Dodgers at Cubs, 6:00 PM PT, TV: TBS
The visiting Dodgers send RHP Yu Darvish (10-12, 3.86 ERA) out to keep the Cubs at bay and take a 3-0 lead in the series. The Cubs counter with RHP Kyle Hendricks (7-5, 3.03 ERA). Darvish had a good outing in Game Three of the ALDS against the Diamondbacks, giving up one run on two hits in five innings while striking out seven and not walking anyone. Hendricks had an excellent start against the Nats in Game One of the NLDS when he allowed no runs, but a less-than-stellar one in Game Five when he gave up four runs on nine hits in four innings. He may take some confidence from his two NLCS starts against the Dodgers last year when he gave up only one run on five hits in 12 2/3 innings.
Here are several news items pertaining to the Dodgers and this series: first, from MLB: Memories of last year’s Game Six loss and the subsequent ring ceremonies this year might be a prod for the Dodgers. Second, SI’s Jay Jaffe writes about Yasiel Puig’s discipline and flair. And finally, Rich Hill is known for his curve, but it’s his fastball that’s doing heavy lifting this season.
Today in Dodgers’ history:
- 1978 The Yankees capture their twenty-second and second consecutive World Championship, beating Los Angeles with a 7-2 victory at Dodger Stadium. Playoff hero Bucky Dent, who collects ten hits in the six-game series, is named the the Fall Classic’s Most Valuable Player.
Other historical note: in 1989 as the Giants and A’s get ready to play Game 3 of the World Series, the Bay Area is hit by the massive 6.9-magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake, which will be responsible for 63 deaths. The Candlestick Park contest is quickly postponed by Commissioner Fay Vincent, and he orders the evacuation of the ballpark.
Lineup:
#ThisTeam // NLCS Game 3:
Taylor SS
Bellinger 1B
Turner 3B
Puig RF
Ethier LF
Utley 2B
Barnes C
Pederson CF
Darvish P pic.twitter.com/Vzp1pMb7Nv— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 17, 2017
Puig at cleanup. Pederson, Ethier and Utley starting. Grandal not starting. No siree, no lineup shakeups here.
NPUT. ALCS post first, then NLCS post.
Cubbie fan being philosophical. https://twitter.com/ChiTribNuccio/status/920512661946761216
Dissecting Doc’s decision to let Yu bat. It worked out, but then it didn’t, as Yu gets more outs, but Chicken Strip doesn’t. https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/why-did-dave-roberts-let-yu-darvish-hit/
TV announcers were saying that the Dodgers used multiple signs from the catcher through the entire game last night. I guess it was to make it more difficult for scouts to gain some knowledge about their pitching strategy.
Scouts would be looking at the actual pitch. “Others” would be interested in the sign given for the pitch. A great book. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/books/review/Thorn.t.html
A fellow named Colletti (no relation) is a main protagonist.
Puig and Baez when Yasiel got thrown out at second: Baez imitates Dikembe Mutumbo with the finger wag.
That was a nice exchange.
Puig had a grin on his face as he got up, which I don’t think this video fully captures.
The grin. https://twitter.com/cjzer0/status/920505896219930625
This is amusing. Roberts and his famous stolen base in 2004 aren’t things he talks about, apparently, but…
It’s always weird to think of your parents as kids or your teachers as students.
I’m a Facebook friend with my high school French and Russian teacher. He was the best schoolteacher I ever had. He’s in his late 80s but still pretty spry, apparently.
Not quite as impressive as that – but I have played squash or tennis almost every week for the last 27 years with one of my Math professors.
That’s pretty good. My guy is in Virginia and I’m in Hawai’i. We could concertize if we were in the same town, I guess. Me on guitar and him on autoharp, which he would periodically break out and play in class.
The post-season equivalent of going 91-36 and then losing 16 out of 17 before finishing fairly strong? I would guess it would be win say 9 in a row, lose 1 or maybe 2 in a row and then win the last 2 games. I could handle that.
But if the Dodgers want to win the WS in style of their own choosing, then I would be fine with that too!
Ordinarily I root for seven-game series, but I could make an exception for the Dodgers.
I would only root for a seven-game series if the Dodgers were down 3-0.
Glad tomorrow is also a late start — I have two meetings which will take me to about the 7th inning — tho I can sneak some updates in there!
Some good info: Gibby reached out to JT, Seager is making progress (can you imagine having him back for the WS?!) . . . and Grandal starts manana. http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/258859734/kirk-gibson-congratulates-justin-turner/
How great that not only was Dre able to come back and play, he made the postseason roster and is having a positive impact!
It would great, given all the setbacks he’s had, to get a ring in his last season with the Dodgers.
Fox is definitely rooting for LA and NY.
Mediiocre second-place teams do not belong in the post-season, let alone the Series.
This team!
I have warm affection for this team. I would give a hearty handshake to any of them. And a cheer of some exuberance.
They are so focused, yet relaxed. It’s a remarkable combination.
They know who they are and what they can accomplish.
From what I heard, credit Doc with a lot of that.
And apparently JT and Kenley.
I’m getting greedy. After 29 years, I want sweeps of both the NLCS and the WS.
Let’s hope they can win tomorrow.
One step at a time.
Isn’t that the next step?
Yes.
Throw in a NLDS.
Way to go Dodgers!
Climate change! Dodgers cold in September, hot in October.
Love it!
I love LA!
John Aus begs to differ.
Woo-HOO ! ! ! ! ! !
1 win from WS!!!
We win!
KK-enley!!!!!!!
Get the K! Get the K! Get the K!
One more out Kenley!
You future people are spoiling my anxiety.
Ha!
High Anxiety! A movie fav.
High anxiety – you win!
Big hack for strike one.
Crowd’s exuberance has disappeared!
Kenley is a wet blanket.
One more out!
K-enley!!
That’s one!
2 more, Kenley!
Low leverage is not Kenley’s thing.
Playoffs might be a bird of a different plumage .
Gameday is calling it a ground-rule double.
I would think you could lodge a protest on that call.
lodge a protest on balls lodged in the ivy
On the call that it was lodged.
I don’t understand what happened. Can someone explain?
Radio said Kike raised his arm, which indicates time out, — ground rule double — then he grabbed.
They may be going off of that.
Ridiculous .
How can you wind up with two players standing on one base and nobody is out?
See above
Ground rule double, ball dead
When I have a keyboard.
Here’s an explanation:
So much for Strip.
Probably would’ve been better with Kenta.
Can’t let this get away!
Wow — LA gets an out out of that!
Or will they?
Mo is saying if you play the ball, it’s in play.
Mo was a Cub
Yep.
Seems rule has changed with replay.
Thank you Cubs
Is that reviewable?
It’s a ground rule. Not sure if they are.
Yes, reviewing it now.
Wait. What just happened?
Kenley warming up.
Stripling has quite a high bar to follow.
And he gives up the first hit by the bullpen.
Had to happen. Ok with it now.
Let’s hope he is an excellent high jumper and not a bad limbo-er.
Unfortunately . . .
Yep. Bad limbo.
Chicken Strips!!
For me, Ethier’s home run was huge. Answering back so quickly lowered my shoulders by about six inches.
Strip after all.
Ha! Didn’t see until now that Puig was laughing when Baez wagged his finger.
Hopefully see videos manana.
Guess the Dodgers just wanted to give the crowd something to cheer about.
What a nice thought.
5-run lead with three outs to go and essentially the entire bullpen . . . one can be generous. š
I gave at the office.
Puig hit that too hard,
Baez wagging his finger at Puig? Really?
Darvish as Player of the Game if Dodgers win? Or CT3?
Darvish for me, but more ammunition for CT as series MVP as he competes with Puig and Justin.
Or “The Bullpen”.
“This Team”?
Well now that you mention it…
Darvish. He was lights out.
CT is soo valuable in the field, as well as what he’s done at the plate.
Can’t forget the Darvish RBI!
Solomonic solution — cut the ball in half to Yu and CT.
Ron Darling sounds a little like Ned Coletti. It’s throwing me off.
Who starts against Wood?
Three. More. Outs.
K-Morrow!
Shaky, but ultimately effective!
He’s a gunslinger.
Maeda warming up. I’d rather save him for tomorrow.
Though, if Doc just likes him against righties, I guess Stripling would be the long guy.
Fields?
Radio says Kenta getting ready for the 9th.
Kenta Kenly; potato patato.
Saw an article I believe linked here (by Link!), saying that Kenta’s fastball has improved by about 2mph since going to the ‘pen . . . makes a difference knowing you’re only in there for several outs vs. eating innings.
This is the worst Morrow has pitched since the NLDS.
— and still better than many of the Cubs relievers.
NO MORE WALKS
Don’t let up, Dodgers!
Always nice to have a grand slam-proof lead!
6 more outs!
I always like being up by an amount where you could trade a run for an out. We are beyond that point now. 5 runs up with 3 outs to go.
Fans leaving already. I don’t understand that.
U’m with you on that. Even if LA’s losing, I’m going to stay to see the last out.
However, I was there in ’13 with the blowout vs. the Braves and once it was the 8th inning and became 13-4 (I think), I made my sprint to my car and got to listen to the end on the freeway.
I think I have only left early once in all my games. But I didn’t feel well and it was a blow out – don’t even remember which team was ahead. And I felt really guilty.
Not to mention, I want to get my money’s worth, as an ex-yankee. (Not Yankee, but yankee.)
Six outs left can be a lifetime. I’d be staying.
When I was living in Southern California I had about a 70 minute drive home from Dodger Stadium and enjoyed listening to Vin for the last inning plus the post game show. But I always arrived very early.
That makes sense.
I was surprised that Iost the signal before reaching Cajon Pass — I wanted to keep reliving the game as I went to Victorville to spend the night.
One of my favorite things about this year is my faith in the bullpen.
Yes indeedy.
It’s BĆ”ez time!
No.
Ha! A good reminder.
Another Bizzaro inning this post season.
Hard to watch if you’re a fan of the Cubbies.
Well, they have last year…
The lovable Cubbies are back!
I feel better.
There it is.
Rolling!
The crowd is dead quiet.
Cubbie meltdown.
2 runs score with K & WP/PB!
This Year!
Well, only one, actually.
Wanted to give Farmer an RBI . . . RBI. š
Got it.
Right.
These are looking like the Cubbies of old…
More runs, please.
RBI!
Weird way to score, but I’ll take it!
Here we go. Let’s add some insurance this inning.
More gifts!
Bring ’em in, Charlie!
Logan, on base again.
Okay, 3rd time’s the charm with the runners on . . . charming with LOTS of runs, please! Soo many that Kenley isn’t needed!
Yes!
6 more outs!
I don’t quite understand Roberts’ use of his bullpen here. Why pull Darvish?
Better one batter too so rather than one batter too late? Guessing he got more out of him than he thought and he just wanted to put that in his pocket and move into his pen.
Could also be looking at another start, potentially, and wanting to keep him fresh.
Next start most likely in WS?
I hope NOT Game 7 NLCS.
(No) knock on Wood.
I personally wouldn’t have, but Doc’s getting results.
Can’t argue with success.
Doc’s or Yu’s? š
Yes.
Both, but I meant Doc.
Darvish was refreshingly efficient.
I;m standing for Yu!
Yu makes me feel so young!
Really something that Joc is replaced in CF by Quique. Big indication how much his defense has fallen in the eyes of Doc. And how much Quique has improved.
Wow – I missed seeing that. That is so crazy. Although I do recall the announcers speculating earlier that Joc maybe hurting because he took a long time to get back into the box after a ball just rolled foul along the first base line.
Would think in that case he shouldn’t be in LF either.
It’s probably a combination of Joc’s metrics are down in CF and his position is now LF. Doc had plans to put Culberson at SS for late inning defense and Taylor in CF. It will be interesting to see who plays second base next year. If it is Taylor then there is a fight for CF along with what will exist in LF.
Pretty sure second is Logan’s to lose.
So, the Dodgers will pick up his $$option
Pretty good player for $7.5 million.
I wasn’t before, but I’m a believer!
Now on base 10 of 19 appearances (OBP .526)
Yu-K!
They’ve wasted several opportunities.
Still have the lead, but could’ve been breathing easier . . .
Let’s hope it holds up.
C’mon Andre!
Shoot!
This Team! — and their ABs!
Bring ’em in, Puig!
That again to me looked like a catch and a drop after it was all done.
I think the rule is that you have to intentionally take the ball out of the glove.
Wow – I honestly never knew that. Then I totally change my opinion.
Does anyone know the rule number in the rule book on that?
This may have it.
I don’t know. That article seems to suggest you don’t have to have control beyond having it in your glove. “There is no requirement that the fielder successfully remove the ball from his glove in order for it be ruled a catch.”
As I remember Jack Clark knew the rule and assisted a a co-outfielder by taking the ball out of that players glove. The ball does not have to be successfully taken out of the glove. Any effort to remove the ball is enough regardless of whether the ball is dropped or tossed out of the glove, or merely open the glove intentionally to free the ball.
That could be in the eye of the beholder whether it is intentional or not. Or the eye of the ball holder anyways.
You should apply for a job in the NFL to review replays.
Did he not know that the ball fell out of his glove or did he not know that he caught it?
Keep petal applied to metal Dodgers.
Or wood applied to ball.
C’mon, JT!
Happ(y) about that.
A gift! Cash it in, Blue!
Is the plan still for Wood manana?
Yes. I imagine even more assured if the Dodgers win tonight.
3 weeks rest . . . but knowing that great bullpen is there.
We get to see that fried egg taco shell ad again. Has anybody tried one?
????
Taco Bell.
Vomitivo…
https://www.google.com/search?q=picture+of+egg+taco+shell+from+taco+bell&rlz=1CAACAG_enUS672US673&tbm=isch&source=iu&pf=m&ictx=1&fir=3w5gNWF_0PIPtM%253A%252CXMh48nqE9ZeqKM%252C_&usg=__K1BzFhZIEEShu369i02XiHniEBs%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiCo5Keo_nWAhUM2SYKHf1bDtcQ9QEIOjAI#imgrc=3w5gNWF_0PIPtM:
Not sure what it is called.
FO looking great with the free agent re-signs, Yu, and the Tonys, all coming up big postseason.
Blue!
True!
Two blue
Too true!
DP baby!
best friend
Taylor-made DP!
Woo-hoo!
Woo-Yu!!!
Where was James Loney when we need him?
There ya go, Yu!
Now DP to get out of this!
Now that was weird. Steiner had Granderson about to pinch hit for Darvish. I got back inside and Yu is hitting for himself with two outs and the bases loaded. Then he walks and Taylor, a professional at hitting, strikes out. Weird.
If Steiner says it, it’s safe to just assume it’s wrong.
Now shut them down again, Yu!
Taylor should have had the same plan that Yu had
He swung at some strange pitches.
Darvish works the count!
CT would derail his bid for the cycle with a salami here.
Or worse, a K.
Wow, just wow!
Was Yu squaring around with every pitch?
Yeah!
Great tactic!
Woo-Yu!!!!
Darvish?
I’m thinking the same thing — with most of Dodger-dom, I’m sure!
Edwards psyched out about it.
Mind games.
Not allowed to swing with less than 2 strikes?
Sure hope so!
With three balls now, probably told not to swing.
I would not have wanted to pitch to him either
Disappointing.
Don’t let them off the hook . . .
Hit, E, BB, HBP, WP, PB, SF . . . Let’s do it!
C’mon, Joc!
Bust it open . . . or at least insurance!
Come on Barnes, get your first hit this post-season ( or even a sac fly).
Walk will do.
Sets up the double play though.
4 for 8 in Division series
Oops. In NLCS.
C’mon, Austin — insurance time!
That works.
Eric says that no starting pitcher has recorded an out in the sixth against the Dodgers yet this post-season.
???
Radio just said they haven’t done it in the 6th inning.
What I meant to write. Corrected
The Yankees are surprising me.
Bullpen time.
He shut us down his last time he pitched.
Edwards sure warms up quickly.
Good start to this inning.
Dre!
Let’s go, Dodgers, let’s go!
Whew!
That would’ve been a big turning point if Bryant’s second chance amounted to something.
Way to go, Yu!
Another bad thing about being on the road . . . the crowd cheering is not good news.
C’mon, Darvish, don’t let Bryant hurt Yu.
Stupid wind.
Shades of Candlestick.
Since the first, Yu’s been pretty good.
I would’ve felt a bit comfier with another run there.
Short leash, I imagine.
LA takes the 5th — they’ve scored in every 5th inning of the LCS.
Taylor halfway to the cycle.
A few others at 25%
The good half!
Shoot.
Or drat.
Taylor has been an unexpected treasure this year — at the plate and all over the field.
CT!!!!
Wow, just wow!
Probably shouldn’t have gone to third, but what the heck.
Odds caught up with him at home
Running on contact, like he was told to do.
Yes, but should have put the brakes on. Hit right at a drawn in first baseman.
I didn’t see it, but if you’re going on contact, YOU shouldn’t be looking at it, either.
Out on the town tonight?
??
You said you didn’t see it so I thought you might not be near a TV.
Got ya. I’m at home. I don’t have cable — if I did, I wouldn’t get ANYTHING done! As it is, working while listening (and commenting here) helps alleviate the nerves.
I went to two sports books for Game 1 of the LDS but they had football on the big screens and it was too smoky.
But wearing a Dodger shirt and chanting/cheering with the radio.
CT again!
Mini Joc-ularity!
Worked the count as well after getting behind 0 and 2
Yeah, even before he got the hit, I was thinking it was a good AB.
Would love for Joc to get hold of one here.
One almost got hold of him.
Another 3 or 6 outs and it will actually be bullpen time.
Third time through the top of the order will be a challenge.
More and more I have come to appreciate how great Koufax was, with many CG and seasons with 20+ wins.
Bummer gave up that walk, but shut them down.
Not the wrong choice by JT.
Even with the wind going out, it looks like runs may be hard to get tonight.
Nice play by Russell on Barnes flare.
It’s amazing Puig is seeing more pitches per ab than any other player in this postseason in either league.
Up there so long that he has had to invent some dance routines.
He is a patient, seeing eye Wild Horse.
Two years ago, ever think you’d be saying that?
Only if he had blinkers on, right?
He wanted to hit everything thrown. Or it seemed like it.
Well, I’m an optimist by heart.
President of the club.
You sound like an optometrist.
New thought – maybe it’s actually Joey Votto in disguise. Go Canada! š
Puig has a little more melanin in his skin than Votto.
Well said.
Grins. I am the soul of tact, I am.
Good wood Puig.
Still tough to believe Dodger Stadium is the 3rd oldest park in MLB.
But still 50 years younger than the other two.
CT’s dinger at 444ft is longest of the post-season.
Not bad for a leadoff hitter!
Thank Yu.
Bats, let’s break this open — let Yu go deeper.
Should he have caught it?
Nah.
He was playing pretty deep I guess.
Statcast had it at 75% catch probability, so maybe he should have,
TV said he broke late.
Would account for it.
Belli Boy!
Belli with the leather!
This is going to be a little tougher for the Blue without a member of EF — Link’s Legions — in attendance.
We have no Chicagoans or Midwesterners among the legions, as far as I know.
I live in Iowa, only a six hour drive from Chicago.
Did you think of going?
Not really. Tickets are so expensive.
Of course Wrigley’s capacity is around 60% of Dodger Stadium, so tickets would be scarcer. And it was easy buying a month ahead of time for the Dodgers, just not knowing the exact date until they wrapped up NL HFA.
I have friends that take Amtrak from where I live to Chicago and then the EL to the stadium. I guess that it is pretty slick.
I love cities with good rapid transit — Chicago was like that when I visited my grandmother (way before Internet, she would call me when the Cubs schedule was printed to tell me when the Dodgers were in town and I planned my vacation around that).
San Diego is also really convenient.
Stubhuh has SRO tix for $100 for tomorrow’s game. That’s pricey!
Where is the SRO section?
Bleachers, I guess. Look here for them.
Well then. Your territory is Nebraska to Ohio.
Need another shutdown, Yu.
Can we go to our bullpen now? Too soon?
We need them rested for game four.
Love it!
Taylor!
Big full swing. Very nice.
CT!!!!
Good inning for Yu!
I hope he goes longer than five innings.
Can at least handle the bottom of the order.
Settle down now, Yu.
He listened.
Nice recovery. Nice shutdown.
Ethier!!!
Good call Doc!
A grand one at that!
3 long balls in a row for the Blue.
Of course, something similar can be said vs. Yu, but tied game!
Fasten your seatbelts!
Woot!
Andre!!!!!!!
DREamy!
Yawn. Being down early because the Cubs hit a HR. How predictably boring. It hasn’t worked for you yet Cubbies.
You said it!
And it’s not even the 5th inning!
Get the K, Yu!
There it is.
Yikes. So far, so nerve wracking.
Let’s get back to the dugout, Yu!
So tell me again about no such thing as home field advantage? Dodgers, ‘Stros, Yankees and Cubbies might disagree.
Hopefully the Cubs won’t have the same feeling by the end of this game.
Yes, I am hoping the same.
Okay, Yu, better settle down.
Phoo. Ey.
That’s okay . . . they scored first in the other two games.
Oh man. So close, Yasiel!
Shoot — straighten it out, Puig!
Roberts finally notices that Granderson hasn’t been doing much.
Give Doc a break. Over the last two weeks of the season Grandy had OPS 1.011 in 24 PA.
The efficiency of Dodger pitching… https://twitter.com/jonweisman/status/920393600424321024
‘Stros bullpen in meltdown mode.
The Yankee scary magic is working well and often. I’m officially concerned if we have to face them.
Just want to keep being concerned/interested throughout October!
Great point Bob!
Game 2 showed once again how great it was signing the free agency triumvirate of Rich, JT, and Kenley.
AlineaciĆ³n de Partido No. 3: https://twitter.com/LosDodgers/status/920402154556452869
Really interesting — both the lineup itself and the fact that I was actually missing Forsythe!
Utley starting against the tough righty was pretty much a given. Logan has been on base half of his 8 plate appearances so far, contributing to the strategy of plate discipline.
Understand that the wind is blowing out at Wrigley. Hold on to your hats.
— and buckle your seat belts.