Mets at Dodgers, 5:00PM PT, TV: TBS
“This one’s for all the marbles.” “Win or go home.” “There’s no tomorrow for one of these teams.”
Those are clichés for a reason: they’re all true. Banal, trite, and eye-roll inducing, but true.
The Dodgers ask Zack Greinke to do what he’s done all year: hold the other team to fewer than three runs as he did in all but two starts and score more than that themselves. The Dodgers will have to get those runs off Jacob deGrom, who’s got a 3.66 ERA in three regular season starts against them, which shows he can be reached. In Game One, though, he was nearly unhittable, striking out 13 in seven shutout innings.
Turner is probable to start while Grandal is 50-50.
Lineup when available.
NLDS GM 5 #Dodgers lineup:
Kendrick 2B
Seager SS
Gonzalez 1B
Turner 3B
Ethier RF
Grandal C
Hernandez LF
Pederson CF
Greinke P
#RockTheRavine
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 15, 2015
New Dodgers post at the top.
David Price went 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA in 11 starts for Toronto. Hadn’t realized he did quite that well.
Cueto and Hamels, not so good for KC and TX. But Price hasn’t done so well postseason:
12 games, 6 starts, 50.0 IP, 51 H, 9 HR, 11 BB, 43 K, 2-6 W-L, 1 save, 1.24 WHIP 5.04 ERA. Make than 7.20 ERA so far in this year’s playoffs. 2 HR, 8 IP, 10 H. Ouchie.
So the “can’t win in postseason” narrative is available. No doubt it will be brought up if he’s a Dodger. And it would absolutely mean nothing for him in future years, same as it did for Kershaw.
Would have been the height of dumb to give up prize prospects for Price as just a rental with his FA looming. He likely remembers the doggy red carpet rolled out for his mutt a couple years back when Tampa visited DS for the first time. Selling future free agents on your team thru their pets dept., evidently.
http://m.mlb.com/cutfour/2013/08/09/56441664/david-prices-dog-got-the-vid-treatment-at-dodger-stadium
Saw this and wonder if Bob H or anyone else can verify the Dodger OPS by halves as claimed? Timing is everything, but if accurate it would very much fit a lot of perceptions.
“Dodgers were 1st in OPS during the 1st half, but 9th in the second half. It was the worst second half offense of any playoff team. It was inadequate to the task of facing a good pitching staff like the Mets.”
Don’t know the source, but no reason to doubt these numbers, but will check. Always best to cut these sorts of numbers in different ways to see how they look, for example by month. Particularly in the case of the Dodgers not having Howie and Justin for extended periods during the second half, but then having them for the playoffs (and them hitting the ball pretty well), i.e, the second half team was not the team we had in the playoffs.
Yeah, these are the numbers (though I measure by OPS+ – don’t think there is all that much difference unless your team is the Rox). BTW, Mets were top team in the second half. For the season, we came in second to Rox (like last year) and Mets 9th.
The second half numbers are interesting to contemplate in terms of looking forward to next year and the offense and where the FO might try to make adjustments to the roster. Grandal getting well, Joc making the adjustment and Seager continuing with the promise shown would be factors. Would be great if Howie agreed to another one year contract to see how Quique and Peraza develop, but seems unlikely. He will want 3-4 years and the FO may not want to give it to him. Another right handed outfield bat, particularly if they continue with platooning approach might be important, though Quique might fit in there as well. Not sure where this leave Schebler. Not sure when and if they bail on CC, as the cost of doing so declines. Barnes could be in the mix as 2nd back up and an extra catcher.
TBLA has Eric’s usual thorough look at the offseason roster.
http://www.truebluela.com/2015/10/16/9374665/2015-dodgers-roster-offseason-breakdown
Thanks
If this posting stays up till Spring Training, it would likely have several thousand comments, maybe a world record.
I know this is probably too soon for some of us but this question popped into my mind:
Is Kershaw the best Dodger player never to have played in a World Series? Where would he rank for you on an all-time of greats?
With 30 Major League Clubs, there will be quite a few great players who never play in a World Series.
To answer my own question with one quick stat (WAR from Baseball Reference) – Kershaw is the player with the highest career WAR for the Dodgers never to make it to the WS.
Of course, I kinda cheated. Dazzy Vance for example had a career war of 61.6 with the Dodgers (highest for any Dodger pitcher) but didn’t get into a WS until 1934 – 2 years after he left Brooklyn.
Hopefully it’s too soon for Clayton.
NPUT ALCS thread. For Dodger post-mortems, keep talking here.
The sky is falling, the sky is falling
Just read this quote about hope that describes this site for me:
Hope doesn’t say “Everything will be ok.”
Hope says “We will get through this together.”
Blah. I didn’t see it, but apparently snow was in the air today in Winnipeg. Winter is truly coming…
Hanging in here with you all until Spring.
The FO is quiet today, they’re busy sharpening their axes…
Here’s a wildly entertaining account of the Blue Jays – Rangers seventh inning in Game Five which ended with Joey Bats’ home run. Written by Joe Posnanski and Michael Schur.
Some forms of madness are apparently allowed here, how about schizophrenia?
Only in its milder forms, please.
I was thinking of the Multiple Personalities variety, creating another identity here so I would have someone to talk to….
“I’ve got it, Earl! We’ll publish our schedules so we know when we’re likely to find another person here!”
What we need is another 10 or 20 regular commenters to up the odds you’ll find someone here at any time of the day.
I josh, of course…
Another rehash from Bleacher Report.
I think some of us kept trying to make the point here that that winning percentage was unacceptably low, the club’s personnel SHOULD have been capable of much more.
That may well be, but not sure that it has much to do with the playoffs (and a game being a microcosm). The teams with the top two winning percentages in baseball are nowhere to be found.
Sept/Oct clip of .591 was the same as the April/May clip.
Buster Olney and Keith Law of ESPN discussed the Dodgers in today’s podcast (audio link, with Law appearing around the 27-minute mark), specifically last night’s game (including managerial decisions on both sides) and the future of Mattingly. Both Olney and Law feel that Mattingly will be dismissed. Law opines that while Mattingly isn’t one of the game’s better tactical managers, he’s not among the worst, and much of the team’s postseason struggles must be blamed on the front office and the roster construction. Olney discusses the fact that Andrew Friedman’s strategy of building platoons and part-time roles worked in Tampa Bay with less-established players, but it’s highly difficult to make that strategy work when dealing with veteran players on expensive contracts. Also discussed is how the Dodgers should be willing to overpay to retain Greinke, with Law projecting Greinke’s style of pitching to hold up well over the life of a theoretical free agent contract. (From MLBTR)
Haven’t read the article, but not sure what “highly difficult to make that strategy work” means in regard to platooning. We are basically talking about LF and RF. Dre had his best season ever as a Dodger measured by OPS+ and CC was injured so much that he only had 193 PA.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/author/steveadams
From Grant Brisbee’s very fair take on the Dodgers. Well worth a read…
“… The Dodgers are as good as the team that will win the 2015 World Series. Put them in direct competition with 162 head-to-head games, and maybe they’ll win 85 or 90 of them. The Dodgers have two of the very best pitchers in the game, with a lineup that generally does good things. They have a fantastic closer and a deep bench, and they were set up well for the postseason. They just ran into Daniel Murphy.”
http://www.sbnation.com/2015/10/16/9549083/dodgers-mets-postseason-playoffs-nlds?_ga=1.246579331.666919774.1438132480
and with a couple timely hits, Murphy would have been irrelevent
A fastball up the side of his head would have made him irrelevant… I don’t really believe in those tactics but there was a time it would have been the accepted way to handle him.
Utley would have done it, anything to win…
Intimidation – pitching inside – is OK. A deliberate attempt to injure is not. Part of pitching is fooling the batter.
Turner would have been a target as well under that thinking.
I’m glad he wrote this. The post last night, weirdly, really hurt my feelings. I like his writing so much I forget that he hates the Dodgers, and it shocked me to read his glee at our loss…
I don’t think Grant hates the Dodgers, but he’s not above a little Schadenfreude.
No way to know if AJ’s resurgent bat would have made a difference, but obviously putting Grandal in the lineup when he had near zero chance to get even one hit was the wrong move. AJ’s recent performance and playoff history cried out for him to start over the injured Grandal, and IMO AJ has every right to be highly offended that he didn’t, no matter any “whatever helps the team win” stuff he might say.
DM may not have made that or other lineup decisions. There was a defense-first narrative from the team about Game 5, which fits the front office reputation–though offense in any form is tough to get v deGrom.
Defense-first didn’t work so well. The failure last night clearly was on the RISP-challenged offense.The Dodgers should have had at least 3-4 more runs. Someone had to come thru when deGrom was on the ropes.
No one did. End of story.
So, on to next year, which starts too early.
Donnie makes all the line up decisions. That’s what managers do. In the case of this FO, I would imagine with a lot of input.
The front office is not Ted Turner, however.
According to a couple things I’ve seen lately, input maybe in the form of some strong suggestions. If he didn’t agree, would he go with his employer’s suggestions anyway?
What is it that would make you think something like this, particularly with a guy like Donnie?
Intended more as a question than an assumption, based on a couple things from national writers. Don’t have links. When you get down to it they don’t have first-hand knowledge either, just better sources than fans.
If the FO does insist on certain things, I doubt they do so very often.
My guess is that they sit down before every series and discuss the line up during the regular season and for every game in the playoffs.
Probably. This FO is not exactly hands-off, but neither are they micromanagers. As a general principle, good management puts good people in place, then gives them the tools and freedom to do a job. That’s the impression I get of this FO.
Not to say they’d never insist on something. But no idea what that might be.
The feeling around here seems to be is that the one thing they insist on is for Heisey to play.
Last night was one of the most frustrating Dodger games I have ever attended. First of all, and no one here has mentioned this so I’m curious if my eyes deceived me, Greinke seemed to be getting seriously squeezed, while DeGrom got several of what looked like the exact same balls just outside called as strikes. That hurt us when DeGrom was struggling. Secondly, Greinke’s inexplicable decision to challenge Murphy with that low and in pitch. Really? Then?!?! With a free swinger right behind him? Third, the asleep at the wheel stolen base. Fourth, Grandal, who could barely lift his bat – although he should have walked at least once more, given the bad ump call. (Maybe the ump “didn’t believe in not swinging.”) and Fifth, DM not putting on a squeeze when DeGrom was so shaky.But the offense is the most to blame. We had them on the ropes, and we couldn’t land anything resembling a punch. This was a loss on everyone. I’m just glad it didn’t happen to Kersh this time. And we’re on to the next year! Meanwhile, even though I grew up a Mets fan, for this round, I’m rooting for the Cubs. The wounds aren’t healed yet.
Oh, and the fans were great last night. Whoever said a pin could drop was wrong. They screamed their support all night, and stayed until the last futile strike!
but none of that matters…if the Dodgers can get any hits at all in the first few innings….
Yes, as I concluded.
sorry, my mistake….so you did
No worries! I probably should have started with that. Buried the lede…
It would have been nice if Crawford could have started in game 5 but he had been swinging at so many pitches a foot out of the strike zone that he basically forced the Dodgers to bench him. With a tough right handed pitcher going in an elimination game and the Dodgers sitting a $31,000,000 a year left handed batter and inserting a rookie right handed batter in his place that really is a platoon player against left handed pitchers says a lot about this team.
What does it say besides CC hadn’t looked good so far in the series? Frankly, he never looks looks very good in his PAs until he gets a hit.
It says the Dodgers do not have their payroll wisely distributed and have a few players blocking the acquisition of a replacement.
OK, but you are talking one player here, no?
Payroll is not an issue here. Crawford’s salary is a sunk cost that does nothing to keep them from acquiring a better player and he’s generally been productive when healthy. In any event, there’s a lot of money coming off the books this year.
If the Dodgers did not have Crawford or for that matter Ethier, Kemp would not have been traded and Martin would have been offered enough to sign him.
If the Dodgers had not traded for Crawford and Gonzales they may have been more apt to make a new ownership splash by signing by out bidding for Tanaka and maybe have done the same this year with Scherzer.
Its not that they can’t afford more payroll its that they would have to DFA several $30M contracts to find space on their active roster.
Gonzalez!? and then I recall that you were a big fan of WGJ (me too) However, not sure that would have worked out. OPS+ of 103 since leaving the Dodgers at a prime hitting position. I’ll take AGon’s 127. Even on the defensive side, Loney has put up -1.8 WAR compared to Adrians’ 0.5.
I won’t deny loving WGJ but as I read your reply, I have yet to figure out who that is. It’s kinda driving me a little crazy.
I like Agon. He is a much better player than Loney. It wasn’t Loney’s skill that made him one of my favorites. I had hopes for him. I wound really liking his personality.
He is still one of the best fastball hitters which is great for late innings relievers who now throw mostly fastballs. He was more than sufficient as a #6 or #7 hitter.
At the time of the trade with Boston the Dodgers weakest bat was at LF and they needed a cleanup hitter. I have always thought that they should have tried to get a left fielder who could hit cleanup.
Weird Game James, a nickname for Loney given to him by his housemate Delwyn “Pee Wee” Young.
If I were to sum up what went wrong I think it would be that the Dodgers swung at too many balls way out of the strike zone not only in game 5 but for the whole series.
Not sure that sums it up, Mets Ked more than the Dodgers did.
Heyman thinks the FO may allow DM to interview for the manager jobs in DC and Miami if he wants to, rather than fire him. http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/25341627/inside-baseball-mattingly-deserves-to-stay-in-la-but-will-he-plus-notes
I like that. I can also see where the Yankees might let Giradi interview with the Nationals as well. I don’t know who the next Dodger Manager might be if Mattingly leaves but I can see where Mattingly goes to the Yankees and Giradi goes to the Nats.
One final thought. I have DirecTV. I do not get the regular season games. I have found that there is a life outside of planning each day around what time the Dodger game is on TV. I have a family…who knew?? But having been following the bums since 1959, I am and always will be a fan. There is possibly a generation of possible Dodger fans that may be lost to them because of what is going on with TV.
That being said, I am pissed off at the Dodgers for temporarily becoming part of my routine again, then making it all for naught. Now, where did my family wander off to again………
Me too. I feel cheated.
I have never been a DM fan. His moves late in the game…Utley for Joc, putting AJ in the 9 spot so he could not bat for him in the 9th, and leaving Puig on the bench…just typical head scratching moves he has always made. Personally, I would have put in AJ instead of Yas who was injured but that is neither here nor there.
That being said, this game was on the players. DM never should have been confronted with the opportunity to make those and other late game choices. The lack of a big hit, a clutch hit, each of the first 5 innings, that is why they lost. They wasted numerous opportunities. That is why they lost this one.
If not for Turner, where would be have been. And while he did great, does great, he never inspires fear in opposing pitchers. We need a couple guys in the lineup that other teams need to pitch around. It changes the whole dynamic.
Howie is probably the last Dodger I would ever question regarding his approach at the plate.
but still, he looked like he had a bus to catch on all 3 swings
It’s a good question on whether they try to resign him, but I would guess that he may want a good number of years and the FO may feel that Quique is their 2nd baseman of the future. His performance over the past couple of years at least suggests that he is not a flash-in-the-pan like Cruz was.
You question not starting AJ and then you question having him bat in the 9th?
different issues entirely….Yas is not healthy and cannot swing the bat, and AJ, much as I like him, is not the guy you want up bottom of the 9th needing a home run
What you need is a run (or two).
true…but if I need one swing to tie it, I’d rather it be Joc, then Puig taking those swings….they may strike out…probably would…but you stand a better chance at a game tying home run with them
Good night, everybody: https://twitter.com/DanielBrim/status/654865233689911297
That is one piece of good news 🙂
https://twitter.com/DanielBrim/status/654868342998761472
I want to add my thanks and three cheers for Link for hosting us all so well.
Losing is so tiring and disheartening. so it will be good to have a break from baseball for a bit. But the World Series is the World Series and at least the Giants can’t win it. Go Royals or maybe Cubs. Please not the Blue Jays with their insufferable – and beer bottle throwing – fans.
I thought that Canadians were supposed to throw hats.
Indeed.
or octopus onto the ice?
You think Metfans are any better?
Pretty sure fans of NY teams don’t assume people from Winnipeg will automatically cheer for them.
They’re just as capable of throwing bottles, batteries and other objects onto the field. And there are no Mounties to keep them in line.
After hearing stats about the lack of production with RISP — tonight, this series, and the second half of the season, I really can’t see the onus being on Donnie.
Before tonight they were hitting .303 with RISP (10 for 33). After tonight it dropped to .260 (12 for 46).
That’s reasonably respectable, I guess. It just seemed like they couldn’t get runs across when they got guys on base.
I’m just hoping that Vinny is back next year….
Perhaps I’ve missed it, but have there been any updates on his health?…
End of the season is always disappointing but, in a few weeks, I’ll be enjoying springtime in the Southern Hemisphere.
I have 30 degrees celcius here today, it is lovely
86 in real degrees.
Thanks for the company, folks. I’ll try to keep it up through the offseason beyond the World Series.
Great.
Hot Stove should be interesting.
Thanks so much, Linkmeister.
…
I didn’t always comment, but, I consistently checked out Elysian Fields….
You do an outstanding job here……
Nice of you to say so, Jonny. Don’t be such a stranger.
Boo-HOO.
Thanks for being here, everyone. And Link, you rock!
Fire Mattingly. Get rid of the FO. Trade all the players.
Just kidding. 🙂
Gotta teach them how to hit with RISP . . . or get a sports hypnotist.
They may fire Mattingly. And there will be trades but I wouldn’t even try to guess who gets traded or for whom…
Maybe we should get Murphy.
And Alex Gordon.
And Price.
Recall a couple years ago we tried to get him as a 3rd baseman during mid-season.
Gordon yes, Price maybe, but not Murphy. He had a few good days. He saved the Mets, but if he wants too much money they will let him go.
Trade Puig, get Cespedas. An outfield of Cespedas, Pederson, Gordon. An infield of Gonzo, Peraza(?), Seager, Turner. I could live with this lineup.
Let’s go Cubs?
Absolutely, for me.
I couldn’t care less, except that I don’t think second-place teams belong in the playoffs, let alone third-place teams.
There will be blog posts for the rest of the postseason, although my heart won’t be in it.
Thanks for giving us this opportunity, Link!
You may not have heard the last from me this year, but I won’t be paying much attention.
Murphy deserves his own ticker tape parade.
and that is that
Well, I hope we all keep in touch here over the rest of the playoffs….
…..
Bummer.
Lots of thoughts……..None really matter……. The end of any Dodger season is reason to be sad.
…..
Looking forward to next season.
Talk soon……….:-)
We lose 🙁
Well, enjoyed sharing the season with you gals and guys.
I joined in late this year but I enjoyed everybody here as well.
Likewise……..:-)
How about we comment all throughout the playoffs……..
And, we violate every rule on the board. HA.
I can hear it now: “biggest payroll in baseball, out in the first round. Two of the best pitchers in baseball, out in the first round.”
I now have more time now that I don’t have to watch as much baseball.
Now looking at the pile of books on my desk.
First one up “Dead Wake” about the Lusitania by Erik Larson (also got on of RBI’s books).
LOVE Larson’s work.
I enjoyed Brad Meltzer’s talk tonight . . . MUCH more entertaining than the frustrating news coming through my ear bud.
My first, but the blurbs on his other books may them appear interesting (as they are wont to do).
I recall a blurb which said the non-fiction reads like a thriller . . . and I totally agreed.
Disappointed.
Drat!
Ugly AB by A.J.
I just got caught up with live action. Been watching recorded game since 9:00. I would have left Joc in to get a walk or HR.
Yep.
Utley 3-3 off of the guy and got good wood on it though
Hold fast friends! Hang in there.
Shoot!
Here we go!
Rally caps, ON!!!!
Oh, didn’t realize that AJ was put in pitcher’s spot.
So he has to hit. Will Joc get to bat?
Why not? Has chance to get on base (or even a dinger).
Well, what do I know.
Smart move.
Never feels likes team will come back.
Until they DO!
I know. I feel pretty discouraged.
We need some MAGIC!
Johnson.
Ha! Good one!
Hopefully Jansen pitches two innings or gets the win.
Wow. Don uses Kenley in a non-save situation.
This is the second straight year I’ve taken a seven-day Unlocator trial to watch MLBTV post-season. Last year I cancelled it before paying. I don’t want to do so again.
Dodgers would be the only home team to lose the deciding game of the division series this year.
Chutley may appear in the 9th to PH.
A one-pitch out, a four-pitch out, and about a six-pitch out. That’s lovely.
Need one final spark on offense. Who will light the match?
Package, we need some of your magic. How are those huckleberries looking?
Not feeling too good right about now. I don’t mind them beating us, but we are doing this to ourselves.
If we lose this thing the Dodgers will lead the league in most disappointed fans. Not just in quantity but in degree as well.
We HAD them!!!!
Ack! Now 8 LOB!
All year, Link. All year. And we’ve pretty much stopped hitting the long balls.
Only hit them when we lose.
i have a 5 minute window here, lets do something!
Sorry John. Not this 5 minutes.
I’ll be back later
But will the Dodgers?
Alrighty JT!
3 Ks for Seager. Welcome to the playoffs, kid.
Have to get 2 runs against their pen.
Thor. Ugh.
In Game Two after we took Zack out we scored the winning runs in the following inning, making him a winner. Let’s do it again, Dodgers.
Hey Guys…. Just got home…. “Nail-biter” going on at Chavez Ravine…. 🙂
Have faith !!!!!!!!!
I know nothing. I thought we had this one, I really did.
Still might.
Hang in there….. RBI
This defence is not sharp tonight.
Falling apart in the seventh here. Once again. Cursed.
Greinke smiling in the dugout.
???
57 of deGrom’s 105 pitches were with RISP, and he only gave up two runs.
That’s on us. He was struggling.
Think someone said Greinke is 30-5 at home as a Dodger. No good reason for it not to be 31-5.
Also… Why why why did Greinke throw that pitch to Murphy?
If the Dodgers had walked him all 3 times we might have been better off
No question.
Heart stopper!!!
F!
Three more innings. We can do this.
For frustrated…
Too hard to post!!!! To hard to score!!!!!
Oh da Duda day – another strikeout for Greinke.
Greinke’s up third. Pinch-hit for him?
Probably, if runners on base.
In no way giving up, but if the Dodgers don’t come back, the unpleasant truth is that teams that go 0/11 with RISP really don’t deserve to win.
And teams that let the other guys steal third with no one covering, thereby taking away the momentum when he scored on a sac fly to tie.
Doubles suck compared to HR’s.
A career mediocrity having the hot streak of his life.
Oh, man.
RBI we need you! How can we score without you?
I’m here! But there’s very little service!
What started so promisingly offensively has returned to the same old frustration. But at least they’re getting on vs him this time.
Yeah, but they can pull him with a lead now.
Not that Greinke could be happy with all the RISP failures, but odds are very high it will affect him far less than most pitchers.
Greinke may step up and hit a HR, then come back into the dugout and say “That’s how it’s done, boys.”
Ha!
But it WAS Kersh who was responsible for the rally Tuesday.
Frustrated!!
0-11.
I’d PH for Grandal.
Who?
AJ
You are desperate!
Well, it didn’t have to be him, but you’d have to put him in anyway, so why not?
0-for last 10 with RISP.
Let’s go Dre! (save your job and Donnie’s!)
Conforto does The Full Cuddyer!
JT!
Double!
This inning. Runs.
How many pitches does Greinke have in him tonight?
Regular rest so 110-115? At least.
Hopefully that takes him through about 8 innings.
Not so much worried about him. Gotta score some runs!
And hopefully with a lead. Law of RISP averages, etc.
/ crosses 8 fingers and a couple toes.
but may start having problems in getting guys on. (and on cue JT with the double)
Oh, man. We have got to hit with RISP or we’re gonna lose this game. 2-11 with 6 LOB.
Technically a solo HR or two would also work.
There’s only one 4+1 game in our lifetimes, I’m thinking.
I do not want to be down 9-5 going into the bottom of the ninth.
No.
Or dinger with guy on first….
Come on young padiwan.
I don’t know what that means.
Star Wars. Jedi thing.
Never paid attention to any of that stuff (I feel like WBB), but that didn’t stop me from wearing a Princess Lelia (?) wig at Nats Dodger Star Wars game.
We need a hit and a run!
We want Utley the crowd chants.
Feels like the defense/fielding has given up both runs.
The first run was always going to score. The second shouldn’t have.
Missed opportunity+ stolen opportunity= tie.
Let’s go bats!
After all this…tied!
Drat again.
Drat.
Seager not enough reps in the shift. (can’t imagine they use it on the farm)
Live and die with the shift.
Glad to have Joc out there!
Needs to do one of those two good things leading off at the bottom.
Dodgers, we need more than two runs. Turn the offense back on, please.
Just need to hit with RISP.
Kiké magic is disappearing.
Drat!
Not good.
What’s up Andre?
Good AB by Grandal – just taking the walk.
Mr. Bad Wheels!
In there!
It’s like Lawrence Welk – someone forgot to turn off the doubles machine!
The Dodgers had it last year.
I know!
Though it was a dinger machine (would have run out of soap this year)
Stan Freberg
Ha! In pre-game Pedro underestimating JT because of the bad wheels. Said that Howie should bat fourth to protect AGon.
JT of the Red Beard is ferocious! 9-17 in the NLDS!
Greinke looks like he knows what he wants to do our there and so far is getting it done.
seems really on
On a 100 pitch six innings so far.
I like that we have mostly befuddled Wright. Dangerous fellow.
Need to get de Grom.
and de Granderson…
And Wright…
and de left (Murphy).
Ha.
Kid comes up with some big K’s in these two innings.
They’re right on the fastball, had a chance to break it open that inning.
Argh! If he gets that changeup working we’d better figure it out quick.
Love seeing shots of the Mets bullpen!
Rather they keep this guy in.
Are you sure?
Well, not if he pitches like that!
The Dodger bats apparently didn’t make adjustments in Friday’s game . . . but apparently have since then.
Score more . . . and even more!
Safe!
OBPederson
Oh wow. I like that too!
Was walking my dog when I heard NY score.
Stayed for the bottom of the 1st and they scored again. It wasn’t three runs this time, but three consecutive games out walking and LA scores.
We WOULD stay out there the entire game, but it might rain and I’m trying to hear author Brad Meltzer give a talk (while also listening to the game).
You’ve done your part!
I’ll give the credit to Frodo, my dog.
Frodo? Oh my. 😉
walk or HR
or….
He does have a good eye.
Now let’s get back to that offense stuff.
5Ks in 6 outs? Is this Zack or Clayton?
Oh yeah!
Andre! With the glove work. Not so dinky now!
Drefense!
Ohhh – I like that!
He inspired me.
Hurray, Andre!
I usually wait until 6 p.m. for a glass of wine, but I’ve decided to start early.
What you got in the glass tonight?
Still finishing a bottle of NZ Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc.
I quit drinking in 2000, but …
I have a nightly glass, rarely more than that.
I’ve been known to have a bloody Mary once in a while, but the 2+ six-packs per night are a distant and not-so-good memory.
Good for you Link!
Well, they got spread out over a bunch of hours. I was pretty functional.
Just so you know – I meant good for you for stopping.
I knew what you meant. Thanks.
Great.
Grandal is gonna need to get that shoulder fixed after the season.
Hopefully he has to wait until November.
Rest or perhaps a cleanup.
Would love to get a bundle here.
Ah well. Nice to get the lead back so quickly anyway.
Ok Andre. Make me look good.
You look kinda dinky. (but we will take it!)
So true! You know me so well…
Your son is awful handsome, for sure.
My son just asked me to say to everyone here tonight! He is watching the game with me. Sorta – he is also on his iPad.
Oh yeah!
Hey RBI – are you at the game?
As I recall she had tix.
Maybe she is yet to arrive.
She may be otherwise engaged and a bundle of nerves.
AGon with the wheels.
in second gear
Let’s go Red Thunder!
Everybody hits!
Seager hitting the other way is beautiful.
My pick to click tonight is Andre Ethier.
Phew, that could have been so much worse
Indeed. Glad to have you still checking John!
Big K there.
not the best start, hopefully we can limit the damage
Boo. I don’t like Granderson and Murphy.
Shoot.
Another lucky hit for the Mets.
Out? Safe?
Close but clearly safe.
This is the Game 5 scenario that we had hoped for and imagined would happen last year – Greinke pitching at Dodger Stadium.
Show time.
ITFDB, and I’m nervous. Who’s with me?
Bumsrap, what was that Dodger blog you mentioned a while back? This one is mighty weak.
What’s going on in the comment’s section at places like TruBlu LA or Dodger Digest? I can’t stand to go there.
I like the lineup
I’m a bit surprised Grandal is starting, as he seems to be really hurting.
I guess Greinke prefers Grandal and Mattingly doesn’t think Grandal will hit any worse than Ellis against de Grom. Greinke doesn’t need Elllis’ play calling as much as other pitchers do.
No complaints on the lineup.
A good mix of young and not so young.