Game 115 Thread: Aug 6 vs. Cardinals, 1p

Ohtani vs. Donovan.

Ha, you thought I had forgotten this Game Thread, right? No worries, I'll be watching this game.

Nice to see Max Muncy and Teoscar Hernandez opening up their individual cans of whoop-ass last night. Let's go!

Game 114 Thread: Aug 5 vs. Cardinals, 7p

Emmet Sheehan (2-2, 3.60) vs. Miles "Morales" Mikolas (6-8, 4.83).

My Spidey-Sense is tingling for tonight's matchup, and not just because of last night's heartbreaking 3-2 loss, showcasing a surprisingly decent start from Tyler Glasnow and disappointing innings from Anthony Banda and Brock Stewart. We got another relief pitcher at the deadline, and he did not deliver last night. Sigh.

Game 113 Thread: August 4 vs. Cardinals, 7p

Forecast is for Gray skies tonight in Los Angeles.

Tyler Glasnow (1-1, 3.38) vs. Sonny Gray (10-5. 4.38).

Finally, a game at a reasonable evening timeslot! And this time we face Sonny Gray and a Cardinals team whose .500 record (56-57) following a better-than-expected first half of the season ultimately made them a seller at the trade deadline (dealing Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton, and Steven Matz for prospects). It would be nice if we could take advantage of this and expand our divisional lead over the Padres by more than three games.

Game 66 Thread: June 8 @ Cards, 11a

Clayton Kershaw vs. Michael McGreevey.

The Dodgers have scored one run in two games against the Cardinals, leaving ducks on the pond all over the goddamn place. I'm depressed.

Game 65 Thread: June 7 @ Cardinals, 11a

Cheese It Feds Moe Simpsons Xfiles GIFfrom Cheese It Feds Moe Simpsons Xfiles GIFs

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6-4, 2.39) vs. Erick Fedde (3-5, 3.82).

Last night was going to be a loss, anyway.

This morning? Let's at least put up a little bit of a fight, Dodger offense!

Game 64 Thread: June 6 @ Cardinals, 5p

Not the first time we've used this pun...but always good to feature Robin Wright Penn

Justin Wrobleski (1-1, 8.00) vs. Sonny Gray (6-1, 3.65).

Before the 2025 season began, all the talk about the St. Louis Cardinals was how they botched not trading Nolan Arenado and didn't make any other moves of note this offseason, in a totally winnable NL Central division. Well, they at least got the second half right--the Cardinals (34-28) are in second place in the NL Central, ahead of the Brewers and Reds (and behind the Cubs by five games), and only a half-game out of the last wild card spot.

This weekend's slate with the Dodgers features two early games following a tough-fought 4-3 homestand against division leaders, followed by an evening flight to St. Louis yesterday. I'm guessing we show up today a little gassed.

Post-Game 125 Thread: A Glimmer of Hope?

DODGERS 2, CARDINALS 1

Things weren't looking good for the Dodgers, coming out of Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Cardinals. Bobby Miller, in his return to the majors since struggling earlier this season, continued to struggle. Freddie Freeman ended the game with a defensive play that jammed his finger, knocking him out of today's season finale.

And yet, the Dodgers came away with a clutch 2-1 victory Sunday, which was neither expected nor easy. Shohei Ohtani broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning with his 39th home run, and Miguel Rojas tacked on an RBI single to make it 2-0 LA. And even though Lars Nootbar took Daniel Hudson yard in the eighth--AND the Dodgers' 6-9 hitters (Kevin Kiermaier, Kiké "Black Hole" Hernandez, base stealers' best friend Austin Barnes, and Nick Ahmed) went a combined 0-for-14 with 4 Ks--the Dodgers had just enough to eke out a victory for Clayton Kershaw, who went six scoreless in his best start of the year (4 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks, 70 pitches).

Kudos to Michael Kopech as well for picking up his 11th save of the year with a shutdown ninth, overcoming not only the Cardinals but also Barnes, who made an error with one out, throwing wild of first.

Don't get me started on Barnes (who has had one hit for the entire month of August, now appearing in eight games). I've been advised I need to be more optimistic.

And indeed, there was room for optimism following the Dodgers' victory today, after the Rays beat the Diamondbacks in extras (8-7 final, in 12), and the Rockies held on to beat the Padres 3-2. The Snakes were swept this weekend in Tampa, and the Padres lost two of three in Colorado. That leaves the Dodgers three games on San Diego and four games on Arizona, with 37 games to play.

Games 123-125 Thread: August 16-18 @ Cardinals

Fri 8.16 5.15p: TBD Wrobleski vs. Mikolas
Sat 8.17 4.15p: Glasnow Miller vs. Pallante
Sun 8.18 11.15a: Kershaw vs. S Gray

The dog days had better be over, because dropping two games against the Brewers, giving up an early lead due to just craptacular defensive play and/or lack of offense when it counts and/or bullpen meltdowns...just have to stop.

We've got 40 games left this season, and the Dodgers look like they're on fumes.

I know, we're tied for the most wins in the National League, and we sport the second-best record in the NL as well (the Phillies have one fewer loss). But the problem is that with our series split with the Brewers earlier this week, the Snakes and Padres are now tied for the wild card lead, and only two games behind us (not to mention, mere percentage points behind the Brewers. the NL Central leaders). All that to say: there's a very good likelihood we lose the division race, and fall to a wild-card spot.

St. Louis is reeling, 3-7 in their last 10 and falling into a tie with the Reds for second place in the NL Central, nine games behind Milwaukee. Seems like a perfect time for one of these two teams, the Dodgers or the Cardinals, to snap out of its funk and notch a series victory.

Somehow, I don't think it's going to be us.

UPDATE 8.17 11.26a: With yesterday's news that Tyler Glasnow has been moved to the 15-day IL with elbow tendinitis, Bobby Miller was called up from the minors (like yesterday's starter, Justin Wrobleski) to start today (Saturday). Miller is 1-2 with a 8.07 ERA this year, with a -0.8 WAR across seven appearances and 29.0 IP. (Miller has a 1.2 WAR for his career, with a 12-6 record and 4.58 ERA, but this year has been a challenge.)

Post-Game 6 Thread: Muncy Flips Script, Bat

DODGERS 5, CARDINALS 4

On Sunday Night Baseball, the Dodgers rallied back from a 4-0 deficit to take the 5-4 victory, punctuated by a mammoth no-doubt two-run home run by Max Muncy in the bottom of the eighth inning:

Here's another look:

On repeat. 🔁 pic.twitter.com/jJlEGrenm1

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 1, 2024

Pretty amazing, given the Dodgers were this close from being a .500 team, after dropping Game 3 of this series yesterday, thanks in large part to Joe Kelly's five-run (early Easter) egg. But even then, the Dodgers rallied back to tie it in the ninth, only to lose it in the tenth when Shohei Ohtani ended the game with a bases-loaded infield pop-up. That effort, as Muncy pointed out on the post-game interview, required St. Louis to burn a number of arms (including Giovanny Gallegos), which then left the Cardinals more vulnerable in Sunday's matchup.

Not that the Dodgers' pen was up to full strength, either. With Emmet Sheehan moved to the 60-day IL, the Dodgers optioned Kyle Hurt (2.2 IP, 0 BB and 3 Ks in Saturday's loss) and added Nabil Crismatt to the rotation just this morning. And the move paid off, with Crismatt (who got the win) going two scoreless innings with 0 BB and 3 Ks, on the back of a nasty changeup that fooled Wilson Contreras, Alec Burleson, and Brendan Donovan (all strikeouts). Daniel Hudson came in to record the save with a scoreless ninth, which was also great given Evan Phillips was unavailable after pitching the last two nights.

The big three weren't great in this game, with Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, and Freddie Freeman combining to go 1-for-11. Teoscar Hernandez went 2-for-4 with a HR and 2 RBI (the Dodgers' first two runs of their comeback win).

And credit has to go to Dave Roberts, who pulled Kike Hernandez (0-for-2) in the sixth to pinch hit Muncy, who went 2-for-2 and raised his average to .348. Roberts also slotted Chris Taylor fifth in the lineup today, and CT3 reached base four times (three walks and a run-scoring hit, plus the Dodgers' first stolen base of the year in the eighth). Our offense needs production from the top three, but in the cases where it doesn't happen, it's great that Roberts might be able to find the hot hand amongst the others. Today at least, Roberts was spot-on.

Dodgers take three of four from the Cardinals and move to 4-2, tied with the 3-1 Diamondbacks in the standings for the NL West lead.

Games 3-6 Thread: March 28-31 vs. Cardinals

Thursday March 28 1p: TBD vs. Miles Mikolas
Friday March 29 7p:
Saturday March 30 6p:
Sunday March 31 4p:

So I get it, it's "Traditional" Opening Day 2024, because the two games we played in Korea don't count. Except they do, in the standings. Well, cue the flyover for this four-game series against the Cardinals, anyway.

Sax here will be out of pocket for this series, so I'll leave it to you guys to tend bar. Don't ruin the joint while I'm gone!

Series Thread (Games 45-48): May 18-21 @ Cardinals

Thu 18 4.45p: Julio Urias vs. Wainwright
Fri 19 5.15p: Tony Gonsolin vs. Metz
Sat 20 4.15p: Noah Syndergaard vs. Mikolas
Sun 21 11.15a: Clayton Kershaw vs. Flaherty

Prior to Opening Day, everyone picked the Cardinals to win the NL Central (to be fair, that "everyone" also chose the Padres over the Dodgers in the NL West). And the Cardinals still might.

But their 17-26 record is curently worst in the National League, and they've got issues. Local product Jack Flaherty is not the 2019 ace they need him to be in 2023 (though he did come to life last start with 10 Ks). Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol doesn't like Tyler O'Neill's lack of hustle on the basepaths.

And by going 8-2 over the last 10, while the Pirates have falle back to earth and the Brewers scuffle around, the Cardinals are only 6.5 games out (the smallest distance to first place for all six MLB divisions).

Meanwhile, the Dodgers have won their last six series including going 5-1 at home this past week, the lone blemish being a rare loss for the bereaved Clayton Kershaw, for his first home loss since June 2021. But wait, there's more: in Wednesday's 7-3 victory over the Twins, we may have lost Dustin May for what's being called "at least a month," but will probably be a lot more. It's a flexor pronator strain, which in layman's terms is really fucking bad.

May's slot in the rotation isn't due for this four-game series in St. Louis, but everyone else's is. So here we go: a hot start to May, precariously set up for a let down. Sounds like a house of cards, no? Or at least a visit to one? Sigh.

Series Thread (Games 27-29): Apr 28-30 vs. Cardinals

Fri 4.28 7p: TBD vs. Flaherty
Sat 4.29 6p: TBD vs. Montgomery
Sun 4.30 1p: TBD vs. TBD

Friday's game marks a return to Dodger Stadium for Harvard-Westlake's own Jack Flaherty, who pitched the Wolverines to their only Southern Section Division 1 Championship in 2013 with a 1-0 vitory over Marina. Flaherty was one of three Harvard-Westlake pitching phenoms who would later play in the major leagues; in fact, all three pitchers (inlcuding the White Sox' Lucas Giolito and the Braves' Max Fried) started 2021 Opening Day for their respective teams.

Flaherty, who starts Friday for the Cardinals, is 0-0 with a 1.50 ERA in three starts @ Dodger Stadium, with 29 Ks over 18.0 IP. His 0.611 WHIP is the second-lowest across all 20 ballparks in which he has pitched, evidencing that he might be a little more fired up here at home. With the struggling Cardinals way back in the NL Central standings, I'm sure he has even more motivation to start this series off with a bang.

Let's welcome Flaherty back...but not be the best hosts possible. (But given we are a .500 team, I am sure we will be quite hospitable to St. Louis at least once this weekend.)

Games 151-153 Thread: Sep 23-25 vs. Cardinals

Fri 23 7p: Heaney vs. Quintana
Sat 24 6p: Kershaw vs. Montgomery
Sun 25 1p: Anderson vs. Wainwright

This series marks the return of all-time Dodger great Albert Pujols, who, after his legendary stint with the Dodgers, opted to play out one final year with the St. Louis Cardinals. Pujols is on 698 home runs (fourth all-time), and there is a chance he can get to 700 while playing at Chavez Ravine--which would be entirely fitting for the future Hall of Famer. (It is widely rumored that Pujols, always generous, may opt to give St. Louis a little bit of love on his HOF plaque, given that the Dodgers already have so much HOF representation.)

St Louis leads the NL Central by 7.5 games--but as the NL division leader with the weakest record, the Cardinals will likely have to play in the Wild Card Round before the NLDS. Should they advance, there's a chance these two teams could meet in the NLCS. Better not show the entire hand this series, right?

Welcome back to Dodger Stadium, Tio Albert!

Games 86-90 Thread: July 12-14 @ Cardinals; July 15-16 @ Angels

This picture is not an endorsement for this product. I just needed a unifying theme.

@STL Tues 12 4.45p: White vs. Liberatore
@STL Wed 13 4.45p: Gonsolin vs. Wainwright
@STL Thu 14 4.15p: Anderson vs. Hudson
@LAA Fri 15 6.30p: TBD vs. TBD
@LAA Sat 16 7p: TBD vs. TBD

I'm having to squish two series threads into one Game Thread due to travel. But I confess that I'm pretty damn giddy after a 10-1 homestand, punctuated by a crazy come-from-behind victory on Sunday afternoon in which Julio Urias shit a turd (down 5-0 with one out in the top of the first), only to see the Dodgers rally back to an 11-9 victory to sweep the hapless Cubs.

If we can play like this even with Max Muncy batting .162 and Cody Bellinger batting .211--wow, we've got a shot here.

And now the Dodgers have four All-Stars preparing for next Tuesday's All-Star Game: starters Mookie Betts and Trea Turner, and pitchers Clayton Kershaw and Tony Gonsolin. So let's enjoy these five last games before the break and everybody be cool, okay? Time for a tarot reading.

Post 2021 NL Wild Card Game Thread: Chris Taylor Walks It Off

DODGERS 3, CARDINALS 1

With a dramatic walk-off home run that will sit among legendary blasts like Kirk Gibson's in WS 1988, Justin Turner's in NLCS 2017, and Max Muncy's in WS 2018: Chris Taylor just pushed us past the St. Louis Cardinals in the winner-take-all 2021 NL Wild Card Game.

Unbelievable.

The Dodgers should have won this game on paper, what with their 106-win record (16 wins more than St. Louis), but the Cardinals came into this game incredibly hot, winning 19 of their last 22 including their last 11 road games and a franchise record 17-game winning streak wedged in that run.

The Dodgers also ended the season hot, though, including winning their last 15 home games to come up just short of the NL West division victory. But in a winner-take-all Wild Card Game, the best team doesn't always win. And one of these hot streaks was going to fall tonight.

Max Scherzer didn't have it tonight, with his command failing him throughout the game (I think there were seven three-ball counts), ultimately being pulled after 4.1 IP and an uncharacteristic 94 pitches. The LAT accurately described him as "scuffling." Scherzer was pissed when Dave Roberts pulled him. But it ended up being the right call, as Roberts' use of the bullpen through Joe Kelly, Brusdar Graterol, Blake Treinen, Corey Knebel, and Kenley Jansen was just masterful: 4.2 IP of no-run ball with only two hits (Scherzer had given up three and 6 Ks (Scherzer had 3 Ks, the same amount as Jansen). (Yes, we should qualify for a Jumbo Jack with 10 Ks total.)

But Adam Wainwright wasn't perfect either, lasting 5.1 IP but barely escaping a threat in the third when Trea Turner's broken bat led to an inning-ending GIDP. Wainwright ended up with only 5 Ks, one more than Scherzer, in an inning more of work. Wainwright also conceded a fourth-inning solo shot to Justin Turner that tied the game, and the game traded scoreless innings through the fifth-through-eighth innings.

So rather quickly, this game had become a test of each team's bullpens. The games involving the bullpen arms played out like a tennis match, which the TBS announcers referenced often ("The Dodgers hold serve!"). Luck was going to to end up being a factor here, but I have to hand it to Dave Roberts for making the right bullpen calls at all the right times.

The Cardinals threatened, putting runners on base in multiple innings, using a weak but effective arsenal of bloop singles and inopportune walks, amplified by three stolen bases. But they ultimately were let down by a remarkable 0-for-11 performance with RISP. And even though reliever and former closer (and All-Star) Alex Reyes yielded the Taylor HR in the bottom of the ninth, it was those missed offensive opportunities which doomed the Cardinals.

Not getting a post-date kiss, I reckon.

The Dodgers, on the other hand, went 2-for-5 with RISP. Our offense wasn't great either, with the exceptions of Mookie Betts had two hits (both misplays by Cards SS Edmundo Sosa), Trea Turner (two hits), and Cody Bellinger (a hit and two walks (and two SBs--real credit to Bellinger for making a huge impact in this critical game)). But AJ Pollock, Will Smith, and Corey Seager all went 0-for-3 with at leat one K (Seager had 2 Ks). Still, when we needed to get the big hit, we did.

Full credit to Taylor, who entered the game in a double-switch (for Graterol, as well as Pollock), and popped out to first in the bottom of the seventh. Much was made by the TBS broadcasters who cited Taylor's recent 8-for-72 stretch, not researching that Taylor had basically carried us through the first half of the 2021 season (not to mention, an outstanding defensive play in the top of the eighth on a sinking fly ball to left). But this was Taylor's moment to shine: two out, bottom 9, Bellinger in scoring position, and a 2-1 count (having been fooled badly on a slider earlier in the AB). You knew it as soon as it left the bat; Taylor and squared up his leg kick and everything.

BOOM. We're in the NLDS, and now head up to San Francisco for a pair of games to start a best-of-five series.

But first, let's celebrate. (And it was wonderful to watch the team celebrate in the locker room post-game, channeling all the joy that was stolen from them with the anticlimactic ending of the 2021 regular season, despite the torrid finish to the amazing regular season that did not get justly rewarded!)

UPDATE 10/7: More coverage, I can't resist.

The LAT's Gina Ferazzi took this amazing shot of Chris Taylor as the home run was at the end of its flight. What an awesome photograph. It anchors the WC G1 photos page online, as well as the Sports page print edition.

Also, here's Charley Steiner's call on radio (thank you, SoSG Orel, for pointing this out to me). Good to hear not only Steiner make the correct call on a deep fly ball (a rarity in itself!), but also to hear him lose his mind:

2021 NL Wild Card Game: Oct. 6 vs. Cardinals

Scherzer vs. Wainwright, 5.10p

On Tuesday, another storied franchise went down in the AL Wild Card Game. Today's game is set up to do the same.

The Dodgers walk into this winner-take-all game with baggage, searching in vain for a bat to fill the large hole suffered with Max Muncy's freak injury, not to mention an injured Clayton Kershaw (out for the entire postseason), an unavailable Walker Buehler (who pitched on Sunday), and a Cody Bellinger that hasn't gotten his groove all year. Even the rosiest of scenarios only has us at a razor-thin edge to win.

If there was ever a time for us to lose hope in this postseason, it's today. And I'm worried as all get out.

I had an offer for tickets to this Wild Card game, but my recent visits to those particular seats had all ended in losses, so I've made the call to pass and watch the game from home. I'll be on this thread with you.

LET'S GO, DODGERS!

UPDATE 8:10a Okay, I just read the morning coverage in the LAT and I'm a little depressed. Let's get fired up by remembering the Cardinals' 2009 NLDS Game 2, which featured the infamous nutshot from Matt Holliday:

Oh, those were better times. There's hope.

Series Thread (Games 138-141): Sept 6-9 @ Cardinals

Mon Sep 6 1p: Scherzer vs. Mikolas
Tue Sep 7 4.45p: TBD vs. Happ
Wed Sep 8 4.45p: TBD vs. Wainwright
Thu Sep 9 10.15a: TBD vs. Kim

Albrt Pujols returns to St. Louis, but we've got more pressing things to which to attend, after dropping the rubber match to the Giants and dropping back ou tof first place by a game. I'm posting this late (after Monday's win), in which Scherzer dominated but the Giants won as well, so we just kept pace (one back). And we don't have a starting pitcher named for the rest of this series. Hoo boy. I don't know if House of Cards refers to Busch Stadium, or our precarious attempt to summit the NL West.

Recapping the Dodgers' Amazing 11 First-Inning Runs (June 2, 2021)

screenshot stolen from Spectrum SportsNet last night

Last night, en route to a 14-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, the Dodgers mashed out 11 runs in the first inning. It was the most runs scored in an inning since the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles. Cody Bellinger finally broke out of his return-to-the-majors somnabulation and crushed a one-inning franchise record 6 RBI.

🚨 BELLI SLAM 🚨

It's an 11(!!!)-run first for LA. pic.twitter.com/dgdawSLM11

— MLB (@MLB) June 3, 2021

Here's a recap of the whole bottom of the first:

In fact, it reminded me a lot of the last 11-runs-in-one inning outburst by the Dodgers, which came in the 2020 NLCS vs. the Braves:

More important than winning the series with the Cards and moving 1.5 GB the divisional lead, this game showed that the Dodgers' offense might actually be back. We can't depend on Max Muncy, Justin Turner, Chris Taylor, and a recent coming of age from Gavin Lux. If we can get Bellinger healthy, Mookie Betts back to a prolific leadoff hitter...who knows how we might look when Corey Seager comes back from the broken hand, around the All-Star break.

But for now, let's celebrate the bottom of the first inning, batter by batter:

• Mookie Betts hits a ground-rule double (17) on a fly ball down the right-field line.
• Max Muncy walks.
• Justin Turner singles on a sharp ground ball to left. Betts scores, Muncy to third, Turner to second. Throwing error by left fielder Tyler O'Neill. LA 1, STL 1
• Cody Bellinger singles on a sharp line drive to right. Muncy, Turner score. LA 3, STL 1
• Chris Taylor walks, Bellinger to second.
• Gavin Lux singles on a sharp fly ball to center. Bellinger scores. Taylor to third, Lux to second. Throwing error by shortstop Edmundo Sosa. LA 4, STL 1
• Zach McKinstry singles on sharp ground ball to right. Taylor, Lux score. LA 6, STL 1
• McKinstry steals (1) second.
• Austin Barnes walks. This is eight straight batters without an out recorded.
• Walker Buehler strikes out on a foul bunt. One out.
• Betts singles on a line drive to left. McKinstry scores, Barnes to second. LA 7, STL 1
• Muncy flies out to right. Two out.
• Turner walks. Barnes to third, Betts to second.
• Jake Woodford replaces pitcher Carlos Martinez.
• Bellinger hits a grand slam (1) to right-center. Barnes, Betts, Turner also score. LA 11, STL 1
• Taylor lines out sharply to short. Three out.

Wow, what an inning. Between this, and Chris Taylor's 14-pitch AB in Monday's game (below--people, this AB takes over nine minutes!!!), this series might have the turning point for the Dodgers' season. We're in third place in the division, but with the third-best record in the NL (and fifth-best in MLB). Let's GOOOOOOO!

Series Thread (Games 54-56): May 31 - June 2 vs. Cardinals

5.31 Mon 6p: Bauer vs. Flaherty
6.1 Tue 7p: TBD vs. Gant
6.2 Wed 6p: Buehler vs. C Martinez

So the Giants came back into our house and spanked us back into third place. Mookie is almost certainly hurt, not just slumping.. Urias picked an inopportune time to drop the biggest turd of his career, with Roberts leaving him out there to hang for six innings (including trotting Urias out there for an inexplicable and impotent B6 AB, despite relieving him before the top of the seventh).

And the Dodgers are back to an offensive malaise, just scoring enough to make the final margin close(r) but not enough to win the game (see Friday's Austin Barnes B9 tying three-run HR, only to be followed by Kenley Jansen giving three runs right back in the top of the tenth).

St. Louis leads the Central with a record very close to the Dodgers' record (StL 30-23; LAD 31-22). This could easily be another series where the cards aren't in our favor.

32 Years of Waiting & 14 Years of SoSG

1988: birth year of Clayton Kershaw and Ghosts of a Championship Past.

When the Dodgers won the World Series in 1988, I was but a boy with hopes and dreams. 32 years later, that boy is older and heavier, his hopes and dreams having become wishes and adjusted expectations.

32 years is enough time to get an education and a job and realize how different they are from experience and a career. It's enough time to start a family, who will learn to tolerate your irrational Dodgers fandom.

Is it the Cubs' 108 years? Of course not. Is it still a fucking long time? Yes it is.

It's also enough time to figure out winning the World Series takes talent, discipline...and some je ne sais quoi.

Talent: The Dodgers were always rich enough to afford it (and sometimes stupid enough to give it away).

Discipline: Levels of hard work and common sense seemed to vary with the revolving door of managers that followed Tommy Lasorda's 20-year tenure, as well as the whims of whoever was keeping the GM chair warm (Kevin Malone? DePo?).

Intangibles: We never seemed to possess the inevitability of the Yankees, the devil magic of the Cardinals and Giants, the scrappiness (later entitlement) of the Red Sox. We endured 31 years of postseason drought and disappointment, never even getting within a victory of reaching the World Series. The Astros' cheating scandal of 2017 and the Red Sox cheating in 2018 were just the cherries on top of the cowpie.

So what changed? It was as slow as turning a battleship, but here's the summary:

1. Fuck off, Fox.
2. Go to hell, Frank & Jamie.
3. Hello, Guggenbros and Andrew Friedman (assist: Ned Colletti).

The result? A steady stream of talent (not just the occasional Manny Ramirez-esque splurge) resulting in 8 straight division titles. An organizational philosophy of discipline. Remember how frustrating the swing-for-the-fences approach was just a few years ago? Then this year, cavernous Globe Life Field became our "home" park and talk started about how the Dodgers' homer-happy approach could fall flat there.

Globe Death Field

— Sons of Steve Garvey (@sosgsosg) October 7, 2020

Instead the Dodgers made adjustments and nailed the balance of situational hitting and bashing dingers. Discipline! Lots of credit to hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc for that.

And the intangibles! Finally luck was a lady, the cookie didn't crumble, the ball bounced our way:

NLDS Game 1. 5th inning: Padres 1, Dodgers 0. Dodger-killer Jake Cronenworth makes a throwing error, allowing us to tie the score. We score 4 runs the next inning.

Something about that 5th inning pic.twitter.com/Bp7xCo6Bgh

— Sons of Steve Garvey (@sosgsosg) October 7, 2020

NLDS Game 2. 7th inning: Dodgers 4, Padres 3. Cody's catch! It sets the stage for a one-run squeaker of a victory (thanks Kenley):

I thought we were toast after going down 3-1 to the Barves in the NLCS. Indeed we were losing in the 6th inning of Game 7, but there was a crucial momentum shift two innings earlier:

NLCS Game 7. 4th inning: Barves 3, Dodgers 2. The inexplicable Barves double brain-fart:

What if Swanson pulls a Pierzynski and touches home after JT's tag? Maybe a replay situation. What if Riley doesn't double back like ZZ Top in Back to the Future III? Maybe he's safe at third. More maybes than in an Arrested Development marathon!

NLCS Games 5-7. One word: Mooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooookie.

And the coup de grâce:

World Series Game 5. 4th inning: Dodgers 3, Rays 2. Manuel Margot decides he's the man:

Silly rabbit, Kershaw's the man.

(And for anyone questioning the legitmacy of a COVID-shortened season: The two best teams met after a regular season that was mentally and emotionally more taxing than a 162-game season, plus every playoff team had to play an extra round. Take your asterisks back to 2017 where they belong.)

32 years is a generation! Thanks to the Guggenbros for investing the scratch, to Friedman for his roster wizardry and to Doc for keeping the egos in check. Best of all, their sustainable approach means we should be competitive for the forseeable future.

And when we win the World Series again, I still won't be done celebrating this one.

♦

The nadir of the Dodgers' 31 years of postseason futility came in the 2006 NLDS against the Mets. Jeff Kent and J.D. Drew were thrown out at home on the same play — by an all-former-Dodgers relay of Shawn Green to José Valentín to Paul "Fuck the Dodgers" Lo Duca. Naturally the Dodgers went on to lose that game by 1 run and get swept out of the series.

The collective outrage from group e-mails within our circle of Dodger fans must have been overheating our Intel Celeron microprocessors because days later, we decided to take our talents to Blogger. The Dodgers' streak of futility was at a mere 18 years — what babies we were! — when Sax made our first post.

It was three years B.T. (Before Twitter) and we were getting started during the golden age of sports blogging. It was thrilling to see the blog gain readership and recognition by the Dodgers organization itself (shoutout to Josh Rawitch!).

A glance at the sidebar shows our "attendance" at over 3.5 million views, which still blows my mind. A big hug to my friends and fellow Sons — the rest of the O.G. 6 — AC, EK, Lasorda, Pedro & Sax — and the "newcomers" — Delino, Dusty, Gnomes & Stubbs (and honorary DoSG Karina!).

But 14 years of blogging? Also a long time. At times it's felt like a crying baby that needs to be fed (damn GTs!). And the 31 years of falling short didn't help.

Now that we've arrived at the promised land...I don't know? In this fucked-up year, Vin Scully's truism holds even more true: "If you want to make God smile, tell him your plans."

Go Blue!