With the Dodgers down 0-2 to the Cardinals in the NLCS, all of the talk has been about their absolutely atrocious offense, and rightfully so. Time and time again they've had chances to break through and at least win one of the games, only to fail miserably in big situations.
All in all, the Dodgers were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position in Game 1, and 0-for-6 in Game 2. I'm pretty sure that equates to 1-for-16 in two games. That's just brutal. Here's a closer look at every situation where they've had a chance with RISP...
Game 1
1st inning: Mark Ellis on 2nd (single), Adrian Gonzalez struck out swinging, Yasiel Puig struck out swinging
3rd inning: Carl Crawford on 2nd (double), Ellis grounded out
Crawford on 3rd (double), Ramirez on 2nd (walk), Puig grounded into forceout at home
Ramirez on 3rd (walk), Gonzalez on 2nd (walk), Juan Uribe two-run single to center
Puig on 2nd (fielder's choice), Andre Ethier flew out
6th inning: Uribe on 2nd (single), Zack Greinke flew out
10th inning: Ellis on 3rd (triple), Michael Young flew out (then Ellis thrown out at home by Carlos Beltran)
11th inning: Ethier on 2nd (walk), Nick Punto struck out swinging
12th inning: Crawford on 2nd (single), Young grounded into a double play
Game 2
1st inning: Mark Ellis on 2nd (single and stolen base), Puig struck out swinging
5th inning: A.J. Ellis on 2nd (ground rule double), Punto struck out looking
6th inning: Clayton Kershaw on third (single and error), Crawford on 2nd (single and error), Mark Ellis popped up, Puig struck out swinging, Uribe struck out swinging
7th inning: Punto on 3rd (single and two wild pitches), Young flew out
Ouch.
There's really no positive way at all to spin these numbers. With the exception of Uribe's two-run single up the middle to take a 2-0 lead in Game 1, everything else has ranged from ugly to pathetic.
As Matt Kemp sits out and Ramirez missed Game 2 with a sore everything after gritting through 13 innings of Game 1 clearly injured, a lot of the pressure falls on guys like Puig and Gonzalez. Quite simply, they've been awful. With RISP, Puig is 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, and Gonzalez is 0-for-1 with a strikeout, but was also hitless in Game 2. Neither one of these guys has made any difference whatsoever. Well, they have for the Cardinals, but I digress.
Ramirez remains a gametime decision for Game 3, so even if he is in the lineup, you can't expect him to automatically bring the power. Maybe he will, but the guy is obviously in pain, so we have to temper our expectations. And Kemp isn't walking through that door.
At 0-for-10 with six strikeouts in this series, Puig will still be counted on to get the job done. He's so lost at the plate right now, pitchers are just throwing everything by him, including fastballs right down the middle. Being so young with so much power, he's practically spinning himself into the ground when he swings and misses. There's been no plate discipline at all, something I thought he showed in the NLDS against the Braves. Not anymore.
It seems like the Dodgers have been destroyed in both games thus far, but the reality is that they've lost by the slimmest of margins. It's how they've lost that's been so frustrating, as both of their aces put in fantastic efforts that where wasted away. A hit here and a play there, this could very well by 2-0 Dodgers. But it's not, and the reality is that they need to win four of the next five, with three of those games coming at home.
As A.J. Ellis stated, the Cardinals beat their aces, now it's time to beat theirs in Adam Wainwright Monday night. Maybe that'll be the thing that jumpstarts this sorry offense into making a series of this thing. If not, then good luck to the Cardinals in the World Series.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Friday, October 11, 2013
Ethier will open the NLCS in center
Andre Ethier has apparently done enough to convince Don Mattingly and the Dodgers' management to return to the starting lineup. He'll get the nod in center and hit seventh behind Juan Uribe in Game 1 of the NLCS.
This is great news, at least if he's truly healthy. You get the feeling that it's one of those things where Ethier is feeling better, but both sides are trying to convince themselves that he really will be OK to start. Perhaps it will be one of those issues where they'll let him go until he shows signs of not being able to execute the way he should.
With that in mind, expect Skip Schumaker to have his glove ready and be stretched during every inning.
The Cardinals feature an all right-handed rotation (Joe Kelly, Michael Wacha, Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn), so Ethier's bat from the left side is essential. Schumaker also hits left, and while he did fairly well in the NLDS against the Braves, his bat doesn't have the game-changing impact that Ethier's does.
Of course, neither one of them has the impact that Matt Kemp's bat does, and this is the type of series where he will be sorely missed, but I digress.
Hopefully Ethier can provide some thump at the bottom of the order, as the Dodgers will look to steal back home field advantage with a win in any of the first couple of games. Some improved health plus Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw taking the ball means that is a good possibility of happening.
This is great news, at least if he's truly healthy. You get the feeling that it's one of those things where Ethier is feeling better, but both sides are trying to convince themselves that he really will be OK to start. Perhaps it will be one of those issues where they'll let him go until he shows signs of not being able to execute the way he should.
With that in mind, expect Skip Schumaker to have his glove ready and be stretched during every inning.
The Cardinals feature an all right-handed rotation (Joe Kelly, Michael Wacha, Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn), so Ethier's bat from the left side is essential. Schumaker also hits left, and while he did fairly well in the NLDS against the Braves, his bat doesn't have the game-changing impact that Ethier's does.
Of course, neither one of them has the impact that Matt Kemp's bat does, and this is the type of series where he will be sorely missed, but I digress.
Hopefully Ethier can provide some thump at the bottom of the order, as the Dodgers will look to steal back home field advantage with a win in any of the first couple of games. Some improved health plus Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw taking the ball means that is a good possibility of happening.
Dodgers set 25-man roster for the NLCS
The Dodgers waited until Friday afternoon to officially announce their 25-man roster for the NLCS, and here it is:
Starting Rotation
Clayton Kershaw
Zack Greinke
Hyun-Jin Ryu
Ricky Nolasco
Bullpen
Kenley Jansen
Brian Wilson
Ronald Belisario
J.P. Howell
Chris Withrow
Carlos Marmol
Edinson Volquez (long relief)
Catchers
A.J. Ellis
Tim Federowicz
Infielders
Adrian Gonzalez
Mark Ellis
Hanley Ramirez
Juan Uribe
Michael Young
Dee Gordon
Outfielders
Carl Crawford
Andre Ethier
Yasiel Puig
Scott Van Slyke
Utility
Skip Schumaker
Nick Punto
Analysis: A couple of changes have been made from the previous round. Out are Paco Rodriguez and Chris Capuano, in are Marmol and Volquez. Still missing are Brandon League and Jerry Hairston.
Removing Rodriguez is not a surprise, as he was knocked around down the stretch, as well as by Jason Heyward. So much for getting the lefties out. Capuano pitched three scoreless innings in Game 3 against the Braves, but wasn't very effective against the Cardinals this season, and still is just a so-so option. Maybe Volquez has something left in him.
Only keeping one lefty in the bullpen is a bit of a risk, but one worth taking. As we saw in the Game 2 loss, matching left vs. left and right vs. right isn't guaranteed to work, so I'd much rather just have the best pitcher in regardless of which side of the rubber he throws from. Besides, if the Dodgers insist on using another lefty in the later innings, maybe Ryu can do the job.
Someone who may find his way back into the starting lineup, or at least getting much more playing time, is Ethier. His ankle isn't 100%, but supposedly much better than last round. Even with a bit of uncertainty, however, the Dodgers decided to keep Van Slyke around to play the outfield just in case, and Gordon to pinch-run.
Other than potentially starting Ethier in center for Schumaker, I wouldn't expect to see any changes to the starting lineup, as Don Mattingly used the exact same one in all four Division Series games. With Uribe playing very well and Ramirez avoiding injuries for now, Young and Punto will play backup roles. We know Greinke and Kershaw will go the first couple of game, with Ryu and Nolasco candidates for Game 3.
Starting Rotation
Clayton Kershaw
Zack Greinke
Hyun-Jin Ryu
Ricky Nolasco
Bullpen
Kenley Jansen
Brian Wilson
Ronald Belisario
J.P. Howell
Chris Withrow
Carlos Marmol
Edinson Volquez (long relief)
Catchers
A.J. Ellis
Tim Federowicz
Infielders
Adrian Gonzalez
Mark Ellis
Hanley Ramirez
Juan Uribe
Michael Young
Dee Gordon
Outfielders
Carl Crawford
Andre Ethier
Yasiel Puig
Scott Van Slyke
Utility
Skip Schumaker
Nick Punto
Analysis: A couple of changes have been made from the previous round. Out are Paco Rodriguez and Chris Capuano, in are Marmol and Volquez. Still missing are Brandon League and Jerry Hairston.
Removing Rodriguez is not a surprise, as he was knocked around down the stretch, as well as by Jason Heyward. So much for getting the lefties out. Capuano pitched three scoreless innings in Game 3 against the Braves, but wasn't very effective against the Cardinals this season, and still is just a so-so option. Maybe Volquez has something left in him.
Only keeping one lefty in the bullpen is a bit of a risk, but one worth taking. As we saw in the Game 2 loss, matching left vs. left and right vs. right isn't guaranteed to work, so I'd much rather just have the best pitcher in regardless of which side of the rubber he throws from. Besides, if the Dodgers insist on using another lefty in the later innings, maybe Ryu can do the job.
Someone who may find his way back into the starting lineup, or at least getting much more playing time, is Ethier. His ankle isn't 100%, but supposedly much better than last round. Even with a bit of uncertainty, however, the Dodgers decided to keep Van Slyke around to play the outfield just in case, and Gordon to pinch-run.
Other than potentially starting Ethier in center for Schumaker, I wouldn't expect to see any changes to the starting lineup, as Don Mattingly used the exact same one in all four Division Series games. With Uribe playing very well and Ramirez avoiding injuries for now, Young and Punto will play backup roles. We know Greinke and Kershaw will go the first couple of game, with Ryu and Nolasco candidates for Game 3.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Middle relief will play key role for the Dodgers
A lot went right for the Dodgers in taking down the Braves in the NLDS. Carl Crawford hitting three home runs. Hanley Ramirez hitting .500. Juan Uribe's series-clinching two-run shot. Clayton Kershaw's one earned run in 13 innings. Kenley Jansen being untouchable.
But for all that went right, one thing definitely needs improvement against the Cardinals in the NLCS: middle relief.
It wasn't all doom and gloom, at least. Brian Wilson pitched three scoreless innings in three appearances. J.P. Howell was also scoreless over three appearances covering 2 1/3 innings. Chris Capuano relieved an ineffective Hyun-Jin Ryu in Game 3 and didn't allow a run in three innings, though did have control problems with three walks. But hey, no runs is no runs.
As for the rest of the 'pen (minus closer Jansen)... yuck. Chris Withrow took over for Zack Greinke in the seventh inning of Game 2 and only got two outs, getting charged with two runs. Paco Rodriguez relieved Withrow, gave up a huge two-run single to Jayson Heyward, then was yanked. Ronald Belisario walked Justin Upton, then he too was yanked.
In Game 3, Capuano, Howell, and Belisario were effective, but Rodriguez was not. All he had to do was get the final three outs with a nine-run lead, and three hits and a walk later, including a massive two-run bomb by Heyward, Jansen had to get the last out. It was very disappointing.
Then there was Belisario in Game 4, who was horrible. After taking over for Kershaw in the seventh, he got the first out, but then allowed a triple to Elliot Johnson and an RBI single to Jose Constanza. And just like that, he was done.
All in all, here are the ERA's for the following: Belisario - 9.00, Withrow - 27.00, Rodriguez - 27.00. UGLY.
A case can be made that those are small sample sizes, but in the playoffs, everything is. There's really no way of spinning those numbers into something positive at all. They all pitched only 2 1/3 innings, yet gave up five runs, seven hits, and four walks.
At this point, I'm sure Don Mattingly will use Howell, Wilson, and Jansen in the late innings with a lead. But what happens when they need innings if they're losing or the game is tied? That means more of the guys with the ballooned ERA's. Advantage, Cardinals.
However, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see the Dodgers make some roster changes for the NLCS. I think Belisario will stick around, mostly because he never seems to go away. But Withrow and Rodriguez could get ousted in favor of guys like Carlos Marmol and/or Brandon League. I was a little surprised Marmol wasn't on the NLDS roster, so I would lean towards him making the championship series round.
Friday night is Game 1 in St. Louis, so keep an eye out for the final 25-man roster. The Dodgers know these games will be tight, so the boys in the bullpen will have extra importance. Getting a fresh arm or two in there can only help.
But for all that went right, one thing definitely needs improvement against the Cardinals in the NLCS: middle relief.
It wasn't all doom and gloom, at least. Brian Wilson pitched three scoreless innings in three appearances. J.P. Howell was also scoreless over three appearances covering 2 1/3 innings. Chris Capuano relieved an ineffective Hyun-Jin Ryu in Game 3 and didn't allow a run in three innings, though did have control problems with three walks. But hey, no runs is no runs.
As for the rest of the 'pen (minus closer Jansen)... yuck. Chris Withrow took over for Zack Greinke in the seventh inning of Game 2 and only got two outs, getting charged with two runs. Paco Rodriguez relieved Withrow, gave up a huge two-run single to Jayson Heyward, then was yanked. Ronald Belisario walked Justin Upton, then he too was yanked.
In Game 3, Capuano, Howell, and Belisario were effective, but Rodriguez was not. All he had to do was get the final three outs with a nine-run lead, and three hits and a walk later, including a massive two-run bomb by Heyward, Jansen had to get the last out. It was very disappointing.
Then there was Belisario in Game 4, who was horrible. After taking over for Kershaw in the seventh, he got the first out, but then allowed a triple to Elliot Johnson and an RBI single to Jose Constanza. And just like that, he was done.
All in all, here are the ERA's for the following: Belisario - 9.00, Withrow - 27.00, Rodriguez - 27.00. UGLY.
A case can be made that those are small sample sizes, but in the playoffs, everything is. There's really no way of spinning those numbers into something positive at all. They all pitched only 2 1/3 innings, yet gave up five runs, seven hits, and four walks.
At this point, I'm sure Don Mattingly will use Howell, Wilson, and Jansen in the late innings with a lead. But what happens when they need innings if they're losing or the game is tied? That means more of the guys with the ballooned ERA's. Advantage, Cardinals.
However, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see the Dodgers make some roster changes for the NLCS. I think Belisario will stick around, mostly because he never seems to go away. But Withrow and Rodriguez could get ousted in favor of guys like Carlos Marmol and/or Brandon League. I was a little surprised Marmol wasn't on the NLDS roster, so I would lean towards him making the championship series round.
Friday night is Game 1 in St. Louis, so keep an eye out for the final 25-man roster. The Dodgers know these games will be tight, so the boys in the bullpen will have extra importance. Getting a fresh arm or two in there can only help.
Greinke vs. Kelly, Kershaw vs. Wacha open the NLCS
The Cardinals put away the Pirates in the deciding Game 5 of the NLDS on Wednesday night, 6-1. The win also gives the Cards home field advantage in the NLCS, as the Dodgers will be opening on the road once again.
What is good news for the Dodgers, however, is that Adam Wainwright won't be going until Game 3 on Monday. He was fantastic on Wednesday, going the distance in throwing 107 pitches. Both Don Mattingly and Mike Matheny have announced the starters for the first couple of games in St. Louis:
Game 1 - Friday, October 11, 8:37 ET
Zack Greinke (15-4, 2.63) vs. Joe Kelly (10-5, 2.65)
Game 2 - Saturday, October 12, 4:07 ET
Clayton Kershaw (16-9, 1.83) vs. Michael Wacha (4-1, 2.78)
It's this time of year when the Dodgers are so happy they shelled out the dough in the offseason for Greinke. Suppose Greinke wasn't there or was hurt, then I highly doubt we would've seen Kershaw start on three days' rest against the Braves in the NLDS. A loss there would've meant someone like Ricky Nolasco in Game 5. Now, since the Dodgers won, they can push Kershaw back to regular rest for Game 2 of the NLCS, while watching their other ace go Game 1. It works out for all.
Plus, the pressure is definitely on the Cardinals to win Game 1. Imagine if they lose that game, then they have to turn around less than a day later and face the soon-to-be Cy Young winner in Kershaw. Yikes, that's pretty scary.
Maybe the Dodgers are secretly happy to have Greinke go in the first game for a couple of reasons. One, if they win, they then give the ball to Kershaw and can steal two games on the road. Two, if Greinke loses, their fallback option is Kershaw. Not a bad guy to get you back into a series.
Since this is October, though, in no way should anyone fall asleep on the Cardinals' starters. Kelly and Wacha have more than proven themselves this season, even in limited starts. Wacha's last two starts have been insane, as he's carried no-hitters into the ninth and eighth innings, respectively. It's hard to top that.
As for Game 3, we do know that Wainwright will take the hill, but Mattingly hasn't tipped his hand yet. Hyun-Jin Ryu is one candidate, but he was pretty ineffective in his Game 3 start against the Braves, not making it into the fourth. Nolasco got bumped for Kershaw in the clinching Game 4, so if anything, he's fresh.
What is good news for the Dodgers, however, is that Adam Wainwright won't be going until Game 3 on Monday. He was fantastic on Wednesday, going the distance in throwing 107 pitches. Both Don Mattingly and Mike Matheny have announced the starters for the first couple of games in St. Louis:
Game 1 - Friday, October 11, 8:37 ET
Zack Greinke (15-4, 2.63) vs. Joe Kelly (10-5, 2.65)
Game 2 - Saturday, October 12, 4:07 ET
Clayton Kershaw (16-9, 1.83) vs. Michael Wacha (4-1, 2.78)
It's this time of year when the Dodgers are so happy they shelled out the dough in the offseason for Greinke. Suppose Greinke wasn't there or was hurt, then I highly doubt we would've seen Kershaw start on three days' rest against the Braves in the NLDS. A loss there would've meant someone like Ricky Nolasco in Game 5. Now, since the Dodgers won, they can push Kershaw back to regular rest for Game 2 of the NLCS, while watching their other ace go Game 1. It works out for all.
Plus, the pressure is definitely on the Cardinals to win Game 1. Imagine if they lose that game, then they have to turn around less than a day later and face the soon-to-be Cy Young winner in Kershaw. Yikes, that's pretty scary.
Maybe the Dodgers are secretly happy to have Greinke go in the first game for a couple of reasons. One, if they win, they then give the ball to Kershaw and can steal two games on the road. Two, if Greinke loses, their fallback option is Kershaw. Not a bad guy to get you back into a series.
Since this is October, though, in no way should anyone fall asleep on the Cardinals' starters. Kelly and Wacha have more than proven themselves this season, even in limited starts. Wacha's last two starts have been insane, as he's carried no-hitters into the ninth and eighth innings, respectively. It's hard to top that.
As for Game 3, we do know that Wainwright will take the hill, but Mattingly hasn't tipped his hand yet. Hyun-Jin Ryu is one candidate, but he was pretty ineffective in his Game 3 start against the Braves, not making it into the fourth. Nolasco got bumped for Kershaw in the clinching Game 4, so if anything, he's fresh.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Uribe's heroics lift the Dodgers to the NLCS
When is hitting a home run easier than laying down a sacrifice bunt?
When you're Juan Uribe, and you want to give the Dodgers a late lead.
After being unable to lay down a bunt twice in the eighth inning with Yasiel Puig on second, Uribe absolutely unloaded on a two-run bomb to left. The result was a 4-3 lead, and after Kenley Jansen struck out the side in the ninth, the Dodgers are back in the NLCS for the first time since 2009.
There were plenty of storylines coming into Monday night's Game 4 in LA, with the Braves looking to get the series even and back home for the deciding game. The biggest one came hours before the first pitch, as Clayton Kershaw was named the starter on three days' rest over Ricky Nolasco.
It was a bit of a gamble considering Kershaw's never done this before, but by the end of the night, it was a non-issue. In fact, Kershaw was fantastic in pitching six strong innings without giving up an earned run. Notice I said EARNED run, because his defense definitely let him down.
The start of the game was all about the suddenly hot Carl Crawford, who homered leading off for the quick 1-0 lead. Not satisfied with just one, he connected on another in the third to go up 2-0, as he was about the only thing going right with the bats.
All of the momentum was clearly with the Dodgers after Crawford's second shot, but it was all handed right back to the Braves with a very sloppy fourth. Freddy Freeman singled leading off. Even Gattis then grounded a sharp one to Adrian Gonzalez at first, who inexplicably rushed his throw to second with no one covering yet for the error. Gonzalez also had an error on the first hitter of the game when he bobbled Jayson Heyward's easy grounder.
A wild pitch by Kershaw sent runners to scoring position, but Brian McCann struck out on a very questionable called strike three. Chris Johnson came through with an RBI single to make it 2-1. Andrelton Simmons then grounded one to Uribe at third, who threw to Mark Ellis at second for an out, who then threw wide to first to allow the run to score. Ugh. It wasn't an error officially, but it should've been as the game was tied 2-2.
For the next few innings, the Dodgers reverted back to their non-clutch ways, as they left runners all over the place. A.J. Ellis had a chance against a tiring Freddy Garcia in the sixth with two on and two out, but he grounded out.
With Kershaw done after six, Ronald Belisario entered. That would be a bad sign of things to come, as even though Simmons grounded back to him right away, Elliot Johnson tripled next. Jose Constanza pinch-hit and gave the Braves a 3-2 lead with an RBI single, and the Dodgers were looking like they'd have to pack their bags with Craig Kimbrel lurking.
Luis Avilan got through the seventh despite a two-out double to Mark Ellis. The question then became if Kimbrel would work two innings or not.
Fortunately for the Dodgers, he didn't, and never appeared at all. Fredi Gonzalez went with David Carpenter instead, the same guy who gave up Hanley Ramirez's two-run homer in Game 2 that nearly cost them the game. Right away, Puig doubled to right on some great hustle to get to second.
So would Gonzalez go with his big dog now? Nope. In stayed Carpenter, and Uribe unsuccessfully tried to lay down two bunts. After that idea was thrown out the window, Uribe connected on a horrible 0-2 slider that stayed up in the zone, and a 383 foot homer to left put the Dodgers back up 4-3.
There would be no ninth inning comeback for the Braves, as Jansen struck out the side, getting Justin Upton swinging to the game and start the celebration.
What a game of ups-and-downs this turned out to be. First the two solo shots by Crawford, who carried this team to an early lead as they tried to close it out. Then the defensive mistakes, which took away a win from an awesome start by Kershaw. Then the Braves getting the lead, then giving it right back on Uribe's homer. I'm glad Jansen wasn't interested in giving it away again.
The offense only scored via the longball, and we can all be thankful for that. But, they also left eight men and were 1-for-9 with RISP. The one hit? Uribe's homer in the eighth. Talk about good timing.
Kershaw did all he could, and even he seemed to agree that taking him out after six innings and 91 pitches was the right move. He can now get his proper rest before starting Game 2 on Saturday either home against the Pirates or on the road against the Cardinals. Stay tuned to see how that one plays out.
The middle relief, again, left something to be desired. Right now Mattingly's biggest question is whom to use to get the ball to Jansen in the ninth. Brian Wilson has the eight locked down, so more specifically, who will bridge the gap to him. Belisario was terrible, and Chris Withrow wasn't any better in Game 2. Paco Rodriguez looks like he has no arm left. Maybe we'll see more J.P. Howell, who has three scoreless appearances with three strikeouts. He's looking good.
For now, the Dodgers will kick back and enjoy Game 5 between the Pirates and Cardinals. Zack Greinke will get the call in Game 1, followed by Kershaw, with either Ricky Nolasco or Hyun-Jin Ryu to follow.
Dodger fans can celebrate their victory, and the fact that they don't have to play the Phillies in the NLCS again!
When you're Juan Uribe, and you want to give the Dodgers a late lead.
After being unable to lay down a bunt twice in the eighth inning with Yasiel Puig on second, Uribe absolutely unloaded on a two-run bomb to left. The result was a 4-3 lead, and after Kenley Jansen struck out the side in the ninth, the Dodgers are back in the NLCS for the first time since 2009.
There were plenty of storylines coming into Monday night's Game 4 in LA, with the Braves looking to get the series even and back home for the deciding game. The biggest one came hours before the first pitch, as Clayton Kershaw was named the starter on three days' rest over Ricky Nolasco.
It was a bit of a gamble considering Kershaw's never done this before, but by the end of the night, it was a non-issue. In fact, Kershaw was fantastic in pitching six strong innings without giving up an earned run. Notice I said EARNED run, because his defense definitely let him down.
The start of the game was all about the suddenly hot Carl Crawford, who homered leading off for the quick 1-0 lead. Not satisfied with just one, he connected on another in the third to go up 2-0, as he was about the only thing going right with the bats.
All of the momentum was clearly with the Dodgers after Crawford's second shot, but it was all handed right back to the Braves with a very sloppy fourth. Freddy Freeman singled leading off. Even Gattis then grounded a sharp one to Adrian Gonzalez at first, who inexplicably rushed his throw to second with no one covering yet for the error. Gonzalez also had an error on the first hitter of the game when he bobbled Jayson Heyward's easy grounder.
A wild pitch by Kershaw sent runners to scoring position, but Brian McCann struck out on a very questionable called strike three. Chris Johnson came through with an RBI single to make it 2-1. Andrelton Simmons then grounded one to Uribe at third, who threw to Mark Ellis at second for an out, who then threw wide to first to allow the run to score. Ugh. It wasn't an error officially, but it should've been as the game was tied 2-2.
For the next few innings, the Dodgers reverted back to their non-clutch ways, as they left runners all over the place. A.J. Ellis had a chance against a tiring Freddy Garcia in the sixth with two on and two out, but he grounded out.
With Kershaw done after six, Ronald Belisario entered. That would be a bad sign of things to come, as even though Simmons grounded back to him right away, Elliot Johnson tripled next. Jose Constanza pinch-hit and gave the Braves a 3-2 lead with an RBI single, and the Dodgers were looking like they'd have to pack their bags with Craig Kimbrel lurking.
Luis Avilan got through the seventh despite a two-out double to Mark Ellis. The question then became if Kimbrel would work two innings or not.
Fortunately for the Dodgers, he didn't, and never appeared at all. Fredi Gonzalez went with David Carpenter instead, the same guy who gave up Hanley Ramirez's two-run homer in Game 2 that nearly cost them the game. Right away, Puig doubled to right on some great hustle to get to second.
So would Gonzalez go with his big dog now? Nope. In stayed Carpenter, and Uribe unsuccessfully tried to lay down two bunts. After that idea was thrown out the window, Uribe connected on a horrible 0-2 slider that stayed up in the zone, and a 383 foot homer to left put the Dodgers back up 4-3.
There would be no ninth inning comeback for the Braves, as Jansen struck out the side, getting Justin Upton swinging to the game and start the celebration.
What a game of ups-and-downs this turned out to be. First the two solo shots by Crawford, who carried this team to an early lead as they tried to close it out. Then the defensive mistakes, which took away a win from an awesome start by Kershaw. Then the Braves getting the lead, then giving it right back on Uribe's homer. I'm glad Jansen wasn't interested in giving it away again.
The offense only scored via the longball, and we can all be thankful for that. But, they also left eight men and were 1-for-9 with RISP. The one hit? Uribe's homer in the eighth. Talk about good timing.
Kershaw did all he could, and even he seemed to agree that taking him out after six innings and 91 pitches was the right move. He can now get his proper rest before starting Game 2 on Saturday either home against the Pirates or on the road against the Cardinals. Stay tuned to see how that one plays out.
The middle relief, again, left something to be desired. Right now Mattingly's biggest question is whom to use to get the ball to Jansen in the ninth. Brian Wilson has the eight locked down, so more specifically, who will bridge the gap to him. Belisario was terrible, and Chris Withrow wasn't any better in Game 2. Paco Rodriguez looks like he has no arm left. Maybe we'll see more J.P. Howell, who has three scoreless appearances with three strikeouts. He's looking good.
For now, the Dodgers will kick back and enjoy Game 5 between the Pirates and Cardinals. Zack Greinke will get the call in Game 1, followed by Kershaw, with either Ricky Nolasco or Hyun-Jin Ryu to follow.
Dodger fans can celebrate their victory, and the fact that they don't have to play the Phillies in the NLCS again!
Monday, October 7, 2013
Mattingly reverses course, Kershaw will go Game 4
It turns out the Dodgers' Game 3 victory was not the determining factor for when Clayton Kershaw would make his next start.
Don Mattingly announced this afternoon that Kershaw will go in Game 4, and not Ricky Nolasco. The thought coming into Sunday night's Game 3 was that a loss would mean he'd take the ball immediately, and a win would push him back to a possible Game 5. But the Dodgers and Mattingly had other plans.
I think it's obvious that Kershaw was begging for this to happen, as there's no way Mattingly would make this move without his ace fully on board. Knowing the competitor that Kershaw is, I can easily see him making a big deal about finishing off the Braves as soon as possible.
But the question has to be asked: Is this a smart move? In listening briefly to guys on ESPN and TBS, it's certainly not. Kershaw is the Dodgers' franchise player, and is about to cash in with a huge contract extension. Plus the fact that a loss by the Dodgers would still mean they'd live to fight another day makes them look a little desperate.
If Kershaw and the Dodgers do lose tonight, then Zack Greinke will get the call in the sudden death Game 5 in Atlanta. That means four of the five games would be started by the big two, so if the Dodgers still manage to lose this series, they didn't deserve to win it in the first place.
Let's hope this all works out, Kershaw has a clean game, and looks good going forward. It would also help if the offense puts the pressure on like they did Sunday night. Stay tuned and see.
Don Mattingly announced this afternoon that Kershaw will go in Game 4, and not Ricky Nolasco. The thought coming into Sunday night's Game 3 was that a loss would mean he'd take the ball immediately, and a win would push him back to a possible Game 5. But the Dodgers and Mattingly had other plans.
I think it's obvious that Kershaw was begging for this to happen, as there's no way Mattingly would make this move without his ace fully on board. Knowing the competitor that Kershaw is, I can easily see him making a big deal about finishing off the Braves as soon as possible.
But the question has to be asked: Is this a smart move? In listening briefly to guys on ESPN and TBS, it's certainly not. Kershaw is the Dodgers' franchise player, and is about to cash in with a huge contract extension. Plus the fact that a loss by the Dodgers would still mean they'd live to fight another day makes them look a little desperate.
If Kershaw and the Dodgers do lose tonight, then Zack Greinke will get the call in the sudden death Game 5 in Atlanta. That means four of the five games would be started by the big two, so if the Dodgers still manage to lose this series, they didn't deserve to win it in the first place.
Let's hope this all works out, Kershaw has a clean game, and looks good going forward. It would also help if the offense puts the pressure on like they did Sunday night. Stay tuned and see.
Too much offense in Dodgers' Game 3 rout
The happiest man in Los Angeles right now? Hyun-Jin Ryu. Thanks to an offensive outburst of 13 runs, Ryu's poor start was completely lost in the shuffle.
And when your team has Hanley Ramirez, it's easy to forget about the negatives.
The Dodgers had an incredible 10 two-out RBIs en route to an emphatic 13-6 win over the Braves. The win put the Dodgers on the verge of the NLCS with a 2-1 advantage heading into Game 4 Monday night.
As I stated before, the game didn't start off so hot, as Ryu gave up a couple in the first. Justin Upton smoked a double to center with an out, just past the outstretched dive of Skip Schumaker. He scored an out later on an Evan Gattis RBI single, then following a walk to Brian McCann, Chris Johnson scored another on a single to make it 2-0.
The Dodgers started their scoring in the second with a four-spot. Yasiel Puig and Juan Uribe singled leading off, and A.J. Ellis walked an out later. Ryu then got into one that nearly landed past Upton in right, but was good enough for the sac-fly RBI to make it 2-1.
One big key to this game was the play of Carl Crawford, who struck out twice and had that horrible double play the last game. Well, he more than showed up to play in this one on both sides of the field. His three-run homer to deep right gave the Dodgers a 4-2 advantage. He also had an amazing catch in foul territory in the eighth in which he tumbled into the stands, but thankfully came out OK. Wow, that was equally as terrific as it was scary when he landed head first on concrete.
Unfortunately for Ryu, the third would be his last, as the Braves tied it up. Three straight singles by Upton, Freddie Freeman, and Gattis started the inning. Then Ryu really messed up by not finding the base on a double play ball from McCann. Then he screwed up again by throwing home instead of to first on Johnson's little dribbler. Ugh.
From there, it was all Dodgers, as the 4-4 tie seemed like a distant memory when it was all said and done. They took the lead for good in the third. Ramirez doubled to start, then scored on Adrian Gonzalez's RBI single. The other run came on Schumaker's RBI single to center.
Chris Capuano pitched three scoreless innings in relief of Ryu to get the win, though it was a struggle at times. He actually walked all three leadoff hitters, but nothing came of it. It's like both teams traded secrets on how to fail with runners on. Overall, the Braves were 3-for-11 with RISP, and the Dodgers were 7-for-15.
The fourth was a huge inning, as the Dodgers put up four runs again. Crawford's bunt was bobbled by Alex Wood leading off for a costly error. One out later, Ramirez came within inches of a home run, but settled for the RBI triple in going up 7-4. After Puig's RBI single to center, Uribe got just enough of one out to right for the two-run shot, and the Dodgers were in full control at 10-4.
The final runs were scored in the eighth on RBI singles from Ramirez, Gonzalez, and Puig. Those three combined for eight hits, six runs, and six RBIs. Great numbers from the heart of the order.
A game like this shows just how deadly the Dodgers can be when they're not all swinging for the fences every at-bat. They got a couple of homers, but of their 14 hits, 10 were singles. Their situational hitting was obviously terrific, as they took it one base at a time in scoring multiple runs in four of the innings. That's got to be a huge relief after grounding into three double plays and striking out way too much in Game 2.
With the good came some bad, as Ryu just never got going. What makes it worse were the question marks surrounding him coming into this start about his health. He appeared to be fine in this one, but his stuff certainly wasn't fooling the Braves. Maybe it was just one of those starts, but if he is hurt, it's some bad news going forward.
The other downer was Paco Rodriguez, who could only get two outs in the ninth before Kenley Jansen had to strikeout McCann to end the game. Paco is probably suffering from a dead arm, as he gave up three hits, including a two-run shot to dead center by Jayson Heyward, and a walk. It's too bad considering how special he was for the majority of the season. If the Dodgers do advance, don't be surprised if he's left off the NLCS roster. He's lost his effectiveness it seems.
The Game 3 win lets Don Mattingly exhale some, and not have to make the tough decision of whether or not to bring back Clayton Kershaw on three days' rest. I bet he would've, too, with the season on the line. But now Ricky Nolasco gets his scheduled start, with Kershaw ready to go on Wednesday in Atlanta in the do-or-die situation.
Nolasco has a lot to prove, as anyone who's followed the Dodgers knows we've seen him at the top of his game, and the absolute bottom. Maybe he'll be relaxed knowing the season is not over if he loses, and that his offense is on fire. What also helps is that he's facing the ancient Freddy Garcia, whom I'll admit I didn't even know was on the Braves until last night.
The Braves still have plenty of power, but they also have plenty of more pressure on them to get this thing to a Game 5 back east. The Dodgers will look to be off until Game 1 of the NLCS on Friday with a win.
And when your team has Hanley Ramirez, it's easy to forget about the negatives.
The Dodgers had an incredible 10 two-out RBIs en route to an emphatic 13-6 win over the Braves. The win put the Dodgers on the verge of the NLCS with a 2-1 advantage heading into Game 4 Monday night.
As I stated before, the game didn't start off so hot, as Ryu gave up a couple in the first. Justin Upton smoked a double to center with an out, just past the outstretched dive of Skip Schumaker. He scored an out later on an Evan Gattis RBI single, then following a walk to Brian McCann, Chris Johnson scored another on a single to make it 2-0.
The Dodgers started their scoring in the second with a four-spot. Yasiel Puig and Juan Uribe singled leading off, and A.J. Ellis walked an out later. Ryu then got into one that nearly landed past Upton in right, but was good enough for the sac-fly RBI to make it 2-1.
One big key to this game was the play of Carl Crawford, who struck out twice and had that horrible double play the last game. Well, he more than showed up to play in this one on both sides of the field. His three-run homer to deep right gave the Dodgers a 4-2 advantage. He also had an amazing catch in foul territory in the eighth in which he tumbled into the stands, but thankfully came out OK. Wow, that was equally as terrific as it was scary when he landed head first on concrete.
Unfortunately for Ryu, the third would be his last, as the Braves tied it up. Three straight singles by Upton, Freddie Freeman, and Gattis started the inning. Then Ryu really messed up by not finding the base on a double play ball from McCann. Then he screwed up again by throwing home instead of to first on Johnson's little dribbler. Ugh.
From there, it was all Dodgers, as the 4-4 tie seemed like a distant memory when it was all said and done. They took the lead for good in the third. Ramirez doubled to start, then scored on Adrian Gonzalez's RBI single. The other run came on Schumaker's RBI single to center.
Chris Capuano pitched three scoreless innings in relief of Ryu to get the win, though it was a struggle at times. He actually walked all three leadoff hitters, but nothing came of it. It's like both teams traded secrets on how to fail with runners on. Overall, the Braves were 3-for-11 with RISP, and the Dodgers were 7-for-15.
The fourth was a huge inning, as the Dodgers put up four runs again. Crawford's bunt was bobbled by Alex Wood leading off for a costly error. One out later, Ramirez came within inches of a home run, but settled for the RBI triple in going up 7-4. After Puig's RBI single to center, Uribe got just enough of one out to right for the two-run shot, and the Dodgers were in full control at 10-4.
The final runs were scored in the eighth on RBI singles from Ramirez, Gonzalez, and Puig. Those three combined for eight hits, six runs, and six RBIs. Great numbers from the heart of the order.
A game like this shows just how deadly the Dodgers can be when they're not all swinging for the fences every at-bat. They got a couple of homers, but of their 14 hits, 10 were singles. Their situational hitting was obviously terrific, as they took it one base at a time in scoring multiple runs in four of the innings. That's got to be a huge relief after grounding into three double plays and striking out way too much in Game 2.
With the good came some bad, as Ryu just never got going. What makes it worse were the question marks surrounding him coming into this start about his health. He appeared to be fine in this one, but his stuff certainly wasn't fooling the Braves. Maybe it was just one of those starts, but if he is hurt, it's some bad news going forward.
The other downer was Paco Rodriguez, who could only get two outs in the ninth before Kenley Jansen had to strikeout McCann to end the game. Paco is probably suffering from a dead arm, as he gave up three hits, including a two-run shot to dead center by Jayson Heyward, and a walk. It's too bad considering how special he was for the majority of the season. If the Dodgers do advance, don't be surprised if he's left off the NLCS roster. He's lost his effectiveness it seems.
The Game 3 win lets Don Mattingly exhale some, and not have to make the tough decision of whether or not to bring back Clayton Kershaw on three days' rest. I bet he would've, too, with the season on the line. But now Ricky Nolasco gets his scheduled start, with Kershaw ready to go on Wednesday in Atlanta in the do-or-die situation.
Nolasco has a lot to prove, as anyone who's followed the Dodgers knows we've seen him at the top of his game, and the absolute bottom. Maybe he'll be relaxed knowing the season is not over if he loses, and that his offense is on fire. What also helps is that he's facing the ancient Freddy Garcia, whom I'll admit I didn't even know was on the Braves until last night.
The Braves still have plenty of power, but they also have plenty of more pressure on them to get this thing to a Game 5 back east. The Dodgers will look to be off until Game 1 of the NLCS on Friday with a win.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Iffy times for Dodgers' Games 3 and 4 starters
If the Dodgers are going to finish off the Braves at home, it might be in spite of their scheduled starters, and not because of them.
Hyun-Jin Ryu has recently raised questions about the health of his arm after throwing a bullpen session on Friday with Don Mattingly and team doctor Neal ElAttrache watching closely. Predictably, that has people wondering if he's truly feeling right heading into a very important Game 3 of the deadlocked NLDS with the Braves.
So is Ryu hurt, or simply being careful? If you are to listen to him, it's the latter. What we do know is that his bullpen apparently looked clean, and he's saying all the right things by insisting he's fine. Perhaps we just need to take his word for it, but with the way the Dodgers have cycled through one injury after another this year, it's natural to be concerned.
The numbers suggest Ryu is healthy, because despite a 1-3 record in September, his ERA was 2.88. His WHIP was a monthly-best 1.08. It's entirely possible he was pitching somewhat injured all along, and it worsened recently. Dodger fans just have to hope this is all much ado about nothing.
Say the Braves get home field back by winning Game 3, then the Dodgers could be in trouble. Game 4 will see Ricky Nolasco take the mound, and while he's fully healthy as far as we know, his numbers of late certainly aren't. He was fantastic through two September starts, then was bombed in his last three, causing his ERA for the month to skyrocket to 6.66. Geez, just look at that number, 6.66. That's scary on many different levels...
Anyway, if the Dodgers want to win at home, they're going to have to have much better situational hitting than they did in Game 2. Usually their pitching takes care of itself, and maybe Ryu and Nolasco will be great, but there's definitely more uncertainty with them than Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke. That goes without saying.
Hopefully by Tuesday morning, the Dodgers will either be preparing for the Cardinals or Pirates, or preparing for a winner-take-all start from Kershaw. If not, then the starters at home most likely let them down.
Hyun-Jin Ryu has recently raised questions about the health of his arm after throwing a bullpen session on Friday with Don Mattingly and team doctor Neal ElAttrache watching closely. Predictably, that has people wondering if he's truly feeling right heading into a very important Game 3 of the deadlocked NLDS with the Braves.
So is Ryu hurt, or simply being careful? If you are to listen to him, it's the latter. What we do know is that his bullpen apparently looked clean, and he's saying all the right things by insisting he's fine. Perhaps we just need to take his word for it, but with the way the Dodgers have cycled through one injury after another this year, it's natural to be concerned.
The numbers suggest Ryu is healthy, because despite a 1-3 record in September, his ERA was 2.88. His WHIP was a monthly-best 1.08. It's entirely possible he was pitching somewhat injured all along, and it worsened recently. Dodger fans just have to hope this is all much ado about nothing.
Say the Braves get home field back by winning Game 3, then the Dodgers could be in trouble. Game 4 will see Ricky Nolasco take the mound, and while he's fully healthy as far as we know, his numbers of late certainly aren't. He was fantastic through two September starts, then was bombed in his last three, causing his ERA for the month to skyrocket to 6.66. Geez, just look at that number, 6.66. That's scary on many different levels...
Anyway, if the Dodgers want to win at home, they're going to have to have much better situational hitting than they did in Game 2. Usually their pitching takes care of itself, and maybe Ryu and Nolasco will be great, but there's definitely more uncertainty with them than Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke. That goes without saying.
Hopefully by Tuesday morning, the Dodgers will either be preparing for the Cardinals or Pirates, or preparing for a winner-take-all start from Kershaw. If not, then the starters at home most likely let them down.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Through 2 games, we've seen the best and worst of the Dodgers
The Dodgers find themselves deadlocked with the Braves 1-1 through the first couple of games in the NLDS. Game 1 went exactly as they scripted it, with the bats backing up Clayton Kershaw, who piled up 12 strikeouts in a 6-1 victory. Game 2 saw the bats fail to deliver in big spots, and the middle relief fall apart in a 4-3 loss.
You could say that we've already seen a lot of good and a lot of bad in the first couple of games. Let's take a look at both sides of the coin.
The Good
Clayton Kershaw. As I stated before, Kershaw was awesome in Game 1, giving up one run in seven innings. I wouldn't say he was sensational, because he had definite control issues for a little bit, something that has plagued him just a bit since the start of September. But, as usual, he more than got the job done when it mattered most. He's lined up to start Game 5, and with the series tied right now, that could be a real possibility of taking place.
Hanley Ramirez. An RBI double in Game 1. Another one in Game 2. Then a two-run shot to pull the Dodgers within one in Game 2. The Dodgers rested him just enough entering the playoffs, and it's sure paying off so far, as he's clearly been the best hitter on either side. Plus he only has one of the team's 18 strikeouts through two games, so he's not beating himself. They need his bat to continue to stay hot if they want to win, and there's no reason to think it won't.
Brian Wilson and Kenley Jansen. Wilson has pitched the eighth inning in both games, allowing no runs on only one hit while striking out two. He looks ready to be a closer again next season, unless the Dodgers throw a ridiculous amount of money at him to be the setup guy. Jansen finished Game 1 in the non-save situation, and while a couple guys reached, he still struck out the side.
Adrian Gonzalez in Game 1. Game 2 saw nothing much happen, but his huge two-run homer in Game 1 put the Dodgers up 4-0, and was more than enough for Kershaw to cruise from there. I can't imagine the Braves felt good being down two to Kershaw, and four must have sent them into a tailspin.
Yasiel Puig's Game 1. The worry coming into the playoffs was that Puig would try to do way too much, but in the first game, he was great. He singled twice, went beautifully from first to third on another single, tagged up and scored, and doubled up Evan Gattis at first. That's the type of all-around game we love to see. Now if he'd just stop striking out...
The Bad
Yasiel Puig's strikeouts. Yup. As good as he is at times, he looks just as bad when he tries to hit it to the moon on every swing. He already has four K's, including a really bad looking one in the eighth of Game 2 after Ramirez got them within one. The funniest part was seeing a shot of a clearly annoyed Mark McGwire after that happened. Puig has got to resist the home run swing and stick to singles and running. The Dodgers will be so much better off.
Carl Crawford leading off. Speaking of strikeouts, there's Crawford with four as well. Mattingly put him in the top spot instead of Puig, and while he did reach base twice in Game 1, he was awful the next night. He had the horrible 1-6-3 DP with the Dodgers threatening in the seventh, then K'd to end the game with a runner on first. The Dodgers need him to play better because it's not like he'll sit.
Middle relief not named Brian Wilson. With the Dodgers down 2-1 going into the seventh in Game 2, things went south. First Crawford's DP, then Chris Withrow walked the first batter he faced. Paco Rodriguez gave up the big two-run single to Jayson Heyward to put the Braves up 4-1, and Ronald Belisario walked the only batter he faced. I wasn't a fan of using Withrow to start the inning, but taking Wilson and Jansen out of the equation, maybe there weren't any better options. And that's a problem.
Swings, misses, and double plays. The Dodgers did a lot of that in Game 2. Their leadoff, cleanup, and #5 hitter each struck out twice. Skip Schumaker, Mark Ellis, and Crawford grounded into double plays. Despite outhitting the Braves 10-6, it didn't matter thanks to a lack of execution. And to think they only lost by one is even more frustrating, because if they cut those mistakes by a few, they could've won.
Dee Gordon. Safe or not, the Dodgers need Gordon to get the job done. He's on the postseason roster for one reason and one reason only: steal bases. I sure thought his hand beat the "tag" in Game 2, but the call didn't go their way. If he can't steal that base, he really has no value. Fair or not, his team needs him to make that play.
Mattingly by the book in Game 2. It's easy to blame Mattingly for the moves he made in Game 2 being wrong. If his players executed better, he'd look good. But they didn't, so he doesn't. I didn't like at all how he wouldn't pitch to light-hitting Jose Constanza or Reed Johnson, and instead pitched to Heyward. The whole left vs. left and right vs. right thing drives me nuts. WAY too much value is placed on that old school logic. I know Withrow was pretty bad, but he was just coming off a strikeout of Elliot Johnson, so I'm sure he could've gotten some guy named Constanza. Alas, we'll never know.
You could say that we've already seen a lot of good and a lot of bad in the first couple of games. Let's take a look at both sides of the coin.
The Good
Clayton Kershaw. As I stated before, Kershaw was awesome in Game 1, giving up one run in seven innings. I wouldn't say he was sensational, because he had definite control issues for a little bit, something that has plagued him just a bit since the start of September. But, as usual, he more than got the job done when it mattered most. He's lined up to start Game 5, and with the series tied right now, that could be a real possibility of taking place.
Hanley Ramirez. An RBI double in Game 1. Another one in Game 2. Then a two-run shot to pull the Dodgers within one in Game 2. The Dodgers rested him just enough entering the playoffs, and it's sure paying off so far, as he's clearly been the best hitter on either side. Plus he only has one of the team's 18 strikeouts through two games, so he's not beating himself. They need his bat to continue to stay hot if they want to win, and there's no reason to think it won't.
Brian Wilson and Kenley Jansen. Wilson has pitched the eighth inning in both games, allowing no runs on only one hit while striking out two. He looks ready to be a closer again next season, unless the Dodgers throw a ridiculous amount of money at him to be the setup guy. Jansen finished Game 1 in the non-save situation, and while a couple guys reached, he still struck out the side.
Adrian Gonzalez in Game 1. Game 2 saw nothing much happen, but his huge two-run homer in Game 1 put the Dodgers up 4-0, and was more than enough for Kershaw to cruise from there. I can't imagine the Braves felt good being down two to Kershaw, and four must have sent them into a tailspin.
Yasiel Puig's Game 1. The worry coming into the playoffs was that Puig would try to do way too much, but in the first game, he was great. He singled twice, went beautifully from first to third on another single, tagged up and scored, and doubled up Evan Gattis at first. That's the type of all-around game we love to see. Now if he'd just stop striking out...
The Bad
Yasiel Puig's strikeouts. Yup. As good as he is at times, he looks just as bad when he tries to hit it to the moon on every swing. He already has four K's, including a really bad looking one in the eighth of Game 2 after Ramirez got them within one. The funniest part was seeing a shot of a clearly annoyed Mark McGwire after that happened. Puig has got to resist the home run swing and stick to singles and running. The Dodgers will be so much better off.
Carl Crawford leading off. Speaking of strikeouts, there's Crawford with four as well. Mattingly put him in the top spot instead of Puig, and while he did reach base twice in Game 1, he was awful the next night. He had the horrible 1-6-3 DP with the Dodgers threatening in the seventh, then K'd to end the game with a runner on first. The Dodgers need him to play better because it's not like he'll sit.
Middle relief not named Brian Wilson. With the Dodgers down 2-1 going into the seventh in Game 2, things went south. First Crawford's DP, then Chris Withrow walked the first batter he faced. Paco Rodriguez gave up the big two-run single to Jayson Heyward to put the Braves up 4-1, and Ronald Belisario walked the only batter he faced. I wasn't a fan of using Withrow to start the inning, but taking Wilson and Jansen out of the equation, maybe there weren't any better options. And that's a problem.
Swings, misses, and double plays. The Dodgers did a lot of that in Game 2. Their leadoff, cleanup, and #5 hitter each struck out twice. Skip Schumaker, Mark Ellis, and Crawford grounded into double plays. Despite outhitting the Braves 10-6, it didn't matter thanks to a lack of execution. And to think they only lost by one is even more frustrating, because if they cut those mistakes by a few, they could've won.
Dee Gordon. Safe or not, the Dodgers need Gordon to get the job done. He's on the postseason roster for one reason and one reason only: steal bases. I sure thought his hand beat the "tag" in Game 2, but the call didn't go their way. If he can't steal that base, he really has no value. Fair or not, his team needs him to make that play.
Mattingly by the book in Game 2. It's easy to blame Mattingly for the moves he made in Game 2 being wrong. If his players executed better, he'd look good. But they didn't, so he doesn't. I didn't like at all how he wouldn't pitch to light-hitting Jose Constanza or Reed Johnson, and instead pitched to Heyward. The whole left vs. left and right vs. right thing drives me nuts. WAY too much value is placed on that old school logic. I know Withrow was pretty bad, but he was just coming off a strikeout of Elliot Johnson, so I'm sure he could've gotten some guy named Constanza. Alas, we'll never know.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Dodgers set 25-man roster for the NLDS
The Dodgers' management has spoken, and here's the look at who made the cut for the Division Series against the Braves, starting today:
Starting Rotation
Clayton Kershaw
Zack Greinke
Hyun-Jin Ryu
Ricky Nolasco
Bullpen
Kenley Jansen
Brian Wilson
J.P. Howell
Paco Rodriguez
Ronald Belisario
Chris Withrow
Chris Capuano (long relief)
Catchers
A.J. Ellis
Tim Federowicz
Infielders
Adrian Gonzalez
Mark Ellis
Hanley Ramirez
Juan Uribe
Michael Young
Dee Gordon
Outfielers
Carl Crawford
Yasiel Puig
Scott Van Slyke
Andre Ethier
Utility
Skip Schumaker
Nick Punto
Analysis: The biggest names to be left off are Brandon League, Carlos Marmol, and Jerry Hairston. I completely agree with keeping League off, who was abysmal this year. I also agree with Hairston, as Young is a much better option because of his bat.
Keeping Withrow over Marmol surprises me a little bit. I though Marmol's experience would win out, and he did have a 2.53 ERA in 21 appearances with the Dodgers. But his lack of control can be maddening, and we all know that in October, walks can kill you. So Withrow it is, though I don't see him pitching meaningful innings anyway.
Ethier ended up making the cut, and will be relegated to pinch-hitting duties. I wrote yesterday about how this slightly concerns me, but it is what it is. Gordon should get unleashed late in games when the Dodgers need that extra run. That should be fun to watch.
Overall, the Dodgers will miss Matt Kemp and the impact his bat can make, but nonetheless, they're good to go. If they can get one in Atlanta and grab back home field advantage, they'll be in great shape with their pitching staff.
Starting Rotation
Clayton Kershaw
Zack Greinke
Hyun-Jin Ryu
Ricky Nolasco
Bullpen
Kenley Jansen
Brian Wilson
J.P. Howell
Paco Rodriguez
Ronald Belisario
Chris Withrow
Chris Capuano (long relief)
Catchers
A.J. Ellis
Tim Federowicz
Infielders
Adrian Gonzalez
Mark Ellis
Hanley Ramirez
Juan Uribe
Michael Young
Dee Gordon
Outfielers
Carl Crawford
Yasiel Puig
Scott Van Slyke
Andre Ethier
Utility
Skip Schumaker
Nick Punto
Analysis: The biggest names to be left off are Brandon League, Carlos Marmol, and Jerry Hairston. I completely agree with keeping League off, who was abysmal this year. I also agree with Hairston, as Young is a much better option because of his bat.
Keeping Withrow over Marmol surprises me a little bit. I though Marmol's experience would win out, and he did have a 2.53 ERA in 21 appearances with the Dodgers. But his lack of control can be maddening, and we all know that in October, walks can kill you. So Withrow it is, though I don't see him pitching meaningful innings anyway.
Ethier ended up making the cut, and will be relegated to pinch-hitting duties. I wrote yesterday about how this slightly concerns me, but it is what it is. Gordon should get unleashed late in games when the Dodgers need that extra run. That should be fun to watch.
Overall, the Dodgers will miss Matt Kemp and the impact his bat can make, but nonetheless, they're good to go. If they can get one in Atlanta and grab back home field advantage, they'll be in great shape with their pitching staff.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Update on Ethier's condition heading into the NLDS
As Game 1 of the NLDS against the Braves is only a day away, Andre Ethier does not appear to be anywhere close to full health. Rather, it looks like he will be on the active roster, but only to pinch-hit.
The biggest factor going against Ethier is simply time, as he is slowly progressing, but not nearly fast enough to give it a full go. He initially was hurt on September 4, aggravated it further on September 13, and hasn't started a game since. He tried to workout in San Francisco not long ago, but felt too much discomfort when trying to round the bases.
With that said, Don Mattingly will make a few adjustments. First, he'll put Carl Crawford back in the leadoff spot, allowing Yasiel Puig to move down to the #5 spot behind Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez for his run production.
Also, this could mean that guys like Jerry Hairston, Scott Van Slyke, or Dee Gordon could find themselves on the roster. Hairston and Van Slyke could see time in the outfield, and Gordon might get some action in the "Billy Hamilton" pinch-running role.
I have to wonder, though, if keeping Ethier active is truly worth it. I'm reading about keeping his bat active for late-game situations, something he's excelled at in the past. But can he still contribute that way with a bad ankle? With runners in scoring position, he hit .228. With the bases loaded, he hit .143. In late or close situations, he hit .218.
Not exactly numbers that ring "Get that guy in there!" late in a big spot.
I admire Ethier for his desire to stay in there, especially with Matt Kemp suffering his 93rd injury of the last couple of seasons, KO'ing him for the playoffs already. I'm just a little worried that the Dodgers will expect him to come off the bench in a big spot and deliver. He couldn't do it healthy, so I'm doubting it will happen on one good leg.
Then again, maybe he'll turn back the clock 25 years and deliver his own Kirk Gibson moment when we least expect it.
The biggest factor going against Ethier is simply time, as he is slowly progressing, but not nearly fast enough to give it a full go. He initially was hurt on September 4, aggravated it further on September 13, and hasn't started a game since. He tried to workout in San Francisco not long ago, but felt too much discomfort when trying to round the bases.
With that said, Don Mattingly will make a few adjustments. First, he'll put Carl Crawford back in the leadoff spot, allowing Yasiel Puig to move down to the #5 spot behind Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez for his run production.
Also, this could mean that guys like Jerry Hairston, Scott Van Slyke, or Dee Gordon could find themselves on the roster. Hairston and Van Slyke could see time in the outfield, and Gordon might get some action in the "Billy Hamilton" pinch-running role.
I have to wonder, though, if keeping Ethier active is truly worth it. I'm reading about keeping his bat active for late-game situations, something he's excelled at in the past. But can he still contribute that way with a bad ankle? With runners in scoring position, he hit .228. With the bases loaded, he hit .143. In late or close situations, he hit .218.
Not exactly numbers that ring "Get that guy in there!" late in a big spot.
I admire Ethier for his desire to stay in there, especially with Matt Kemp suffering his 93rd injury of the last couple of seasons, KO'ing him for the playoffs already. I'm just a little worried that the Dodgers will expect him to come off the bench in a big spot and deliver. He couldn't do it healthy, so I'm doubting it will happen on one good leg.
Then again, maybe he'll turn back the clock 25 years and deliver his own Kirk Gibson moment when we least expect it.
On the eve of playoffs, Scully makes a big decision
In what will truly mark the end of an era if it's true, Vin Scully said to radio station KPCC in Los Angeles today that the 2014 season may be his final one calling Dodger baseball. He began his career calling games in Brooklyn, and next season will mark his 65th with the team.
What we have to remember is that this is not an official announcement. It was merely Scully speculating that he feels next year could be it. After all, he's an 85-year-old man, and retirement has to happen at some point. As unbelievable as it would be to actually see that happen, the end appears to be near.
For now, just like the old sports cliche, let's take it one game at a time. Enjoy Scully calling the first three and last three innings on radio of what's hopefully a long playoff run this year, and then back on TV next season. Let's also hope for good health to allow him to go bow out of broadcasting as strong as ever.
What we have to remember is that this is not an official announcement. It was merely Scully speculating that he feels next year could be it. After all, he's an 85-year-old man, and retirement has to happen at some point. As unbelievable as it would be to actually see that happen, the end appears to be near.
For now, just like the old sports cliche, let's take it one game at a time. Enjoy Scully calling the first three and last three innings on radio of what's hopefully a long playoff run this year, and then back on TV next season. Let's also hope for good health to allow him to go bow out of broadcasting as strong as ever.
Ryu will go in Game 3 of the NLDS, Nolasco in Game 4
In what shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody, Don Mattingly made offical today that Hyun-Jin Ryu will get the start in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Braves, and if necessary, Ricky Nolasco will go in Game 4. Both games will be in Dodger Stadium.
Hopefully one of these games will be a closeout game considering Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke go first two games in Atlanta's Turner Field. Then again, baseball can be a strange sport, so Ryu and Nolasco might have the responsibility of keeping the Dodgers alive. You never know.
What we do know is that based on the end of the season, Ryu is clearly the better choice for Game 3. He ended up 14-8 with an even 3.00 ERA in 30 starts this season, and the Braves do worse hitting against lefties (.239) than against righties (.252). Plus, he's much better at home (2.32 ERA) than on the road (3.69 ERA).
Of course, Nolasco made the decision much easier for Mattingly by getting shelled his final three starts. For awhile, it sure looked like he'd leapfrog Ryu for that Game 3 start, but that all came to a crashing thud in mid-September. Hopefully, and especially if he is pitching to keep the Dodgers alive, he's figured out what has ailed him and the bats can back him up. He still ended up 8-3 with a 3.52 ERA in 15 starts with the Dodgers, so the history of success is there at least.
Hopefully one of these games will be a closeout game considering Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke go first two games in Atlanta's Turner Field. Then again, baseball can be a strange sport, so Ryu and Nolasco might have the responsibility of keeping the Dodgers alive. You never know.
What we do know is that based on the end of the season, Ryu is clearly the better choice for Game 3. He ended up 14-8 with an even 3.00 ERA in 30 starts this season, and the Braves do worse hitting against lefties (.239) than against righties (.252). Plus, he's much better at home (2.32 ERA) than on the road (3.69 ERA).
Of course, Nolasco made the decision much easier for Mattingly by getting shelled his final three starts. For awhile, it sure looked like he'd leapfrog Ryu for that Game 3 start, but that all came to a crashing thud in mid-September. Hopefully, and especially if he is pitching to keep the Dodgers alive, he's figured out what has ailed him and the bats can back him up. He still ended up 8-3 with a 3.52 ERA in 15 starts with the Dodgers, so the history of success is there at least.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Schedule and probables for the NLDS
Game 1, October 3 - Dodgers at Braves, 8:37 ET
Clayton Kershaw (16-9, 1.83) vs. Kris Medlen (15-12, 3.11)
Game 2, October 4 - Dodgers at Braves, 6:07 ET
Zack Greinke (15-4, 2.63) vs. Mike Minor (13-9, 3.21)
Game 3, October 6 - Braves at Dodgers, Time TBA
Julio Teheran (14-8, 3.20) vs. Hyun-Jin Ryu (14-8, 3.00)
Game 4 (if nec.), October 7 - Braves at Dodgers, Time TBA
Starters TBA
Game 5 (if nec.), October 9 - Dodgers at Braves, Time TBA
Clayton Kershaw vs. Kris Medlen
For Game 4, the Dodgers would most likely go with Ricky Nolasco, while the Braves would turn to either a pair of lefties, Paul Maholm or Alex Wood.
All games will be played on TBS, with MLB Network a possibility for a game or two.
Clayton Kershaw (16-9, 1.83) vs. Kris Medlen (15-12, 3.11)
Game 2, October 4 - Dodgers at Braves, 6:07 ET
Zack Greinke (15-4, 2.63) vs. Mike Minor (13-9, 3.21)
Game 3, October 6 - Braves at Dodgers, Time TBA
Julio Teheran (14-8, 3.20) vs. Hyun-Jin Ryu (14-8, 3.00)
Game 4 (if nec.), October 7 - Braves at Dodgers, Time TBA
Starters TBA
Game 5 (if nec.), October 9 - Dodgers at Braves, Time TBA
Clayton Kershaw vs. Kris Medlen
For Game 4, the Dodgers would most likely go with Ricky Nolasco, while the Braves would turn to either a pair of lefties, Paul Maholm or Alex Wood.
All games will be played on TBS, with MLB Network a possibility for a game or two.
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