2020 NLCS Game 4 Thread: Oct 15 @ Braves, 5p

Flashing the guns. We're ready.

Kershaw vs. Wilson.

Wow, what an opening to NLCS Game 3.. And though it might be slightly unfair to expect another first-inning outburst tonight, it would live up to the pattern if the Dodgers exploded yet again for Game 4. SoSG Gnomes corrected me that yesterday's road game was not the first of this 2020 postseason; our other road game was NLDS Game 3, in which we won 12-3 over San Diego.

These two 2020 road games account for two of the Dodgers' top five most prolific playoff performances all time. And tonight's another road game. So let's do it again!

Which would be great of course, especially given Clayton Kershaw takes the mound for us today after being scratched in Game 2 with back spasms. Hoping Clayton's back is settled and he is able to rise to what pundits are already dubbing "the most important of his career", which they seem to say for every single one of Kershaw's playoff starts, anyway. That's why he's an ace. It comes with the territory.

We're winning tonight. Remember the happy times.

2020 NLCS Game 3 Thread: Oct 14 @ Braves, 3p

Urias vs. Wright.

So the Dodgers are now down 2-0 in the NLCS, our offense and dugout were "flatter than a third grader" (as one of the Sons, who will go unnamed, put it in our WhatsApp chat), and our pitching is in complete disarray. I confess that I was drinking Pessimist last night after the game (see photo, above; it's a pretty solid wine).

But I still believe that it's the Dodgers' time to shine. And last night's late rally, which fell one run short of a comeback, was a very good sign that the moribund bats of Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, Will Smith, and Cody Bellinger just might be waking up for the first time this series. Not to mention that of the 85 teams that have trailed 2-0 in a best-of-seven series, only 13 have prevailed (15%) BUT six of those 13 (almost half!) involved the Dodgers (to be fair, only three of them positively).

And here's the kicker: Game 3 is a road game for the Dodgers, who played better on the road in 2020 (22-8 vs. 21-9). We haven't played a road game yet in the 2020 postseason 2020 NLCS, so the change of scenery (and uniforms) will be refreshing. So don't go digging up rebuttal points like "we're in the same damn field, though," or "that's only a 3% difference in performance", dammit. We're winning tonight. Remember the happy times.

2020 NLCS Game 2 Thread: Oct 13 vs. Barves, 3p

Gonsolin vs Anderson

Welp. WELP. Things were going swimmingly until they weren't. The Barves punched the Dodgers in the mouth yesterday in Game 1 and now we get the news that Clayton Kershaw has back spasms and won't start Game 2. Tony Gonsolin will take his place.

One thing that impressed me about the Lakers' title run this year was that they never lost two in a row in the playoffs. When they lost, they made adjustments in the next game. Let's face it: Until last night the Dodgers hadn't been challenged in the playoffs beyond Game 2 of the Padres series. Can we make adjustments after being punched in the mouth?

Time to find out what we're made of!

The Dodgers certainly can overcome scratching Clayton Kershaw from his Game 2 start with back issues, but the scramble it causes is very real. They were depending on him and Walker Buehler for innings. That they’re getting only five combined from them in G1 and 2 is problematic.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 13, 2020

2020 NLCS Game 1 Thread: Oct 12 vs. Braves, 5p

Buehler vs. Fried

The Lakers have won their title. Which means now the entire focus of Los Angeles is squarely on the Dodgers, back in the NLCS for the fourth time in five years.. And though we are 5-0 in the postseason so far, it's not without uncertainty, namely the snowballed disappointment of Kenley Jansen, currently unfit to be our closer; not to mention how the Dodgers (or any team, for that matter) can muscle its way through a postseason series with no off-days.

The Dodgers are the "home team" to start, which is weird at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, but at least we've gotten three games under our belt in this cavernous stadium where home runs come to die. The Braves feasted on Fish in homer-happy Minute Maid Park. And their pitching has been spot-on as well: shutouts in four of their five postseason games.

So you guessed it: I'm nervous again. Let's go, Dodgers!

Congratulations, Lakers

From 2010: Congratulations, Lakers

From 2009: One-peat!

2020 NLDS Game 3 Thread: Oct 8 @ Padres, 6p

May vs. Morejon

Last night was a heart attack: Cody Bellinger's game-saving catch over the wall, Joe Kelly's tightrope to save Kenley Jansen's ass in the ninth. And after a heart attack, things in life always seem a lot clearer. Like the fact that Kenley Jansen is not fit to be our closer any longer. Or that Doc Roberts isn't going to depend upon tenure and history to make decisions. Or that Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger are starting to heat up again...which is exactly what we need.

Look, all season long, the Dodgers' bats have picked up this team in the few times when the bullpen has faltered. Last night's cardiac ninth inning was nuts but the Dodgers were were still due 9-1-2 in the bottom of the ninth, and I for one had a feeling that Mookie would have come up big again. But I'll take the win nonetheless.

Tonight we are the "visiting" team so we need to get out there and score runs early and often. Let's do this.

2020 NLDS Game 2 Thread: Oct 7 vs. Padres, 6p

Mookie Betts, about to open up the can of Dodgers whup-ass.

Kershaw vs. TBD

The Padres opened up Game 1 last night well, despite the early exit of Mike Clevinger, holding the Dodgers hitless through the first five frames. But with one out in the sixth during a 1-1 tie, Mookie Betts hit a double, and then the floodgates were open. By the end of the frame, the Dodgers were up 5-1 and didn't look back, thanks to a rock-solid bullpen performance across Dustin May, Victor González, Blake Treinen, and Kenley Jansen.

Also, nice to see Max Muncy get a double and Cody Bellinger get a RBI single in Game 1.

So now we turn right around and play another "home" game in Globle Life Field. Tonight, my wish is to start our hitting before the sixth inning.

2020 NLDS Game 1 Thread: Oct 6 vs. Padres, 6.30p

Buehler vs. Clevinger

Though MLB's four Division Series all feature divisional rivalries (all the Central teams were knocked out in the Wild Card round), the Los Angeles-San Diego one seems the spiciest. In yesterday's LAT, Dylan Hernandez characterized this rivalry as revered class vs. brash upstart.. All I see is a smokin' hot offensive team (Manny Machado, Feernando Tatis Jr., and Wil Myers, to start) vs. an offense that, besides Mookie Betts and Corey Seager, has been inconsistent or injured or flailing for most of this shortened season.

While one could see the Milwaukee Brewers lose life and energy with every inning, the Padres won't have any of that in this series. And we already know that the baseball gods continue to be cruel. So yeah, I'm worried about this one. Game 1 is critical.

Doc Joins Outraged Dodgers Fans About ESPN's In-Game Interview Scheme

Dodgers fans watching Wild Card Game 1 were incensed to hear Karl Ravech and crew pepper Dodgers 3B Justin Turner with questions WHILE HE WAS ON THE FIELD DURING PLAY. Notwithstanding Turner was beset with a faulty earpiece anyway, it seemed like a very intrusive idea, especially for a broadcaster who won't even consider putting its own play-by-play team in the Stadium, yet has no qualms about poisoning the athletes themselves.

Well, Doc Roberts is pissed off at ESPN, as well:

Interviews with managers or inactive players during a game are a fixture of national broadcasts these days, but in-game interviews with players on the field are becoming increasingly common. They are often seen in spring training and the All-Star Game, and even in the regular season lately. Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo received praise for one such appearance in spring training this year.

However, interviewing a player as he attempts to play in a postseason game, which is infinitely more consequential than a spring training or All-Star Game, rubbed at least one person the wrong way: Turner’s manager.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Friday that he only learned of ESPN’s plan an hour before the game and said there would be no repeat performance on his team.

I like ESPN but this experiment was a stupid idea. Glad that Roberts is telling them where they can stick their (faulty) mikes.

2020 Wild Card Game 2 Thread: Oct 1 vs. Brewers

Kershaw vs. Woodruff, 7p

The Dodgers eked out a 4-2 victory in Game 1 thanks in large part to Corey Seager's seventh-inning 447-foot HR to give the Dodgers that deciding two-run cushion. That said, the game ended with Kenley Jansen allowing the tying run to the plate and the Dodgers squandering run-scoring opportunities in the early innings, not to mention an embarrassing Max Muncy error in short right field which didn't lead to a run, but was sloppy as hell anyway.

Justin Turner, distracted by a dodgy in-game microphone not to mention inane questions from ESPN's Karl Ravech, went 0-for-4 on Wednesday; both Will Smith and Edwin Rios went 0-for-3. Is it right that we expect someone else in the lineup besides Mookie Betts to have a multi-hit game (Betts was 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored)? Let's go, Dodgers! Expectations are high.

2020 Wild Card Game 1 Thread: Oct 1 vs. Brewers

Buehler vs. Suter, 7p

I realize that MLB did its best to put forward a season after COVID-19 made most of life (not just baseball) a logistic nightmare. But of all the changes to this year's season: the universal DH, seven-inning double-headers, the three-batter minimum for relief pitchers, runners starting on second in extra innings--the one change that I hated the most was a first-round best-of-three series. In baseball, where anything can happen, a best-of-three series is incredibly capriciou, and the best team can easily come out on the wrong end. And without fans in the crowd, there is no homefield advantage enjoyed by the Dodgers, after their hard work resulted in the best record in baseball.

Only one of the four AL home teams won their first game yesterday. My stomach is going to be knotted. Let's hope the Dodgers can be a lot looser and play like the powerhouse team that they are.

Series Thread (Games 58-60): Sept 25-27 vs. Angels

Fri 9.25 6.30p: Kershaw vs. Heaney
Sat 9.26 6p: TBD vs. Bundy
Sun 9.27 12n: TBD vs. Canning

Well here we are, at the final series of the season. And with the Dodgers having clinched home field advantage, there is no reason to play these last three games all-out. Now is the time to take it easy and get ready for this crazy first-round series that begins Sept 30. As for this series, against an Angels team that find themselves just outside the AL's top eight, there are no stakes so we should just rest. We may lose, and we may win. But we will never be here again. So open up, I'm climbin' in, to take it easy.

Series Thread (Games 45-47): Sept 22-24 vs. A's

Tues 9.22: May vs. Montas
Wed 9.23: Urias vs. Manaea
Thu 9.24: TBD vs. Fiers
All games 6.30p

Home stretch, six games to play (all at home), with the Dodgers wielding a four-game lead over San Diego. At this stage it's just about getting our pitching roles defined, now that Caleb Ferguson is out for the year, and we are crossing our fingers to find out if Walker Buehler is blister-free.

The last series in Colorado, as predicted, did pick up our bats a bit; Cody Bellinger finally looked like he found a swing that didn't cause him to lose all balance (not to mention his helmet, distressingly), Gavin Lux went yard, and Chris Taylor showed he is getting hot at just the right time. I'm starting to give up hope on Max Muncy this year, but I have this feeling he is going to prove me wrong in the postseason (remember Game 3 of the 2018 World Series? No? Well, I've put a reminder below).

The A's have clinched the AL West with a 6.5-game lead over the Cheaters. That said, Dodgers-A's: It's always a fun time @ the Ravine. (Skip to 6:34 for the big fly (and a shot of me, on deck.)

UPDATE 9/22 10:04 PM: 8TH CONSECUTIVE DIVISION TITLE!

Series Thread (Games 41-44): Sept 17-20 @ Rockies

Thu 9.17 5.30p: Urias vs. Freeland
Fri 9.18 5p: TBD vs. Castellani
Sat 9.19 5p: Kershaw vs. TBD
Sun 9.20 12n: Gonsolin vs. Senzatela

Hot off of another series win in San Diego, the Dodgers now travel to Colorado for their last road series of the "season". It would be great to get some bats working here, especially since our bullpen is beleaguered (Kenley Jansen: shaky; Caleb Ferguson: injured; Joe Kelly: pouting; etc.). Max Muncy is right below the Mendoza line at .199, and I have a feeling he's due. Joc Pederson (.174) and Gavin Lux (.152), I'm not so sure. Nothing like four games @ Coors Field to get some Dingers going!

PLAYOFFS BABY

Series Thread (Games 48-50):Sept 14-16 @ Padres

It's a heavyweight matchup.

Mon 9.14 6p: Kershaw vs. Lamet
Tue 9.15 6p: TBD vs. TBD
Wed 9.16 1p: TBD vs. TBD

In a first for this blog, I'm going to write the words "this series between the Dodgers and Padres is a heavyweight matchup." What seemed like a ridiculous statement in any of the blog's 14 years of existence is now suddenly realistic, a by-product of a coronavirus-shortened season as well as the potent powers of Fernando Tatis Jr. and ephemeral Dodger Manny Machado. The Padres are only 2.5 games behind the Dodgers with 13 games to play, with both teams having beaten up on the NL West (LA is 22-11, SD is 19-13), but their head-to-head record is pretty balanced (LA 4 games to SD 3). Tatis is tied with Dodger Mookie Betts for the NL home run lead (15), with both in the conversation for NL MVP.

And the Padres meet the Dodgers with multiple starters sidelined (Buehler, May), not to mention continued offensive struggles from Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger (whom I hope are just starting slow, but whom are running out of time here). The one positive note is Will Smith, who has lit it up recently to provide some pop behind the plate. But of course Will Smith is rocking it now; after all, we're talking about the Wild Wild West.

Holy smokes, that video doesn't hold up well.

Series Thread (Games 46-47): Sept 12-13 vs. Asterisks

Sat 9/12 5p: Urias vs. Valdez
Sun 9/13 5p: TBD vs. Tiny Head

Spectrum SportsNet Dodgers recently re-aired 2017 WS Game 1 and it was disgusting, the pre-game interview with Asterisks manager A.J. Hinch saying how proud he was to get to the World Series in three years through all that hard work. He didn't mention the cheating, the trash can banging, the likely under-jersey buzzing. Those smug fuckers. I couldn't even watch.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers are limping into the final quarter of the season. The starters, alreday depleted by the losses of Walker Buehler (IL with a persistent blister) and Dustin May (comebacker which hit him on the ankle), also have to own up that their conssitent short outings have taxed the bullpen, which is now starting to fray a bit. We won our last series over Colorado only with two comeback victories and some strokes of fate (Rockies running through stop signs or making fielding errors). The Asterisks won't have Joe Kelly throwing at them this time, so they might be more ready for revenge.

Series Thread (Games 43-45): Sept 8-10 @ Snakes

Vin Scully's 1988 World Series ring can be yours for a mere $100,000-$300,000 (projected winning bid).

Mon, 6:30p: Walker Buehler vs Luke Weaver
Tues, 6:30p: Clayton Kershaw vs Taylor Clarke
Wed, 6:30p: Dustin May vs Madison Bumgarner

The invincible Dodgers have been felled, at least temporarily, by the sub-.500 Rockies. Colorado's series win marks the first series the Dodgers have dropped this season. Fortunately, providence has us visiting the hapless Snakes after we swept them at home last week. Can the $220 million-payroll Dodgers repeat the feat? Or will Madison Bumgarner dig deep and find his Dodger-killing form in a rare bright spot for the Diamondbacks?

Series Thread (Games 40-42): Sept 4-6 vs. Rockies

Fri 9.4 6.30p: May vs. Senzatela
Sat 9.5 6p: Gonsolin vs. Márquez
Sun 9.6 7p: Urias vs. TBD

Two-thirds of the way through this "season" now, and the Dodgers have opened up a six-game lead on the Padres, thanks to winning 12 of their last 14 games. Clayton Kershaw passed 2,500 career strikeouts last night; Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy, and Kike Hernandez have all clawed their way over a .200 batting average; and Mookie Betts and Corey Seager continue to be red-hot. Speaking of red-hot, Los Angeles is going to be beastly this weekend. No better time to stay indoors and watch these games!

Series Thread (Games 37-39): Sep 1-3 vs. D'backs

Tues 9/1: Urias vs. Young
Wed 9/2: Kershaw vs. TBD
Thu 9/3: TBD vs TBD
All games 6.40p

Home sweet home come the Dodgers, fresh off a prolific August in which they hit a NL-record 57 home runs (remember: we're playing with the designated hitter this year, so it's not exactly apples-to-apples). And here to greet them are the last-place Arizona Diamondbacks, who are probably just happy to not be playing indoors where COVID-19 can flourish. That's all I got right now, sorry. Rough week at work.