Dodgers at Astros, 5:00 PM PT, TV: Fox
The Dodgers’ RHP Yu Darvish (2-0, 1.59 ERA in postseason) will face RHP Lance McCullers (0-0, 1 SV, 2.08 in postseason) in Game Three in Houston’s roofed-over Minute Maid Park.
“Past performance does not guarantee future results,” the financial industry cautions, so Darvish and his 4-1 record with a 2.16 ERA in six career starts at the Astros’ park including a near-perfect game and a separate near-no-hitter in 2013 probably just means he’s comfortable pitching there. McCullers used a lot of curveballs in his four-inning save in Game Seven of the ALCS. The Dodgers had the best batting average in baseball against the curve this year (.274) per Statcast, but they are hitting just .167 (7-for-42) off curves this postseason.
Classic photos of the Dodgers in World Series past.
Today in baseball history:
- 1985 The Royals become the sixth team to overcome a 3-1 deficit to win the Fall Classic when series MVP Bret Saberhagen, who became a new dad yesterday, blanks the Cardinals on five hits, 11-0. Kansas City is the first team in World Series history to lose its first two games at home and then come back to win the World Championship.
- 1991 In Game 7 of the ‘Worst to First’ World Series, the Twins beat the Braves, 1-0, when Dan Gladden scores the winning run in the bottom of the tenth on Gene Larkin’s single, clinching its second world championship since relocating from Washington D.C. in 1961. Atlanta and Minnesota had both finished in last place in their respective divisions the previous season.
Jack Morris goes the distance in the game, blanking the Braves, 1-0, in the Twins’ ten-inning, dramatic walk-off win at the Metrodome. The 36 year-old right-hander, who posts a 2-0 record along with a 1.17 ERA during his three starts, is named the Most Valuable Player of the Fall Classic. - 2002 In the team’s 42nd season, the Angels finally win a World Series title by beating the Giants, 4-1, in Game 7 at Edison Field. Garret Anderson’s three-run double provides enough offense for John Lackey to become the first rookie to win a seventh game since 1909 when Babe Adams accomplished the feat for the Pirates.
- 2004 Under the moon’s reddish tint caused by a lunar eclipse, the Red Sox exorcised 86 years of agonizing losses by winning their first World Series since 1918. In one of the most dominating Fall Classic performances, Boston, who never trailed during the four games, blanks the Cardinals, 3-0, to complete the sweep.
Lineup when available.
#ThisTeam // #WorldSeries GM 3:
Taylor CF
Seager SS
Turner 3B
Bellinger 1B
Puig RF
Forsythe 2B
Barnes C
Pederson LF
Hernández DH
(Darvish P) pic.twitter.com/JyBB4JccDJ— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 27, 2017
NPUT
More on Gurriel… http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/10/28/yuri_gurriel_appears_to_make_slant_eye_gesture_after_homering_off_yu_darvish.html
So Gurriel’s using the I didn’t mean to show my racist attitude card. Oh, then it’s ok.
Brewster McCloud. Just don’t watch it to the end. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZhOCX85Ak0
Safe or out?
As I mention below, a tired bullpen is my biggest worry going forward. 538 agrees: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/david-robertss-overworked-bullpen-is-a-bad-omen-for-the-dodgers/
https://www.dodgerthoughts.com/2017/10/28/the-dodger-bullpen-is-not-overworked/ Jon with a more detailed look at actual usage has a different take than 538’s more aggregate view.
During the game, I thought, this is not good, the Astros are much better than I had expected, the Dodgers seem to have lost their edge, Roberts is a little quick on the trigger, Cody is like a deer in the headlights, Corey…how could he swing when the pitcher is wild…and on and on. It felt the whole game that the Series had slipped away from us.
Then the game was over, a little time passed. It was just one game. We did everything we could do to lose a game. Yet, still just one game. Aside from one bad inning, the Astros did nothing offensively. We had our chances, leaving 3 or 4 in scoring position. The bullpen recovered and held them down for 6 innings.
We’ll be ok. Wood gives us 5 or 6 innings today, we have Kershaw tomorrow. And if baseball is consistent in application of discipline, Gurriel is out for maybe a couple games.
Of course if the Dodgers come back, this will be very upsetting to Buck and Smoltz who have already anointed the Astros, and seem to be outright rooting for them.
Didn’t see Doc being quick on the trigger, if anything he left Yu in 2-3 batters more than I might have wanted at least. On Seager swinging, pitchers who are wild tend to groove one just to get it over, particularly with the sacks full, so not necessarily the worst approach in that situation. Gurriel would just appeal, so no way he sits even if suspended. I’d put the adjusted Dodger salaries at around $170 and the ‘Stros at $137.
My morning after thought was that last night’s loss was not so hard to swallow because a lot of it seemed self-inflicted due to some poor execution (pitches, fielding, hitting). The real downside is that it makes Game 2’s loss feel significantly worse.
Oh the difference between 2-0 and 1-1. Don’t lose Game 3.
For me, that’s just what made it hard to swallow. These are two pretty evenly matched teams (though, each with it own strengths and weaknesses), so execution is what matters.
Sadly, Gurriel will get off easy.
In that he will continue to play in the WS, sure. But exactly for that reason, the Commish may come down harder than otherwise, knowing that it wouldn’t have an impact now on the field.
Either way, it’ll be a slap on the wrist.
he’ll get suspended for games 1 and 2 of next season
you’re probably right on Doc, but on Seager I still take a couple until he does throw a strike…
reason I asked about the salaries, is Buck and Smoltz making a big deal about big market Dodgers vs little Houston…when Houston has to pay their stars market rates, their salaries may very well be higher than ours?
My biggest concern is bullpen fatigue. If Wood doesn’t have it, we are in big trouble. The Astros have the bit in their teeth now, and we… don’t. We’ll see. Love my team, either way.
Me too, on the pen fatigue and the love. Morton is just the sort of pitcher that the Dodgers should be able to tee off on, but you never know.
worst case, Kershaw wins game 5, then anything can happen back in LA
if it was me, I would have left Maeda in longer…he was pitching well, let him eat up innings, save the bullpen for Woods’ start
Maeda had already thrown 42 pitches. Had’t thrown that many since Sept 21. Doc was still managing to win the game and not to save the pen for teh next game. Didn’t work out, Still, beyond Maeda, the pen is available for tonight.
605 comments are the most comments ever. 2nd is NLDS Game One, 2016 with 564. NLDS Game Five, 2016 had 503 and this year’s World Series Game Two post had 502.
Yea! One victory tonight!
Wait, what? 605? O6? O7? Misery really does love company.
Does it continue until the next official post?
Call New York and ask.
Ha!
The only thing about running up the total is making it tougher to break.
And manana will definitely be lower with you out of commission, RBI.
Are you suggesting I am overly loquacious?
“Conversant.”
And we each feed off each other. in a non-cannibalistic, good way.
And I’d been away all day so couldn’t add to the conversation numbers
I am going to watch the latest episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Mine has been a bit curbed tonight.
Okay guys, time to wipe that game out with a Norwegian thriller. Night all. I will be helping my son with the kidlets tomorrow, then driving home with the game on the radio, so won’t be able to check in until later. Let’s win tomorrow!
I am scanning Netflixs now myself to detox too.
Hulu for me — “Modern Family”
I think I will go with “The Good Place”.
That’s on the list as well!
Love how they created a second season.
Yes although I wonder how long they can really keep going with this premise.
I like what one reviewer said — Ted Danson is having soo much fun, it’s contagious.
What’s the title? I love thrillers.
Lava Field is the latest. Pretty good.
Never mind. Ending is really disappointing, much like WS games two and three.
Try the Swedish series “Black Widows,” which is noirishly hilarious.
Anyone else hear about Guerriel making a racist gesture at Darvish after his HR? All over FB, but then, it is FB.
There was a post here way back when.
Just looked it up — http://www.sacbee.com/sports/mlb/article181413426.html
Bums noted it when it happened.
Some good real life news: Special Counsel investigation will have the first arrest on Monday.
Just read that. Wowser.
I am on board with that. First time I have ever violated Rule 5.
Choosing NOT to watch the recap. Salt. Wounds.
Silver Lining After that horrendous 2nd inning, LA outscored them, 3-1.
So I guess the good news is if the bats can play like vs. AZ or Chi, this can turn around REALLY fast..
Sportsnet crew talking about Cody, and his need to take a walk like Springer, so he can reset like Springer.
SOMEthing.
His last AB may’ve led to a walk, so that’s an improvement.
Link, what’s the record for posts in one game? I believe it was mid-to-late 500s.
Like Belli’s fly in game two,looked like we would easily go beyond 600, but it shows 581 right now.
We need Wood to pitch the game of his life tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Peacock? What the heck?
Do we give him credit or blame the bats?
I liked him from the interview — he was stunned himself and said he was pumped up by the crowd’s reaction.
Almost everything broke right for the Astros and almost nothing for the Dodgers. I get that talent wins out over luck or you make your own luck, but in the end it was a close game despite all the breaks. And so we have a good chance to win 1 or 2 in Houston still.
Agree, IF they start hitting.
With 3 runs, they had only one RBI and that was on an out.
Doc is going to earn his money with the next lineup and talking to the guys.
I say Logan plays, not matter the matchup. Belli can’t be cleanup. Puig at least put the ball in play, but he’s keeping up with his playoff record being bad on the road.
The Astros had one inning….one…
We had our chances in maybe 4? 5? We hit a few balls at people, not between them. It’s how the ball bounced last night.
For all they did good, and all we did bad, we were in it to the end.
Turner Ward needs to counsel each player and remind them to be patient and wait out the pitcher. Especially Seager.
Okay, that was their first-ever WS win at home, following their first-ever-ever WS win.
They can stop here.
They certainly didn’t look unbeatable. They left a gazillion men on base.
That’s the good news.
The bad is Dodger pitchers allowed a gazillion men on base.
Ha!
Either Peacock was really good . . . or Dodgers really bad, figuring that several of them saw him twice and still were soo ineffective.
2-1 is hardly insurmountable.
As long as bats wake up.
We win tomorrow and baseball life is good again. Hang in there, friends. See you all tomorrow.
We get to celebrate the WS championship in LA.
Well said.
Night. We’ll get them tomorrow. Played horribly, but not out of it until the end.
Thanks, Scoop. I hope you are right.
Second that!
No go, I’m afraid.
Make a memory for your new baby!
(And if the kid remembers, wow!)
Ah, fudge.
Staying tough . . . c’mon, Yasmani!
Thought that was it . . .
Now we’re even after that previous call.
No Charlie.
Can he play 2B?
I’m sure he can.
I realized Doc has to still go in the field
== or the team, at least.
Outside, not a strike one!
This is looking bleak now.
Always darkest…
Not looking good. But we do love our two out hits!
Or walk and BIG hit!
Dave, were you shouting?
I don’t think I could’ve been heard over that crowd.
C;mon, Chase!
We need two taters.
Or a runner and one.
Or one with one on.
Thinking alike again!
Meanwhile… what’s gotten into Peacock, and why now?
Bob H mentioned something earlier about a bird in the hand…
Good news is he won’t be in tomorrow?
Peacock going for his first save . .. in the WS!
Hope he doesn’t get it.
We still have a chance.
I don’t love the Utley/Grandal pairing in the 9th.
We’ll see Charlie!
Yes. That could help.
Strip for the hold.
But soo close to the blow-up.
When I pitched — slow-pitch softball — I fielded the same way as Strip on that last . . . like a matador.
I didn’t pitch much, but had good reactions. I loved playing third.
I played first base.
First has its good points, but third is lots more fun.
I loved first. Looks like we have an infield, by the way.
I had an inning or two as a very undersized catcher.
I loved catching but our league didn’t have steals, so it was kind of wasted.
I played the hot corner too and loved it.
I did not have the arm to play on the left side of the infield.
In softball I played second base.
Stripling! Where were you when we needed you?
It’s not over yet, but I was planning to write the same thing.
And there goes the perfect inning.
But no harm yet.
Should have kept my mouth shut.
Unfortunate timing between good starting pitching/shakey pen in Game 2 and bad starting pitching/basically shutdown pen in Game 3.
And weak offense in both.
You beat me again!
Ditto!
At least we haven’t lost our touch.
WE;RE not asleep.
Wake up, bats!!!
Another true confession:
Buck isn’t as irritating to me as he has been in the past. I’ve even appreciated him making educational comments for the uninitiated but without sounding as pompous as before. . . . That’s how I learned baseball strategy, from Vinny.
The turning point in the Series for me was Puig-s almost-catch.
At the time, did anyone think he should’ve played it on a hop to keep it to a single?
I didn’t.
He wouldn’t have been able to – trying for the catch was the only option.
Smoltz said Bellinger had not seen a mediocre pitch to hit all game. Some very small consolation, I guess.
Huh? Lance threw everything off the plate. Peacock just grooved one.
I think he meant that last at bat…
500 comments people — stay more awake than LA bats and we’ll have a new EF record!
Do we all get a Guinness?
Drink? Or book?
Bad time for a golden sombrero, Belli.
Is that 4 Ks?
Yes.
Yuck.
Definitely don’t want that in your collection.
Maybe he will turn it around a la Springer.
B-a-t-s are b-a-d.
Still one more inning.
And more games.
Staying alive — best AB from Cody in a long time.
But same result.
Wow — full count to Cody . . . c’mon, Belli!
Way to lay off, Cody.
We can still do this.
Definitely.
HAven’t shown much to justify, but it IS possible.
The young guys are looking young Corey, Cody, Joc.
Live by the big swing and die by it.
Well Strip got his man. Yikes and phew.
The ballpark got him. I think that was the deepest point!
Stripling should not pitch again in this series.
Agree — see below.
Can Belli have another at bat?
Yes. He had a great season. Stripling did not.
Thanks.
All Chicken Strip can do is laugh in relief.
Turning point?
TURNING POINT!!!! LET.S. GO. BATS!
“Be still my beating heart!”
“Strip is the Baez of the WS.”
Whooo. . . .
I can’t watch. Tell me what happens.
We win?!
CT caught Springer’s fly ball up against the wall in CF.
6 straight balls
Ross has thrown 6 pitches, all balls.
I guess Roberts feels all his relievers have rubber arms like Mike Marshall in 1974.
Strip — of the 4 –wild — pitch walk?
C’mon, Ross, redeem yourself.
Stay with him , Doc!
Key AB of Game right now.
C;mon TC!
As if there aren’t enough frustrations, my laptop shut down by itself and is restarting. Thank goodness for smartphones!
Dodgers: 6 hits in Game 1, 5 in Game 2, 4 thus far in Game 3.
Bad time to slump.
Cubs did that last year in the LCS and World Series – – hopefully we will copy their game plan completely!
I could do without the stress of being down 3-1.
True, but if they win in seven, they win at home!
Yeah that part would be alright. He says understating it by a gillion.
One of my seatmates said that when I was hoping LA would win in Houston.
She would settle for a parade.
For pen and Darvish as well.
Yet they could have won with only 2 hits in game 2 and are only two runs behind here. Many ways to win. To win this one, they will probably need some hits.
They once won a WS game with only one hit…
A HR or two would be magnifique.
Cody with the glove!
And the legs. And arms.
Please. Make it stop.
We’d better hope for some 8th inning magic.
Will do.
Clarification – – for the Dodgers.
We need bottom of the 7th magic on terms of pitching and defense.
No kidding. I meant to post that BEFORE their lead off double.
The Astros have hit a lot of shots. Dang.
Dodgers have four hits. None with runners in scoring position.
The Gurriel shot has apparently never been a hit this year at 85 mph and 34 deg, according to Statcast.
Almost thrown out. That would have been great.
Moral Victory – it stayed in the park.
Hold ’em, then it’s Seager, Turner, Bellinger in the 8th.
Was excited until the last batter. But he’s going to break out of this!
Dodgers really pushing the delayed part of delayed gratification tonight.
Ain’t no fun less’n it’s a walkoff.
Uhhh – no walk-off tonight please and thank you.
Wet blanket!
Beat me to it – and said it better.
Time to shine CT.
C;mon, CT!
I’m up, waving my towel.
Dre with the walk!
Tying run coming up!
Especially since he doesn’t have to pinch-hit for pitchers
Roberts emptying the bench too early.
But no pitcher to hit for.
In theory, all the others can hit.
I agree. Only Culberson left on the bench.
He can play everywhere.
Needs runs.
And what Bob said.
Positive vibes in the ehter for Ethier!
Let’s cut it to one.
Boy, this has been a tough game to stay with. I keep going in and out of watching.
It’s the World Series man! Stay with it. 🙂
Slate had a great article saying the same thing.
And it’s THIS TEAM!
I have it on and can hear the crowd, just do not have eyes on it.
Really painful one. They aren’t even playing that well, we are just blowing it inning after inning.
Still, a two run game.
Grandal with the classic warning track power.
Ha!
And hurting.
I sit corrected — Puig got an RBI on his groundout.
So that, Kike, and HRs.
Those two guys (Altuve and Correa) are scary.
Hopefully they’ll be thinking that about several Dodgers before this is over.
Heckuva pitching performance THAT was.
Okay, Dave — your predicted 7th comeback!
So glad that it is the bottom 3 starting it off, he says sarcastically – and nervously.
Top four haven’t done a lot. You leave KIké alone! 😉
Good points both Link and Bob.
But then Ethier pinch-hits for Kiké.
More favorable splits.
Agreed, but it demolished my argument.
You are going to have to work with what you got.
K-Morrrow!!
Those are the pitches Morrow should have been pitching in the 8th last night.
He only had the one batter, right? The almost-catch by Puig?
That’s true. I was just wishing he was pitching in the 8th tonight. It probably would have meant things had been going better.
K!
C;mon, Morrow!
Get the K or double play!
Shaking head . . .
Let’s turn two.
They just wanted to make that easier, right?
And another error.
2nd E of the game after 9 without.
Definitely September Dodgers.
We need Barnes bat to wake up for good 7th inning vibes (when we get there).
Finally McCan’t.
Ump not helping us either.
The only WS non-HR RBI was Kike, right?
And Peacock.
I meant Dodgers.
Astors got a lot of them tonight.
Too bad they couldn’t have left LoFo in for that AB if they had known a WP was coming. Lol.
Think Doc was trying to induce AJ to go to his pen and replace Peacock.
Yes that’s probably true.
Just can’t think of any other possible reason.
In spite of themselves, the Dodgers are still in it!
Two run lead. We had one of those the other night.
Turnabout IS fair . . .
YUEXS — WP!
Translated YES!
WPor PB allowed
Ha!
You called it Bob!!
Ugh. This is turning into a rough night – with baseball being the least of it. Had a text from a colleague giving me the heads up that another very respected and well like colleague was being let go. Which is not a good look for our organization right now. And then my wife just got off the phone to say that a neighbour is paralysed in hospital with a rare disease.
Puts baseball into perspective. Sorry, Dave.
Thanks.
This IS only a game. And bragging rights. And new clothing.
Prayers for both, Dave.
Thanks friends. Obviously my colleague and my neighbour are in much worse shape than I, but it’s a shock to be sure on both counts.
Without a doubt.
I found out a colleague’s daughter died of a stroke this morning. She was only about 31 and I don’t know if there were any health complications, but still . . .
She was young. Tragic.
Losing a baseball game doesn’t mean much relative to that. I’m sorry.
C’mon, Utley, Chase in the run!
Waved it in, anyway.
Those arms were moving fast!
His contribution.
That’s what Bellinger should have done. Get in the run.
He can’t put it in play.
I feel for him.
And us.
One run. But another out.
Cody completely overmatched again and again.
McCullers only had 3 Ks. All of them were Cody’s.
Gotta think they’re talking to him between ABs.
He’s young. Hopefully he’ll grow with that. And have more playoff opportunities, including this WS.
He has had short spurts like this several times and snapped out of it.
You are a very nice man. I like your optimism.
I used to be like that, until the WS.
I have to be honest — I think I was more nervous rooting for the Cubs last year.
I don’t think I’ve matured and I haven’t increased my St. John’s wort dosage . . . maybe it’s because that experience being at Game 1 — especially the W — is still with me.
Cody! Lay off that inside pitch!!!!
Cody is looking terrible!
He should just stop swinging altogether.
Definitely not gonna be cleanup, unless something dramatic happens in this game.
Or I’m gonna be following in Scoop’s footsteps.
I predict JT’s slump is over!
Belli, Belli, Belli
Let’s go, Dodgers!
JT with the 2B!
Anyone hear of what was wrong with JT, missing those workouts?
I wasn’t aware he missed workouts.
I recall it was insignificant.
Looked good there.
1 for 25 our top four is since the start of Game Two? No wonder we’re in trouble!
The one was Seager dinger, which should have been enough to be up 2-0, scepter pen collapsed.
Good eye/patience, Corey!
Hopefully the Dodgers help T-Mobile give millions to hurricane relief here.
Nice, Tony.
After Bad Tony.
I played 1st and was run into standing up .. . broke my collarbone.
Understandably, millions of fans weren’t holding their breath on me.
Running out of the baseline.!!
Really?
We do not look good tonight at all.
Nope.
Apparently that was the first E in 10 playoff games.
Very bad future people!
I give up. Two outs and another bad throw brings in another run. I hope we get really mad and rally good at the same time, right about now. We haven’t played like this since the long tumble in September.
They broke out of that . . . hopefully here as well.
Un-frigging-believable.
Ugh
There go the good feelings!
We really need a few one-two-three innings to take the swagger out of these guys.
And some 1-2-3 scoring innings for the bats.
Admire Yu for staying in the dugout, in uniform.
Classy.
Scary thought? Buck answered the very question I was thinking.
Crowd not nearly as loud as it was. I think.
Kenta did such a good job.
Gave them the chance that was slipping away. Quickly.
We are very much in this game. Something is needed from Turner and Bellinger.
And Seager.
Believe the other two are combined 1-WS.
Surprisingly not that far behind. What, with a couple breaks…
Tony W next man up.
Great job Kenta.
Plugged the leak.
Hopefully bats bring the ship up and full steam ahead.
Silver Lining — that was the start of the 3rd go-round and hit well.
Need a hit by Taylor…..Oh, well.
This is truly frustrating.
We cannot catch a break.
Or they are catching all the breaks.
Both true.
And catching the would-be LA breaks.
Shoot — again.
C’mon, CT!
Want to score this run.
Let’s bring Joc in, CT3.
Oh, my . . . yeah!
Wow! Joc!
Maybe the first trickle of the soon to be tide!
Kenta! My hero!
That should his new name — Kenta Myhero
Ha!
私のヒーロー
Buck isn’t giving up on the Dodgers . . . but their ratings depend on people sticking with it.
K-enta!
I love Maeda’s colourful necklace.
And calm demeanor. Yu was calm but not effective.
Calm. But also powerfully excited.
Good TV comment — Yu took Kenta’s spot in the rotation, so something to prove.
Not as if Maeda was knocking on the door in his starts.
Wow — Houston hasn’t ben retired in order the last 10 innings.
Feels like even longer. See “baseball gods,” below.
I gave it a couple more innings — when Puig didn’t make that awesome catch.
Can we get Springer?
The tide will turn. And it will be glorious.
Hopefully before next April.
That’s much better than the responses I was thinking of!
Thanks. I don’t want to be the only one thinking (Dodger) blue thoughts.
How does the 7th inning sound?
That’s 3 innings away. Why so pessimistic?
Makes it more dramatic without killing us all by leaving it until the 9th? Lol.
Seems like more, but it is only a 3 run lead and a pen without a good rep waiting.
Baseball gods have decided to smile on Houston. Big time.
Miserable inning. We can’t give them any more gifts.
Kenta hasn’t, besides the lousy ball 4.
Bats, on the other hand . . . not even hitting as hard as they did before.
But if Kenta shuts them down again, they’re approaching 3rd go-round.
Always Altuvé somewhere in there. Not making me like them more.
He was safe. And then slid off the bag.
Tagged in the chest before his hand got there, I think.
I thought so, too. Hard for him to see what was going on with that weird foul ball area.
I think the Dodgers would have challenged if they thought otherwise.
They don’t have all the views. Sometimes worth a shot.
Does NY have more than Fox?
Yes.
I didn’t see that on the replay but you may be right.
May have been worth a challenge, as they get an extra one.
No. He was clearly out.
No because he did lose contact with the bag.
Perhaps not our day . Yet.
Oh Puig.
Brutal.
Was much closer than I first thought.
Hustling to get down the line.
So far, Cody can’t resist swing at that inside pitch.
Puig’s down and away.
So there’s hope.
So much for patience and discretion.
C’mon, Puig
More walks. And add in a few big hits.
Let’s get a few more here, okay? Pretty please?
— with sugar on top . .. and a cherry?
Blip aside, great job by Kenta!
For once, glad for the DH. Innings can be eaten by a good pitcher.
But he won’t be available in other games . . . still, to paraphrase Paul Newman from “The Verdict,” — “This is the game, there is no other game.”
More runs time!!
What he said!
The Astros fans start to feel the frustration!
(Nothing personal.)
And Dodger fans realize the joys of delayed gratification.
Again, what he said!
https://247sports.com/Bolt/Did-Yulieski-Gurriel-mock-Yu-Darvish-after-World-Series-homer-109537789
So classy.
Wow! Seems to be saying “chinito”, slang for East Asian in Spanish.
Was ready to write that Kenta got 6 outs, but his last three pitches have been terrible.
He still can get them.
He did!
That he did!
One more out. Kenta. You can do it!
Do all the Dodgers catch one-handed?
Most big leaguers do.
So why the big deal when Puig does?
He doesn’t always look the ball into the glove and can be nonchalant.
Got it.
Most do since the invention of decent gloves.
Vin always would get on Upton’s case for doing it.
Why are all the MLB promos Astros players?
Maybe it was Dodgers in LA? I was wondering about that too.
Anyone else know?
I really haven’t been paying attention to commercials. Busy reading you all.
I’m wondering if JT is still hurting. Besides his 1-WS (tho a GREAT one!), he doesn’t look confident.
Of course, I didn’t get to actually see the LDS or LCS, so don’t know his looks other than when he had a video-worthy hit.
A couple more there would have been great. Not sure that Lance will be around much longer to try to beat up on.
Their pen might be hittable too though.
They were Wednesday.
Their closer also blew a save.
Bird in hand…
Means a dirty hand? Jk
Missed opportunities, but the night is young.
And so are we.
At heart.
Speak for yourself. This game has aged me a decade already.
Ha!
I’m no longer voting up . . . I want the posts to go up!
What a waste.
But at least one run.
And worked the count.
Frustrating!
Freakin fortunate.
Gee whiz.
Well. That happened.
Painful…
His foot slipped to touch the bag.
Since Puig just missed that fly, things have been going their way.
C;mon, JT!
Oh —
ANOTHER DP.
But got a run.
Corey. Be easy.
*Corey
Slam jam bam?!
Walked the bags full! Tying run at the plate.
Walks the bases loaded!!!!
Runs here will be great!
And needed!
Well now. Bases loaded, none out.
C’mon, CT!
McCullers pitching like Yu.
Let’s go top of the lineup. Pound the drum.
I like our patience.
Easy to be patient when they are so off the plate!
Too tired to swing after chasing balls all over the field.
Ha! Zing on our own team. Nice.
Can’t lose our since of humor just because the Astros teased themselves.
Absolutely
Ha!
YES!
Back to back walks with a 4-run lead.
Gotta be dispiriting.
Gotta score!
Lance had the yips.
Great eye, Kike!
Keep it going!
Great AB, Joc!
And work up that count!
Good future person!
Finally something good in the present.
And got on base. How good would it be to score 2 or 3 runs this inning?
Vetty vetty good.
It is only the 3rd inning.
Still plenty of time.
Chip away.
At this rate, there will be over 600 posts in this game!
And we will get more excited when the Dodgers come back.
From your keyboard . ..
It’s a small keyboard on my phone but yes. 🙂
I dictate on my phone, then correct enough to make sure the message gets across.
Hmmm. Maybe I should give it a try.
At this rate, none of us will be around by the sixth!
Finally!
Okay, Bats — your turn!!!
Kenta!
Remember free tacos Nov 1 from 2 to 6, one per person.
I’m getting mine thanks to Logan, not their guy.
No matter what anyone says.
Funny.
Maeda may not have warmed up enough, as a regular starter.
Yeah, Doc usually not shy with the early hook may have left Yu in 2-3 batters more than he might have wanted.
Maybe he will go back to the bullpen. Although Yu gave him 90 minutes to get warm.
Bob_Hendley, I flipped your photo below.
Kenta to the rescue!
Good grief, what an inning.
Hopefully that’s the extent of it.
He hasn’t fooled a single batter in this inning. Let’s keep it at 4-0.
It stayed in the park — they didn’t score . . . that’s something good.
Those poor fans. They will be crushed when they lose this game.
I like your spirit.
Well, I feel for the little guys. Just not rooting for them this time. Hard to root for a franchise whose game plan was to tank for several years in order to get good players in the draft.
So, not a Laker fan, eh?
No but I am a Browns fan. That’s different though because I never expect them to be good. And I love them regardless.
Poor throw by Taylor, who has a good arm.
I know. Very good catch, not a good throw.
Bad throw home, and the ball was stung. We will see Maeda real soon.
They are fouling off his good pitches, feasting on his bad ones.
Heck, even the outs are loud.
Outs?
As an ex-Yanqui, McCann is dislikable.
Nothing working for Yu.
Darvish getting lit up.
I predict a Dodger victory. All the Astros are doing is making the Dodgers mad.
Definitely positive.
True, but Yu won’t get the win.
I still say we win this game tonight. No problem at all.
3-0, none out, all hitting. All Astros, anyway.
40 pitches through 1 inning
It’s rugged.
We need a DP.
Or a TP.
That was my chant before the hit.
I believe in Dodger hitters/Astros bullpen being a helpful combo.
We could sure use an out. Or two. Or three.
Get an out! Get an out!
I hate these guys. Sorry, but I do.
Why?
They’re the opposition but they seem decent.
All that strutting. Plus, you know, the hitting.
Kinda like LA in July, August, AZ, and Chi?
Okay. I take it back.
Your feelings are your feelings. You may have to work though them. But they are valid.
In ’74, ’77, and ’78, it was really tough for me because they were the Evil Empire.
Don’t recall the strutting, though.
Radio talked about swagger. Not sure what the difference is.
Are you watching?
By the Dodgers.
Oh, right. I agree. Maybe Puig, but that’s his character.
Can’t hate them for being good.
They’re gnot the Gnats.
Very true.
Hey, they are the enemy right now. Hate on.
Too much hate in the world
Can we please float some positive vibes into the ether?
I am floating em, and giving RBI positive support.
Well, the good news is only 1 scored on that.
Can we please float some positive vibes into the ether?
Go Ethier!
Not what you were thinking?
“Weed thinking?”
Why do I feel like Stripling will need to step up today?
Innings might need to be eaten if Yu doesn’t get going.
MANY innings.
Roberts with lots of fatherly body language visiting the mound.
Triple play, triple play!
This can become even uglier really quick.
Bear down, Yu. Bear down.
Yu Bear!
Mama so very not happy.
Can this be like the Chicago series where they homered to take the lead – and we won anyway?
This is torture, and it’s only the second inning.
Whole different feel for me. They’re hitting, Dodgers aren’t and it’s their house.
Yeah. Painful.
Dodgers have had hard hit balls. Too early for pessimism although Reddick did get a hit.
Not giving up, just status check.
One fan gets a bruised hand, another gets the souvenir.
Okay, let’s hope it’s a Cubs game and this is where we want the Blue to be.
Samers!
No!!!!
Unfortunately, their offense was awakened.
RBI, do you have your WS towel handy?
They ran out! The nerve! I even got there an hour early!
WOW!
Someone didn’t do their math — they knew they would be sellouts!
Did you even try to get in the souvenir stores? I wasted about 80 minutes before the game, then snuck back in to the LF one (left field, not Logan Forsythe) and it was a madhouse!
I ordered my WS shirt online.
Lines around the block.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/758ce4199b59b6f473668dd18eb32c11441c3e56c63f83e6a0e1300d40e73c1f.jpg Got my Cofax Tee today. Seems to be upside down.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7636e40201fe2b67524938d9af68603ec509297ac74ddd432df4a1bf1b0e0577.jpg
Thanks!
Phoo.
They didn’t hear me yell to Throw it away!
Dome is closed, I believe.
Ayup.
Seemed like it was a bit high/wide. Yell harder next time. Or I will join you!!
Count on me yelling that anytime it’s a grounder with LA batting.
And “Get the K” with 2 strikes and Blue pitching.
LF with the SB!
Now we just need a single here.
OK Barnesie – wake your bat up.
Logan prefers being on base rather than back in the dugout.
Better player than his full-season numbers would suggest.
Logan gets the hit!
It shoulda been 3-0 on Bellinger.
At least 2-1.
Lotsa 0-2 counts on Bellinger.
Cody is batting like HE was out of the previous series.
Patience, boys. Patience.
How can that be a strike and Yu’s third pitch be a ball?
I saw 2 very generous strike calls there. Very generous.
Off the bat, it seemed Correa’s ball was a hit.
Our turn.
No runs.
Yes! Great job, Yu!
Get the K, Yu!
I’ll settle for an easy popup.
The chant doesn’t scan as well.
Chris says Stay away, Puig!
Ha ha. Yes.
Springer is good.
Sadly, he has found his bat.
Nice, Yu — and you, too, JT
Hey Yu — yeah, you!
Get the K!
Darn you BABIP.
I like it. When we are at bat it is .300 and in the field .700 and that equals 1.000!
Ugh, their hit found the gap.
So annoying. Yuck.
C;mon, Yuuuuuuuu!
Understand that Fox is one pitch behind the field. So we will have future people tonight. Be good to us!
Unfortunate.
Wow, McCullers didn’t fool Seager or Turner in that inning.
McCullers – we are still coming for you. Some of those balls that were tattood will drop in tonight.
So much for hitting the ball hard.
Over to you, Yu.
Good news is two Blue hit it really hard.
Shoot.
Future people not delivering.
Can’t believe Seager didn’t beat that.
Hit it too hard.
Unfortunately.
Other times, wants it hard.
Yep. We can (will) hit this guy!
It was very hard hit.
Bad luck.
So nervous/excited!
Me, too.
Here we go. Time to start my Dodger yoga.
I am going to take some deep breaths and make it through the game.
So, the ‘Stros can’t do any better than to bring out a handegger?
The 3 Bees would have been nice.
That eagle was great . . . and I really loved the jets flying over us.
Warning: My self-imposed restriction on second-guessing Roberts, from early in Game 2, has expired. I hope I do not need to use it.
Whatever gets you thru the game. That’s what this blog is all about.
Worry, concern, hope.
Kiké at DH? Well, “In these playoffs, Hernandez is 3-for-5 with a home run against right-handed pitching.”
Apparently, also, McCullers is less effective v. righties than lefties, but it’s still a debatable move.
Late switch – Quique on LF, with Joc at DH.
Right: https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/924041042269048833
Puig, Seager Gold Glove finalists.
Scully on his first pitch exploits.
Dodger bats are below the Mendoza line (just .172!) — but tied in the Series (and were oh-so-close to being up). https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/who-has-the-advantage-in-world-series-game-3/ar-AAu6nLe?li=BBnba9I
Hopefully they’ll wake up like Game 5 of the LCS!
The article reminded me the Astros’ closer also blew the save.
Would have been happy with just two hits in game 2, if the pen had been able to hold.
True.
But I doubt any of us will be happy if they don’t get substantially more than that each of these games.
Mariners’ GM regrets trading CT – https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/mariners-gm-chris-taylor-trade-the-%E2%80%98worst-deal-i%E2%80%99ve-ever-made%E2%80%99/ar-AAu7WHl?li=BBnba9I
I suspect the Dodgers would have been satisfied had he merely turned out to be a competent utility player.
Definitely!
So often it just takes a change of scenery, besides laundry.
And a reinvented swing.
To go along with the players’ historical photos, have some pictures of Dodgers’ fans of yesteryear.
I hope the slider works as well in game action as it does in the bullpen.
Meanwhile, in the dugout… https://twitter.com/TheOnion/status/923995746348789762
Just reading Word Series Game Three is knot-inducing. How am I going to make it through the game itself?
— and at least two more after that!
But isn’t it great to have knots that mean something vs. just pulling for someone else?
Wouldn’t it be great if Yu can take those two “almost” games a step further and get baseball immortality?
But I will be ecstatic with a “W.”