Wednesday, September 09, 2015

Post-Game 138 Thread: Kershaw Just Keeps Rolling Along

A bit of an obscure pull on a pretty average movie, I know. The play was better.

DODGERS 6, ANGELS 4

Clayton Kershaw pitched us into our fifth consecutive victory, our eighth-straight win against the Angels, and a magic number of 16 with 24 games to go (our 8.5-game lead is wider than any other division leader's except Kansas City). And as things keep rolling along, while Don Mattingly fields lineups with Justin Ruggiano (.247 batter; 2-for-5 with a HR and double), Chris Heisey (.133 batter who inexplicably notched an RBI, his first all season), and Chase Utley (1-for-5; okay, maybe there's no excuse for Utley at this point)--it is shocking that we're coasting to victories like this.

Corey Seager went 2-for-3 with an RBI double. Carl Crawford had a FC RBI. A.J. Ellis even had a RBI. What is going on here?!

Pedro Baez was ineffective in the ninth inning (two batters faced, two ER ceded; turned a 6-2 lead into a 6-4 margin), so we had to go with Kenley Jansen to maintain the victory (and notch his 31st save). Kershaw only had eight strikeouts in his seven innings, which is entirely mortal (for Kershaw). Mike Trout went 0-for-2 with two walks, and Albert Pujols went 0-for-4.

And yet, we keep winning, things just keep...rolling along. It's great to see, and everything. But I have this sinking feeling that we're peaking too early. I've got a singular impression things are moving too fast.

7 comments:

karen said...

I agree with Saxy on this. It seems like the thinking is that it's a wrap. The talk is of ways to rest Clay and Zack for the Post Season and not of nailing this down. I like the thought of coasting into October with a well rested pitching staff and a healthy lineup and bench, it just seems like it's a little to soon to take that tact. After all, this is the Dodgers. We don't want to be pissing off the baseball gods. It's not like it hasn't been done before.

Steve Sax said...

Thanks karen. I am sure I'm in the minority here, but 13 of the last 15, from a team that was .500 ball for the last 3.5 months and added no one of value at the trade deadline, just seems weird. Almost too comfortable.

So I am NOT comfortable.

Steve Sax said...

And I'm not sleeping, either.

Pride of Dong said...

The jew in me is budgeting for October ball, but I'm a pile of nerves at this point. I keep trying to look at the positives and try not to freak out. The best analogy I can come up with is, being in first place on Mario Kart, with a lap to go, on the rainbow road!

Dusty Baker said...

Excellent analogy, Dong!

Color me nervous, too. I'm so nervous I'm calm. But on the inside I'm (crying).

Steve Sax said...

@Pride: great analogy

That's the track where I inevitably take a turn wrong and go plummeting through space, falling seven spots in the race

Neeebs said...

If we don't win the World Series I'll blame Frank McCourt.