Beginning at 10:00AM PT, there are four Division Series games on tap this Friday. First is Game Two of the Blue Jays-Rangers series, then at 1:30PM PT it’s Game Two of the Red Sox-Indians series. Next at 2:30PM PT is Game One of the Dodgers-Nationals NLDS, and then to close the day out Game One of the Giants-Cubs NLDS begins at 6:00PM PT.
Toronto at Texas, TV: TBS, SportsNet
The Jays start LHP J.A. Happ (20-4, 3.18 ERA), who ended the season with a rush, putting up a 2.35 ERA over his last five starts. He’ll face RHP Yu Darvish (7-5, 3.41 ERA), who’s 3-2 with a 2.45 ERA in seven starts against Toronto. Darvish finished strongly too, allowing one run and five hits with 21 strikeouts in 13 innings in wins over the A’s and Rays to end his regular season.
Boston at Cleveland, TV: TBS
The Red Sox send LHP David Price (17-9, 3.99 ERA) to the hill to face RHP Corey Kluber (18-9, 3.14 ERA). Price has been an ace everywhere he’s pitched, but in the postseason he’s been unable to replicate his regular season performances. He’s 2-7 with a 5.12 ERA in 14 career postseason appearances, with both of those wins coming in relief. Kluber skipped his last scheduled start with a tight quadriceps and has had ten days of rest.
San Francisco at Chicago, TV: FS1
The Giants ask RHP Johnny Cueto (18-5, 2.79 ERA) to pick up where Bumgarner left off in the Wild Card game, which might not be unthinkable: Cueto’s last start in the postseason was a complete game 1-0 shutout of the Mets in the 2015 World Series. He closed the season with a 4-0 record and 1.78 ERA in five starts in September. His opponent will be LHP Jon Lester (19-5, 2.44 ERA), who’s had plenty of postseason experience himself, going 6-6 with a 2.85 ERA in 16 games, 14 of which were starts. He finished the season with a flourish, going 9-1 with a 1.46 ERA in his last 12 starts.
Los Angeles at Washington, TV: FS1. Announcer Kenny Albert with Harold Reynolds and Tom Verducci serving as analysts and Jon Paul Morosi contributing reports. Radio: ESPN. Dave O’Brien does play-by-play and Jim Bowden is the analyst.
The Dodgers send LHP Clayton Kershaw (12-4, 1.69 ERA) to the mound to make his tenth postseason start. He’s had bad luck in previous playoff appearances, going just 2-6 with an ERA of 4.59 in his career. He spent two months on the disabled list this year but came back to go 1-2 with a 1.29 ERA in the five starts he made in September and October. He’ll face RHP Max Scherzer (20-7, 2.96 ERA), who’s gone 4-3 with a 3.73 ERA in twelve postseason appearances, all with Detroit. The Nationals have some serious injury worries which may have an impact on this series: C Wilson Ramos is out for the year, P Stephen Strasbourg won’t pitch until the next round if Washington gets that far, 2B Daniel Murphy has made one game appearance since September 20 and RF Bryce Harper has both a jammed left thumb and a sore neck.
Lineup:
#Dodgers' NLDS Game 1 lineup:
Utley 2B
Seager SS
Turner 3B
González 1B
Reddick RF
Pederson CF
Grandal C
Toles LF
Kershaw P— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 7, 2016
Cubbies swat Gnats!
Now I wanna see them light up BadGums on Monday. Bring out the brooms!
https://twitter.com/alannarizzo/status/784834577789546496
Constant drizzle all day. Doc says start may be delayed until 5pm (local time), when it is supposed to abate.
Rain just stopped Not sure if it’s just a window and will resume, but radar shows showers keeping to the south.
Off to the park!
Called!
558!
NPUT at 1130AM PT.
FYI, the 550 comments on this post are the most ever on this blog. #2 was the NLDS Game 3 post on October 12, 2015 with 476 comments. #3 was the NLDS Game 5 post on October 15, 2015 with 441.
We’re #1! We’re #1! 🙂
You’re #552! You’re #552!
Hahahaha. Bob’s always got the appropriate stats at the appropriate time!
Nice to see the guys supporting Kershaw
More than 500 posts tonight. Is that a Link record?
Pretty sure yes.
I have to say, so far the National League games are a lot better games to watch than the American League’s.
“Better” as in “painful”? 🙂
Oh man yeah.
That, too.
Yes, as usual
NL baseball is real baseball.
Good day for Baezes
What song is playing at Wrigley?
Definitely doesn’t have a beat like “I Love LA”
But kinda catchy. I just can’t place it.
Joy in Cubville.
and non-GiantLand
— which means everyone in postseason
…gnot in Gnatland.
Good.
Yes! Cubbies take Game 1!
Thanks Messenger from the Future
Oh, sorry!
No need to apologize — I like to hear good news as soon as I can!
Pence is a wild swinger.
Vin said he swung at everything except a strike.
I loved that.
Guess it’s over, since I heard 2nd out already?
Nope — double.
Posey hits a double.
Hunter Pence, 1-2.
Posey didn’t miss by much. Sheesh.
They’re lucky that one stayed in.
Phew, I thought that was over the fence
Posey being Posey.
Not exactly hitting his marks.
102 mph
Nice when it’s happening to someone else!
I’m so relaxed.
And a bit wild.
Neat how when there was good news, we all gathered around Link’s fence to share it.
And I love how the fence stretches around the world to over here
Not sure he actually went around there.
Agree.
Both these teams scare me but in different way, different reasons.
Shut ’em down, Chapman!
I wonder if Grant Dayton is fun to read in the playoffs?
I assume you mean Grant Brisbee?
Hahahaha. Yes. A bit of a slip by me there!
Made me smile.
Ball still in the basket!
I wish Cueto wasn’t with SF. He’s so fun to watch!
See my comment below.
So busy typing my own stuff, I missed yours!
“I’m busy, busy, busy, and it’s no surprise to see
That I only have time for me, me, me”
1-0 Baez home run.
A message from the future — MLB Audio only just this moment reached it
Sorry Bob. Hope I didn’t ruin it for you.
Quite the opposite!
Cueto is the only Gnat I like, and I actually feel a little sorry for him, even though I’m glad the Cubbies are now ahead.
When it comes to a conversation about the Cubs, it’s tough to feel sorry for anyone other than them! (Tho I hope the Dodgers win the Series!)
Just turned back on the TV to see it, it was a monster and Wrigley went nuts
This time I wanted the crowd to be cheering!
Me too!
Bottom 8, still zip-nada.
Deja vu all over again from the Wild Card game.
Hopefully this time the home team wins.
After 5 innings in ChiTown, 0-0
In the end, a satisfactory result.
This game was a microcosm of the LA season:
a starter who couldn’t go 6
explosive offense
non-productive offense
shutdown bullpen
Whatever it takes, may it continue for 10 more wins! (But can we get some Dodger laughers in there?)
Kershaw is the new Maeda.
Kershaw claiming that all the mound visits were about changing signs since they had so many men on base tonight.
Nats will start Roark tomorrow, a right handed pitcher.
Right on!
A pretty good one, but beatable.
Baby calls, so… Until tomorrow
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi_9e2uh8rPAhVQ3mMKHShdDRgQyCkIIDAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DqpGx4foRdPw&usg=AFQjCNEcFyhePJgEogYrOgBotR9ukB12rg&sig2=_43of6Z9XwIqjrH5cZ4nug
As Vin might say, this is just a game . . . look at all the people affected by Hurricane Matthew.
Speaking of which, if manana is rained out, do they lose the travel day?
Hush little baby don’t you cry. Jansen gonna sing the Nats a lullaby.
Yes! What a grueling, nerve-wracking, intense, hard-to-watch, aggravating VICTORY!
You said it all, Scoop!
Bob H. brought ’em luck!
Ha! Actually had to leave in the 7th!
Woo-HOO ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
There it is . . .
The win ain’t real ’til RBI Woo-Hoos!
I think I lost five pounds during this game.
Did without exercising as well
Oh no. I was lifting weights, here and there… Still am, but much more consistently.
On the other hand, you need dental work to repair ground-down teeth.
Go Cubs!
Absolutely, why is it so dark at Wrigly, hard to see the ball
I just saw the time — I didn’t realize they started already.
TV here went straight from one to the other
Wow! Mortal Kershaw but gutsy performance and lights out bullpen!
Kudos to Manager Dave!
Keep reading this as Mortal Kombat!
Kershaw gets the win!
He didn’t have a good game, but he had a “good enough” game.
And they got the W!
I’m hoping whatever problems there were between he and Grandal will be ironed out for the next time.
And I hope there are no physical issues.
We win!
Okay Rbi
Whew!
Nice finish
Do it, RBI!
K-enley!!!!!!!
Keep that focus, Kenley!
Get the K, KJ!!
Is this a record for comments?
I wonder. It was non-stop through 9 tough innings.
I like to get work done while listening . . , but I couldn’t tear myself away!
Me, too.except I also couldn’t watch.
It’s Thanksgiving weekend here for me! 🙂
So did you go to the mall at 5 this morning, or is that just us crazy Americans?
Canadians go to the mall at 5am for American Thanksgiving!
Sometimes here, sometimes there. Not me – but I’m not a big shopper anyways.
I do most of my Christmas shopping online, but I still like the excitement of the mall and there’s usually one or two stores with great deals.
What’s happening?!?!?! Can’t look, can’t listen.
2 strikes, 2 outs
Arggghhh!!!!
Pirates aren’t playing, but nice reading.
I want to be able to woo-hoo so badly.
As do we want you to woo-hoo.
2 outs.
C’mon
uno mas!!!!
Is your son watching with you, Dave?
I just called him in.
Dodger games: Parental discretion required
Breathe RBI. Breathe.
I’m hiding in the kitchen.
KJ locked in thus far.
Even that ball was in exactly the right spot
Yup.
Get the K, KJ!
Vegas started carrying Nats games on the radio because Harper is a native son.
So is Kris Bryant.
Turner doing his best Joc impersonation.
3 pitches
K-enley!
Let’s do it quick
From your keyboard . . .
A tale well calculated to keep you in… Suspense!!!
I love that old radio show.
Sounded like a slogan, but not familiar with it. Was the show called “Suspense”? Did they feature many Dodger games?
It was called Suspense. Not much on Dodgers as far as I know.
Okay, Kenley — boost your free agency bid!
So. It comes to this.
Duh duh daaaaaa
Crazy good game so far. Let’s win it now, shall we?
Three more outs. Wow. So tense.
May the tension continue for two additional series!
Up to what Kenley gets paid for.
Good eye
Have to go with KJ.
Why not Julio in the 9th?
Because he really is a starter.
Kenley! Kenley! Make a difference here!
.333 hitter!
Nope, Jansen will “bat”
I disagree with this.
Prove me wrong again!
Kenly looks ready to bat
Again with the intentional walk. Dré!
Go Yasiel!
So no Jansen in 9th now.
Score enough so there’s no save, anyway.
Second ibb
Oh boy!
Nice, but lucky
Steiner got tongue-tied but it ended up well for LA.
C’mon, Puig!
How the heck did they not get Grandal at third there?
Sheesh, Grandal should have been out. Lucky
Howie hit that foul ball exactly where I was sitting last year when the lights went out!
My brother and sister-in-law were at the game.
He and I used the make-good tickets, so i got to count another stadium I visited.
That sounded better then it looked. I thought it might be fair.
So close.
Nice, I fear that this is just prolonging the tension
It will come soon enough.
Yas sir!
C’mon, Howie!
Don’t like hearing that crowd cheer.
Nothing against Nats fans, just don’t want them to be happy.
Suffered much of the game from that. Very few Dodgers in the stands.
Nats out of position players before us
Peterson with the battign helmet with no face guard. Hope the change works.
Even a walk would be great.
Yeah, I wonder what the criteria is for him deciding to use it.
Top of the order in bottom of ninth, nothing will be easy.
Never is.
It’s the Dodgers.
Said Vin Scully one million times.
Vinny . . .
Most everything i learned about baseball, I learned from him.
Can I look and breathe now?
Yes — and hopefully for quite a while as the Dodgers bat around.
I would have Urias stretching and tossing.
Thank goodness!
When I left the casino, it was the end of the 5th — I thought ’12 more outs.’
Now 3 more.
Sure would be nice if the bats can add a cushion!
But KJ is at 12 pitches to start the bottom of the ninth inning.
Not too many pitches either
Actually, I was thinking that’s a lot, going into another inning.
I am hoping I sit corrected!
K!
Hiesy only good with the bases loaded. 🙂
KKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!
Nice
K-enley!!!
C’mon, Kenley — get the K!
I guess we are doing what the Oriols did not do
Double downing it, to use the Vegas vernacular.
Leaving the room again. Sorry.
KJ always makes us sweat, just a little.
This time we aren’t even in the ninth.
Flooky.
Freak hit.
Rats.
1 pitch 1 out is a great start.
Announcers like it, though one thinks DR should have waited for one more batter. Still, one pitch, one out.
Two outs.
JT!
Uno mas . . .
We better out score Ohio State tomorrow, so we do not need him!
Whoa! That would be a lot! 🙂
I don’t mind Kenley in now, but it will affect tomorrow’s use of him.
Hope the expected rain comes.
Here comes Kenley. Too soon or just right?
Why take out Baez? Do the #s show something?
Go with your best.
But for 5 outs?
I was going to write that I hope they didn’t bring him in until the 9th.
May Dave prove me wrong! . . . the manager Dave, not President Dave.
I know. Just not sure.
😉
Oh! Oh! It’s too early.
Totally agree.
I was wondering what Kenley’s record is in more than one inning.
Whoa. This is…gutsy.
Hopefully not crazy.
Fly balls are scary.
6 outs left, rubber pants time, as a sportscaster of yore used to say.
So you bounce back up if you fall down?
I seem to recall that the implication had to do with not wetting oneself.
That sounds right. I was just playing with you.
Sportsmanship for sure with the cap tipping.
I was glad to hear it.
Sure beats “Don’t look at me!”
Great point.
Disappointing.
So close Turner. For a double.
Almost!
Like to hear it’s well-hit, but don’t like this crowd cheering . . . = bad for LA.
The way Roberts substituted, it is like he is obsessed with keeping it R L R L R L
He just might make it work today.
Jinx!
Thanks!
Hopefully it’ll work!
Now let’s add some here with 234 up
I don’t have a program . . . who’s that?
jk
Seager, Turner and Gonzalez (sorry, being lazy)
Grandal was in the batters box for that one!
I mean set up in the batters box for Baez’s pitch. Lol.
Whew!
6 more outs . . .
Yes! CS.
That was a big out.
Huge
Great tag
Not a bad throw either.
Yas sir!!!!!
Only Ethier Ruiz and Barnes left on the bench.
Roberts knows he only has 25 players right?
And only 11 pitchers…
Hope it doesn’t go to extras and he finds himself short
Hmm. Maybe showing his rookie status for the first time?
I think he is over thinking this.
Now pitching, Number 66…
Talk about being scared . . .
Baez time. Settle in, everyone.
Perhaps we get our long awaited DP.
Hate these walks. (Unless we get them.)
Who pitches after Dayton?
Baez in the pen.
Yup
K!
Noives, noives, noives!
Got ’em here!
Headache is gone — maybe because it’s a totally smoke-free environment at home, mabye because I was looking up at the screen, maybe because I soo wanted Kersh to do well.
Glad to hear your headache is gone. Still in knots, here.
Spread throughout DodgerLand.
Feels like Roberts wasn’t Frugal with his substitutions that inning. 2 Position players used.
Time to hang out washing during the 7th inning stretch
Very well sung
Almost like a line from “Blazing Saddles.”
Lack of bats puts more pressure on ‘pen. But they’ve shown they can do it!
Another missed opportunity
Pooh.
Be the Utley who killed us in Post-season.
Just a single will do
Utley, time to get one back.
Putting pressure on Chase. He came through once at the plate — may he do so again!
Walking Puig.
IBB for Puig
Go Howie
Let’s go Dodgers, let’s go!
Shessh, now Gameday catches up again, it was a like I thought to begin with. Puig battign ninth, pitcher in the 5 spot.
Never mind. Reddick is till in, playing Left, Pitcher is in Toles spot.
Toles was still in. Now pinch hitting for him.
It is a mystery, and they aren’t talking about it on TV. Puig is definitely in the 9th spot. Not sure if Reddick is still in game or not now.
Bullpen game. Go Joc!
Joc looked helpless there.
He was so close to really hitting Scherzer.
Radio said rain is expected manana. If there’s a rainout, do they lose the travel day?
I guess Roberts put Puig in the 5 hole to keep it R L R L in the middle of the order.
Heart in my mouth there, but I think it was his ball
Its the Center Fielder’s ball if he wants it and Joc clearly was there and calling for it. Puig had to make a running catch.
That’s the basics . . . guess Yasiel still needs to learn ’em.
But Mo was saying the crowd may’ve drowned out Joc.
Maybe I mean he was always going to take it
Puig being the old Puig there.
Yep
Hopefully the old Puig can still hit.
He scares us, may he scare the Nats!
He sure scared Pederson!
Almost an epic collision in right, but the out recorded.
Use that enthusiasm at the plate, Puig!
Get the K!
Gameday shows Puig didn’t come in, like it showed on tv.
Now they fixed it. Seems odd. Puig into Reddick’s spot, and not the 9 spot. I think they got it wrong.
I was watching in two sports books (the first had the AL game on several screens, Dodgers on just two, then they went to a computer menu as they were “fixing it — I went to a second hotel/casino, much nicer).
A Dodger fan sat next to me and saw my Jackie Robinson t-shirt. He and a buddy had a $100 bet on LA, but the Dodgers have to win by 2 to collect. After feeling really good and better, I left them with the 4-3 score (headache — not stomachache, RBI — no WiFi, and wanted to connect with you guys). He said he would be happy to lose the bet if the Dodgers win by 1.
Go, Blue — and help him win his bet!
Oh Vegas.
Good to hear from you.
Thanks — tough to write on my smartphone . . . besides losing battery, guess I’m not smart enough.
Ha!
So now they are putting Puig into the 9 spot and a pitcher into the 5 hole.
Not liking the pitching change here.
Seems precipitous.
Blanton is usually our eighth inning guy, so not sure why he came in early.
Pick him off. Why not?
Bring in Urias for that. 🙂
DPG = Designated pickoff guy
Not good to walk Trea.
Two of those previous balls were strikes.
To Turner?
Now I saw it.
Difo…
Don’t walk him here
So Kershaw out-pitched Sherzer. That’s a good thing.
Count on you, Mr. President! 🙂
And that IS the bottom line.
Scherzer done. Not sure if it matters since he was fading.
Finally
Blanton is in, batting 9th, so in just for one inning, or less.
Hmm, but pitching to the bottom of the order.
I suppose if Dodgers go out 1 2 3 he can come back.
Well now we don’t have to root for a 1,2,3 inning.
Early for him in any event. Must be playoff baseball!
We should have scored at least one in that inning.
Bats have disappeared.
Bullpen’s gotta shut ’em down.
I know match ups and stuff, but I would have loved to see Puig up there. I think just his presence at the plate is more of a threat
Missed opportunity, but I do feel like Turner’s hit stopped their momentum, at least slightly.
Tense
A WP is a possibility too….hes put a few in the dirt this inning.
Whatever it takes.
Okay, Reddick. Time to be a hero.
OK Reddick – need a hit here.
Or what you said.
Finally looks like Scherzer is tiring.
91 pitches after 5 innings. 18 pitches per inning.
Except he threw 6 innings.
Agree, except for that 🙂
Turner to second. Nice!
Good, there goes the GIDP opportunity.
Now he just needs a clean single
AGon is seeing the ball well this at bat.
AGon needs to do his thing here.
If Reddick gets to the plate this inning, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Puig brought in batting 9th, and a reliever in to the 5 spot.
Rest of family just gone out, baby sleeping. Mow lawn vs watch baseball, hmmm
Haha. Yeah that’s a tough one. The grass wants you to live and let live.
It will still be long in a few hours
Perfect.
Nice contact Justin
Nice to break Scherzer’s streak.
And did it with a bullet right at Scherzer.
He smoked that one.
I may have to wear my mouth guard, if this keeps up! Clenching…
Breathing into a paper bag.
Anyone else have a stomach ache?
Not right now. Only when Dodgers are in the field.
I am peaking through my fingers.
Kershaw qualifies for a win and is pumped after that last strikeout. He probably wants to stay in with 100 pitches.
One more would be nice. Depends on if the Dodgers can score here or not.
Way to early for the bullpen in my opinion. I hope he can go at least one more.
He doesn’t have a towel wrapped around his arm in the dugout.
So there’s our answer.
Meaning yes? Or no?
I’m thinking no.
Yes!
Love the one guy in the stands wearing an old Padres jersey.
Can’t watch. Tell me what happens.
Need one more out.
now
Dodgers not getting any breaks with balls hit through the infield.
I’m not sure I would keep Kershaw in much longer here. They are tasting blood right now.
DP! DP! DP! (As in I want one…)
Murphy owes us a DP
Kershaw is such a warrior, even now.
Will Utley find his magic?
Scherzer getting better and better. Kershaw, not so much.
Scherzer’s pitch count is up as well and with a slow 5th he might be out after 5 as well.
Really? He’s only at 70 or so, I thought.
I thought he was a little higher. He is at 69 but a slow or long 5th could get him up to 95 or so after 5.
That’s the one-two-three I wanted for us…
Kershaw might only get one more inning.
If they don’t pinch hit for him this inning.
Does Kersh make it through 5 – with the lead?
Better get a bunch back now.
Utley. Not impressed.
Sharply hit ball and he was playing in.
Nah. He took his eyes off the ball peaking at the runner.
Both are true.
I would still charge that run to Utley.
Why? Because he was actually thinking about getting the lead runner?
I like that he was thinking about the lead runner. I don’t like he couldn’t execute and it meant the runner got to third with less than 2 outs.
Sharply hit ball.
Anyway – I’m guessing Utley would say he should have not bobbled it.
Are you watching the game on FS1?
Yup.
You don’t agree with their analysis that Utlety was looking at runner?
I do that’s why I’m not impressed.
I agree with you.
Kershaw burned by his one walk that came around to score.
We need a one-two-three ourselves right about now.
Only 14 pitches for Scherzer in that inning.
He’s looking very relaxed suddenly.
Still watching and not exercising because I am too stressed to actually move.
Need Toles back on base! 🙂
Come on, guys, don’t start with “the bats going silent because we have enough runs” drill you had fairly often during the season.
We are going to need some more runs.
Okay, Reddick and Joc and Yas, get something going here.
Joc is hitting some very high popups. His timing is there, the ball is coming off the barrel, he is just a little under the ball. That bodes well for his next at bat.
Kersh and Price for whatever reason have some struggles in the playoffs. Yes Kershaw has pitched amazing in the playoffs as well but is inconsistent. Price and his team are 0-9 in his starts.
At least he’s got Espinosa’s number.
Anti climactic ending to the inning, but very welcome.
This is mini Kershaw vs Wainwright 2 years ago. Wainwright got bombed early (which people forget to mention a lot) and Kershaw struggled late.
His pitch count sure jumped up.
Higher and higher.
I don’t know if it’s his back or what, but he can’t get comfortable out there, seemingly.
Looks like he’s really struggling.
Needs AJ?
Don’t say that!
That’s what I’ve been thinking, even if nothing more than to settle him down.
Harold Reynolds seems to be thinking the same thing
He had a lower ERA in games pitched to Grandal this year compared to AJ though.
He didn’t have AJ before?
Sliders ain’t sliding. Cutters ain’t cutting.
It would be great if Kershaw relaxed now.
And yet…
We have a ball game.
Dagnabit!
ugh
Classic Dusty double steal.
Dodgers gave them that steal. Utley and Seager playing way off the bag.
So strange with all these meetings.
There was a one second moment of suspense on Murphy’s contact with that fly ball
Sure was.
A DP would be nice.
But will take a fly out.
Fun with Murphy up
Kersh isn’t in his happy place at all.
Would Puig have caught that foul ball?
Probably not but that thought crossed my mind as well
Kersh – find your groove big guy.
I’m going to an HS reunion in Nationals’ territory next week, and some of my classmates may be at this game. This may cause tension when I see them a week from now.
Many games to go.
True. I fly in the night of Game Five (if necessary).
Harper ripped that one as well.
This is a good start to our quest for the Holy Grail!
Pray for a short inning for Kersh.
I’m not loving the NRA ad in the middle of this game.
Dodgers don’t need guns they have big bats
Good one.
Okay, back to you Clayton
This is a tough lineup for any pitcher to get through.
Sixth hitter 25 dingers, 7th 27 and then Toles
Had a great view of Werth not catching that one.
It did tip the top of his glove.
You’re bringing them luck!
Shut em down, Kersh!
Woot! Turner is our non-secret weapon.
So far I like the Dodgers with 4 runs and Kershaw with 40 pitches and WA with 0 runs
Lots of 4’s and 0’s going the right way.
Woo!!!!!! JT!!!!!!!!
Thank you Justin.
I think of Toles as our secret weapon. Like a rabbit’s foot.
Love Toles’ speed around the bases there.
Exercise #1 – running with 3 left turns.
So far I like the Dodgers with 2 runs and Kershaw with 40 pitches and WA with 0 runs
2-0!
Chase!
Yes!!!!
Chase made that look easy.
Toles is teasing Scherzer.
I have to start exercising as I watch, so I don’t lose mind. That means my commenting will be limited. But I am here! I am here!
New exercise workout. Round the bases with Toles.
Kershaw was exercising last inning.
Nerve-wracking inning. And I’m in a place where I can’t curse out loud.
My mom’s house?
I had to listen to that last out from the doorway.
Ulcer time.
40 pitches for Kershaw after 2 innings. That ain’t good.
No, but he is good enough to have a few low pitch innings to make up for it
That’s what pens are for.
Frustrating for the Dodgers. Frustrating for the Nationals. No wonder so many people are split on who will win this series.
whew, that was about to land in the Bermuda triangle.
Nice to keep the lead there
Why can’t the Dodgers field any more? (Anicdotal)
So unlike Utley there.
Seager says hello.
Somebody needed to say something. 🙂
Seager the MVP of the first 2 innings.
Oh dear, Utley. Very uncharacteristic bobble.
Palms are sweating out here in Hollywood.
Too. Many. Pitches.
Maybe Kershaw needs to change his first pitch fast ball.
Okay, Clay. Bear down.
Close. Dodgers seem to have some trouble of late turning two.
Froze him with the curve. One more strike. Then the DP!
Dang.
Time for a DP.
Yes, please.
Get Murphy!
Surprised but not disappointed with the Cleveland/Boston series.
I agree.
The Yankees have won 27 championships. It only took two in the modern era for Boston’s fans to start feeling just as entitled. Go Cleveland.
We are definitely swinging for the fences. Not making Scherzer work very hard.
That’s because we sometimes don’t hit very well with RISP. Solo hrs take care of that.
17 pitches, 3 strike outs, no stress to a viewer, I’ll take it.
Too many pitches for Clay.
Well basically half (8/17) to get Harper.
Got him! But lots of pitches to K Harper.
Should have hit the sore thumb instead. 😉
Dude. That’s not Kershaw M.O. Lol.
At least we got one.
How many do we need?
I would say three.
Heck, let’s match what the Jays did yesterday!
All the runs!
Oh, no. Turner hit on the hand…
Ouch! Shades of Hanley?
Wow, Seager crushed it.
Corey!!!!!!
Bombs away from Seager!
Well, Klayton looked great warming up!
Getting the usual butterflies. Hi all!
Some personal history:
Vaguely remember the 1954 World Series when I was a 6-year-old in Brooklyn, particularly the heroics of Dusty Rhodes. Remember the 1955 World Series extremely well. We had moved to L.A. that summer. My parents let me play hooky to watch. Went to the fourth game of the 1965 World Series vs. Minnesota. Sat in the left field pavilion (bleachers) with my late father. Covered the 1972-1973-1974 World Series as a sportswriter. It was tough in 1974. Was there as a fan at the Oakland Coliseum to see Hershiser win the fifth and clinching game in 1988. My mother, who will turn 96 next month, remains a fan…..I am nervous. Would love to see us jump out to a three-run lead by the 3rd inning.
Scoop – you are the man! 1954 – 1955?! That rocks. Well, 1955 anyway.
Went to one game at Ebbets Field in 1955. Still have the program.
I went to all the ’74 games in Oakland. I watched the Gibson game with an A’s fan friend who leapt off the sofa and turned it off after the game-winner.
Perfect scenario is a typical regular-season Claytonian game and a Dodger W.
If I had to choose just one, I’ll take the former, looking long-term.
I like the lineup. Please, play ball!! I’m ready.
See that Reddick is placed so that he can be easily flipped for Puig and a l-r-l lineup when needed late in the game.
We’re counting on you to bring the intangibles for the Blue, Bob!
The Jays are scary with their power.
With Strasburg and Ramos I’d say that the Dodgers have the advantage on paper. However, since paper tends to stick to cleats they will be playing this series on grass.
I’d say these are still two pretty evenly matched teams.
Trea Turner is the fellow I fear most at this point. But we have a deeper, more flexible lineup to my mind. They have some dead wood 6-8, whereas we have some guys who can do some damage and pressure Scherzer and others.
Murphy and Harper are both in the lineup: https://twitter.com/jphoornstra/status/784434651460808706
Yep, they have a tough 1-5 and the emergence of Turner as a dynamic table setter makes those guys all the more dangerous.
Was it the Pads who gave up Turner? They must be kicking themselves.
Are you going to be there today?
In the three way to land Wil Myers. Nats also go their starter Ross. Will be right above Klayton in the front row as he warms up in the pen in a couple hours.
Myers is a decent player, but I think Turner has a much higher ceiling.
Looks to be the case, but in all fairness to the Pads they were looking to strike quickly before the Dodgers new FO and ownership could reset and put together a dominant franchise in the West Division. You know, with Shields, Upton and Matty. We all know how that worked out.
Rather deary, coolish day here so far.
Blossom Dearie?
So 11 pitchers and 14 position players. I like this team! http://dodgers.mlblogs.com/2016/10/07/dodgers-nlds-roster-made-official/