Wednesday, October 08, 2014

Post NLDS Game 4 Thread: There Is No God

CARDINALS 3, DODGERS 2

There is no god. Because even the most psychotically perverse deity would not have allowed what befell Clayton Kershaw in the seventh inning in Game 4. Stoked by a lead again (2-0), and cruising to a one-hitter over the Cardinals, Kershaw inexplicably gave up a three-run HR to unlikely rotund hero Matt Adams. This time, unlike in Game 1, Kershaw wasn't just trying to overpower the Cardinals with fastballs. But this time, it was a hanging curveball which unraveled the Dodgers, and ultimately eliminated us from the 2014 postseason.

Brutal.

How inexplicable was this? So crazy, that ESPN's statistics department couldn't even add correctly:

Clearly, in giving 108%, Kershaw was short 2%.

Kershaw, obviously crestfallen and befuddled, admirably faced stupid questions from an insipid St. Louis press corps, and soldiered through post-game interviews with class and dignity that I suppose could only be expected from The Best Pitcher In Baseball:

"The season ended and I'm a big part of the reason why," Kershaw said. "It doesn't matter how I pitched. It's bad deja vu all over again. I felt we had a really good chance to win. I'm thankful we got here and hope to be back."

Looking at the photos of Kershaw walking off the mound in the seventh inning, my heart aches. He doesn't deserve this. And we Dodger fans don't deserve this either, what with the NL West-winning Dodgers going home, while the second-place retread Giants advancing to the NLCS, in a series where I don't want either team to win (in fact, I hope it goes seven games of 99 innings each, all of which with microscopic television ratings).

Manager Don Mattingly? Yeah, he deserves the vitriol, again doing a fine job managing the team through six innings, but finding himself at a loss beyond that. Mattingly also spent the morning getting crucified on Twitter for benching Yasiel Puig in favor of Andre Ethier (who went 0-for-2 with two walks, but was picked off third base to end the sixth inning in Puigian fashion, failing to dive back to the bag after considering coming home on a shallow passed ball). Ethier's performance was not worth the substitution. And Mattingly did end up putting Puig in later in Game 4, as a pinch runner of all things, which also makes no sense.

Dan Haren never entered the NLDS, even in relief. Not sure why we were saving him.

Ned Colletti sure as heck should be under consideration for blame, being allowed to play with the highest payroll in baseball, but neglecting to fortify a bullpen beyond a closer.

And there are fingers to be pointed at some of the members of the team. Hanley Ramirez, if he had any defensive skills, could have leapt for that second single that preceded the Adams HR. It would have been a double play had he caught it. Dee Gordon and Juan Uribe, both of whom were impressive this regular season, neglected to show up at the plate for most of this series.

But Kershaw, at the center of the storm? I've lost faith in everything at this point. But not him.

We'll get 'em next year, Clayton. We just have to clean some house around you first.

Now please excuse me, as I go get my Orioles and Royals gear on.

22 comments:

spank said...

I love the Dodgers but I gots only one thing to say. It doesn't matter what you do in the regular season, it don't mean shit when you keep choking in the playoffs.

Steve Sax said...

So let's figure out why we are choking, and stop the chokers

BJ Killeen said...

Second place is not first. No more wildcard.

BJ Killeen said...

Second place is not first. No more wildcard.

Steve Sax said...

I am a Cardinals supporter now

Steve Sax said...

I can proudly say I finished off a bottle of Bishop Shiraz (Barossa Valley) last night. It was great. I felt better.

To next year.

Steve Sax said...

Now on to Cooper's pale ale

Steve Sax said...

Donnie must go

karen said...

It still feels so surreal. Having said that, I am totally with Sax on this. Clayton is not a problem. He is most assuredly our future. I'll have him lead our troops to battle every time.

Rest and gather your self this off season Kid, we'll be looking to you in '15.

Dusty Baker's Toothpick said...

Beautiful PGT Saxy. We'll get em next year for sure!

I know Kershaw, Kemp, et al are feeling as shitty as us if not worse. They will not let this happen again.

GO AL team!

Dusty Baker said...

Come on, Royioles!

Alex Cora said...

Thought that a good night sleep would help the pain. Only I didnt sleep well and I still feel the pain. Ugh.

QuadSevens said...

Listening to that dreaded 7th inning on my drive home was horrible. I feel bad for Kershaw because most non Dodger fans will only remember the one bad pitch from this game, and the one bad inning from game 1. We will remember that he set career highs in win %, ERA, complete games, threw two shutouts, and of course, a no hitter.

Kershaw has a strong mind. His season ended last year in a real bad way and he came back this year to pitch better than ever. He can do it again.

Hopefully the Guggenheim boys saw how weak the bullpen was this postseason and will fix this problem.

karen said...

When being interviewed after the game yesterday Dre commented that this loss was more "disheartening" than last years. I think that last year I was still kind of on a high from the winning streak and although very saddened by last years loss, I didn't have the feeling of complete shock as I do here. So much was expected (assumed!) with this years team. I know ownership wants to win as bad as the players and we fans do and hope they are able to address the blaring problems (need I say, the manager and bullpen?) and field a complete team worthy of all of us for 2015.

spank said...

I love Kershaw but Greinke is clutch. I am convinced he's the true #1. If we play the Cardinals in the playoffs again he needs to pitch game 1. It's all in the history.Straight the fuck up.

BJ Killeen said...

We all know the definition of insanity...if the G Group doesn't fix this, we'll be in the same spot next year.

Paul said...

Grienke use to be the pitcher that couldn't get it done in the post season

spank said...

Then we're doomed.

Hideo Nomo said...

Is it too early to ask who's planning to go to Spring Training? I really, really want to.

Dusty Baker said...

@Nomo-san

The Dustettes and I are planning to go. And the Stubbseses made a lot of noise at SoSG Fest about going as well.

Hideo Nomo said...

If we could work out some kind of Sons family vacation, that would be schweet.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

I blame McCourt. Then again I always blame McCourt.