2020 Wild Card Game 1 Thread: Oct 1 vs. Brewers

Buehler vs. Suter, 7p

I realize that MLB did its best to put forward a season after COVID-19 made most of life (not just baseball) a logistic nightmare. But of all the changes to this year's season: the universal DH, seven-inning double-headers, the three-batter minimum for relief pitchers, runners starting on second in extra innings--the one change that I hated the most was a first-round best-of-three series. In baseball, where anything can happen, a best-of-three series is incredibly capriciou, and the best team can easily come out on the wrong end. And without fans in the crowd, there is no homefield advantage enjoyed by the Dodgers, after their hard work resulted in the best record in baseball.

Only one of the four AL home teams won their first game yesterday. My stomach is going to be knotted. Let's hope the Dodgers can be a lot looser and play like the powerhouse team that they are.

Series Thread (Games 58-60): Sept 25-27 vs. Angels

Fri 9.25 6.30p: Kershaw vs. Heaney
Sat 9.26 6p: TBD vs. Bundy
Sun 9.27 12n: TBD vs. Canning

Well here we are, at the final series of the season. And with the Dodgers having clinched home field advantage, there is no reason to play these last three games all-out. Now is the time to take it easy and get ready for this crazy first-round series that begins Sept 30. As for this series, against an Angels team that find themselves just outside the AL's top eight, there are no stakes so we should just rest. We may lose, and we may win. But we will never be here again. So open up, I'm climbin' in, to take it easy.

Series Thread (Games 45-47): Sept 22-24 vs. A's

Tues 9.22: May vs. Montas
Wed 9.23: Urias vs. Manaea
Thu 9.24: TBD vs. Fiers
All games 6.30p

Home stretch, six games to play (all at home), with the Dodgers wielding a four-game lead over San Diego. At this stage it's just about getting our pitching roles defined, now that Caleb Ferguson is out for the year, and we are crossing our fingers to find out if Walker Buehler is blister-free.

The last series in Colorado, as predicted, did pick up our bats a bit; Cody Bellinger finally looked like he found a swing that didn't cause him to lose all balance (not to mention his helmet, distressingly), Gavin Lux went yard, and Chris Taylor showed he is getting hot at just the right time. I'm starting to give up hope on Max Muncy this year, but I have this feeling he is going to prove me wrong in the postseason (remember Game 3 of the 2018 World Series? No? Well, I've put a reminder below).

The A's have clinched the AL West with a 6.5-game lead over the Cheaters. That said, Dodgers-A's: It's always a fun time @ the Ravine. (Skip to 6:34 for the big fly (and a shot of me, on deck.)

UPDATE 9/22 10:04 PM: 8TH CONSECUTIVE DIVISION TITLE!

Series Thread (Games 41-44): Sept 17-20 @ Rockies

Thu 9.17 5.30p: Urias vs. Freeland
Fri 9.18 5p: TBD vs. Castellani
Sat 9.19 5p: Kershaw vs. TBD
Sun 9.20 12n: Gonsolin vs. Senzatela

Hot off of another series win in San Diego, the Dodgers now travel to Colorado for their last road series of the "season". It would be great to get some bats working here, especially since our bullpen is beleaguered (Kenley Jansen: shaky; Caleb Ferguson: injured; Joe Kelly: pouting; etc.). Max Muncy is right below the Mendoza line at .199, and I have a feeling he's due. Joc Pederson (.174) and Gavin Lux (.152), I'm not so sure. Nothing like four games @ Coors Field to get some Dingers going!

PLAYOFFS BABY

Series Thread (Games 48-50):Sept 14-16 @ Padres

It's a heavyweight matchup.

Mon 9.14 6p: Kershaw vs. Lamet
Tue 9.15 6p: TBD vs. TBD
Wed 9.16 1p: TBD vs. TBD

In a first for this blog, I'm going to write the words "this series between the Dodgers and Padres is a heavyweight matchup." What seemed like a ridiculous statement in any of the blog's 14 years of existence is now suddenly realistic, a by-product of a coronavirus-shortened season as well as the potent powers of Fernando Tatis Jr. and ephemeral Dodger Manny Machado. The Padres are only 2.5 games behind the Dodgers with 13 games to play, with both teams having beaten up on the NL West (LA is 22-11, SD is 19-13), but their head-to-head record is pretty balanced (LA 4 games to SD 3). Tatis is tied with Dodger Mookie Betts for the NL home run lead (15), with both in the conversation for NL MVP.

And the Padres meet the Dodgers with multiple starters sidelined (Buehler, May), not to mention continued offensive struggles from Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger (whom I hope are just starting slow, but whom are running out of time here). The one positive note is Will Smith, who has lit it up recently to provide some pop behind the plate. But of course Will Smith is rocking it now; after all, we're talking about the Wild Wild West.

Holy smokes, that video doesn't hold up well.

Series Thread (Games 46-47): Sept 12-13 vs. Asterisks

Sat 9/12 5p: Urias vs. Valdez
Sun 9/13 5p: TBD vs. Tiny Head

Spectrum SportsNet Dodgers recently re-aired 2017 WS Game 1 and it was disgusting, the pre-game interview with Asterisks manager A.J. Hinch saying how proud he was to get to the World Series in three years through all that hard work. He didn't mention the cheating, the trash can banging, the likely under-jersey buzzing. Those smug fuckers. I couldn't even watch.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers are limping into the final quarter of the season. The starters, alreday depleted by the losses of Walker Buehler (IL with a persistent blister) and Dustin May (comebacker which hit him on the ankle), also have to own up that their conssitent short outings have taxed the bullpen, which is now starting to fray a bit. We won our last series over Colorado only with two comeback victories and some strokes of fate (Rockies running through stop signs or making fielding errors). The Asterisks won't have Joe Kelly throwing at them this time, so they might be more ready for revenge.

Series Thread (Games 43-45): Sept 8-10 @ Snakes

Vin Scully's 1988 World Series ring can be yours for a mere $100,000-$300,000 (projected winning bid).

Mon, 6:30p: Walker Buehler vs Luke Weaver
Tues, 6:30p: Clayton Kershaw vs Taylor Clarke
Wed, 6:30p: Dustin May vs Madison Bumgarner

The invincible Dodgers have been felled, at least temporarily, by the sub-.500 Rockies. Colorado's series win marks the first series the Dodgers have dropped this season. Fortunately, providence has us visiting the hapless Snakes after we swept them at home last week. Can the $220 million-payroll Dodgers repeat the feat? Or will Madison Bumgarner dig deep and find his Dodger-killing form in a rare bright spot for the Diamondbacks?

Series Thread (Games 40-42): Sept 4-6 vs. Rockies

Fri 9.4 6.30p: May vs. Senzatela
Sat 9.5 6p: Gonsolin vs. Márquez
Sun 9.6 7p: Urias vs. TBD

Two-thirds of the way through this "season" now, and the Dodgers have opened up a six-game lead on the Padres, thanks to winning 12 of their last 14 games. Clayton Kershaw passed 2,500 career strikeouts last night; Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy, and Kike Hernandez have all clawed their way over a .200 batting average; and Mookie Betts and Corey Seager continue to be red-hot. Speaking of red-hot, Los Angeles is going to be beastly this weekend. No better time to stay indoors and watch these games!

Series Thread (Games 37-39): Sep 1-3 vs. D'backs

Tues 9/1: Urias vs. Young
Wed 9/2: Kershaw vs. TBD
Thu 9/3: TBD vs TBD
All games 6.40p

Home sweet home come the Dodgers, fresh off a prolific August in which they hit a NL-record 57 home runs (remember: we're playing with the designated hitter this year, so it's not exactly apples-to-apples). And here to greet them are the last-place Arizona Diamondbacks, who are probably just happy to not be playing indoors where COVID-19 can flourish. That's all I got right now, sorry. Rough week at work.