Grand Salami? That’s not winning baseball.
Just to elaborate on the thoughts I had on the Mercado play and astute comments by Jeff D. and Badger:
Yes, resign Teo, Jeff. Pay the man.
Again, Mercado did what is coached in that situation. Every perceptive baserunner runs at the SS, wherever he’s set up and in that situation, it’s always to the “inside”. Infielders are coached to yell “inside” to remind the first baseman where to throw. If the first baseman is at double-play depth, with runners on 1st and 2nd, and he’s not holding the runner at first, the call is “outside”.
It happens every game. But the question here is how far can a runner go inside to block the throw? I think 2 feet onto the infield grass is too far. But credit Machado (god that’s hard to say) for pushing the limits and getting away with it.
The fact that the umpire said he was looking elsewhere, doesn’t play. As Badger pointed out, there are 6 friggin umpires in this game and nobody watched Machado’s route?
I too think at least Doc should have requested (demanded) an explanation. Since it’s not reviewable (and why is it not, as I’ve seen the runner out of the lane to first on catcher’s throws reviewed?) maybe Doc would have been instructed to stay away like they do with balls and strikes conversations. But Doc should have pushed the issue and demanded an explanation and a possible consult with all 6 umpires.
That play was HUGE. As I said, you can’t give the Padres 6 outs in an inning. The 6 spot ended up completely changing the game.
But it was SSDD for this lineup. And that won’t cut it.
Allana in the video, made a correct statement. With all things considered right now, the Padres are the better team.
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.
Yeah I really admire Miggy and Freddie but their injuries influenced both of the important plays in the 2nd.
I forgot to point out what a nice job Banda, Hudson and Kopech did out of the pen.
Rojas should have flipped it to Lux. He screwed up.
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.
It is a game. If they lose, well we can do nothing about it, and I am pretty sure God has better things to do than listen to a bunch of fans praying for a win. Much more important things going on in the world. Baseball is entertainment and a distraction from everyday life. Fans getting angry at each other and getting in each other’s grill should not be what the game is about. Everyone has an opinion, and that is what this blog is for. I stopped worrying about the Dodgers years ago. I watch the game and the team because I love both. But I am not going to go and slit my wrist if they lose simply because it just isn’t that easy to get there. Players are human. They make mistakes. But they have a set of skills none of us will ever have. We bitch about Muncy’s strikeouts, Buehler’s lack of a put away pitch, Pages lack of range in centerfield. I am guilty of that stuff too. But I am also a realist and the fact is, this is simply not the same team that left spring training in March. It is a banged up, bandaged shadow of that bunch. Excuses? No, facts. They were behind the 8-ball since May. They showed grit and fight despite not having a full deck to play with. They used 17 different starting pitchers during the season. They had kids pitching who were not even in the picture at the beginning of the year. How many teams could lose their entire starting staff, their starting SS and 3B for over two months, and still win 98 games. Fans questioning the heart of this team? Body language? Please. Getting to and then winning the World Series is not easy. And the best team does not always win. Especially when that team is a hospital ward.
You’re making the same excuses that a lot of people make every year when the Dodgers get bounced out of the division series Bear.
Poor Dodgers. You don’t think the Padres had injuries? They just lost one of their best starting pitchers (musgrove) to Tommy John days before the postseason started. They lost their starting second baseman the entire year. I think their catcher got hurt as well and they’re playing their backup. Machado has been banged up all year. Tatis was out for a large chunk of the season. They don’t make excuses. They rise to the ocassion and figure out a way to win. The Phillies have had injuries, the Mets, Yankees, Kansas City. All of them have injuries, and it’s not an excuse every year.
Sure we appreciate that they made the playoffs and won the divison, but they lose in the same way every year, and they are no longer able to win a playoff series.
it’s ok to call a duck a duck. It’s ok to critique and point out areas that could be improved. and when I say pray, I don’t literally mean that. It’s toungue and cheek. “the best team does not always win” You know what? You know who I think is the best team?……..THE TEAM THAT WINS THE SERIES. Sorry for the caps but, I think that’s most important to understand in this scenario. The best team is the one who wins the series. And if the Dodgers can’t get it done, then the Padres are the better team and will be playing for the pennant while the Dodgers will be home or playing golf.
Sorry Bear, just my opinion.
Your opinion and no need to apologize. Yes, the Padres lost Musgrove. But the Dodgers lost Stone, Glasnow, Kershaw, Ryan, Buehler, Yamamoto, all during the season. They had to make do with a patchwork rotation. Dodgers lost Muncy and Betts for extended periods of time. When Tatis went down for a while the Padres had a couple guys step in. Tatis missed 60 games. The Dodgers lost more days to injured players than any other team. Freddie and Rojas are hurt and not at 100%. Those are not excuses, they are effing facts. The Dodgers found ways to win all year, and still the fans are not satisfied. Yeah, it is playoff time, and they are in a hole. Can they get out of it? Who knows. All they can do is play the game as hard as they can and give their best. It just isn’t that damn easy to win. Questioning the heart of these guys is idiotic. They want to win as badly as any other team in the majors. Maybe more given the fact that they have not advanced the last two years. And since not one of us is in that clubhouse we have no effing clue what is going on down there. You believe none of those guys care that they are one game away from going home? It is a game, not life. This too will pass. Next year will come and fans will say the same old crap they do every year. The team will either make changes this winter or they won’t. We have no control over that. But I am not going to lose my mind if they lose.
I am not positive, but I do not think Scott has ever questioned the Dodgers’ players heart. He is anti AF/BG.
I was telling my wife that I no longer live and die with my three sports teams. I do not know if it was the knee replacement surgery, which was certainly not life threatening. But my attitude has changed since that time. If the Dodgers lose, I will be disappointed, but I will not dwell on it. I will watch the ALCS, but I will not watch a game that the Padres are playing. I have not lost any sleep over the 2 USC losses that should have been wins. It used to take me until the next week’s game for me to get over a loss.
I now get to watch 49er fans go on suicide alert. I get to enjoy my Packers and watch Sam Darnold and Caleb Williams play QB for the Vikings and Bears respectively.
correct. I don’t question the team’s heart. Heart is not the issue, and the players obviously want to win.
I just don’t like Friedman’s weak and predictable strategies that he deploys every year. The obsession with chase rates and inneffective starting pitching. The coddling of the pitchers, the load management that never keeps anyone healthy. The lefty/righty matchups that never work.
His ego will not allow him to try anything else.
I do not think you are being fair in your take on the Dodgers injuries vs the Padres. Yes, Musgrove was lost due to TJ, but Cease, King, and Darvish are all from the original rotation. The 5th member, Matt Waldron was replaced by Martín Pérez. Waldron was not injured but replaced by a better option. The one LAD pitcher who is still in the rotation is Yamamoto, and he is not the same pitcher he was pre-injury. Glasnow, Stone, and Miller are all gone, and Paxton was traded and replaced by Flaherty. Depth losses – Sheehan, Ryan, Kershaw, Buehler, Hurt, Frasso. Yes Buehler is now back, but was out a long time with his hip injury. Still hurt? Neither Landon Knack nor Justin Wrobleski were expected to start for LAD this year. Nor was River Ryan for that matter.
I assume you are referring to Ha-Seong Kim as the 2B out. Kim was the SS until he got hurt, but he played 121 games for SD. Bogaerts was the 2B.
Luis Campusano was the original starting catcher, and while he did spend a minimal time on the IL and later optioned, Higashioka beat him out. Preller then signed Diaz as the new backup after he was released by Colorado.
Machado’s injury was in the beginning of the season, and did not allow him to play defense. But he played a full season offensively (152 games).
So the Padres are down Kim and Musgrove. Besides the SP out and relievers out, the Dodgers are hampered with the injuries to Freeman and Rojas. The LAD injuries are far more impactful than San Diego’s.
That being said, I never want injuries to be an excuse. Next man up. The LAD starting pitching has been atrocious, but outside of Darvish, so has San Diego’s. The difference is that the Padres have multiple clutch hitters and some great defense, while the Dodgers have one clutch hitter… Teoscar Hernández, and questionable defense. Other than Game 2, the LAD bullpen has been better than SD. The difference is that the LAD offense is not as good as hyped, and not as good as the Padres.
No excuses, also not ignoring the difference in the injuries to both teams. Beat the Padres tonight and get back to LA for Game 5.
You do know that if nothing changes, and Guggenheim doesnt step in, the same exact thing will happen in 2025. And they have the best player in baseball on their roster and it hasn’t made any difference.
Here’s what 2025 will look like.
Rinse and repeat.
This pattern more or less has happened the last 2 years, and it’s very close to happening again this year. If it does, I’m with you on the housecleaning.
This is not on Friedman. I don’t know much about Gomes.
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.
Looks like Cease goes tonight and Darvish in game 5, if needed. Thats a tough road. Let’s see what level of fight is still there. We were down 3-1 to Atlanta in 20.
They lost a heartbreaker in the World Series when Taylor misplayed a ball and Arozarena fell down rounding third. Remember in the Atlanta series, they were losing 2-0 and Kike ended up hitting a homer to tie it at 3 and then Belli hit the game winner.
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
It wasn’t embarrassing. It was playoff baseball.
embarrassing playoff baseball?
That 2nd inning was embarrassing. Muncy, Smith, Lux, and Edman were pathetic.
Game 2 was embarrassing that’s for sure.
Yep! Rojas had a brain fart!
Good article Bluto. Too many Dodgers are choking at the plate. ..again …for the 3rd straight year. If this team bows out of the playoffs tonight, something drastic within management must be done in the off-season. What it is, I don’t know ..but something BIGLY will have to change.
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.
No one is on the hot seat if they lose. Not even AF. Only way Doc gets fired is if Guggenheim pulls the plug on Friedman. Not happening.
This is again speculation offered as fact.
Totally baseless.
1) Friedman doesn’t own Doc like a slave.
2) Injuries don’t make Doc’s bad decision-making null and void. I’m not saying Doc has made a mistake in this round of the playoffs, but it’s not over yet.
No, but Doc was Friedman’s call. The next guy in charge will want his own. That is what happens 90 percent of the time. Bluto, I base it on what I have seen over the last several years. Unless Guggenheim changes something, all are safe.
Bear,
why is the proper noun Guggenheim and not Friedman?
i think this is much more accurate:
Unless Friedman changes something, all are safe.
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. 😉
It’s why the HR and Slug are preferred in today’s game.
Too hard, with pitching and defense, to score by stringing together hits.
The last time that worked for the Dodgers was 2020. Since then good pitching has shut down the LAD slug. Since then the Dodgers are 8-14 in playoff games (2-8 ub last three years). That is not acceptable for me. Maybe it is for you because, after all they did get to the playoffs. I say try something different.
I’m neither advocating for it, nor defending it.
Just showing an example of why it is in favor across the league.
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.
Not happening. They have more games to play and 1 more win gets them to the ALCS. They won’t be broken up.
I have to defend Bear here, Bear was being sarcastic Bobby.
Purely tongue in cheek Bobby. Old saying when a perennially bad team all of sudden becomes good.
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.
Can we pretend this was never posted?
Why? Dodgers pitchers are going down to injuries like flies on shit. The medical staff and training staff should be taken a look at for that.
There’s so much about it that is stupid. It actually gives me a headache.
First, singling out some random guy on the bench?
Them, blaming the doctors and medical staff has a little bit of the “how was the play Mrs. Lincoln” vibe?
finally, what makes that little Asian guy special is that he’s a qualified medical person. Unlike you and I.
He is a highly qualified trainer. Been at it for years that is what makes him special.
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.
Two innings to go for NYM to make NLCS. I do not like NY teams, but I find myself rooting for NYM. Frankie Lindor is special.
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
God help us.
Better to not play a hurt player than stick him in the lineup
I wasn’t talking about Freeman, I was talking about Kiki and Taylor. God help us. Another words, Kike and Taylor suck.
Another division winner crashes and burns in their first series. More to follow!