The Washington Post asks, “why is the World Series favorite in a play-in game?” and proceeds to tell its readers why the Dodgers are favored to win the whole schmeer.
The other NL contenders simply cannot match the depth on the mound or at the plate that Los Angeles brings to the table. While the Dodgers’ road appears harder than those of other teams, the hardest road of all is for any team with the Dodgers standing in front of them.
Cardinals at Dodgers , 5:10 PM PDT, TV: TBS
Grizzled veterans face one another as the Cards send 40-year-old RHP Adam Wainwright (17-7, 3.05 ERA) to the Dodger Stadium mound to face the Dodgers’ 37-year-old RHP Max Scherzer (15-4, 2.46 ERA).
Much has happened on this day in baseball history: Sandy Koufax took Yom Kippur off in 1965, Mudcat Grant became the first black World Series game-winner for an American League team when the Twins took Game 1 from the Dodgers at Metropolitan Stadium in 1965, Willie Davis made three errors in the fifth inning of Game Two of the 1966 World Series, Jim Palmer beat Koufax in the same game, Phil Niekro won his 300th game in 1985, and Lenny Harris surpassed Manny Mota’s career pinch-hit record in 2001.
Cardinals lineup:
Win or go home!
The previous 162 don't matter, it all comes down to this. pic.twitter.com/HBJJ81QiJp
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) October 6, 2021
Dodgers lineup:
Tonight’s #Dodgers Wild Card lineup vs. Cardinals: pic.twitter.com/qQNFRxODOC
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 6, 2021
We are going to kick some Gnat ass.
From Sports Illustrated’s game story:
NPUT
Go White Sox.
From Sports Illustrated’s game story:
In the past Roberts has been blamed for a few losses so maybe we should give him credit for managing this game. Everything he did worked including puling Scherzer.
Well said.
He does seem to be getting a better handle on things. It’s about time.
Pitching lines up well for Dodgers. Buehler and Urias in games 1 and 2. Scherzer in LA for game 3 on Monday. Gonzo probably gonna have to pitch game 4. I like our chances.
OhioDodger, I don’t have your email address on my list of commenters. I use a mailing list rarely, mostly to announce when a new post is up after there’s been a delay (off-season, typically). If you want to be added, mail me at linkmeister@gmail.com
What Game 4?
I like your obstinance and optimism.
Sometimes, not your obstinance.
Your optimism is always there. And appreciated. Your obstinance — e.g., the Giants will barely edge the Rockies for third in the NL West — is also always there (if not always right).
Betcha CT3 starts on Friday.
Doesn’t usually work that way. Depends on match ups and much more flexible for making double switches than Pollock. Will certainly play.
Extras?
One more chance!
Just don’t love all the swinging for the fences. Unless it works.
My stomach can’t take extras.
Wax Lux announced? Did they burn his spot?
Yes,
Shoot
Man, if that ball had gotten by CT3…run would have scored and man on at least 2nd if not 3rd.
A clutch catch that Poilock probably doesn’t make.
Should be outta the inning.
Only the second out.
If they’d made the right call on the previous play.
Where he tagged the bag with his left foot?
Where he missed it.
Not officially.
Still not watching only
peeking here and at Gameday.
Billy for Beaty? Injury? Ah, double switch.
Double-switch?
Gameday still has Blake pitching.
So I see.
Now they really get to enjoy it!
Don’t over do it. Work is just beginning.
One night is okay.
OK, if you promise to cut the grass and take out the trash tomorrow.
Look out Gnats.
Looking for bear! Sure hope Max is better.
Take that, ghost of Jack Clark! Niedenfuer, you’re absolved!
Johnny All Staff gets the win tonight!
You hang a slider, and even Chris Taylor, hitting .111 in the last 5 weeks, can bang em.
But he hung it after Belli stole second without a throw so there’s that!
Friday, Game One, Giants.
No, Game One, Dodgers.
That steal really threw the pitcher off!
That steal really threw the pitcher off!
That steal really threw the pitcher off!
And let’s not forget Cody!!!
Taylor made win!!
BALLGAME!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpGx4foRdPw
RBI and Dave out “!” Me!
What?!!!!!!!!!!
My CT3!!! Was no match for your CT3!!!!!
It’s the Taylor of old!!!
Dodgers win!!!!!!
Dodgers are in the playoffs again
Woo-HOO!!!!!!!!!!
Wow!
CT3!!!!
CT3!!!!!!!!
CT3!!!!!!
Futuring!
Belli steals!!!
Let’s go. Single wins it!
Reyes has been very erratic this year, lost the closer role.
Have a moment here CT3!
Or just get on base and let Mookie have a moment.
Taylor Time. C’mon Chris.
Game over 4 hours now,m and not through 9 innings yet. I dislike post season ads dragging this out.
It’s brutal. A 1-1 game into the 9th should not be this long.
And all the talk about speeding up the game.
At least Im listening to Steiner and not Schmoltz.
Run Belli Run
Alright alright alright. A walk!
Time for a 2 out rally!
Belli walks
Third time getting on.
And now 2 SB.
Two solid shots with nothing to show for them.
Could it be Cody
Yes
Be a hero Belli.
Or at least get on base. Has done it twice tonight.
Done!
Another hard hit out.
Need marching band music
I just got it! Nice!
Souza jr? This is not the lineup I love… prove me wrong ssjr
Maybe he’ll be this year’s Brian Doyle.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Doyle_(baseball)
Or Bucky Dent…
Dent was a star, though. Doyle was not.
Chuck Essegian?
Dent was a starter, but not a star.
Urías in the pen.
Hard out.
Phooey!
Catman waiting to PR
Back to the cat box
It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
Lux cant hit Lefties, Pujols has feasted on them.
How can he retire as a Cardinal if he hits a HR now
Let’s go Albert!
Forget all that, Lux out, Pujols in.
Lux with a double and Uncle Albert with the walk off single. Or HR!!
Pujols on deck?
Lux. But might switch him out.
Could be, since 1b McKinney is on deck and Tio Albert can play there, and now they’ve brought a lefty in.
Let’s go Gavin, clap clap, clap clap clap.
Please, just one measly run. Is that too much to ask?
Time to walk it off. Then jump and dance for joy.
How about one pitch one run walk off?
That would be beautiful!!
PH Albert for Kenley to lead off the inning? Guess it depends on which hand their pitcher uses.
Apparently 3 days off makes for a good Jansen.
Great strike three pitch but good lord…
WOOT!!
Yes!!
Jansen sells tickets
Jansen sells Tums.
Pepto, too.
Outstanding. A Mylanta moment.
Always exciting
Phew!
Too close for comfort.
And now too comfortable for closing.
Whew. Foul ball.
Get O’Neill. Don’t want to see Arenado.
Just focus on the outs, Kenley.
Who saw that coming
He’ll be running.
I’d love to see him get picked off.
Last four years base runners are 47 for 47 in steals against Kenley, announcer says.
Well that’s not good!
Make that 48.
Edman is irritating me big time.
Kenley just focus on getting outs okay?
How did he hit that?
Cardinal black magic
With Jansen in now does Doc expect to score in the bottom on ninth?
Doc is just thinking one half inning at a time. Get 3 defensive outs.
I’dve stayed with Knebel.
Me,too.
I can’t remember seeing Id’ve in print before
I’d’ve is the way the dictionary I prefer has it.
I’dve stayed with Knebel.
Always went with Kenley in these situations during regular season. Addition reason then would have been ghost runners if he used him in extras. Kenley bothered by runners on second.
True but seems like a closer pitches for the save and not a hold.
Both closers used with heart of the lineup.
I like that
I do now!
Not at home.
Jansen – great first pitch!
If it goes extras, there’s no ghost runner.
Good!
Is it gonna be Kenley to scare us to death again?
Or more Kneibel?
Kenley. Oh dear. Given the situation, I might have kept him for extra innings.
Now I really can’t watch.
Funny enough I’m more nervous when he comes in when we are tied rather than a slender lead
Maybe this game is waiting for Pujols to win it???
Could be. 1st base up 2nd in the ninth.
Just makes the walk off in the ninth sweeter.
Straight at him?
Leaping catch.
And just in the game.
And leading off the top of the 9th.
Oh fer heaven’s sake.
Really annoying.
No!!!!! Dagnabbit!
Shoooot!
Your futuring is deteriorating.
Chill.
More like our team is.
Where are you that makes you so late with what is going on?
Man! Really?
Bad futuring again?
Golfed it but missed it.
Reminded me of my golf game today
Why is this guy so hard to hit?
Lively fastball and good slider.
But not such a fast fastball.
Spots it and uses the slider for swings and misses.
Just keep distracting the pitcher, Trea!
Run Trea Run
Tough catcher.
But he may have a sore shoulder.
Please JT!
Just like earlier please
Trea gets on.
More good futuring?
Trea will.
Terrible AB for Seager.
So true.
Who wants to step up tonight Dodger hitter?
Drat it, Corey.
Wow. Bad swing on a bad pitch.
Seems to be a theme tonight.
Calm corey
CT2 magic time?
I would take a 2 run inning here. Or 5.
Many many many.
I thought you were saying Manny there for a moment.
Big moments here
Time to put this baby to bed.
Midnight at the oasis
Send your camel to bed
Need a harem of runs.
A clutch.
That was evil, Knebel
Okay, Seager, you and the Turners need to get it going here.
Got him!
Now that’s futuring!
On Ball four!
Thanks Dave! I literally couldn’t watch.
Well?
I say out.
What’s the challenge?
Failed to touch second on the way back. Missed call.
Touching a base???
After runner passes second, needs to retouch it on way back to first after flyout. Turner didn’t think he did.
https://twitter.com/Ned2point0/status/1445952641440354313?s=20
Broken bats and lucky hits.
A country song
I’m out for this next half inning. WBB, tell me what happens!
Seager and the Turners scheduled in the 8th. Hold ’em, Knebel!
Popups.
No bueno.
Dang. Next inning.
Really bad futuring tonight.
Maybe you should take a turn.
I can’t future from the past.
Belli turns a single into a double
Mookie you have to hold up better!
Let’s go. Come on Mookie.
Belli wheels!
Belli steal!
Speed and Mookie. Let’s go!
Ugh CT3. Take a moment will you?
Turner colder than Belli last month of the season. Probably costing him alot of money on his next contract.
Preferred a home run
Could Carlson have gotten that?
Maybe, but if he misses it it’s an inside-the-parker.
It didn’t land too far in front of him.
Good swing!
Good hit Belli.
Belli base hit!
There’s really almost no way to get on with a ground ball anymore with the shift..
Time for a Beaty HR
Sorry edit- a Bellinger HR (can I keep doing that until I am correct)
Yes. Phew.
Time for Bellinger to redeem his season.
The crowd needs to yell”Cody! Cody! Cody!” That’s the secret sauce.
Or MVP!
If I was there I’d start it.
Sweet.
BeatyMax
Well played!
Nice futuring.
Come on Blake.
Why does this feel like it might be a 14 inning crazy making game?
I’m hoping not.
Must get through the meat of their order here.
So far, so good.
My kingdom for a clean inning.
For a hoarse…
Ha!
Treinen in in Pollock’s spot, CT3 in left.
Lousy pitch to swing on AJ.
How many ball 4’s have we swung at in this game? Too many
Too many.
That was on a 2-1 count wasn’t it? Or am I wrong?
Yes. You are correct.
Ah yes, it felt like ball 4
A ball by any other name is still a ball.
We’ve done that all night. Including Trea!
It’s strangely like they are pressing.
This is tense post season baseball
They are playing us as hard as any team this year.
Blast it!
Heckuva play though.
Didn’t even break his arm
RATS!!!!!
Dang.
Your futuring is sadly lacking tonight.
Shall I stop watching? I am tempted.
No, I don’t like living in the past
No.
On a ball no less.
Don’t be playoff Pollock Pollock
Hoping AJ can turn into Mr. October.
C’mon AJ. Land a big fish.
Good eye, Will!
Up to AJ.
Do it for Maddie!
Phooey!
Bad futuring?
JT’s popout.
Up to you Willy.
Run Trea Run
It was a blooper in the first inning that led to a Cards run so let’s return the favor and score on Trea’s swinging bunt.
Pulled at 95 versus 93. I’m sure Cardinals fans are second guessing as well.
A bit later in the game though.
Perhaps asking, if the manager had such a quick hook, why didn’t he PH for Wainwright with a runner on?
Exactly.
See you later Adam.
Burn them Justin.
Make him crazy, Trea!
There’s a hit at least!
We need a crooked number.
A big one.
Where’s our 8 runs at home?
If we’d started Julio…
Ah right!
Where’s our 8 runs at home?
These are the guys who can do it.
Brewster, please!
Not bad!
Thanks, Molina.
Takes me back to when all three Molinas were in the big leagues and ESPN would have fun yelling “Name that Molina” during SportsCenter.
Please no Gasatrol.
May have to stop watching for a bit…
Are you sure?
I’ll admit he has wasted a pitch
Really? 3 up 3 down? Come ON, guys!
Very bad futuring.
¯_(ツ)_/¯
I kinda can’t believe we are back to the days of Beatty/Raley/McKinistry.
Don’t forget McKinney.
We miss Muncy for sure.
Exactly.
Beaty has a decent track record for a bench player. McKinstry’s had his moments.
And Raley?
You are hitting .333, not bad.
Huge out.
What a great pitch. A strike either way!
https://twitter.com/molly_knight/status/1445935164090032128?s=20
I am pacing early tonight.
Whew.
YES!!!!
Yes!!!!
Even the same number of exclamation points!!!!
Golpear tres. Sentar la carne.
Golden pear trees indeed.
(That’s what I though you wrote at first.)
Actually, strike three. Sit down meat.
No disrespect intended, but pretty bad Spanish.
Yeah, how would you say it?
LOL
Come on Joe! Shut this down!
Not helpful.
Oh man!
One more Joe.
Scherzer talking to Kershaw, two intense pitchers when in the game
If we move forward I hope Max figures out what is ailing him.
Thanks West
This better work Doc.
Max was pretty ripe for being ambushed.
I’d have stayed with him.
Late in game, in terms of pitch count, lack of command, and walking guys…easily see a meatball coming for a Weaver special.
Max last two outings were not good so probably a good move
And not sharp tonight which is the main thing I guess.
And 94 pitches.
Not saying the move is right or wrong. Just thinking of the fallout if it backfires.
Well, we shall see.
Kelly, please have your stuff in control.
Max’s last inning, I suspect.
He’s gone.
94 pitches.
Last batter…
This is agony.
It sure ain’t lollipops and ice cream.
Better to walk Goldy than groove one.
This is like a season’s worth of 3 ball counts for Max tonight.
Let alone 4 balls.
We need our own DP here.
Cards break a bat and get a hit. Dodgers get a GIDP.
I’m skipping piano tonight to listen to this mess, so it better be worth it.
Playing in a recital? Practicing?
Naw, just makes me happy to struggle with it. I am sure that everyone in earshot is happy for me to take a night off.
I know what you mean, I just skipped rope
Beaty popped out on ball four.
Waino’s pitch count catching up with Max’s.
It’s all about this next inning I think. Keeping the Cards off the scoreboard.
Max has to get through the gauntlet now.
Hey kids, anything going on?
Life. Baseball and life.
Hi Jack!
West – ask?
Joe West has umpired 5,460 games including this one. Most of them have had questionable calls.
Joe West ranked 96th out of 99 umps behind the plate this year with an accuracy rating of 91.1. He also had the most missed calls.
So, how good is the Cardinal bullpen?
Not so good as the Dodgers’, I don’t think.
No where near as good, but it’s one game.
True.
Middle of the pack, with a couple good guys though, who will be ready to go.
https://twitter.com/dodgerblues/status/1445928224370794498?s=20
We have a tie
Tie Game!!
JTissimo!
JT!!!!!!!
Yahoo!
Let’s go!!
West!!!! Just stop!
Please JT.
Just gotta ask nicely.
Just like mom taught us.
Okay guys. Keep up the pressure.
I think we may see Julio tonight. Hope he can come in sharp.
Come on, get this 15 year old out
Not on the field, but on our side. https://twitter.com/molly_knight/status/1445923871190708231?s=20
That was really disappointing.
Like getting socks and underwear for Christmas.
Or pink bunny pajamas
Or coal.
We need Max to have a clean one here and get back up immediately.
He isn’t getting many swings and misses.
Not so far.
Bad pattern
Damn curve ball
AND it was ball four!
Yep. Trea blew it.
That hurt.
Oh crap. I hope that wasn’t our last best chance of the game.
Feels like it right now, doesn’t it?
Son of a ……………………..
ARGH!!! Our stars are letting us down.
Your worst futuring ever.
Can we hope for a third grand salami
Now I’m nervous
NOW?
Are you watching?
I’m at work, following on gameday
I used to skip school to watch the Dodgers in the Series.
Nuns used to wheel in a TV so that we could watch. They were pretty big Dodger fans.
Love this!
Me too.
Wainwright as well.
Wainwright = Gerrit Cole
Considerably older.
Oh boy. Oh boy.
Bust it open Trea.
Oh boy… holding my breath.
Get to work, future people!
Let’s go Dodgers!
Clap..Clap
I thought that was through. Smart baserunning by Cody.
OK, how about a WP?
Did his job.
Walk woulda been better, but…
Hope he puts one in Wainwrights ear his next AB.
I think it was a smart pitch that from my vantage point in my recliner wasn’t dangerous
It was a message pitch that merits a reply.
Now, can Max get the bunt down?
He saved his hits for now.
Doubtful
But possible
Cody, now would be a good time to start your comeback player of the year season in 2022.
I’m back from my mtg. Let’s go Dodgers!!
Also – I’ll just leave this here for our encouragement and enjoyment! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_54i5lNtVaA
Make that two good plays by Zelmo!
Beaty looking good.
Good play by Zelmo.
https://twitter.com/molly_knight/status/1445917736400351234?s=20
Max, please have a nice clean inning, willya?
He is anything but sharp.
Rats!
Phooey. But a good at bat at least…
A good AB is when you get on base.
Or run up the count at the very least!
Offense gonna have to show up tonight.
We need to slow their roll this
inning..
West!!!
He’s retiring, but not soon enough.
Gameday has Max missing, not by much, but missing.
The two balls earlier
Just talking about the two most recent batters.
More worried about Max than West.
With a Dodger at bat, he’d probably ring ’em up.
Arghhhhh! Hit hard but…
https://twitter.com/Ned2point0/status/1445910395982544896?s=20
Okay. Got all the mistakes out of our system.
Our turn, hopefully.
Exactly what we should not do.
Gotta do better guys.
Oh no no no.
Very bad futuring.
¡Miércoles! (de verdad)
Not a great start.
Smiths got to block that ball.
It was a very bad pitch.
Augh!
Not an auspicious start. Joe West jobs Max on strike three to Goldy..
Driving home. Butterflies!!!!
I am nervous.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CwFlycpiJw
I have a meeting tonight – that I’m leading – but hopefully I will be around by the 3rd inning or so.
Go Dodgers!
Bill Shaikin of the Times on Seager’s future with the Dodgers (or not).
Fun coincidence: Seager won an SUV when he was named MVP of the World Series last year.