Post-Game 128 Thread: Dave Roberts Just Clowned the Mets

DODGERS 4, METS 3

In the first game of an incredibly over-hyped three-game series featuring the best two teams in the National League, the Dodgers eked out a gritty 4-3 win over the Mets mostly due to three RBI from Gavin Lux across two clutch AB. But that wasn't the full story.

Dodger Manager Dave Roberts, watching his team battle back and scratch out the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, was entering the ninth inning having spent starter Andrew Heaney, journeyman Heath Hembree, and bullpen stalwarts Alex Vesia and Evan Phillips. Most of us Dodger fans were expecting Phillips to go two frames; or possibly hold our breaths (and our scrotums) to watch Craig Kimbrel try and close out the ninth.

Nope. Roberts sent out Jake Reed to the mound.

Jake Reed had a 9.00 ERA across 9 IP this year, including five games with the Mets (who dumped him on July 10, allowing the Dodgers to claim him on waivers). In Reed's three games with the Dodgers, he'd pitched 2.2 IP and given up 5 H and 1 ER. Not exactly a great audition, right? But it was good enough to convince Roberts to send him out there to finish the game.

That was insane.

What was even more insane was...Reed actually delivered the victory. Leadoff single to Eduardo Escobar, yikes. Then Reed induces Daniel Vogelbach to GIDP to a shifted Max Muncy (credit Roberts with the shift, as well!), and then gets Brandon Nimmo to hit a comebacker for the final out.

Nice performance from Reed, of course. But what a ballsy move by Roberts, who not only saved the rest of his bullpen arms either for the next two games, or down the late-season stretch--he also basically told the Mets, "I can beat you, even with the dregs of my team. And if I can't? I don't care."

And Roberts was right. It was a crazy move, but just so crazy that it might work...and it did! Amazing.

Buck Showalter has got to be steamed. The capacity crowd at Citi Field must have been pissed off.

And we may lose tonight to Jacob deGrom, as the betting lines are indicating; and then who knows on Thursday, for Clayton Kershaw's return from the IL.

But Dave Roberts doesn't care. He's going to be bold, anyway.

LET'S GO!!!

Game Thread for the rest of the Mets series is here.

Games 128-130 Thread: Aug 30 - Sep 1 @ Mets

Tue 30 4p: Heaney vs. Walker
Wed 31 4p: Anderson vs. deGrom
Thu 1 1p: Kershaw vs. Bassitt

lolMets no longer? The Mets and Dodgers split four in Los Angeles back in early June, and that was before the Mets got Jacob deGrom back (we'll see him on Wednesday). But it's a different scene now in New York. While the YankMes across town are suffering from tattoo-induced leg infections, the Mets are off to the second-best record in the majors (tied with Houston), behind only the Dodgers' blistering 89-38 record. And we're seeing three All-Stars in this series (and that excludes Max Scherzer).

On top of that, the Mets are hungry, trying to stave off a Braves team that is nipping at their heels (three games back of the division lead). The Dodgers played extra innings Monday in Miami and are showing up to Queens late, not to mention we just lost Tony Gonsolin to the IL. I reckon this series doesn't bode well for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers' magic number, entering this series, is 15.

Games 124-127: Aug 26-29 @ Marlins

Fri 26 3.30p: Anderson vs. TBD
Sat 27 3p: May vs. Alcantara
Sun 28 9a: Urias vs. Cabrera
Mon 29 3.30p: Gonsolin vs. Lopez

Four games against the Fish. Sure, it would be exciting to look ahead to that Saturday game against Sandy Alcantara again; or to think about how we decrease our magic number from 19 (thanks to a totally insane 19.5-game lead over the Juan-Soto-fortified, Fernando-Tatis-"enhanced" Padres).

But instead, shouldn't we be Investigating the forces that get fish to our dinner tables? Because, according to this Four Fish book, we have a damaged relationship with the ocean and its inhabitants. Just three decades ago, nearly everything we ate from the sea was wild. Today, rampant overfishing and an unprecedented biotech revolution have brought us to a point where wild and farmed fish occupy equal parts of a complex marketplace. Four Fish offers a way for us to move toward a future in which healthy and sustainable seafood is the rule rather than the exception.

Nah, I'd rather just watch these games against the Marlins.

And eat some more sushi.

Games 121-123: Aug 22-24 vs. Brewers

Wait, the Brewers are coming to town?
Holy crap holy crap holy crap

Mon 22 7p: Urias vs. Lauer
Tue 23 7p: Gonsolin vs. Burnes
Wed 24 6p: Heaney vs. Ashby

The Dodgers just came off an impressive sweep of the Marlins, including Dustin May's successful return to the major leagues, plus a whupping of Sandy Alcantara on Sunday. But now we host the Brewers, who are fighting for a wild card slot (1.5 games behind the third slot, inhabited by the Phillies), and who split four with us in Milwaukee.

The Dodgers squad, in its entirety, ended up with a broken wrist and fractured ribs on that visit to Milwaukee. Fortunately for the team on the field, the injury was absorbed by reporter David Vassegh, rather than one of the Dodgers players. But Vassegh even got his own coverage, eclipsing news of the Dodgers' major-league-leading record.

Get well soon, @THEREAL_DV.

While you recover, @Bernie_Brewer prepared some reading material. pic.twitter.com/YRp8mgtO6T

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 18, 2022

Games 118-120: Aug 19-21 vs. Marlins

Fri 19 7p: Anderson vs. Luzardo
Sat 20 6p: TBD vs. Garrett
Sun 21 1p: Pepiot vs. Alcantara

After a 4-3 road trip, it's time for some home cooking...against the Fish. Let's go!

I'll be there on Sunday if anyone wants to say hi!

Games 114-117 Thread: Aug 15-18 @ Brewers

Can'T Breathe GIFfrom Panic GIFs

Mon 15: Urias vs. Peralta
Tue 16: Pepio vs. Woodruff
Wed 17: Gonsolin vs. Lauer
Thu 18: Heaney vs. Burnes

Taking only two of three from the Royals somehow didn't seem like the series win that it was, especially when the 12-game streak ends with a shutout loss and 0-for-7 RISP. And now (reportedly), Walker Buehler has been shut down for the season.

Honestly, I'm worried as hell again. I know Dustin May might make it back to the rotation by year's end, but geez.

Games 111-113 Thread: Aug 12-14 @ Royals

Fri 12: Gonsolin vs. Lynch
Sat 13: Heaney vs. Keller
Sun 14: Anderson vs. Singer

I know, one of Lorde's other songs might have been more approrpriate for this opponent? But when the Dodgers have won 10 in a row and even .165 BA Joey Gallo is participating (pinch-hit 3-run HR to help us sweep the Twins), there's gotta be something more potent ion there...like Solar Power, perhaps?

Dodgers take the field in KC with a 16-game lead over the Padres and the best record in the majors. Keep lighting it up, guys!

Games 109-110 Thread: Aug 9-10 vs. Twins

Tue 9 7p: Urias vs. Ryan
Wed 10 7p: TBD vs. Gray

The new-look Padres came into town this past weekend, and the Dodgers smoked them in a series sweep.. This, of course, after taking all four games in San Francisco before the Padres series. And the Dodgers have won 28 of their last 33.

Even more interesting, the bats of Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger look to be heating up a bit; Muncy with a key three-run HR on Saturday, and Bellinger with two HR on Sunday. Paired with the potent Mookie-Trea-Freddie trio at the top of the lineup, and the offensive firepower allows even the dismal trade deadline pickup of Joey Gallo flounder through a couple of weekend starts (Gallo went 0-for-5 with four Ks on Saturdaya and Sunday).

So a couple of days off, bookending a mini-series with the Twins, and the only thing which worries me is if the Dodgers are peaking too soon. Twins? Peaking? Hmm, sounds like a Series Thread theme (no, not that one).

Games 106-108 Thread: Aug 5-7 vs. Padres

Sorry, one more late Series Thread post. The Padres may have landed Juan Soto, but Dodger fans have greeted him with healthy boos. More importantly, the Dodger team has beaten up on the Padres, winning the first two games in the weekend series. We go for the sweep today.

pic.twitter.com/FloR9dBhZj

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 3, 2022

Games 102-105 Thread: Aug 1-4 @ Giants

sorry for the late post but i am in the mountains and my cell signal is rubbish. good to see we won Game 1 in a spanking of SF.