Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Games 154-156 Thread: Sept 27-29 @ Padres

The Padres were hunting for a ring. Tatis was focused on ringworm.

Tue 27: Anderson vs. Snell
Wed 28: Urias vs. Musgrove
Thu 29: TBD vs TBD

The Padres may not be in the divisional race anymore (the 2022 NL West Champion Dodgers are 21 games ahead of the Padres), but they're still fighting for their second wild-card position, only 1.5 games ahead of the Phillies (who have the third WC spot) and 3 games ahead of the Brewers. But you wouldn't know that from watching the play of heralded trade-deadline pickup Juan Soto, whose BA hasn't suffered much since being acquired from the Nationals (.242 vs .246), but whose OPS+ has dropped from 158 (his career average) to 136 with San Diego.

Manny Machado is still mashing--his BA and OPS have both increased since Soto has joined the San Diego lineup. And then there's Fernando Tatis Jr., who is suspended.

The Dodgers have nine games left to tinker with pitching options. Recent momentum from Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger at the plate is encouraging. But it's the arms which are going to be the question mark going into the 2022 postseason.

29 comments:

Steve Sax said...

GAME ONE

Betts RF
T Turner SS
Freeman 1B
Smith DH
J Turner 3B
Muncy 2B
Taylor LF
Thompson CF
Barnes C

Anderson P

Steve Sax said...

Anderson already in trouble in the first. Two RISP and two out, he had Wil Myers down 0-2, and couldn't put him away. Myers singles to center for two runs.

2-0 SD, B1

Steve Sax said...

What the fuck, CT3?! Fly ball and you botch the play.

2-2 tie, B8, no out, man on second

Steve Sax said...

Ferguson follows up a Padre bunt pop up out with back to back walks, so now Machado is up with the bases loaded and one out.

Chris Martin in to pitch.

karen said...

EK.....WTF dude....are 690 Dodger or some ither species?????

Steve Sax said...

We are 1-for-11 with RISP. And Trea Turner is on second with a leadoff double in the ninth, and we're gonna strand him again (down 3-2).

Dodgers end up scoring a run on an error and a passed ball. So it's 3-3.

But we're still 1-for-14 with RISP

Steve Sax said...

Tied at 3, going to extras

Steve Sax said...

Bellinger, you suck.

Leads off the tenth by hitting a ball back to the pitcher.

Steve Sax said...

Then Barnes pops out to first. Two out.

Steve Sax said...

It's up to Mookie, who has been one of the worst Dodger batters the past week.

Steve Sax said...

Sorry: Mookie has been one of the worst Dodger batters the past two weeks, as per Houston Mitchell of the LAT:

Mookie Betts, .163/.196/.306, 1 double, 2 homers, 7 RBIs

Steve Sax said...

Taylor advances to third on a wild pitch. Mookie with a 3-1 count.

Steve Sax said...

Mookie gets caught looking. Three out.

Kimbrel coming on to pitch B10.

Oh well.

Steve Sax said...

Ha-Seong Kim with the sac bunt. Now we have to walk Soto and Machado and take our chances with Kimbrel. Great.

Steve Sax said...

Kimbrel fucking sucks.

He actually gets Machado to K for the second out. Then he walks Drury and Alfaro to lose the game.

Steve Sax said...

Alfaro was batting .249.

Way to go, Craig.

Steve Sax said...

Well, we didn’t deserve to win that game anyway.

Steve Sax said...

Game two

We are leaving more men stranded than fucking Gilligan’s Island.

Fuck

Steve Sax said...

Urias is pitching tough, though.

Works out of a jam to keep the scoreless tie through six.

Steve Sax said...

24:24 for the thurs NYT crossword. I’m losing my touch

Steve Sax said...

RIP Coolio

Steve Sax said...

Bellinger Ks again.

He is so bad.

Steve Sax said...

Why didn’t Turner throw to third there?!

Steve Sax said...

Dodgers up 1-0, B10, but Profar is on third with one out.

Steve Sax said...

Dodgers fucking WIN an extra-inning game!!!

Holy cow.

Steve Sax said...

Kahnle with a great 10th.

Steve Sax said...

GAME THREE

Betts RF
T Turner SS
Freeman 1B
Smith DH
Muncy 3B
Taylor 2B
Vargas LF
Barnes C
Bellinger CF

Graterol P

Steve Sax said...

Chris Taylor is not good. 0-for-3 and just Kd on three pitches with one out and the bases juiced in the sixth.

But Miguel Vargas singles to score two, so it’s 4-2 LA. Two out, two on for Barnesy

Steve Sax said...

Slappy hits one to make it 5-2 LA

Now in the ninth, Gallo PHs to lead off. And Ks.

I don’t think Gallo will make the postseason roster.