Really? That’s interesting. It’s essentially been 3 days in a row where fans have had to take a full or half day off work to watch a playoff game
Man, I hope Muncy can handle 2B today. I like that we aren't going with the all-righty lineup that leads to 3 players being replaced halfway through the game.
It's sold out on Dodgers.com with basically handicap seating all that's available StubHub has a comparable inventory to what was available before yesterday's game I could be wrong but I think it's going to be a capacity crowd by the 3rd inning. I'd go, but I truly have hated watching the 2018 Dodgers, especially Kershaw. I'd be so pissed if he gets lit up and we strike out 17 times.
Almost my sentiments exactly, as expressed in a previous post. We've had a little hard ass rep because of Chase the last few years, actually his rep alone, but for many years before he came, we were the pc pussies, and epitomized.the touchy feely generations from the beachballs to kissy face Puig to shaking hands like a LL team with the fucking Cardinals (good one Jim) to doing the wave at critical games in tense moments. I, I, I, I just don' like dat...
It is possible that he presses when playing CF. He finally did some good things today with the bat. So maybe playing in RF is less stressful and something he can handle going forward. If Muncy can play LF decently enough I would play him there next year so Belli can get back 1B. I am sure he felt slighted that he won 1B from Adrian Gonzales and become a ROY and an All Star only to be taken off 1B by some nobody minor league journeyman. Players can be little bitches sometimes. But so can we if things at work suddenly change. Belli does look sweet in RF though.
Passed out before the end last night, props to Manny and Bellinger. I'm strangely comfortable with Clayton today but am ecstatic he is not pitching to stave off elimination.
Setting aside for a moment the playoff consequences of this game, it would be very heartbreaking from the other aspect to see Kershaw have a poor performance. If it truly ends up being his last in a Dodger uniform, pitching two straight stinkers to wrap up his Dodger career would be a really, really shitty ending to an otherwise epic story. If the baseball gods have any mercy towards the Blue, they'll give us a Kershaw gem today, have him leave to a standing ovation, and if it so happens that we lose the next two and Kershaw has thrown his last pitch for the team, at least he'll leave on a high note - lack of ring notwithstanding.
If he pitches another stinker, I would wonder why in the fuck he WOULD opt out. The only reason to me would be that he is done here and money is far down on the importance meter. People say that he wants to return to the Rangers, well fine... but that place is not friendly to pitchers with diminishing stuff. So he goes there and flames out his remaining years so he can be close to home? That's a great legacy to leave behind.
I think it would be mildly hilarious if Kershaw hits Yelich in the first and the ump reacts with warning both benches. Kershaw has been known to protect his teammates and even after the stupid thing Manny did, Kersh could want to send a message. I don't feel it will happen, but it would be a hell of a way to get out ahead of this thing and make sure that if the Brewers were to throw at Manny later in the game, that pitcher would be ejected.
Yeah, but what are his choices if he opts out? Because the Yankees need starting pitching to the point where they could buy him, but then all of a sudden they'd realize Kershaw can't pitch in that little league park ala Sonny Gray. Or the Phillies throw money at him and he goes to that bandbox to die. His options aren't great as far as the on field aspect goes..including staying with LAD and continuing to wet the bed in the post further defacing his legacy in LA. All in all..if Kersh opts out he should just be looking for the fool who offers the top dollar and don't even worry about winning because it's not realistic.
Machado fined by MLB Feels pretty good to have an agitator in his prime. Utley can hand over the mantle and not look back
That is why I don't think he opts out. Teams are getting smarter, so his options are probably very thin. He is giving up more HR's, has a drop in Velo, has multiple recent back issues and a knack for shitting the bed in the postseason. The only teams that I could see offering him a deal longer than 3 years are ones that check multiple of these boxes: - are poorly run(O's, Mets, Tigers) - have plenty of salary room(Yankees, White Sox, Royals, Rangers, Phillies, Cards) - not likely to compete in the near future(O's, Tigers, Reds, Padres, Royals) - have cheap/great young players where his contract won't upset the apple cart when they start to get paid (Yanks, White Sox, A's, Phillies, Braves, Padres) I think the poorly run one is the most important factor right out the gate and it would need to pair with at least one of the others to him getting a bigger deal elsewhere. I don't see any other team being dumb enough to give him 4+ years and $100M+ unless they are just a disaster.
Good post. If Kershaw's top priority is his legacy, then the Dodgers make by far the most sense. One of the best pitchers in the history of the most pitcher rich ball club in history? No better odds of winning the WS by going anywhere else. The media also has a soft spot for guys who play their whole career in one uniform. And even if the Dodgers don't make the best offer (which they won't if he opts out), it will still be competitive. With a guaranteed $70 million over 2 years if he stays, I worry that if he opts out he could quickly find himself in a Howie Kendrick type of situation.
One potential wrench, though, is how does he react if he flames out again in the post with LAD? Bonus wrench..what if he flames out again and gets wind that LAD plans to end his run themselves with a trade?