Not that anyone wants to hear this, but isn't it like the last 3-4 years where the eventual World Series champ had like 5-6 game losing streaks late in the season? Not saying I am happy with the events of the last 4 days, but this is not really a time to panic. If we are getting whacked by teams after Kershaw, Darvish and Wood are back in the rotation and the lineup is back to being its regular look, then yes I will start to worry. This right now is just annoying more than anything. It will be interesting to see how the team reacts to that HBP to Belli. If they're a little fired up after tonight's game, I could see something happen early tomorrow.
If anyone needs cheering up, Chris Hatcher just surrendered a go-ahead grand slam. Unfortunately it was against the Angels.
It was the full Hatcher experience: a strikeout on some great pitches, followed by immediately losing all command on a walk, then giving up a back breaking home run to a dude who hardly hits them. Glad to see that happen with another team
Hopefully Kersh's first game back from the DL is NOT a vintage "Must win Kershaw" game for us. How fucking pathetic would that be?
They should do the 2 catchers in at once thing. Whats the worst that can happen? I am sure there is another guy other than Puig who can play emergency catcher. So in the playoffs make Barnes the starting second baseman and keep Taylor in CF full time. In fact they should be doing that now to get them more reps and to see if they have it in them to continue to hit well in these roles. Send the old guys to the bench to be pinch hitters. They can save their energy and blow their load once a game. Rotate one of 3 of either old man all SLG no AVG Grandy, or chronically injured Ethier, young untested sorta hotheaded prospect Verdugo, the hopefully newly fit Puig 2.0 Joc, the most hated man in a dodgers uniform with good reason Logan, our mascot Kike... or whichever other sacrificial lamb we hope can redeem himself by going on a hot streak and not completely sucking or blowing in the lineup. At least if they suck they may lay down some good bunts, and if they are blowing they may get some long outs that move a runner over or score an RBI. You know, solid veteran play. Adrian and Utley get the other two old man spots. And i doubt both Kike and Logan make it. Only one should. Vs righties CF: Taylor SS: Seager 3B: Turner 1B: Bellinger RF: Puig 2B: Barnes C : Grandal LF: random Vs lefties CF: Taylor 3B: Turner SS: Seager 1B: Bellinger C : Grandal/Barnes 2B: Barnes/random RF: Puig LF: random
Technically, if Barnes is the 2B he can still be the emergency catcher. Also, to encourage you, remember the Dodgers rostered 3 catchers in the NLDS last year. And finally, you don't have to end every post with 2 lineups. Do what you gotta do, but it's not required.
Well, all the planning and applied logic reads hopefully, but it all goes down the drain unless some pitcher comes up with a scoreless first inning. This shit is devastating and too much of an initial blow to overcome for any team. Trying to be objective, I think that AZ pitching does pretty much match up with ours at this point, and their lineup is better. They have more firepower than we do also...ours, so dependable at one time, has shrunk like a johnson in a cold pool. Hope it comes back soon. The " they're on schedule to win 116" talk has stopped dead in the water...what's the latest projection ? I'd be satisfied with 92 right about now.
Really can't let these scumbags drill Cody in the ribs and do nothing. These fucking pukes know what it means when they do that, for most other teams anyway, maybe not us. But the bad blood has been there for some time now, and they could have really put Cody down with that rib shot crippling us even more, not to mention the kid himself. That porno actor looking shlub Chafin was on a mission. No one wants a beanball war, but all the self righteousness and moral indignation at such behavior won't change the Hanley Ramirez thing, or that the Dbacks are willing to do that to our players right now, no problem. I guess if we are willing to let it go, and see this record year and best chance at a ring in years be so endangered by drilling our players, then let's sit back and just watch again, as we always do.
Good point BZ One day there will come a time when Jessica's Biel's ass will decay to saggy flabby great-grandma ass. Maybe it will be a Biel level fitness great-grandma ass even then but it will not be the same as the 21 year old version Biel ass which could/should have been cast in bronze for the ages. Whereas Forsythe's 'suckitude' will not wavor or flag
The Dbags have only outscored us by 3 runs in this series. They are at home with their three best pitchers going while Kershaw, Darvish, and Wood are all either on the disabled list or not pitching. Seager has been out and Bellinger is just getting back in the lineup. The Dbag bullpen sucks. I am not afraid of these idiots. My only true criticism and frustration with any Dodger this series is Rich Hill. He needs to be better. Our chances of winning the World Series increases significantly if he and Alex Wood are on their game. They each have a ceiling of a number 2 starter but are pitching more like number 4s. Which works, but makes me far more nervous.