Dodgers at Cubs, 5:00PM PT, TV: FS1
LHP Clayton Kershaw (2-0, 1 Sv, 3.72 ERA this postseason) tries to keep the Dodgers afloat for a Game Seven. He’ll face RHP Kyle Hendricks (0-1, 3.00 ERA this postseason). They matched up in Game Two and Kershaw got the best of it, going seven innings and getting the 1-0 win. Both pitchers will have had five days rest, one more than usual. I doubt that makes a difference for either of them.
Lineup when available.
#Dodgers NLCS Game 6 lineup:
Toles LF
Seager SS
Turner 3B
González 1B
Reddick RF
Pederson CF
Grandal C
Utley 2B
Kershaw P— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 22, 2016
NPUT
Dustin Nosler assesses moves (and non-moves) for the 40-man roster: http://dodgersdigest.com/2016/10/24/dodgers-resetting-the-40-man-roster-for-what-could-be-an-active-offseason/
Here is my all internal crazy team that does not include free agent signings:
RF Toles
3B Puig
SS Seager
CF Pederson
LF Thompson
1B Bellinger
2B Calhoun
C Grandal
I prefer to sign Turner and trade Gonzales and Grandal. Will Smith is one ord two years away to start hopefully a long term role as catcher. Maybe Lucroy would add that righty bat and be the place holder for Wil Smith.
I would also like to trade for Shea Turner to play second and would see if some combination of Verdugo, Calhoun and maybe Toles could entice WA. Having both Toles and Shea’s speed on the team would be awesome.
Trading Grandal would be truly crazy. Turner’s not on the market, and nobody will want AGon at his current salary. Puig is not an infielder.
In retrospect, the loss of Thompson really hurt the team v. LHPs. We’ll have to see if he can come back (though many things about him were encouraging, there were also weaknesses in his game).
WBB, Puig not an infielder because he hasn’t been converted yet. Don’t be so rigid. Grandal does not provide the righty bat even though he does switch hit and Lucroy would probably be a better fit for the Dodgers than Grandal. And, does a player have to be on the market before he can be traded? Is that a League rule or does the Players Union forbid it?
Ruiz has an affordable option as the RHH backup catcher for next season. Turner’s going nowhere. Puig is valuable as an outfielder.
Dear Link.
Thank you.
Thanks for another year of hosting and posting. You open your front door, layout all the snacks and let the rest of us feel very at home. I have spent many fine hours enjoying the company of this community.
So again I say thanks!
Hear hear
Amen!
Winnipeg Dave: So well stated.
Thinking back about the series with the Cubs the only thing that bothers me is the last game against Lester. I know that Lester is quick to the plate and Ross has a strong and accurate arm but if a runner is going to take a 22 foot lead they should also run on first movement.
That big lead and retreating to first on first movement was silly looking and Kike’ was the most silly doing it.
Lester obviously wasn’t going to throw over. Nothing to lose by actually trying to take bases being conceded and making the Cubs prove they could stop it. If forced to throw over, Lester’s yips could have led to throwing errors and Dodger runs and maybe even a victory, as could actual swiped bases. Unlikely straws to grasp at, but still…
Small ball and running is not they style this team plays, but this was one game where it could have paid off big time. They faced Lester twice and could have tried to run both games. Who knows?
I think the change of first base coaches changed our aggressiveness. If Lopes was still there…
Next up is the re-signing or not of Turner and Jansen.
If not Jansen will it be Meloncon? If not Melocon will it be internal? If internal I think Stripling might be able to do it. I assume it won’t be Chapman.
Or your favorite, Puig at third? 😉
I forgot that alternative but I still like it.
Hasn’t been showing the bat lately that would make it a good move unless he were a ++ fielder there (a la Beltre), which would seem unlikely at this point.
He is fun to watch on defense in RF that’s for sure and I like the way he has been swinging the bat regardless of the outcome.
He is very acrobatic, has a quick, very accurate arm, and as we all know, a strong arm. I think he has a chance to be a plus defender at third.
My first choice is Turner for no more than 3 years. I wonder if Turner would rather have a 3 year $42M contract or a $17M QO.
Guessing that has age and what he has accomplished he would want to cash in on three year contract.
Take aways: better team won and Kenley outpitched Chapman, both FAs, age 28 and currently making around $10-11 million per year.
Oh yeah, and Klayton is better on short rest in these situations.
I’ll take him or regular rest when he pitches every fifth day. Mama bear rest.
only caught a brief score check today. we went out with a wimper, but it’s been a great year
Could’ve been a lot worse — this is an even-#ed year and the NL team in the Series is not from the Bay Area!
Good reminder!
Let the roster additions and subtractions speculation begin!
Maybe Stephen can have an off-season thread where we can do just that HLKLA
I can do that. I think there’s an official moratorium on trades during the World Series, but after it ends I can put up a post for your comments about what the Dodgers should do.
After wins I’ve been Fred Flintstone. For a loss i’ll be Sylverster.
https://youtu.be/PkhPuH8G5Hg
For RBI and friends.
!!!!!!
We need 162 of those for next year.
100+11. 😉
Silver Lining Dept.: Especially with the outcome, at least it wasn’t a marathon game.
This was one of the VERY few Dodger games to finish (considerably!) under 3 hours!
Did anyone else own any of the phonograph records the Dodgers sold of classic games?
I sure wish the team would put together a DVD of the tributes to Vin and — if possible — his great calls.
The proceeds could go to Vin’s favorite charity.
Tell Jon Weisman.
Good night all. Wait till next year.
Adios.
Be well.
I blew it — the radio station here dumps away as soon as they can and I didn’t get into MLB Audio, so I can’t hear the final wrapup with Rick and Charlie. Since I started following the Dodgers, I always tried to hear that toss to the off-season.
Steiner can only make it worse.
Kershaw could not have won it with a shutout
Flip of G2, right? Shut out and only two hits?
Just flipped the pitchers, except Hendricks pitched better in losing than Kershaw did.
They were outplayed at the end, really.
Sorry friends. T’was not to be.
Did you have fun at the wedding?
Too bad there wasn’t a Cana-ish wedding turn for the Dodgers!
I hear you Bob! I just studied that with my students this week.
Well, good for them. They outplayed us ever since that stupid bunt.
No more Vin!
I’m sure they won’t have his voice tossing to Rick and Charlie.
I am glad he retired when he did and missed this.
As always, he was brilliant.
Seems a bit harsh.
He went out with the Dodgers winning a Division championship and not after being eliminated. That is all I meant. Not trying to say anything about how well the Dodgers played or didn’t play.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/38b34e570fbb6d78052e04c2a3d69e5d789b91739e41132d89e2963d9281f676.png I won’t pay much attention to the Series, but there’s always this.
Great post.
Agreed. And that guy looks something like I do.
That’s that.
A fitting end.
A walk…!
Cub fans are having fun
They deserve it — great team and they’ve waited/suffered for it.
I second Scoop. Thanks to Link for
maintaining a safe, intelligent, civil and entertaining space for all of us, where we can converse, connect, and vent when necessary. I feel genuine affection for all of you. Don’t know what I’d do without this site, actually. I may check in during the WS, but it won’t be the same. Love to all.
I’ll be posting Game Threads for the Series. Not happily, but out of duty. 😉
Would it be easier to just have one for all of them?
That’s easier for me to see what has been added.
Maybe so. You could just watch the number of comments and the “last comments” links on the sidebar. We’ll see.
Like Farmer told Babe, “That’ll do, pig. That’ll do.”
Four straIght playoff losses. That’s what I meant comparing them to the Bills.
You have to be one of the two best teams to get there.
I want to thank all of you — too numerous to mention — for sharing the highs and lows of this season with me, and so many before it, and for your knowledge, support, humor, and class. You all make each season that much better. I look forward to this site throughout the baseball year. It wouldn’t be possible without you, Link, and thanks for your diligence in keeping it going (and to Jon Weisman before you). I have never met any of you, yet I feel that I have gotten to know you. I don’t post much in the off-season, so here is to next spring if, as my mother, who is 96 (next month) is wont to say: “Lord willin and if the creek don’t rise.”
Happy to do it. Tell your Mom my 93-year-old Mom wishes her well.
If mine were still alive, she’d be exactly 100.
Mine as well
84 here, but she had us young…
Will be certain to do just that.
Second the thoughts, Link (Scoop, you scooped me on posting them!).
Sharing the highs and lows of the Dodgers with you all fits the definition of friends: doubling the joy, halving the sorrow.
Doubling the joy, halving the sorrow. Never heard that. How apropos.
Yeah, I like that too. Well said, BinV.
Quartering the angst.
Let’s make their fans sweat a little, at least.
Okay, get Chapman!
5+1 time?
Hits?
That would be a moral victory.
I hope we keep KJ on our team.
I agree.
What’s the thinking out there about the FO and other teams’ interest and purse strings?
This is a sour way to end the season, but it’s a transitional one.
Easier to swallow a blow out for me.
I know what you mean — you have the rest of the game to be resigned to it.
Yes, I agree.
It’s like we’re the Buffalo Bills. Didn’t they lose four Super Bowls in a row?
If only, we haven’t actually made it to the WS yet.
True enough. They lost four straight from 1990-1993.
Started with the Giants’ field goal, if I remember right — marching down the field, eating up the clock, then getting the kick.
My Cowboys contributed to one of those losses. I was in a community theatre play when the Super Bowl started — “Born Yesterday.” One of the stars was a Bills’ fan and I was for Dallas. At the curtain call, we took out a baseball cap to reveal our preference.
(There was still time after the play to enjoy the Dallas victory.)
Scott Norwood — wide right. That was the Whitney Houston Gulf War game.
3 or 4 . . . but they were good enough to make it to the Super Bowl all those year.
I know very little about handegg and care even less, but I do know that the Dodgers have lots of young talent in the pipeline including, but not limited to, Julito Urías.
Why Jansen, I wonder? 2 innings ought to be a limit on him.
Pitch count only 21.
Why not?
Roberts still trying to win. Not throwing in the towell
I guess.
His performance is helping his Free Agency campaign.
Not our night, that’s for sure.
Last three — but definitely tonight.
How tough for Hendricks — he gives up only his 2nd hit, the runner’s not even in scoring position, and he’s yanked.
Of course, Maddon has another series to worry about. Excuse me — Series.
Howie for Joc? Huh.
Joc can do that
I meant the swing and miss part of that at bat
I’d love to at least get on the board here.
6 times
The best baseball that I saw today was a fall league Pony game that I umpired from behind the plate. Went 10 innings in sparkling weather at Carmel High on the Monterey Peninsula.
13 and 14 age group? Nice place to watch a game.
Yes. That is the age group. Kids at that age know how to play ball. I first started umpiring most of them in Bronco, which is the level just below. And I know many of the parents. This is my 15th year of umpiring youth baseball. I am proud to say that I have never thrown anyone out — player, coach or fan.
When I played Pony we had 6 teams in our league and 12 little league teams fed that league. Big weening of players between little and pony.
A good friend of mine who lives in a Chicago suburb is a Dodgers fan, as much as we are. His mother, who died a couple of years ago at the age of 100, was a lifelong Cubs fan. Near the end, she asked her children to see if the Cubs could be her pallbearers. Why, they asked. Her answer: They’ve let me down for so many years; let them let me down once more. Her long wait looks almost over. At least for winning the pennant.
That was good for a laugh, Scoop. Witty woman.
It made me cry Bob.
You going to leave me hanging Bob?
No, the Dodgers will let you down (per the story).
Sorry, not sure what you mean.
I was kidding about crying. It was a good story and I made a feeble attempt to needle you.
I pictured my Chicago Grandma saying that — she passed at 93 — and it would’ve been something she would’ve said, with a smile.
Bad for us, the seemingly-inevitable result, but good for the Cubs fans that they will be able to celebrate this at home.
This game has made me think of Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If.”
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!
I believe it was MAD Magazine which too that an ended ” . . . then you don’t know what’s going on.”
Roger Angell once described a losing team in the WS as “plucking at the coverlet.” That describes the offense tonight.
At least Hawai’i beat the Air Force Academy in football today. Took 2 OTs to do it, too.
Two tough games in a row for the Rainbows, huh? All of Vegas was surprised to see UNLV pull it out last week. (Then they collapsed today.)
The Bows should have beaten UNLV last week.
I am concerned about the readiness of our armed forces.
Hey!
Ha!
Couldn’t care less about handegg.
This is demoralizing.
We look pretty useless.
Hendricks is unhittable tonight.
Well, he basically only let up the Gonzo dinger last time out.
My main hope is that Kershaw keeps his spirits high and doesn’t have a winter of personal discontent. Don Newcombe was one of the greatest pitches in Brooklyn Dodgers history and he went 0-4 in the post-season (all World Series). Kershaw, one of the greatest pitchers in L.A. Dodgers history (I’d say second best) has done far better in the post-season.
I suspect this story line will be more about the greatness of the Cubs ( and Hendricks at home) than the lacks of Kershaw, at least tonight.
I think it’s going to be split — I was hearing from lots of Cubs fans that they were conceding this game and banking on G7.
Of course, if the Cubs go on to win the Series, that absolutely is THE story.
Thanks for that, Scoop.
Jansen must have wanted to pitch or Roberts is saying the game isn’t over.
Doc calls the shots.
well then he should point to center each time a Dodger is at bat and call the shot like Babe Ruth did (or so the story goes)
The Dodgers don’t even have the “we don’t hit lefties well” excuse.
Sad but true.
For all intents, they only hit in Game 3.
Who can see into the bullpen tonight? We’ve had that covered in DC and LA.
It’s Kenley.
He might spend the rest of the game at the end of the dugout so he can talk to his agent
Or the mound
Ha!
Sure hope whoever represents the NL in the Series can hit the Indians like the Cubs have hit Kersh.
I agree. Rooting for the NL all the way.
I disagree. The Cubbies have a tradition to live up to.
A lot of this started with a 30 pitch first inning and half of those were due to Toles’ error I think.
Radio says he doesn’t have his curve ball — third game in a row for him.
I wonder if it’s something physical?
Well, that’s interesting. A “feel” thing or a “hurt” thing?
He’s such a hard worker and I’ve come to respect the work Honeycutt has done — I would think if it was mechanical, they would’ve solved it.
He must feel terrible about that.
By now he should be feeling better as his misplay is blending into the game and no longer standing out.
Not that the rest of the team is doing anything, but he has that error and not stopping on the double play ball.
Was that a problem because then Corey would have made it to first?
Yep, as Baez would have had to run him down.
We are getting whomped.
Just when you think it can’t get any worse…
If we come back from this, I will have to believe in the Cubbies’ curse.
Not me, I will give all the credit to the Dodgers.
It would take curse for the Dodgers to wake up and start hitting, AND stop the bleeding.
Sure didn’t see this coming tonight. It’s like a runaway train.
Worse and worse for Kersh.
The team may’ve been out of it with the first Cubs run.
Last inning for Klayton? Believe he is due up third.
Guessing Blanton, based on how Doc has been playing it in the playoffs so far.
Major money says yes.
I can imagine what he’s saying to himself.
This still may get better. It doesn’t feel like it and I haven’t seen it, but it may get better.
Wow, just checking in after being busy with family for the past week. Where is that goat curse when we need it?
Dodgers have been playing like goats, three games now.
Disappointing.
Kershaw’s big-game rep takes another hit.
That, for me, is the worst that could happen today and it has.
The worse that can happen is that we lose, no?
No — for me, the worst was what happened to Kersh, after making such strides in rehabilitating his postseason image.
The way the team played the two previous games was reminiscent of pre- streaky August/September offense. which came back after clinching — flat and anemic. WORSE, their defense started letting them down. (Of course, both continued tonight.) . . .
I didn’t expect them to beat the Cubs and was pleasantly surprised they had a lead in the series, oh-so-long ago. When their uninspired play resumed, I felt I saw the writing on the wall, tho there WAS a chance they could win.
So, not being that optimistic about their ability to mount two offensively effective games in a row, I guess I was resigned to them losing.
I wasn’t resigned to Kershaw have such a terrible outing.
Well, to each his own.
Ugh!
Get the third out, then hit the cover off the ball. Please.
Scoop, if you need something to lift yourself next Friday, try http://www.sunsetcenter.org/e-richard_thompson_blind_boys_of_alabama_307.htm
Hey, thanks. Very thoughtful of you. That looks great. How did you know about it? Sunset Center is a great venue. Wonderful sound system. My wife and I have been there many times and it is less than a half-hour from where we live. Memorable concerts attended there include Jackson Browne, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, Dave Mason and Arlo Guthrie. Of course that date will conflict with the third game of the World Series at Dodger Stadium.
You’re right, I thought the Friday was an off-day. We try to see Richard Thompson whenever he’s in the area. He’ll be in Napa Saturday night, but we have a conflict with that.
The Blind Boys do a brilliant version of Richard’s “Dimming of the Day.”
Kershaw is too rested.
A bit like his first start in the NLDS, performance-wise.
Confessions of a fan of 61 years: I thought that Kershaw would pitch well but that we would lose a close game. Historically, we have had virtually no success since the 1988 World Series of winning the post-season game that would force the make-or-break game the next day. The NLDS this year was an exception. Winning two in the NLCS is as good as we have done since ’88, and that was in 2013 vs. the Cardinals. Still, we have some time tonight, and where there’s life, there is hope. And I am still alive.
If we go by history, we should have no problem against the Cubbies (they have their own litany of woes in the playoffs).
I didn’t give up on the Dodgers, but their play the previous two games wasn’t very encouraging.
So i was hoping for Kershaw to have a good game to match this postseason’s turnaround.
0-2, tho the game can still be pulled out.
How do you feel about 0-3? We have seen them do it. Fowler thinks he is in Coors, so the Dodgers should start hitting that way as well, no?
Feeing so badly for Kersh. I really want him to finish Fowler off here.
I feel bad for the team. Time for them to pick him up.
From your keyboard . . .
Mudville is feeling bleak.
Tummy hurts.
Reaches for the Jameson….
Steiner after pickoff: “Nothing going right for the Dodgers.” That describes these last three games.
Steiner makes bad things even worse. I’m listening to the Spanish-language TV, but the audio synch is poor.
Oh, man, they are way too tight.
Okay, fair is fair — tho they owe another base by error.
Was terrible . . . but could’ve been worse.
Getting bad news is worse with an energetic opposition crowd.
And unfortunately we’ve been hearing a lot of them this inning.
Miserable being in stands for Game 2 in Nats Stadium, though with the knowledge that we would split.
Do you find it’s more tolerable, tension-wise, being there and cheering vs. sitting at home and watching or listening?
More tension at home. At the stadium you get more caught up on the emotions of the crowd, no matter how stupid (ex., booing at throws over to first).
That’s been my experience as well.
Me, too.
An out, an out, a Cy Young Award for an out!
Memories of Three Dawg.
Really…
These last three games, they are collapsing the way many expected the Cubs to do.
Think that is more a wish, the Cubbies collapsing, rather than an expectation.
Not the Kersh of Game 2.
Unfortunately, it may be the LA bats of Game 2. (But it’s only the 1st)
C’mon, Kersh. You may have to pitch a shutout to go for the tie.
Great start, then that.
Not a good sign of breaks going the Dodgers’ way.
Hello from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. I’m at a friend’s wedding and once more will be mostly absent from tonight’s game. This week has not lined up for me well in terms of Dodger games! I trust this means that they will at least force a 7th game which I should be home to watch tomorrow.
Even better would be going to the World Series so that I can join in more of the fun!
Mientras tanto, tenemos alineación interesante: https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/789918929120616448
Starting today, the Cubbies must embrace their essential Cubbiness.
And Dodgers must find and use their bats . . . picking up from the 9th inning of the last gamke would be nice.