Dodgers at Giants, 1:05PM PT, TV: SPNLA, KTLA, CS-BA
It’s a mound mismatch, if you look at the records of the two starters. The Dodgers send out Clayton Kershaw (12-3, 1.65 ERA) to face the Giants’ rookie lefthander Ty Blach (0-0, 2.00 ERA). Kershaw has been pretty successful in the Giants’ home park; he’s 10-3 with a 1.30 ERA lifetime. This will be Blach’s second major league start, but he’s seen the Dodgers before: he pitched three scoreless innings against them on September 21. The Giants need to win badly: they’re a game ahead of the Cardinals for the second Wild Card and need both a win and a St. Louis loss today to clinch a spot in the postseason. If they get one but not the other they clinch a tiebreaker game in St. Louis.
Charlie Culberson asked Vin Scully to sign the bat Charlie hit the walkoff HR with last weekend.
THE bat. #NLWestChamps pic.twitter.com/OJ3RQyYb2Z
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 1, 2016
Lineup:
Today's Dodger lineup:
Kendrick LF
Turner 3B
Seager SS
Puig RF
González 1B
Grandal C
Pederson CF
Utley 2B
Kershaw P— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 1, 2016
NPUT @ 1100PT.
Reading the recap http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/204463090/giants-clinch-wild-card-tie-with-cardinals/, I realized something much more than momentum or HFA involved in these games — the Dodgers had the chance to knock the Giants out of postseason and didn’t.
I hope this isn’t similar to the games where they spin their wheels and are “o-fer” RISP — waste not, want not.
For those of you concerned about “momentum:” https://twitter.com/EricMoondog/status/782339634894213120
That was the strike-shortened year, right? So it ended up being like these days: play two series before the WS.
One of five strikes and three lockouts. It was 50 days in 1981.
So you are saying the 1981 Dodgers had a better record over their last 6 games than this year’s playoff bound team. (He says while cherry picking arbitrary end points.)
To be honest – the Gold Standard for reverse momentum leading into the playoffs are likely the 2000 NYY. They went 3-15 in their last 18 games, including 7 losses in a row to end the season.
Unfortunately that didn’t stop them from winning the WS that year.
I finally got caught up. Taped the game and started watching the beginning while the game was in the 4th. Glad tomorrow’s game does not determine the Division championship.
I admit that I am enjoying the crowd and the Giants excitement about having another chance at a WS.
Bah. Annoying to get skunked like this by this team.
(Guess it’s an official loss — my TV stream is still showing the “game.”)
Better hope they don’t advance, if they make the playoffs.
Might as well get all their sloppy, lackluster play out of the way now.
True, it hasn’t mattered, but they have not looked like a winning team since they clinched.
And they haven’t been a winning team.
These games mean a lot more to the Gnats than they do to the Dodgers.
Sure — but 3 hits?
Rushed at-bats?
If they can flip a switch and win, great. But as a fan, it doesn’t feel good going into the playoffs looking like they have.
It’s a week until the playoffs. This happens all the time.
The Cards must be as frustrated with the Dodger bats as we are — probably more.
Any right-handed Nats pitcher on the roster bubble should practice until they can reach the plate as a lefty.
I think I’m almost as sad about Clayton giving up a walk as giving up the HR.
Agree.
Sadder he’s not getting any support.
Seeing their lackluster at-bats is NOT more fun!
But I get Vin.
You managed to get the stream?
Yes — I mentioned it below — thanks!
Would’ve been nice (other than getting the out) to have had Blach on the basepath the whole inning. But maybe the long inning throws him.
C’mon, bats!
Gee whiz. Is today getaway day or something? This game is going fast. Not that I’m complaining too much seeing as how I have to go out for the evening in 1 hour.
I was thinking the same thing. Didn’t see, but heard how quickly LA rolled over.
This is what I’m afraid of in the postseason (actually always) — bats going MIA . . . especially since EVERYONE knows their weakness vs. southpaws.
So Posey complained last night to Ruiz that Hill was showing too much emotion on strikeouts.
MadBum glares at Posey.
The Poseur is the The Enforceur.
C’mon, bats — wake up while I try to take your place snoozing . . .
A hit . . . shoot.
I know. I had a small dream Vin might call one last perfect game. It was a million to one shot, but with Kershaw maybe it was more like a million to two.
It didn’t matter for the team, but it would’ve been great to see what Kersh would’ve accomplished had he not been injured.
That K/BB ratio is incredible!
The only good thing about the Dodgers rolling over is I’m going to try to take a quick nap when Vin leaves the radio . . . but I honestly would’ve waited!
You should be able to see the livestream on KTLA.
I went to the link you provided and it offered me different payment plans.
Oh boo on that. That’s too bad Bob.
Dunno why here’s not a problem.
I’m trying it again.
Try livestream.com/KTLA first, and then hit the live button.
I got it working, finally — I left it alone and tried to doze and heard Vin call Pagan’s HR . . . good to hear Vin, bad for the news!
Thanks again for the hint.
Kersh has to pitch a shutout to play for the tie.
So NYM won and ST Louis won as well.
Not that I usually care, but I hope LA helps out StL– I like the idea of the two of them having to play in before the playoffs.
True. At very least, I’m hoping SF and St. Louis tie for the last wild card spot.
Quick first inning for Blach.
Even quicker for Kershaw.
So October 1st happens to be my birthday. Always loved that it always started the best month for baseball (if not always for the Dodgers). Here’s hoping for a memorable October 2016!
Hau`oli Lā Hānau!
Thanks for the greetings comrades.
Happy Birthday!
Hope the Dodgers help make it that!
For those of you who don’t have MLBTV, the game is streaming live at http://livestream.com/KTLA/live. I’m not sure I’ll be able to see the actual game myself, since I’m in a Gnatblackout zone,
I really hope all the auditions are done, and they play the next two games to win.
I came to write that you can’t get more A-ish than this lineup (counting on Puig continuing as his post-exile self).
But I agree about the auditions — you can’t turn winning on and off and it will be MUCH better to go into next week with a 2-game winning streak, than otherwise, especially since 1-3 since clinching.