Shohei Ohtani (6-2, 1.06) vs. Shane McClanahan (6-4, 3.23).
Ring the alarm bells! Shohei Ohtani has to take the mound roughly 14 hours after his last game? Luckily, last night's 1-0 victory only took 1:52, so hopefully our two-way phenom had time to sleep a bit (and can you believe Ohtani is batting .297?).
Justin Wrobleski (7-2, 2.95) vs. Drew Rasmussen (6-2, 2.71).
How is Miguel Rojas so dramatic and effective as a late-game pinch hitter? Last night, Rojas saved the Dodgers with a seventh-inning game winning home run, which hearkened back to the postseason exploits of last season. Sure, we shouldn't have to depend upon a three-run homerun from Kyle Tucker to even be in the game in the first place. Let's get this offense going tonight for Wrobo, okay?
Eric Lauer (2-5, 5.47) vs. Nick Martinez (6-2, 2.43).
The Rays are no (Top) Secret: quietly building a consistent contender without the huge payroll.. Tonight is Round 1 against Dodgers GM Andrew Friedman's former stomping grounds.
Yamamoto vs. Diaz.
Holy smokes, how early is this frickin' game?! Are we playing in Europe?
Snell vs. Rasmussen.
I don't know what is more unusual about this game: the 10a Saturday start time (to avoid Florida's afternoon thunderstorms), or the fact that we have a guy taking the mound who has disappointingly sat on the bench most of this season.
Get ready for more David Vassegh glazing.
Kershaw vs Baz.
The new-look, post-Trade Deadline Dodgers hit Tampa's minor-league park for a series--sans Dustin May. Okay then.
8.23 7p: Bobby Miller vs. Tyler Alexander 8.24 6p: Clayton Kershaw vs. Taj Bradley 8.25 1p: Gavin Stone vs. Shane Baz
It's a rare off-year for the Rays, the small-market team that always overperforms in the AL East. But they're 10.5 games off the divisional lead, and seven games out of the third wild card slot (needing to vault over Boston as well). Such is the craziness of the expanded playoff structure: there's a lot of teams right in the middle, not yet out of it but probably not in the race.
That said, the Rays did just sweep the Diamondbacks last week. So let's not expect this to be a cakewalk.
The Dodgers' recent 10-3 streak, punctuated by a sweep over the Mariners at home, now has us not only clear of the Diamondbacks and Padres by 4.0 and 4.5 games, but also wielding the best record in all of baseball. No surprise that our recent improved performance is tied to the return of some key players (Mookie Betts, Max Muncy) and the sudden upswings from players named Gavin (Lux and Stone).
But we'll still need to see Will Smith and Shohei Ohtani start to bat with some better consistency.
And then there's that Chris Taylor issue: recently activated at the high cost of DFAing Jason Heyward. I am still shaking my head over that one.
Fri 26 3.40p: Syndergaard vs. TBD Sat 27 1.10p: Kershaw vs. Glasnow Sun 28 8.35a: Stone vs. TBD
The Dodgers meet Tampa for the first time since dispatching them in the 2020 World Series. And though the Rays' cast of characters has changed, they are still getting it done in a highly-competitive division, with the Rays at a major-league-leading 36-15 record, which would be five games better than the Dodgers if we were division rivals.
The Dodgers are coming off a winning series in Atlanta, punctuated by an unfortunate Phil Bickford outing on Wednesday, which dropped the Dodgers below .500 (3-4) on this road trip. The Dodgers still have problems getting runs across the plate; 1-for-10 with RISP on Wednesday, 10 LOB, led by Max Muncy's 0-for-5, 3K day in the cleanup spot (Chris Taylor also had 2 Ks in a 1-for-4 day, putting his average at .191).
This trip was always going to show if we have what it takes for the playoffs, especially leaning on our offense given our starting rotation is in shambles. After dropping three of four in St. Louis, the series win in Atlanta gave me some hope. Now the Rays are poised to crush that hope in their domed field.
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:
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!
Clayton Kershaw vs Tyler Glasnow.
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat is going on??? How did the Boys in Blue go from staring elimination in the face (sans mask, no less) to barreling into their third World Series in four years?
Let us count the ways:
1. Timely hitting. And just enough of it. The Dodgers' margins of victory in their four NLCS wins: 12, 4, 2, 1. In Game 7, both Kiké Hernandez's and Cody Bellinger's ABs went like this:
The Barves' pitching tightened up and somehow our bats, as Dr. Ian Malcolm might say, found a way.
Oh yeah, congrats to NLCS MVP Corey Seager! Keep mashing, Corey.
2. Pitching. While our starters have been variable, the bullpen has been the best we've seen lately. Let's hope Clayton can go deep into tonight's game and preserve those relief arms.
3. De-fense! De-fense! De-fense! Mookie Betts! Justin Turner (above)! Defensive Runs Saved might not be as sexy a stat as, say, dingers, but it all adds up (or subtracts down).
4. Managing. Let's credit Dave Roberts when he pushes the right buttons. Our first two openers in Game 7 (Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin) weren't great but Doc made the adjustments to settle the pitching down. He PHed Kiké at the right time and trusted Julio Urías to finish the game. No Clayton or Kenley in sight.
5. Luck. Finally, that last ingredient that no amount of money can buy. In Game 7 it came in the form of the double TOOTBLAN courtesy of Dansby Swanson and Austin Riley. We suuuuuure could use a few more of those types of plays by the Rays.
Will this finally be our year? Will the small-market Rays triumph over our clever, moneyed overlords? In 1988, both the Lakers and Dodgers handled their business. 32 years later, we're thisclose to it happening again.
GO BLUE!
Mystery Man #1 Dustin May vs Mystery Man #2 Ian Anderson
Game 7!
I am by nature a cynic, so I admit when the Boys in Blue went down 3-1 in this series I thought they were toast. But Mookie & Co. have so far proven this asshole wrong and soon we'll find out if the 2020 Dodgers can be called comeback kids.
The winner of tonight's tilt will advance to the World Series against the team with the AL's best regular-season record, the Tampa Bay Rays, who first went to the World Series in 2008. The Dodgers have the NL's best regular-season record, so how about some symmetry, boys?
As a bonus, Joe Davis will be calling tonight's action on Fox.
GO BLUE!
Tue 5/21: Clayton Kershaw vs. TBD Wed 5/22: Rich Hill vs. TBD Both games at 4p PT
A two game series? In Tampa? The only thing weirder than this scheduling anomaly would be if Tampa had to travel west to play the Diamondbacks, as that would be Rays In Arizona. Alas, we get a chance to rest for this two-game picnic soiree in Tampa, with off-days before and after this "series."
And we'll probably need it, given the Rays have the best ERA in the majors @ 2.98 (the Dodgers are in second, at 3.38), as well as the second-best batting average against (.214); the Dodgers are third-best with .221. As of this post's press time, the Rays had not named their starters, to duel against Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill, but we know it won't be Charlie Morton or Blake Snell (who pitched this past weekend vs. the Yankees). Let's see if all that rest can do our bats some good.
We've issued a joint statement with the @TBBuccaneers and @TBLightning. #TeamTampaBay pic.twitter.com/MDWKnVgdrQ
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 17, 2017
BREAKING: John Henry: Red Sox ready to change name of "Yawkey Way." He's "haunted" by racist legacy of ex-owner. https://t.co/tfS60z66Qg
— Michael Silverman (@MikeSilvermanBB) August 17, 2017
7/26, 7p: Bud Norris (5-9, 4.50) vs. Chris Archer (5-13, 4.56).
DODGERS 3, RAYS 2. Norris: 6.1 IP, 0 R
7/27, 12n: Brandon McCarthy (2-0, 1.61) vs. Matt Moore (6-7, 4.31).
RAYS 3, DODGERS 1
A quickie two-game series against the Rays followed by another day off. Will Chris Archer be a Dodger by series' end? LANA!
Alex Wood (1-2, 4.82) vs. Drew Smyly (1-3, 2.60).
In the spirit of Star Wars Day, we bring you a comparison of two structures. One of these places is the soulless home of an evil empire — and it also holds Trayce Thompson's home run ball from yesterday's game.
Scott Kazmir (1-2, 5.76) vs. Matt Moore (1-2, 3.66).
Welcome to Capri Sun Field or whatever it's called, Dodgers! The Boys in Blue will experience some dome action for the first time in quite a while (too lazy to look it up), but without Clayton Kershaw's glove and bat, will they score a single run?
Sources: Manager Joe Maddon has exercised an opt-out clause in his contract and is leaving the Tampa Bay Rays immediately.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) October 24, 2014early word: maddon not considering LA an option at all. he understands friedman is committed to mattingly.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) October 24, 2014Andrew Friedman: Don Mattingly will manage the #Dodgers next season. Joe Maddon's availability won't change that.
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) October 24, 2014As I said last week, Joe and I enjoyed a tremendous relationship working together in Tampa Bay and I wish him nothing but the best, wherever his next stop will be. However, nothing has changed on our end. Don Mattingly will be our manager next season, and hopefully for a long time to come.Definitive rumor-squashing, bold-faced lie, or gambling that Donnie will up and quit? You be the judge.
ALDS Game 4 in Detroit is already underway: Oakland is up in the series 2-1 so this is an elimination game for Detroit. Oakland leads Game 4 3-0 in the fifth inning. HOLY SHIT, TIE GAME!
ALDS Game 4 in Tampa is set for tonight, 5.30p first pitch. Boston leads the series 2-1; Jake Peavy (4-1 with Boston and a 4.04 ERA this year) goes against Jeremy Hellickson (12-10, 5.17).
Alex Cobb (11-3, 2.76) vs. Danny Salazar (2-3, 3.12).
Last night's Wild Card game got out of control early, as the home Pirates crowd got into Johnny Cueto's head. The Rays seem unflappable however, and they're facing a rookie who began the season in Double-A and rose up on the power of his upper-90's fastball. After watching his team take that Game 163 tiebreaker, we'll see if Cobb can be a Ray of hope.
