tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-363603712024-03-18T09:50:12.628-07:00Sons of Steve GarveyRandom rantings and ravings about the Los Angeles Dodgers, written by a small consortium of rabid Dodger fans. With occasional comments on baseball, entertainment, pop culture, and life in general.Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.comBlogger13350125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-84997689045207590952024-03-18T09:49:00.000-07:002024-03-18T09:49:31.522-07:00Opening Day 2024 Is Coming, And Freddie Freeman Looks Terrified<p>Just got this email from the Dodgers. Besides the horrific Opening Day font, I reacted adversely from looking at Freddie's countenance:
<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEv-ZWIGqOjeiIUqZwPLfhNM5h12ap17vY6WRRp_iPWfWMqIJzN0s_QDtL5G3k-wO8RZ7vuSc249MXC0w0zOsLJ-E2XZSt8aYAWy0MGC_RMG9n-myQLCzpJCb-s78y1jk1CueuKTJSXjqXWQ7Vysd11r6lWEfd1GF1DwarxxgzvhW7m7SBe9LL/s1115/unnamed.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="1115" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEv-ZWIGqOjeiIUqZwPLfhNM5h12ap17vY6WRRp_iPWfWMqIJzN0s_QDtL5G3k-wO8RZ7vuSc249MXC0w0zOsLJ-E2XZSt8aYAWy0MGC_RMG9n-myQLCzpJCb-s78y1jk1CueuKTJSXjqXWQ7Vysd11r6lWEfd1GF1DwarxxgzvhW7m7SBe9LL/s400/unnamed.jpg"/></a></div>
<p>We're supposed to be striking fear into our opponents, Freddie! Not ourselves!
<p>(Great lighting job on Ohtani, btw--well done, Dodgers.)Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-77068660225823495912024-03-16T17:44:00.000-07:002024-03-16T17:44:22.331-07:00Big Shohei In Little TokyoThanks to stringer Josh for sending these shots in, of a huge Shohei Ohtani mural taking form on the Miyako Hotel in Little Tokyo:
<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLrJTbZ_fYnhFt9u2y5F9M99gZzc2k1ciDVgGmkSDqCBs1feFx33R-CC6-UfqXFJDZf0JE-L1PiZNgO2pYXofKXUxNLYm7RLze012itsfyB3VsDREx0fdtzsWTcH82z0O-6cp6_TRNBC02eD74sGPb8QUVywZ-2Dy-Rdq2n8u4tI_gHAz1_gb/s4032/IMG_1499.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLrJTbZ_fYnhFt9u2y5F9M99gZzc2k1ciDVgGmkSDqCBs1feFx33R-CC6-UfqXFJDZf0JE-L1PiZNgO2pYXofKXUxNLYm7RLze012itsfyB3VsDREx0fdtzsWTcH82z0O-6cp6_TRNBC02eD74sGPb8QUVywZ-2Dy-Rdq2n8u4tI_gHAz1_gb/s400/IMG_1499.jpeg"/></a></div>
<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKjXOnA6lpPEqKsxDc_7d8uv97w2TtBvIUtc8NA_2JkJvtQS5FQp-gVF7H0i1SNUpZmPYaHScfEoiiGy_Fqf-1XJm8EP7C6mN9y59Z0r5H0XMRPGOhG6rKod6f3p3jkF29jhlZ5vAtyaAunZ5limwNv8xxFjtknMgkrXxkoKcawgPWYo60AFp/s4032/IMG_1507.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKjXOnA6lpPEqKsxDc_7d8uv97w2TtBvIUtc8NA_2JkJvtQS5FQp-gVF7H0i1SNUpZmPYaHScfEoiiGy_Fqf-1XJm8EP7C6mN9y59Z0r5H0XMRPGOhG6rKod6f3p3jkF29jhlZ5vAtyaAunZ5limwNv8xxFjtknMgkrXxkoKcawgPWYo60AFp/s400/IMG_1507.jpeg"/></a></div>
<p>Ohtani has already been in MLB for six years, and he's never gotten a mural on the Miyako Hotel. I'm sure this has everything to do with <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/14/sport/shohei-ohtani-wife-photo-intl-hnk-spt/index.html" target="_blank">the recent announcement of his marriage to Mamiko Tanaka.</a> Can't think of any other reason.Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-87650708188354074982024-03-16T06:00:00.000-07:002024-03-16T06:00:00.139-07:00Archiving the 2023 SoSG Attendance Record, For Posterity<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IuGtrfAS13hTTnqe63ew0ZFBKcThkGT0wD9d0DyWv8Ec8kmNDBZkuijV9dP0G2GqMKAcbGCOo3BLTWh4EjRWeiyGV0ZtJrsFnkeX9OCYB9AKYZmk8O1z9otxAq41RdkVZr9AAY38CBG9zFNJMYvYHIQcjJCZnLVES1VcRurzCvirfpxL6q1k/s300/download.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IuGtrfAS13hTTnqe63ew0ZFBKcThkGT0wD9d0DyWv8Ec8kmNDBZkuijV9dP0G2GqMKAcbGCOo3BLTWh4EjRWeiyGV0ZtJrsFnkeX9OCYB9AKYZmk8O1z9otxAq41RdkVZr9AAY38CBG9zFNJMYvYHIQcjJCZnLVES1VcRurzCvirfpxL6q1k/s400/download.jpg"/></a></div>
<p>Time to archive the 2023 Dodgers attendance record. And for the second year in a row, the Sons are at .500, though when I say "Sons", this may be just a record of my own attendance (inlcuding one game on the road in San Francisco).
<p><b>SoSG 2023 record: 5-5</b>
<p>4/2 vs. AZ (L, 1-2): AC, Sax
</br>4/17 vs. NYM (L, 6-8): Sax
</br>5/1 vs. PHI (W, 13-4): Sax
</br>5/13 vs. SD (W, 4-2): Sax
</br>5/30 vs. WSH (W, 9-3): Sax
</br>7/5 vs. PIT (W, 6-4): Sax
</br>8/30 vs. AZ (W, 7-0): Sax
</br>8/31 vs. ATL (L, 7-8): Sax
</br>9/22 vs. SF (L, 1-5): Sax
</br>9/30 @ SF (L, 1-2): Sax
<p><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Prior SoSG attendance records: <a href="http://www.sonsofstevegarvey.com/2008/12/final-sosg-2008-dodgers-standings.html" target="_blank">2008 (18-15)</a>, <a href="http://www.sonsofstevegarvey.com/2009/12/sosg-2009-record-for-posterity.html" target="_blank">2009 (21-10)</a>, <a href="http://www.sonsofstevegarvey.com/2011/03/retiring-sosg-2010-record-9-8.html" target="_blank">2010 (9-8)</a>, <a href="http://www.sonsofstevegarvey.com/2012/03/archiving-sosg-2011-record.html" target="_blank">2011 (10-7)</a>, <a href="http://www.sonsofstevegarvey.com/2013/02/memorializing-2012-sosg-record-24-18.html" target="_blank">2012 (24-18)</a>, <a href="http://www.sonsofstevegarvey.com/2014/02/archiving-sosg-2013-attendance-record.html" target="_blank">2013 (24-16)</a>, <a href="http://www.sonsofstevegarvey.com/2015/04/archiving-sosg-2014-attendance-record.html" target="_blank">2014 (22-12)</a>, <a href="http://www.sonsofstevegarvey.com/2016/04/archiving-sosg-2015-attendance-record.html" target="_blank">2015 (27-13)</a>, <a href="http://www.sonsofstevegarvey.com/2017/06/archiving-2016-sosg-attendance-record.html" target="blank">2016 (10-5)</a>, <a href="http://www.sonsofstevegarvey.com/2018/03/archiving-2017-sosg-attendance-record.html" target="_blank">2017 (27-13)</a> <a href="http://www.sonsofstevegarvey.com/2019/03/archiving-2018-sosg-attendance-record.html" target="_blank">2018 (12-9)</a>, <a href="http://www.sonsofstevegarvey.com/2021/04/archiving-2019-sosg-attendance-record.html" target="_blank">2019 (10-5)</a>, <a href="http://www.sonsofstevegarvey.com/2021/04/archiving-2020-sosg-attendance-record.html" target="_blank">2020 (0-0)</a>, <a href="http://www.sonsofstevegarvey.com/2022/04/archiving-2021-sosg-attendance-record.html" target="_blank">2021 (4-3)</a>, <a href="http://www.sonsofstevegarvey.com/2023/04/archiving-2022-sosg-attendance-record.html" target="_blank">2022 (4-4).</a> </span> <br />Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-8507709713728000422024-03-15T08:03:00.000-07:002024-03-15T08:03:26.062-07:00Dodgers Go With Oscar Winner for Opening Day; Japanese Film Debut Pushed To Night 2<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9C7uxg0VQOE4hyeFDSsWwaRYoBq9n10vwaNVW-XplHQTN8GerzZKg7OXIrCvEIKh_OdYGQ89qn5sAwf0JHNnsUdstbq7D6p4oXkzxrPjTWeQXH8MPlERMOdgTwIrOkJUdfBRcI3zxZJ68V0c_WFo-tavtuf8z5owt8kevj7sqiHOCIeqlQ1Am/s300/download.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9C7uxg0VQOE4hyeFDSsWwaRYoBq9n10vwaNVW-XplHQTN8GerzZKg7OXIrCvEIKh_OdYGQ89qn5sAwf0JHNnsUdstbq7D6p4oXkzxrPjTWeQXH8MPlERMOdgTwIrOkJUdfBRcI3zxZJ68V0c_WFo-tavtuf8z5owt8kevj7sqiHOCIeqlQ1Am/s400/download.png"/></a></div>
<p>Opening Day for the Dodgers is set, and for the seventh year in a row, it's a different choice from the prior year. <a href="https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2024-03-11/tyler-glasnow-dodgers-opening-day-starter-yoshinobu-yamamoto-korea" target="_blank">Tyler Glasnow gets the nod for Game 1</a> (against the Padres' Yu Darvish), with Yoshinobu Yamamoto getting the start the next day (vs. Joe Musgrove).
<p>Glasnow is coming off a year where he went 10-7 with the Rays, with a 3.53 ERA (118 ERA+). He also just won the Oscar for Best Actor.
<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-8-8P_kZ6tj5kfSwK7JWa5f9etDzoogbje81b4ct9FwyZQaFyjkRHs48W1D8LpBfHV-nGyd-vfStwIR62TmSzWArUHAmOjKnblHHExJJGqtPyxSs73wpYOoer9dRy0rl7pgAToFiQhdVhc5pZwVgCkswsznvvm9HgmyXafFf3WfrVcT6s2GG/s1200/cillian-murphy-holding-oscar.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-8-8P_kZ6tj5kfSwK7JWa5f9etDzoogbje81b4ct9FwyZQaFyjkRHs48W1D8LpBfHV-nGyd-vfStwIR62TmSzWArUHAmOjKnblHHExJJGqtPyxSs73wpYOoer9dRy0rl7pgAToFiQhdVhc5pZwVgCkswsznvvm9HgmyXafFf3WfrVcT6s2GG/s400/cillian-murphy-holding-oscar.jpg"/></a></div>
<p>I was secretly hoping for Yamamoto to get the Opening Day nod, after <a href="https://x.com/SlangsOnSports/status/1760067819809468575?s=20" target="_blank">Sarah Langs reported that "If Yamamoto starts the first game, he would be the first pitcher to make his MLB debut as an Opening Day starter since Al Gerheauser in 1943"</a> (and there have only been two others in the live-ball era). Alas, it's not to be, but maybe the diminished spotlight will benefit Yamamoto, who was not as sharp in his most recent Cactus League start.
<p>Game 1 is set for Wednesday, March 20, with first pitch at 3am.</a>
Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-25429036488730904342023-12-10T16:07:00.000-08:002023-12-10T16:07:48.224-08:00Dodger Currently Wearing #17 Bummed Out About Ceding Number To Ohtani<p>Miguel Vargas started out the year wearing #17, but his demotion to the minors let this guy hold it for the end of the 2023 season. Apparently, he's pretty disappointed to give it up to Ohtani.
<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwl4hSXIt5yjmA927PVQkBxFocQX5VYm8QEzbQst7XsYOP5ybHzqIKVokRx3X3SsRsHlnQXl5iC64w9cK_G35P6GeSGahXsjjpKKaSZsraMlcPF2sJaB6CSH-OH7jUQJDag5BCv0BknNsY9ARMdqbgM2y9zJ-20C5BukOAjTTFIjraByMxUQTs/s967/Screenshot%202023-12-10%20160456.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="967" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwl4hSXIt5yjmA927PVQkBxFocQX5VYm8QEzbQst7XsYOP5ybHzqIKVokRx3X3SsRsHlnQXl5iC64w9cK_G35P6GeSGahXsjjpKKaSZsraMlcPF2sJaB6CSH-OH7jUQJDag5BCv0BknNsY9ARMdqbgM2y9zJ-20C5BukOAjTTFIjraByMxUQTs/s400/Screenshot%202023-12-10%20160456.png"/></a></div>
<p>Poor guy.
<p><font size="1">photo: Bob Levey / Getty Images</font>Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-88465926720131514742023-12-09T14:54:00.000-08:002023-12-09T14:55:41.831-08:00Finally, It's Sho Time In Chavez Ravine<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuTDfEWnPZRB4AUg5Kkt5vk1ODPw6EDfr34eJ1jCFNIW18von5-vsPCTFKFbvUvmaNA6rs0FRl_MQH1rI_v9_mE1kUOIr6yRERa4y50Y8LjcZ8CMaARVvzfmMXSdfE9JkkGTbnCDv404wkobKjnlUtqUTN9TmxfXk9Cj61x2hfpTwZrq2Mefb/s862/Screenshot%202023-12-09%20145518.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="862" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuTDfEWnPZRB4AUg5Kkt5vk1ODPw6EDfr34eJ1jCFNIW18von5-vsPCTFKFbvUvmaNA6rs0FRl_MQH1rI_v9_mE1kUOIr6yRERa4y50Y8LjcZ8CMaARVvzfmMXSdfE9JkkGTbnCDv404wkobKjnlUtqUTN9TmxfXk9Cj61x2hfpTwZrq2Mefb/s400/Screenshot%202023-12-09%20145518.png"/></a></div>
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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0pR_vyvLpR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Shohei Ohtani | 大谷翔平 (@shoheiohtani)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<p><a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39076745/shohei-ohtani-join-dodgers-10-year-700m-deal" target="_blank">ESPN: Dodgers Sign Shohei Ohtani to 10-year, $700M deal</a>
Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-13657915271543188812023-10-07T06:00:00.008-07:002023-10-07T13:30:59.537-07:002023 NLDS Thread: Oct 7-14 vs. Diamondbacks<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYi7eP2nOajlwHJTAE9KiR-uQf2WIAmD8XQ-3OhZwF8sk2je91_xqtKTmJS9ZWmStn6-5Q0yHEsbIdsVCAdui_v-d55cOKC_FaH0xBA5-yVYgi5AbhGg91fXFRj85P7XdG4z14smTXMXoYv5JdD0Nvx0xcpTd2aQqDPKGPF0Nuz-xLfnp1D9T/s681/Screenshot%202023-10-07%20133022.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYi7eP2nOajlwHJTAE9KiR-uQf2WIAmD8XQ-3OhZwF8sk2je91_xqtKTmJS9ZWmStn6-5Q0yHEsbIdsVCAdui_v-d55cOKC_FaH0xBA5-yVYgi5AbhGg91fXFRj85P7XdG4z14smTXMXoYv5JdD0Nvx0xcpTd2aQqDPKGPF0Nuz-xLfnp1D9T/s400/Screenshot%202023-10-07%20133022.png"/></a></div>
<p>Game 1 @ LA: Sat 10/7 6.20p: Clayton Kershaw vs. Merrill Kelly
</br>Game 2 @ LA: Mon 10/9 6p: TBD vs. TBD
</br>Game 3 @ AZ: Wed 10/11 TBD: TBD vs. TBD
</br>Game 4 @ AZ: Thu 10/12 TBD: TBD vs. TBD
</br>Game 5 @ LA: Sat 10/14 TBD: TBD vs. TBD
<p>I apologize for having to put up a full series thread for this rather than individual Game Thread links. I'm going to be traveling this week--which means I unfortunately had to pass on going to Game 1, which is brutal--so I'm posting this in case I can't get to all the individual GT posts.
<p>The Dodgers went up against the Diamondbacks in their last playoff appearance (2017), in which the Dodgers swept them out of the playoffs before advancing to eventually get cheated out of a World Series title. But the Diamondbacks scared me more this year than the heavily-vaunted Padres did; the Diamondbacks actually were in first place this year as late as July 19, before going on a nine-game losing streak that basically dropped them out of contention for good.
<p>The Dodgers just posted their NLDS roster, and Ryan Yarbrough and Amed Rosario did not make the cut. Kolten Wong and Michael Grove did. Hmm.
Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-30049529918041168512023-10-05T06:00:00.015-07:002023-10-05T10:44:04.185-07:00On the Dodgers' 2023 Playoffs<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyu9pDxVd3iN87sKetUCHrDqIu7hjpCfI0XVMR20lZPEvGMJ50qYGn9gNmAWxa5fyVpC7n7wDSiUEg8bjczMDr0jyfWVg09nTsR0ndjgPZMqZi3MnkqUUZyP2nFDRE07SSXZok-8wwm1B_db1wonaaLx7nLNBB6COlwwjNBlEvDiKieCGoIVSB/s1148/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-05%20at%2010.43.12%20AM.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="1148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyu9pDxVd3iN87sKetUCHrDqIu7hjpCfI0XVMR20lZPEvGMJ50qYGn9gNmAWxa5fyVpC7n7wDSiUEg8bjczMDr0jyfWVg09nTsR0ndjgPZMqZi3MnkqUUZyP2nFDRE07SSXZok-8wwm1B_db1wonaaLx7nLNBB6COlwwjNBlEvDiKieCGoIVSB/s400/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-05%20at%2010.43.12%20AM.png"/></a></div>
<p>There's obviously a lot of stress around the Los Angeles Dodgers' 2023 playoff run, which starts Saturday against a surprising opponent in the Arizona Diamondbacks, who dispatched the favored Milwaukee Brewers with two straight come-from-behind victories to sweep the best-of-three Wild Card series.
<p>The Diamondbacks play a fast and athletic style of baseball that is basically the anti-Max Muncy, finishing the season in second place (84-78) and earning the final NL Wild Card (and playoff) spot. And though they went only 1-for-10 with RISP in Game 1 against the Brewers, and were caught stealing twice in their four attempts, they rode a bevy of relievers in the first game before deploying starter Zac Gallen (6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 Ks and 3 BB) for a more conventional win in the second game (when they went 3-for-5 with RISP).
<p>Leadoff hitter and ROY candidate Corbin Carroll batted .571 with a 1.810 OPS in the series, and cleanup hitter Christian Walker mashed his way to a .375 BA. The Diamondbacks look potent, and they still have starter Merrill Kelly (12-8, 3.29 ERA in the regular season) primed and ready to go.
<p>Sure, the Dodgers were 8-5 against Arizona this season--but we were 5-1 against the Brewers. I'm a little concerned here to be facing Arizona in the NLDS.
<p>But then again, we can't forget that the Dodgers--after an off-season in which they lost Justin Turner, Trea Turner, Cody Bellinger, and effectively Gavin Lux--<b>shouldn't even be in the playoffs in the first place. </b> Our pitching rotation was a disaster, with losses of Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, and Julio Urias; the failed Noah Syndergaard experiment; and the inability of Walker Buehler to rejoin the team this year. Even our Game 1 starter Clayton Kershaw--who leads the Dodgers in IP this year with a puny 131.2 IP (apparently this is one of the lowest IP numbers ever for a player leading his team)--spent much of the year on the IL.
<p>This was supposed to be the Dodgers' rebuilding year. Many predicted we wouldn't even compete.
<p>The big-spending Padres were picked by some to win the 2023 World Series.
<p>And instead, the Dodgers--languishing in third place (four games back) in mid-June, took the divisional lead on July 14 and never looked back, eventually winning the NL West by 16 games. It marked the Dodgers' fourth consecutive full-season with the Dodgers winning at least 100 games (and three in a row, accounting for the pandemic-shortened year).
<p>This 2023 season is already absolutely amazing.
<p>Our bullpen was one of the worst in the majors at the All-Star Break, and somehow that crew (augmented by Joe Kelly) has locked it down since August. We even eked a 7-2 record out of midseason pickup Lance Lynn (who is not easy to pick up, literally), who gave up more home runs this year than any other player in the major leagues.
<p>Even our light-hitting shortstop, Miguel Rojas, started hitting home runs late in the season. Talk about unexpected.
<p>So sure, the scrappy and full-of-momentum Diamondbacks will be a big test for us. And should we be lucky enough to advance, the Braves look unstoppable this year (as they lead fangraphs' World Series forecasts by a healthy projection), and last year's NL Champion Phillies look just as hot and hungry as they were last year.
<p>But I'm just impressed that we are even here in the playoffs at all. Credit to Andrew Friedman for constructing this roster, and to Dave Roberts for getting the most out of this year's crew.
<p>If we can advance, I'll be stoked.
<p>But even if we can't--this year was one for the ages, and worthy of celebration.Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-16445229211720844322023-10-04T20:41:00.002-07:002023-10-04T20:42:24.671-07:002023 NLDS Update: Diamondbacks It Is<p><iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/xUPGchE5UWpMeWJlvO" width="400" height="160" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe><p>
<p><a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/d-backs-vs-brewers/2023/10/04/748578/final/wrap" target="_blank">DIAMONDBACKS 5, BREWERS 2; ARIZONA WINS 2-0</a>
<p>Pretty impressive by the underdog Diamondbacks, who took both games on the road for the series victory (Texas did the same thing @ Tampa Bay).
<p>Game 1 of the NLDS is at Dodger Stadium on Saturday. Clayton Kershaw takes the mound for the Dodgers; no starter has been named yet for the Diamondbacks.Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-24231944806986100502023-10-03T21:49:00.003-07:002023-10-04T08:52:12.407-07:00Scoreboard Watching: NL Wild Card Game 2s (October 4)<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7bKYpe3xKif2ZSuUdL7DP1A2us_xcANmr5v0epXukDXDKG5VZvvp4ETefCB6-n2PsveVIIS292Ljpo7GMXef8giaG6kiq2e93iuoJwo8wv-2MledQatuM1SAVhHdYOlBnRRT0RKbwhInTuGktxtvb87_hyphenhyphenMX-IVuIPYUAmo0NsxQMTZFzA_q/s964/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-03%20at%209.43.28%20PM.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="964" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7bKYpe3xKif2ZSuUdL7DP1A2us_xcANmr5v0epXukDXDKG5VZvvp4ETefCB6-n2PsveVIIS292Ljpo7GMXef8giaG6kiq2e93iuoJwo8wv-2MledQatuM1SAVhHdYOlBnRRT0RKbwhInTuGktxtvb87_hyphenhyphenMX-IVuIPYUAmo0NsxQMTZFzA_q/s400/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-03%20at%209.43.28%20PM.png"/></a></div>
<p>4p: Diamondbacks' Zac Gallen @ Brewers' Freddy Peralta (D'backs lead 1-0)
</br>5p: Marlins' Braxton Garrett @ Phillies' Aaron Nola (Phillies lead 1-0)
<p>The Dodgers can rest up while seeing if the Diamondbacks can prevail and steal another game in Milwaukee, or if the Brewers can send this series to a rubber match Thursday. The Brewers were the overwhelming favorites for this series, but Arizona's Game 1 win now gives them a 72% chance of advancing.
<p>Starting to get nervous.
<p>Oh, and there's another NL Wild Card game at hand, too. And two other AL Wild Card games (first pitch, 12p (Rangers @ Rays, Rangers lead 1-0) and 1p (Blue Jays at Twins, Twins lead 1-0).
<p>These Wild Card series are nuts. If any of the Brewers, Marlins, Rays, and Blue Jays lose--they're done for the year. Yikes!Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-50201603026463457562023-10-02T21:59:00.007-07:002023-10-04T07:11:54.923-07:00At-Game 161 Thread: Into The (Baby) Lions' Den
<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49GYyGj4Fg6O9t1BMSLV4pY5pM5vcUsW7eRN5u6YkQgqD8jaa8VZQw4J6cnikbbopH_69eU2bbAmNU36szTAQnTGl43QdXIXn3WxggbX_LXTZQiOWdma4ay4dWKPjBoZVNi60k5cyylqcjkkd5sexno2qy7aRCNbAasM08HtkkvmlahMpVCB3/s4032/IMG_6275.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49GYyGj4Fg6O9t1BMSLV4pY5pM5vcUsW7eRN5u6YkQgqD8jaa8VZQw4J6cnikbbopH_69eU2bbAmNU36szTAQnTGl43QdXIXn3WxggbX_LXTZQiOWdma4ay4dWKPjBoZVNi60k5cyylqcjkkd5sexno2qy7aRCNbAasM08HtkkvmlahMpVCB3/s400/IMG_6275.jpeg"/></a></div>
<p><i><center>This is how close we were at Oracle Park. Wow.</i></center>
<p>Saturday night, I went up with a friend to Oracle Park to see <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=401473423" target="_blank">the Dodgers fall to the Giants, 2-1.</a> The game itself was kind of a bummer of an evening, with the only redeeming takeaway being Mookie Betts registering his 107th and final RBI of the 2023 season, driving in David Peralta in the top of the fifth to momentarily tie the game at 1-1.
<p>But even though starter Clayton Kershaw was cruising (having given up only a solo HR earlier), he was undone by Max Muncy's ineptitude at third base on two consecutive plays in the sixth. First, with two runners on and no out, Muncy is hit a ball that he foolishly decides on which he can try to pull a 5-4-3 double play (he didn't), so the runner on first is safe and the lead runner, whom Muncy could have either tagged out or just raced to the third base bag, is now safe at third. The following batter, Wilmer Flores, again hits a ball to Muncy, who promptly botches the play and allows the runner on third to easily score. Michael Grove came in to escape the jam, but the damage was already done--and worse off, Clayton Kershaw, in what could be his final appearance as a pitcher let along possibly as a Los Angeles Dodger, was on the hook for the loss, his first since May 21.
<p>Also want to call out that many Giants fans--and the crowd was about 50-50 from where we were sitting--applauded as Kershaw left the mound for the dugout in the sixth. That might be his last regular season start, as a Dodger or as a player in total. I was excited to be there to see it, even if the result wasn't what I had hoped.
<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYE9Iki3rEF3_l5LXvxVnpa8UJxbXeRWpP8InOn-339-jDOT8voz6pygAHdZkgF-RDFQM9i5NO9oWFMluYDC3oHyXlIWnqnLfDCSiu3MRF6MbiobqEV2Dq-VqxIsGWDJkCgY95TiR3imIcg4ig0IdN7FJnqstoBlr-dDONDNp80DThbhs2-AHu/s4032/IMG_6273.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYE9Iki3rEF3_l5LXvxVnpa8UJxbXeRWpP8InOn-339-jDOT8voz6pygAHdZkgF-RDFQM9i5NO9oWFMluYDC3oHyXlIWnqnLfDCSiu3MRF6MbiobqEV2Dq-VqxIsGWDJkCgY95TiR3imIcg4ig0IdN7FJnqstoBlr-dDONDNp80DThbhs2-AHu/s400/IMG_6273.jpeg"/></a></div>
<p><i><center>Kershaw, grabbing some food before his start.</i></center>
<p>Muncy also went 1-for-4 and I know his OPS is over .800 and his WAR is 2.6 (ahead of JD Martinez and Jason Heyward, for example). But he's a three-outcome hitter and more often than not, it's a strikeout (his 153 Ks on the year is second only to James Outman) or a weak fly out to the infield. And his defense is a disaster, as evidenced by this debacle Saturday night.
<p>The Dodgers ultimately ended up losing when, having just reached on a two-out single, Chris Taylor was thrown out trying to advance to second. Upon exiting the stadium, I heard another Dodger fan (and there were plenty of them at this game, which was great) mutter about how Taylor shouldn't have been running with David Peralta at the plate. But with Austin "Automatic Out" Barnes batting behind Peralta, Taylor really didn't have another option. It was then or never. He had to try to get into scoring position for Peralta.
<p>And anyway, the game was meaningless for the standings, and it felt like a low-stakes game in kind. The Giants' season ended the following day, and they go into the offseason having shed themselves of smarter-than-everyone-else manager Gabe Kapler and a lot of pressure to make a bold move after striking out on both Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa last offseason. The Dodgers rest up during the Wild Card round and prepare to face either the Brewers or Diamondbacks next week in the NLDS.
<p>We move on. The Giants stay home.
<p>On Saturday, the Dodgers didn't get their 100th win of the season (though they did on Sunday afternoon). Nor did Mookie get his 40th HR or Freddie his 30th HR or 60th double (none of which happened on Sunday, either). So from that perspective, it was a bummer.
<p>I end up the season 5-5, counting this road game.
<p>That said, my friend (who invited me to the game) had incredible seats, first row right down the first base line. And even with the quicker pace of play, the game gave us enough time to talk and reminisce about the rivalry, how we got into our respective NL West fandoms. We shared perspectives on empty nest syndrome as well as the difficulties of aging. And we got to watch some great athletes and a stadium full enough to keep the seagulls away for one evening. It was a great night.
<p>I noticed that the Oracle Park scoreboard seems sharper than our Diamondvision screen at the Stadium. The Giants also have more quiet time between innings and pitches, a stark contrast to the aural barrage that happens at Dodger Stadium. And they have stupid between-innings traditions--namely, a sing-along set to Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles" (because nothing strikes fear in one's opponent like a 90's one-hit wonder from the Dawson's Creek soundtrack)--but at least it wasn't as insipid as the Food Truck dot racing animation that they've been running this year at Dodger Stadium. But overall it was a good night.
<p>Actually, it's always a good night at a ballpark. This year, I got to a game at Yankee Stadium (my first at new Yankee) as well as here at Oracle Park. I also got in a game at the Dayton Dragons (the Reds' High-A affiliate) as they hosted the Lansing Lugnuts.
<p>Man, I do love baseball. Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-52603237138568585362023-09-29T14:12:00.007-07:002023-09-29T22:01:07.786-07:00Games 160-162 Thread: Sep 29-Oct 1 @ Giants
<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYyGsXVA6vJvl-2PjIXVSKjmfIHAUxpUCyNKXRAd4P8MioKfO0v0BPaYcS3mcKv3PFgQt4fNY_Tw22af-HucU_2eN9Fav4dE85DvfJCaS3_fp_RZahyphenhyphen81F2yEvsio02L9DETtt7tCYDthRXm52sfWpPxkAI3I9ou4cKTNS_SMQRG5Y-XNwUtV/s1020/BNG-L-GIANTS-0926-17.webp" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1020" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYyGsXVA6vJvl-2PjIXVSKjmfIHAUxpUCyNKXRAd4P8MioKfO0v0BPaYcS3mcKv3PFgQt4fNY_Tw22af-HucU_2eN9Fav4dE85DvfJCaS3_fp_RZahyphenhyphen81F2yEvsio02L9DETtt7tCYDthRXm52sfWpPxkAI3I9ou4cKTNS_SMQRG5Y-XNwUtV/s400/BNG-L-GIANTS-0926-17.webp"/></a></div>
<p><i><center>This man is not happy.</i></center>
<p>Fri 9.29 7p: Lynn vs. Winn
</br>Sat 9.30 6p: Kershaw vs. Beck
</br>Sun 10.1 12p: Miller vs. Harrison
<p>After posting a quick placeholder on Friday afternoon, I listened to Lance Lynn suffer through a 359-pitch first inning (yielding one run) and thought that the Dodgers' 2-1 lead (through 1) was precarious. Well, it was, though not for the Dodgers; they went on to win 6-2 off the backs of homers from Will Smith, Freddie Freeman, and J.D. Martinez. Lynn actually got the win, as well, which is nuts; he's 7-2 with the Dodgers though it's a nail-biter each outing.
<p>Clayton Kershaw goes on Saturday and I am going to be at Birdshit Park to watch, unlike <a href="https://theathletic.com/4914513/2023/09/29/giants-farhan-zaidi-gabe-kapler/" target="_blank">former Giants manager Gabe Kapler, who was strangely fired with three games to go this season</a> (and one postseason appearance in four seasons). Kapler may the fall guy, and <a href="https://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/logan-webb-sf-giants-calls-out-teammates-18389595.php" target="_blank">Logan Webb may be mad at his teammates,</a> but I'm sure the Giants will deploy <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2023/3/24/23655240/a-quick-note-on-value-san-francisco-giants-forbes-valuation-article-2023" target="_blank">their massive financial resources and record profitability to figure it all out.</a>
<p>For now, though: the Dodgers are NL West Champions in 2023, and advancing to the playoffs next week. Let's celebrate.
Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-66011956047433502422023-09-26T06:00:00.008-07:002023-09-26T06:00:00.147-07:00Games 156-159 Thread: Sept 26-28 @ Rockies<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qexa2tAcmBxwKAFKFJ5OeqGhrwTZ14DuyjD8lAuSiui-qvIGY1iuFp8ObFYmSYYRXx3ifvq2R9Jjf7xhte06rgTZfvNXhQSZ0rma8i3L2pr1Dy5z7u3KiLmzl0w8DdxK5dojuR5mpGsiKtKS9Y9TC1ZTdUsYcfXcv7fgswH1dm4d4r4epmJD/s1200/1232079036.0.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qexa2tAcmBxwKAFKFJ5OeqGhrwTZ14DuyjD8lAuSiui-qvIGY1iuFp8ObFYmSYYRXx3ifvq2R9Jjf7xhte06rgTZfvNXhQSZ0rma8i3L2pr1Dy5z7u3KiLmzl0w8DdxK5dojuR5mpGsiKtKS9Y9TC1ZTdUsYcfXcv7fgswH1dm4d4r4epmJD/s400/1232079036.0.jpg"/></a></div>
<p><i><center>A picture of Coors Field with a couple of strays.</i></center>
<p>Tue 26 12.10p: Pepiot vs. TBD
</br>Tue 26 5.40p: Miller vs. TBD
</br>Wed 27 5.40p: TBD vs. TBD
</br>Thu 28 5.40p: TBD vs. TBD
<p>The Dodgers are still four games back of the Braves with seven games to play, so that #2 position in the NL Postseason is all but set. But there's still some milestones for which to play, namely an opportunity for Mookie Betts, who already has more RBI (105) than any leadoff hitter in baseball history, to be the first leadoff batter with 40 HR in a season (Betts is at 39). Freddie Freeman, at 57 doubles on the year, has a chance to get to 60 which would be the most in the modern era (former Rockie Todd Helton has 59).
<p>And of course, there's no better place to chase these offensive records than Coors Field, and the Dodgers will get four chances at it. That said, I definitely would want Betts and Freeman to get some rest, too. We need them both for the NLDS, that's for sure.
<p><font size="1">photo: Justin Edmonds / Getty Images</font>
Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-28742825315423474652023-09-21T14:34:00.001-07:002023-09-21T21:23:42.873-07:00Games 152-155 Thread: Sept 21-24 vs. Giants<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGUGbbx7QCqYbmqXH-6ANgL6Fls68K8arngLCq_UtU-4Wf6ctM6LansJMN2J3X7zO7D9tsJIdYxLdfdeEdXLZSgelxSEs0rD5bzHnBiHKoAgWQwIyE7XBsU5gkd3WPXvWM1_MFq70vc3hfzZWgmz3tjv5BLc92wq3oWL8infbeZDZXLK5W_x6/s3264/v0h9h0jdrh641.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGUGbbx7QCqYbmqXH-6ANgL6Fls68K8arngLCq_UtU-4Wf6ctM6LansJMN2J3X7zO7D9tsJIdYxLdfdeEdXLZSgelxSEs0rD5bzHnBiHKoAgWQwIyE7XBsU5gkd3WPXvWM1_MFq70vc3hfzZWgmz3tjv5BLc92wq3oWL8infbeZDZXLK5W_x6/s400/v0h9h0jdrh641.jpg"/></a></div>
<p><i><center>Giant in the distance.</i></center>
<p>Thu 21 7p: Sheehan vs. Harrison
</br>Fri 22 7p: TBD vs. Manaea
</br>Sat 23 6p: Kershaw vs. TBD
</br>Sun 24 4p: Lynn vs. TBD
<p>The Giants are 76-76 this year and three games out of the final NL Wild Card spot. But they have to vault over Miami and Cincinnati to get there, but it's still possible--FanGraphs says there's a 2.1% chance of the Giants making the playoffs.
<p>Now, the Dodgers could pull a 2021 NLDS here and just squash all hope for their rivals. Or, the Dodgers could just take it easy--we're comfortably set for the #2 National League playoff slot, which gets us a bye in the first round. It's a nice position in which to be for these seven remaining games with the Giants (four here, three up north).
<p>I'm going to the Stadium on Friday, and am excited to watch TBD as our starter.
Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-5911717362465195442023-09-18T06:00:00.006-07:002023-09-18T06:00:00.145-07:00Games 149-151 Thread: Sept 18-20 vs. Tigers<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9QYHJjJcHf_P1oxrCJ_4gEJ7jJzCqoHu-FdmX2FIy0WNvjsfuUkGtNT9On1DYn2eujbX6OFiM2DA7P65M5Ga5TVFK_cEJ5GYuQgrW17Uf2DuiuVY5MLbNIO6bh01w_7de1Baq3dMj3HAYen90E5qntrcpGG7BLf2bJ5M_EWKpZiwQWENfevS/s552/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-17%20at%203.55.40%20PM.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9QYHJjJcHf_P1oxrCJ_4gEJ7jJzCqoHu-FdmX2FIy0WNvjsfuUkGtNT9On1DYn2eujbX6OFiM2DA7P65M5Ga5TVFK_cEJ5GYuQgrW17Uf2DuiuVY5MLbNIO6bh01w_7de1Baq3dMj3HAYen90E5qntrcpGG7BLf2bJ5M_EWKpZiwQWENfevS/s400/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-17%20at%203.55.40%20PM.png"/></a></div>
<p>Mon 18: Lance Lynn vs. Rodriguez
</br>Tue 19: TBD vs TBD
</br>Wed 20: Miller vs. Olson
</br><i>all games 7p</i>
<p>The Tigers are not going to play in October. And the Dodgers, fresh off a sweep of the hopeful Mariners in Seattle (and having clinched the NL West as part of said sweep), go into this series without a real agenda either.
<p>No stakes. Sleepy tigers. You get the drill. Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-73947028024650431882023-09-17T09:33:00.003-07:002023-09-17T21:09:36.503-07:00DODGERS CLINCH 2023 NL WEST TITLE (Post-Game Thread 147)<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlgWava71b3xhyvzaHE8RMY4VH8SQrK_Zp2W6vzYVmqJBPzNbJgFIyXD7HP3oXqbVKAvMreXdYSb1u4FEs44OteZa8ek5XS3mePyt6bB1UpnCXB_cQWeL6Rufvb7T1PHRm4yMQd8-x_QWFAq7PAQUUagb-TYElILaHQxSTyFpijqceB3OYmTh/s660/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-17%20at%209.34.08%20AM.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="660" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlgWava71b3xhyvzaHE8RMY4VH8SQrK_Zp2W6vzYVmqJBPzNbJgFIyXD7HP3oXqbVKAvMreXdYSb1u4FEs44OteZa8ek5XS3mePyt6bB1UpnCXB_cQWeL6Rufvb7T1PHRm4yMQd8-x_QWFAq7PAQUUagb-TYElILaHQxSTyFpijqceB3OYmTh/s400/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-17%20at%209.34.08%20AM.png"/></a></div>
<p><iframe src="https://streamable.com/m/jarred-kelenic-grounds-out-second-baseman-mookie-betts-to-first-baseman-f?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share" width="400" height="225"></iframe>
<p><i><center>"In a year that has experienced so much change, one thing is the same: The NL West STILL runs through LA!"</i></center>
<p><a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/dodgers-vs-mariners/2023/09/16/716552/final/wrap" target="_blank">DODGERS 6, MARINERS 2 (11)</a>
<p>The Dodgers battled through nine scoreless scoreless innings, including a particularly nail-biting bottom of the eighth inning (two on, none out: Alex Vesia gets JP Crawford swinging, and then Boston castoff Ryan Brasier gets Mariner phenom Julio Rodriguez swinging, before striking out Teoscar Hernandez to quell the threat). Clayton Kershaw delivered four scoreless innings, and Emmet Sheehan gave three more. And after trading runs in the tenth, the Dodgers erupted in the eleventh inning with five runs, stoked by Max Muncy, Chris Taylor, and Kike Hernandez RBI singles. The ghosts of our 2020 WS team drove us to victory, including Joe Kelly messily but effectively cleaning up the bottom of the 11th.
<p>More important than all that, <b>the Dodgers clinched the NL West divisional title,</b> and celebrated at T-Mobile Park in Seattle:
<p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“This is one. We’re gonna do this three more times. Enjoy this moment because this is special.” Dave Roberts plans to keep popping bottles until the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dodgers</a> win the World Series. <a href="https://t.co/AUqqyTwdQb">pic.twitter.com/AUqqyTwdQb</a></p>— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsNetLA/status/1703286617996181534?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>Loved these quotes from <a href="https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2023-09-16/dodgers-vs-seattle-mariners-recap-mlb" target="_blank">Jack Harris' LAT piece</a> (only available online, given the LAT's stupid only-print-features-in-the-new-diminished-sports-page plan):
<p><i><blockquote>“I think everybody talked about what we didn’t do [in the offseason], but we still had Mookie, we still had Freddie, it’s not like we were underdogs by any means,” said Clayton Kershaw, who pitched four scoreless innings in what became his fifth career start in a division-clinching game.
<p>“It wasn’t like a ‘silence the doubters’ kind of moment,” Kershaw added, standing shirtless and beer-soaked in a plastic-wrapped postgame clubhouse. “We were expecting to do this. We were supposed to do this. But it doesn’t make it any less special.”</i></blockquote>
<p>Technically, Arizona could still also claim a share of the divisional crown, if they win their next 12 games and the Dodgers lose their next 15 (not exactly sure why the gap in games played is so huge). But at this stage, the Dodgers are basically set with the #2 seed in the NL, and the Diamondbacks (who won an extra-inning thriller against the Cubs) are tied for the third Wild Card spot (with the Reds), behind the Cubs and the Phillies, and with the Marlins (0.5 GB) and Giants (2.5 GB) also in the mix.
<p>Time for us to rest up the few guys we have left.
<p>CONGRATULATIONS, DODGERS!!!Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-47233193651741721432023-09-15T06:00:00.003-07:002023-09-17T09:35:34.077-07:00Games 146-148 Thread: Sept 15-17 @ Mariners<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHcdrBeN4oHoMXu7jdxAgov4GzKTjWrQSlfey4roVqksCO1MeC05fbMesgjMs_QOTEOXat2HF2ycEDJzg8bLNk6syiF9fcV6lGHcj4h9pk9oroQUf-scH6xeUv5xx51UzFH_xu6vMmgfR2uS093nzWHEsyeoJi96tXatOWH78PUpCZyP7q7BO/s678/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-17%20at%209.35.03%20AM.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHcdrBeN4oHoMXu7jdxAgov4GzKTjWrQSlfey4roVqksCO1MeC05fbMesgjMs_QOTEOXat2HF2ycEDJzg8bLNk6syiF9fcV6lGHcj4h9pk9oroQUf-scH6xeUv5xx51UzFH_xu6vMmgfR2uS093nzWHEsyeoJi96tXatOWH78PUpCZyP7q7BO/s400/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-17%20at%209.35.03%20AM.png"/></a></div>
<p>Fri 15 7p: Miller vs. Kirby
</br>Sat 16 6.40p: Kershaw vs. Miller
</br>Sun 17 1p: TBD vs. Gilbert
<p>The Mariners are fighting for their playoff lives, 1.5 games out of the divisional lead (in third place, behind the Cheaters and Rangers) and 1.5 games ahead of the Blue Jays for the final AL Wild Card spot.
<p>The Dodgers, with a 13.5-game lead in the division and a magic number of 4, don't have a lot to stake on this series. So, just like the last series against the Padres (which the Dodgers dropped, culminating with a meek performance vs. 2020 WS G6 exiter Blake Snell), I guess we'll just have some fun out there in Seattle.Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-52499310684196207182023-09-11T06:00:00.002-07:002023-09-11T06:00:00.143-07:00Games 143-145 Thread: Aug 11-13 vs. Padres<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCOaLW7FPrOvV3GmPzvVirUenWLPUR7Jd6UaArh3rqu8XkVdrRr9TlbJPAKQENicFuE9BgZCAvaHyt2LNT2atjD_GjGwYW5dj3MB9udY6sD6YOdlHPI1_Of4FPPrqw2r12Dg8VbqQl7bGmd6WVuwmeqib3SKNcTJ6Jn93S90G0c-HB3wUqcib/s892/Screenshot%202023-09-10%20175644.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="892" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCOaLW7FPrOvV3GmPzvVirUenWLPUR7Jd6UaArh3rqu8XkVdrRr9TlbJPAKQENicFuE9BgZCAvaHyt2LNT2atjD_GjGwYW5dj3MB9udY6sD6YOdlHPI1_Of4FPPrqw2r12Dg8VbqQl7bGmd6WVuwmeqib3SKNcTJ6Jn93S90G0c-HB3wUqcib/s400/Screenshot%202023-09-10%20175644.png"/></a></div>
<p><i><center>Ah yes, Ricardo. I remember that prediction.</i></center>
<p>Mon 9.11: Stone vs. Avila
</br>Tue 9.12: Lynn vs. Wacha
</br>Wed 9.13: Pepiot vs. Snell
</br><i>all games 7p</i>
<p>The Padres, like the New York Mets over in the NL East, were supposed to use their big-name roster to romp to the divisional crown.
<p>And here we are in September 2023, and the Padres are in fourth place and 10 games under .500, 21 games behind the NL West-leading Dodgers, whose divisional lead against second-place Arizona is so fat, that we're starting three dudes who weren't even on the roster the first half of the year.
<p>Sure, we might get swept by San Diego at home this series. But with a magic number of only 7 with 20 games to play, it's not worth losing any sleep about this "rivalry series." Let's just have some fun.Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-13996983407886670012023-09-08T06:00:00.001-07:002023-09-08T06:00:00.139-07:00Games 140-142 Thread: Sep 8-10 @ Nationals<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOXT5VBYOcbZiSx8PrRfymp6xQztDAzklgAW2s0BHy7WNM3u5c7P6E65fXD7ZMWO1zeFJO0DEvZj2EXVmVgcrl01TiJRzjCJY4VFjrf67ag7y_0MkYS4m4V4NKeoxIxlbImMyDr2Ko1gTcoWFNl6R7cu19r1xkMCfjxkUKyoWDqFp33cR0_FX/s275/download.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOXT5VBYOcbZiSx8PrRfymp6xQztDAzklgAW2s0BHy7WNM3u5c7P6E65fXD7ZMWO1zeFJO0DEvZj2EXVmVgcrl01TiJRzjCJY4VFjrf67ag7y_0MkYS4m4V4NKeoxIxlbImMyDr2Ko1gTcoWFNl6R7cu19r1xkMCfjxkUKyoWDqFp33cR0_FX/s400/download.jpg"/></a></div>
<p><i><center>Should we tell Washington he's already eliminated from this race?</i></center>
<p>Fri 9.8 4p: Sheehan vs. Gore
</br>Sat 9.9 1p: Miller vs. TBD
</br>Sun 9.10 10.30a: TBD vs. TBD
<p>The Dodgers barely exerted any effort in Miami earlier this week, winning only the last game after going down meekly in the first two sessions. This may be a hangover from the unfortunate Atlanta series outcome; or it may be lingering effects from knowing <a href="https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/newsletter/2023-09-05/julio-urias-dodgers-dugout" target="_blank">Julio Urias isn't going to pitch again for the Dodgers, probably ever.</a>
<p>That said, the Dodgers still have a 13-game lead in the division (which has expanded over the last ten games, since the Dodgers' 5-5 record still beats the Diamondbacks' 4-6 record and the third-place Giants' 3-7 record), and with a magic number of 9 in the first week of September, we are fine to limp to the finish line rather than exhaust ourselves going into the playoffs.
<p>So let's just have fun out there, Dodgers! Maybe participate in the Racing Presidents event, or go grab a sandwich from <a href="https://dc.eater.com/2023/3/28/23658661/what-to-eat-drink-at-nationals-park-washington-nationals-2023-season" target="_blank">Swizzler</a>? Or do some scoreboard watching--Diamondbacks at Cubs this weekend looks pretty interesting.
Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-58743163494448940822023-09-05T06:00:00.007-07:002023-09-05T15:57:51.639-07:00Games 137-139 Thread: Sep 5-7 @ Marlins<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_2aOKSitQgVU2m86y2lGQzKdESRJV_R2ZpsWEpbTry0JAOLFgtW6ndzaN8p1SeyFS5JKyxBvt_5R6sH_Sratj72FkrGET1jtc29sOOkWDzhOKWsJAzXzPbWMzvC0i12dy_IyUsMDpXScANVE3QyU2P7wn8fqpxQuuxPIdNJOm9A0T6t1KGIj/s1200/sinking-of-the-titanic-by-willy-stoewer.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_2aOKSitQgVU2m86y2lGQzKdESRJV_R2ZpsWEpbTry0JAOLFgtW6ndzaN8p1SeyFS5JKyxBvt_5R6sH_Sratj72FkrGET1jtc29sOOkWDzhOKWsJAzXzPbWMzvC0i12dy_IyUsMDpXScANVE3QyU2P7wn8fqpxQuuxPIdNJOm9A0T6t1KGIj/s400/sinking-of-the-titanic-by-willy-stoewer.jpg"/></a></div>
<p>Tue Sep 5: Kershaw vs. Luzardo
</br>Wed Sep 6: Lynn vs. TBD
</br>Thu Sep 7: TBD vs. Garrett
</br><i>all games 3.40p first pitch</i>
<p>After a depressing weekend against the Braves in which <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/braves-vs-dodgers/2023/08/31/716768/final/wrap" target="_blank">Lance Lynn threw BP meatballs on Thursday (loss)</a>; then <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/braves-vs-dodgers/2023/09/01/716757/final/wrap" target="_blank">Julio Urias went back to his wobbly ways Friday (loss)</a>; followed by <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/braves-vs-dodgers/2023/09/02/716741/final/wrap" target="_blank">the Dodgers coughing up multiple chances to win before Alex Vesia crumbled in extras on Saturday (loss)</a>--the Dodgers salvaged a psychological win by <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/braves-vs-dodgers/2023/09/03/716725/final/wrap" target="_blank">avoiding the sweep on Sunday afternoon</a>.
<p>Whoop dee frickin' doo. We're clearly not in the Braves' tier, despite having the second-best record in the NL and the third-best in the majors. Cap that off with <a href="https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2023-09-04/dodgers-julio-urias-charged-felony-domestic-violence" target="_blank">Julio Urias arrested Sunday night for what would be his second offense of domestic violence</a>--no MLB player has ever been suspended twice under the policy (enacted in 2015), and Urias had a 20-game suspension for his first incident, in which the victim dropped charges--this truly was a shitty weekend for the Dodgers.
<p>I can try and be hopeful in that the Dodgers still have the second-best run differential in the majors, and our 14-game lead over second-place Arizona (and 15-game lead over the Giants) will allow us to coast to the end of September. <a href="https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-buehler-stone-make-formidable-combo-at-triple-a?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage" target="_blank">Walker Buehler just had a nice rehab outing in Oklahoma City (with a fastball up at 95mph)</a>, and he could return and fill a rotation slot. And Bobby Miller, who earned the Dodgers' victory on Sunday, <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/plaschke-dodgers-postseason-ace-job-120059849.html" target="_blank">has already been knighted as the Dodgers' new ace by LAT columnist Bill Plaschke</a> (which means he is probably going to be a pile of shit in the playoffs, the way Plaschke's predictions typically play out).
<p>So maybe it isn't all bad? If you squint your eyes, realize that whatever might happen in this series is against the ~.500, playoff-missing Marlins, well yeah, sure, maybe the last weekend wasn't a total disaster. I mean, there were some survivors on the Titanic as well, right?Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-90302407852581626182023-08-31T06:00:00.014-07:002023-08-31T06:00:00.141-07:00Games 133-136 Thread: Aug 31 - Sept 3 vs. Braves<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyh1P9cBx2J8_KM9bWwqIlTZa7RU78kM4B1aYlbO0km_QlA_A2e2i67SEsTM8dhmLZY763LPXGuDJUZd0_D0ED1qDA4MfAIPPinUNz-rPSjGlzVXHqDzk5EHdJX4xtR-qO5z1pdmPm_lRlf55hRAlr50yjajxZEPdw-fvm9sq6jvnnOjqg9d4a/s696/Screen%20Shot%202023-08-30%20at%2010.35.29%20AM.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="696" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyh1P9cBx2J8_KM9bWwqIlTZa7RU78kM4B1aYlbO0km_QlA_A2e2i67SEsTM8dhmLZY763LPXGuDJUZd0_D0ED1qDA4MfAIPPinUNz-rPSjGlzVXHqDzk5EHdJX4xtR-qO5z1pdmPm_lRlf55hRAlr50yjajxZEPdw-fvm9sq6jvnnOjqg9d4a/s400/Screen%20Shot%202023-08-30%20at%2010.35.29%20AM.png"/></a></div>
<p><i><center>I'm going to skip 2021 playoff results and just think about 2020.</i></center>
<p>Thurs Aug 31 7p: Lance Lynn vs. Strider
</br>Fri Sep 1 7p: Julio Urias vs. Fried
</br>Sat Sep 2 6p: TBD vs. Elder
</br>Sun Sep 3 1p: Bobby Miller vs. Morton
<p>The Atlanta Braves have a four-game lead for the one-seed in the National League, and <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38283725/mlb-executives-how-beat-atlanta-braves-2023-playoffs-postseason" target="_blank">ESPN pundits are already calling the Braves unbeatable this year</a>. But there was this part, late in the article:
<p><i><blockquote>The Phillies beat the Braves in four games last October, but that doesn't make them more dangerous for Atlanta than the Dodgers, according to several executives.
<p>"The Dodgers' talent, experience and consistency give them the best shot at taking a playoff series," one executive said.
<p>Another dove into the numbers.
<p>"The Dodgers share a lot of the same hitter run value numbers vs. pitching as the Braves, and have more hard-throwing relievers, who are successful [in October]," he said. "The Dodgers are ranked first in pitcher run value when a pitch is 96 mph or above."
<p>Essentially, the Dodgers rank second to the Braves in most offensive categories, averaging 5.6 runs per game compared to Atlanta's 5.8. But their pitching injuries have piled up, leading to just the seventh-best ERA in the NL. Then again, Clayton Kershaw just returned from injury and looks as good as ever.
<p>"I think the Dodgers' overall 26-man roster depth is probably better than Atlanta's, so I would think they have the best chance against them in a long series," one executive said. "And they are a team that knows how to win, can take a punch, and has a tremendous home-field advantage."
<p>Said the executive: "That would be one heck of a series."</i></blockquote>
<p>So let's see how this series goes. We will see all three of the Braves' key starters. The Braves might not see all of ours.
<p>I will be there at the Stadium Thursday night. I also have no idea why the Dodgers aren't playing on the Labor Day holiday. Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com55tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-37044691659910102462023-08-28T06:26:00.003-07:002023-08-30T10:59:53.726-07:00Games 130-132 Thread: August 28-30 vs. Diamondbacks<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjevxUWCehD2f-2SsaBYNREuMUVfm_GA3G6DxIzlOJ1OWOMjHCN6sk0HFQKln6wOP2liLtKlZ2g0AFRqsEL6I68LSoz1yOQBOGHma_MgneMEvWVzsvd0Zg42MfD9fNrcszYBDvDRu5FMZtk-OTb_rEpdLlIcgWri91hld1noU0rcie9W2hmCk/s1028/Screen%20Shot%202023-08-28%20at%206.25.22%20AM.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1028" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjevxUWCehD2f-2SsaBYNREuMUVfm_GA3G6DxIzlOJ1OWOMjHCN6sk0HFQKln6wOP2liLtKlZ2g0AFRqsEL6I68LSoz1yOQBOGHma_MgneMEvWVzsvd0Zg42MfD9fNrcszYBDvDRu5FMZtk-OTb_rEpdLlIcgWri91hld1noU0rcie9W2hmCk/s400/Screen%20Shot%202023-08-28%20at%206.25.22%20AM.png"/></a></div>
<p>Mon 28: Bobby Miller vs. Gallen
</br>Tue 29: Clayton Kershaw vs. Kelly
</br>Wed 30: Ryan Pepiot vs. Pfaadt
</br><i>All games at 7p</i>
<p>4-2 on the last roadtrip, which brings us to an amazing 21-4 record in August. Concerns that we are peaking too soon notwithstanding, the Dodgers have now opened up a 12-game lead on the second-place Diamondbacks and a 13.5-game lead on the Giants.
<p>And like the Braves, the only other division leader with at least a ten-game gap, the Dodgers should be thinking more about resting our arms for the playoffs--so the TBD sitting on Wednesday's docket makes a lot of sense. <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/dodgers/news/dodgers-news-la-claims-rhp-tyson-miller-from-mets-gonsolins-season-is-over-" target="_blank">With Tony Gonsolin out for the season, and the Dodgers picking up Tyson Miller off of waivers</a>, let's not push anything over the edge!Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-84767584340982342592023-08-25T12:02:00.008-07:002023-08-26T22:42:03.330-07:00Games 127-129 Thread: Aug 25-27 @ Red Sox<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgir1C8_Fcim0ZD-WKumJBveooeWTbxKQYRjslK5U-Mm4_pseQiyCWUBQcQwUrhQ3waT8uY6Ii6HKCA8u9D2rTWw4l2vzNjOjT5T05XYEnULgEQJozpLJnnx4MDMhtMHL3ja3K72jCA-VJHy3SeaUTRyY_XMDvhNC05PyW8E7pSX_1ZveTm_KIc/s1546/Screen%20Shot%202023-08-26%20at%209.48.24%20AM.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="1546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgir1C8_Fcim0ZD-WKumJBveooeWTbxKQYRjslK5U-Mm4_pseQiyCWUBQcQwUrhQ3waT8uY6Ii6HKCA8u9D2rTWw4l2vzNjOjT5T05XYEnULgEQJozpLJnnx4MDMhtMHL3ja3K72jCA-VJHy3SeaUTRyY_XMDvhNC05PyW8E7pSX_1ZveTm_KIc/s400/Screen%20Shot%202023-08-26%20at%209.48.24%20AM.png"/></a></div>
<p>Fri 25 4p: Lynn vs. Crawford
</br>Sat 26 1p: Urias vs. Paxton
</br>Sun 27 10a: <strike>TBD</strike> Ferguson vs. Hauck
<p>I just want to take this opportunity to thank the Red Sox again for giving us Mookie Betts.
<p><font size="1">photo swiped from <a href="https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2020/7/23/21335820/mookie-betts-contract-extension-dodgers-front-office-blueprint" target="_blank">this site</a></font>
Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-5758847205067621392023-08-22T02:00:00.001-07:002023-08-22T02:00:00.149-07:00Games 124-126 Thread: August 22-24 @ Guardians<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaKHyS8dZ1y2IJPkcCncmKJnBYIqh-y4xfgyWpfBdbv1vKnivmizWJP0Y3--VNIRZE-TOLhL7qfredmKTY_DbUqBv-O1WF2dDK2SycwKTj9KuggEa0054RFBaooBEaNIqMztnd5dR82BxYqx4SNdl-a1cxeUUZePU98jzql_wm64824oyTnNw/s1400/baby-groot-guardians.0.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaKHyS8dZ1y2IJPkcCncmKJnBYIqh-y4xfgyWpfBdbv1vKnivmizWJP0Y3--VNIRZE-TOLhL7qfredmKTY_DbUqBv-O1WF2dDK2SycwKTj9KuggEa0054RFBaooBEaNIqMztnd5dR82BxYqx4SNdl-a1cxeUUZePU98jzql_wm64824oyTnNw/s400/baby-groot-guardians.0.jpg"/></a></div>
<p>Tue 22 4p: Bobby Miller vs. Noah Syndergaard
</br>Wed 23 4p: Clayton Kershaw vs. Xzavion Curry
</br>Thu 24 10a: TBD vs. Gavin Williams
<p>Hot off two victories in a rain-altered doubleheader, and then followed by a two-day respite while Hurricane Hilary barreled through Southern California, the Dodgers face the Baby Groots in Cleveland. And though this series may not carry the level of drama like a space-age fantasy saga, a return sighting of Dodgers discard Thor Syndergaard, followed by a guy with strange consonant strings like a Superman villain, make this a weird series indeed.
<p>As of Sunday night, the Dodgers had a 11.5-game lead over the second place Giants in the NL West. Cleveland is likely out of the playoffs at this stage (6.0 games behind the Twins in the NL Central, and 10.5 games out of the AL Wild Card). But crazy things happen in these Guardians episodes, so who knows?!Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36360371.post-23325203374509485552023-08-18T17:01:00.010-07:002023-08-18T17:03:17.217-07:00Games 121-123 Thread: Aug 18 - 20 19 vs. Marlins<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JuDTS85dvKz1ZgOT7_AmZYauJw80OE94Wc-ow6T8uMApIfI6J2SQcIRgIlmMyQU-NuozWwmIZjBSrPeuZkqpbtZB9uJhYTupjGlEoTWM6kA0HV66KQmbdbCszhtvbHQza1Q6CFot1mgR9QNx8hyu1gch0bZRhHj3oQ8orNZF1m6bPCxskN8t/s2048/whole-grilled-snapper-11-2048x1365.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JuDTS85dvKz1ZgOT7_AmZYauJw80OE94Wc-ow6T8uMApIfI6J2SQcIRgIlmMyQU-NuozWwmIZjBSrPeuZkqpbtZB9uJhYTupjGlEoTWM6kA0HV66KQmbdbCszhtvbHQza1Q6CFot1mgR9QNx8hyu1gch0bZRhHj3oQ8orNZF1m6bPCxskN8t/s400/whole-grilled-snapper-11-2048x1365.jpg"/></a></div>
<p>Fri 18 7p: Tony Gonsolin vs. Sandy Alcantara
</br>Sat 19 12n: TBD vs. TBD
</br>Sat 19 6p: Julio Urias vs. Eury Perez
<p>The Dodgers have won 11 in a row and now it's getting ludicrously implausible. Thursday's game, <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/brewers-vs-dodgers/2023/08/17/716961/final/wrap" target="_blank"> a 1-0 victory, came at the hands of seven scoreless innings from a Chicago White Sox castoff (Lance Lynn, now 4-0 with the Dodgers), and the first home run in almost a year for the meek Austin Barnes (who raised his average to a still microscopic .136).
<p>Wednesday's game, <a href="https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-win-10th-consecutive-game" target="_blank">a 7-1 victory,</a> included home runs from the light-hitting nine-hole Miguel Rojas (now bating .220 on the year, with three HR total) and Chris Taylor in the eight hole (his 13th of the year, batting .219). If we could just get Max Muncy hitting again, this would be absolutely absurd.
<p>But here we are, having feasted on poor teams but still thriving against good ones (Milwaukee still leads the NL Central, with a two-game lead over the Reds). And here come the Marlins, tied with the Reds for the third and final Wild Card position, and throwing their reigning Cy Young award winner to start the truncated weekend series (rescheduled due to the incoming hurricane Hilary).
<p>I highly doubt we can stretch this streak to 14 by grilling the visting Fish. But that's okay, I'd much rather save some in the tank for the playoffs! I hope we're not peaking too soon.Steve Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00930320282262607468noreply@blogger.com76