So in the late game last night, the Royals rolled past the Yankees 4-2. So all four divisional series are tied at one game apiece.
Tonight we go back to the National League. Here is the schedule (home teams listed first):
N.Y. Mets v. Philadelphia (series tied 1-1) (Fox Sports 1)
San Diego v. Los Angeles (series tied 1-1) (Fox Sports 1)
In the bottom of the second, Pete Alonso blasts a homer to left, and the Mets lead 1-0 after two.
ReplyDeleteThe Mets are rolling along -- they lead 4-0 after six. Philly only has two hits.
ReplyDeleteThe Mets tack on two more runs in the bottom of the 7th, and they are cruising -- up 6-0 after seven.
ReplyDeleteIn prior years, I have complained that it's unfair to decide the championship of MLB by these short playoff series. But no more. The rules are the rules, and everyone has had time to adjust by now. If you built a team that's great at crushing the Nationals in August, but can't put runs on the board in October, then you're going out and you should go out. The results may not be fair, but they are not random. Bruce Bochy has won the World Series four times under this system. Houston went to the A.L.C.S. seven times in a row. The Dodgers are 2-7 in their last nine playoff games. These outcomes are not the result of chance. So from now on, I'm expecting teams to build their club for October, or face the consequences.
ReplyDeleteCogent position.
DeleteThe Phillies, after being dominated by Sean Manaea (12-6, 3.47 ERA) for seven innings, get two runs off the Mets' bullpen in the top of the 8th. Mets lead 6-2 after 7 1/2.
ReplyDeleteDerek Jeter played 158 post-season games. Here were his stats: batting average of .308, 20 homers, 61 RBI's, and 18 stolen bases.
ReplyDeleteAlex Rodriguez played 76 post-season games. He batted .259, with 13 homers and 41 RBI's.
ReplyDeleteSome players are better in playoff baseball; some teams are better in playoff baseball. Those are just facts. MLB has decided to reward the teams that are good at playoff baseball, and I am adapting to that.
ReplyDeleteLou Brock hit .391 in his 21 postseason games, which were three seven-game World Series appearances. Brock hit .300 with one home run, five RBI and no stolen bases when the Cardinals beat the Yankees in 1964; .414 with one home run, three RBI and seven stolen bases when the Cardinals beat the Red Sox in 1967, and .464 with two home runs, five RBI and seven stolen bases when the Cardinals lost, four games to three, against the Tigers in 1968.
DeleteMets lead 7-2 after 8.
ReplyDeleteIn 85 post-season games, David Ortiz batted .289, with 17 homers and 61 RBI's.
ReplyDeleteThe Mets close it out. 7 runs, 9 hits, and 0 errors for the Mets. 2 runs, 5 hits, and 1 error for the Phillies. The Mets can win the series tomorrow in Queens.
ReplyDeleteNow we go to San Diego, where the Padres are planning to wallop the Dodgers.
ReplyDeleteA few weeks ago, I found a collection of MLB mini-pennants from the 1970s. They had to be made sometime between 1972 and 1976, because they have the Rangers but they do not have the Mariners or the Blue Jays. Of course, that's fine with me. Anyway, this year every playoff team has come from the 23 remaining franchises that existed between 1972 and 1976, so I'm able to use my new (old) mini-pennants for every game. This is making me very happy.
ReplyDeleteThis is outstanding.
DeleteOne reason the Dodgers can't advance in the playoffs is that they do not have good starting pitchers. In Game One of their series with the Padres, they started Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who went 7-2 in 18 starts during the regular season. He lasted only three innings, and left trailing 5-3. Fortunately for him, the Dodgers fought back to win 7-5.
ReplyDeleteIn Game Two, the Dodgers started Jack Flaherty, who wasn't even on the team when the season began. They picked him up from Detroit -- who has rolled on without him. Flaherty went 6-2 with a 3.58 ERA in 10 starts for the Dodgers, but he was no match for Yu Darvish, the Padres starter. Darvish allowed only 1 run in 7 innings, while Flaherty was tagged for 4 runs in 5 1/3 innings. The Dodgers did not dig out of this hole, as they were hammered 10-2.
ReplyDeleteNow the Dodgers are fighting for their lives in San Diego. The Padres are rolling out Michael King, a solid starter: 13-9 and 2.95 ERA 30 starts. The Dodgers have no one to match King. They are reduced to trying Walker Buehler. Now Buehler, who played for Lex. Henry Clay H.S., used to be a great pitcher. In 2021, he went 16-4 with an ERA of 2.47. But he hasn't been healthy since. He went 6-3 in 2022, with only 12 starts. And in 2023 he didn't play at all. This year, he was a mere shadow of his former self, going 1-6 with an ERA of 5.38 in 16 starts. But apparently he's the Dodgers' best option.
ReplyDeleteApparently in the regular season, the Dodgers' offense is so good -- and many of their opponents are so bad -- that they can send out this collection of starters and still win 98 games. But in playoff baseball, you are going to be reminded of why every game features a "winning" pitcher and a "losing" pitcher. The stats gurus may think those titles are arbitrary, but they seem very real when you're watching Yu Darvish mow your guys down for seven innings in a row.
ReplyDeleteNow Fox Sports 1 is doing a segment on "Why is Mookie Betts struggling?" Well, in 60 post-season games, Mookie Betts has batted .245 with 4 homers and 18 RBI's. He's not good in the post-season, period. He hasn't homered in the playoffs since 2021. So the Dodgers can't count on much from him.
ReplyDeleteI don't see why any of this is so difficult. It's easy to know that you need real starting pitching in the playoffs -- the Dodgers have plenty of money, and they should get some. It's easy to know that Mookie Betts is a great player who won't do much in the playoffs -- just make sure you have other hitters who can make up for it. And have a manager who can get your guys to play hard -- or at least as hard as the Padres. Otherwise you are going out in the Divisional Series for the third year in row.
ReplyDeleteBut if you spend an enormous sum of money on your baseball team, and you are somehow reduced to starting a guy with a record of 1-6 and an ERA of 5.38 in a vital playoff game, I don't know what else to say -- you don't deserve to advance.
ReplyDeleteOK, I was frustrated that I was having to use a navy Padres mini-batting helmet. But I just found the brown and gold version -- which matches my 1970's mini-pennant. Now I'm ready for the game.
ReplyDeleteMookie Betts, who was 0 for his last 22 at-bats in the post-season, lofts his first post-season home run since 2021 just over the wall in left, and the Dodgers lead 1-0 in the top of the 1st.
ReplyDeleteBuehler gets through the first inning, but the wheels are coming off in the bottom of the second. Manny Machado, who looks cocky enough to beat the whole Dodger team by himself, leads off by whacking a single up the middle. Then Jackson Merrill hits a grounder to first. Freddy Freeman, apparently losing his mind, hurls the ball into left field trying to get Machado at second. Then, with runners on first and third, Xander Bogaerts hits what appears to be a double play ball. Miguel Rojas, the Dodgers shortstop, does NOT flip the ball to second. Instead, he tries to step on the bag before Merrill, but he loses that race and Merrill is safe. So Rojas throws to first, but Bogaerts beats that throw as well. Now the Padres have a run on the board, runners on first and second, and no one out.
ReplyDeleteThe Dodgers were asking Buehler to do a lot in this game, but he can't overcome this terrible defense. David Peralta whacks a double down the right field line, scoring Merrill and Bogaerts. Padres lead 3-1 with no one out. Then Jake Cronenworth beats out a grounder to the hapless Rojas, and the Padres have men on first and third with no one out.
ReplyDeleteKyle Higashioka hits a sacrifice fly, the Padres are up 4-1 in the bottom of the second, and this game is already over.
ReplyDeleteWith two out, Fernando Tatis, Jr. -- who is much better than anyone on the Dodgers' team -- whacks a two-run homer to left. The Padres lead 6-1, and the Dodgers can start looking forward to losing in the Divisional Series next year.
ReplyDeleteSo far in this series, Tatis is 6 for 9 with two doubles and three homers.
ReplyDeletePadres lead 6-1 after two, and that's why you need a real starting pitcher for Game 3 of a best-of-five series.
ReplyDeleteHold the phone! In the top of the 3d, the Dodgers -- finally showing some energy after being humiliated in these playoffs for three years in a row -- push back.
ReplyDeleteRojas singles to center. Ohtani singles to center. Betts singles to center to load the bases. Rojas is injured, so Andy Pages comes in to pinch run for him.
ReplyDeleteWith the bases loaded and no one out, Freddy Freeman hits a dying line drive to left, but it's caught by Jurickson Profar. One out.
ReplyDeleteThe next batter is Teoscar Hernandez, the Dodgers' left fielder. He runs the count to 1-2, and then BLASTS A GRAND SLAM TO DEAD CENTER FIELD. That ends the party in San Diego. The Padres still lead 6-5, but at least the Dodgers have come back to life.
ReplyDeleteOh, my word!
DeleteOf course, the next two Dodgers go down quietly, instead of jumping on a vulnerable Padres starter. But that's the Dodgers for you. Anyway, San Diego now leads 6-5 going into the bottom of the 3d. This is the only time in the last three years that I've had the impression that the Dodgers were even interested in the playoffs.
ReplyDeleteThe Dodgers are going to try Buehler again in the bottom of the 3d. Let's see how that works out for them.
ReplyDeleteBuehler mows down three Padres in a row, and San Diego leads 6-5 after three.
ReplyDelete#ohky: "In 1834, the first four-room public school was built in Lexington. It was sponsored by a man named William Morton. Seventy years later, the first four-year high school in Lexington opened on the corner of Walnut and Short streets. This school was named Morton High School. In 1927, the board of education granted permission for a new school to be built on East Main Street. On July 6, 1928, the board adopted the name Henry Clay High School, requested by the Daughters of the American Revolution."
DeleteI make fun of the Dodgers because I care about them so much. But the reality is that the Padres are very good, and that they are playing these games at a manic level of intensity. I don't think L.A. can match that intensity, and even if it could, I don't think the Dodgers have the pitching to beat San Diego. But one thing is very true: whoever loses this series will hurt a lot. That would be three humiliating losses in the Divisional Series in a row for the Dodgers, and L.A. is not a sentimental town when it comes to sports. But losing to the Dodgers, after the type of mad level of effort they've shown in this series, would really hurt the Padres as well. There's just no way this series doesn't break a lot of hearts.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, this one game is going to break a lot of hearts. It's really painful to lose a playoff game where your team hit a grand slam. But it's probably even more painful to lose a playoff game where you scored six runs in the bottom of the second.
DeleteIt's not quite the same with the Mets and the Phillies. I think the Phillies' fans will be very disappointed if they lose to New York -- they've come so close in recent years and they have been the better team all season. But the Mets fans are giddy to have gotten this far, and they'll be happy whatever happens.
ReplyDeleteThe bottom of the Dodgers lineup is useless, and they go down quietly in the top of the 4th. Padres still lead 6-5 after 3 1/2 innings.
ReplyDeleteCronenworth leads off the bottom of the fourth by lacing a single to left. I will be staggered if Buehler survives this inning.
ReplyDeleteThese playoff baseball series are starting to feel more and more like the NHL playoffs. For years, I knew that no matter what the Washington Capitals did in the regular season, they would lose to Pittsburgh in the playoffs. It didn't matter what Washington's record was. It didn't matter what Pittsburgh's record was. Pittsburgh was just tougher and meaner than Washington, and would find a way to win. That's how I feel about the Dodgers and the Padres.
ReplyDeleteLet's! Go! Caps!
DeleteI am staggered, by the way. Buehler got Higashioka to hit an infield fly, and then Luis Arraez hit into a double play to end the inning with Tatis on deck. Padres still lead 6-5 after 4.
ReplyDeleteMore Wikipedia: "The Henry Clay Speech and Debate team is currently[when?] led by coach Ryan Ray. The Debate team has won the Kentucky State championship 13 times, in 1991, 1992, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023."
DeleteI know that there has been a lot of frustration in these comments, but in reality this game has been spectacular so far. Ohtani just came up, worked a full count, and blasted a ball toward center field. It looked like a game-tying homer, but just died at the wall. Just great, great baseball.
ReplyDeleteI love the coming around here.
DeleteAnd the Padres fans are nuts, by the way. I think losing the Chargers has really amped them up.
ReplyDeleteWatching the Padres fans going crazy in their beautiful new ballpark, it makes me confident that if you put a team in a new ballpark in Oakland, and built a club good enough to make the playoffs, you would have a very similar vibe up there.
DeleteOf course, they would.
DeleteSince giving up a grand slam, Michael King has retired eight Dodgers in a row. He mows down Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman in the top of the 5th. The Padres still lead 6-5, and now Tatis gets another at-bat.
ReplyDeleteBuehler retires Tatis and Profar, but then gives up a single to Machado. Manager Dave Roberts comes out of the bullpen, but decides to leave Buehler in. Buehler then throws a wild pitch to send Machado to second, and then intentionally walks Jackson Merrill. So the Padres have men on first and second with two outs, and Xander Bogaerts at the plate.
ReplyDeleteBogaerts hits a broken-bat grounder to short, and Merrill is (barely) forced at second. So San Diego leads 6-5 after five. You can cut the tension in San Diego with a knife.
ReplyDeleteIn the top of the sixth, the Padres replace their starter, Michael King, with Jeremiah Estrada, who went 6-3 with a 2.96 ERA in 62 appearances this year.
ReplyDeleteI think Dave Roberts is one of the best managers that the Dodgers have ever had. He's only 52 years old. He has never missed the playoffs since taking over as manager in 2016. He won the pennant in 2017, 2018, and 2020. He won the World Series in 2020. But he is 2-7 in his last nine playoff games, and all those games were played against teams from the NL West -- teams that the Dodgers dominated in the regular season. If he loses this series, you have to wonder if L.A. will make a change.
ReplyDeleteI would not have fired him (and would not still), but I'm surprised they haven't so far.
DeleteThe Dodgers go down 1-2-3 in the 6th. That's 11 Dodgers retired in a row. That one-run lead is looking bigger and bigger.
ReplyDeleteHaving gotten five innings out of Buehler, the Dodgers turn to Anthony Banda, who went 3-2 with an ERA of 3.08 in 48 appearances this year.
ReplyDeleteHPKo20 Andy Beshear also went to Henry Clay.
DeleteSo far, in three games, Dodger starters have given up 15 earned runs in 13 1/3 innings pitched.
ReplyDeleteSan Diego leads 6-5 after 6.
ReplyDeleteIn the top of the 7th, Jason Adam comes out of the Padres' bullpen and blows away the bottom of the Dodgers' batting order. That's 14 Dodgers retired in a row. I thought they would show some fight after that grand slam, but apparently the grand slam was the fight.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I would not replace Roberts. I would get some starting pitchers instead. But the fury in Los Angeles after the Padres eliminate the Dodgers will be volcanic.
ReplyDeleteWhat's hard, psychologically, is that on paper the Dodgers are clearly better than teams like the Padres and the D-Backs. And then when you get crushed by those teams, it's tempting to blame the manager. But the Dodgers are only better at regular season baseball. In playoff baseball, the Dodgers' lack of good starting pitching is fatal to their chances. So instead of seeing these series as upsets, Dodger management should recognize that the team they've built isn't really good enough to get past San Diego. They need a pitcher who can give them six scoreless innings against the Padres in October. They don't have one. That's not Roberts's fault.
ReplyDeleteYes, the Dodgers kicked the ball around in the infield somewhat in that disastrous second inning. But the difference in the game is Tatis's two-run homer, and no Dodger fielder touched that ball.
ReplyDeleteThe Padres lead 6-5 after 7. The Dodgers have the top of the order coming up in the 8th inning, and this will surely be their last real chance to score. The Padres turn to Tanner Scott, who went 9-6 with an ERA of 1.75 in 72 appearances this year. He had 22 saves.
ReplyDeleteScott will face Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman. If he does not allow a run, it seems certain that the Padres will advance to the N.L.C.S.
ReplyDeleteOhtani is 1-11 against Scott in his career.
ReplyDeletePETCO Park is a cauldron of sound, with the Padres fans all standing and waving their gold towels.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful.
DeleteOhtani is called out on strikes. That's 15 Dodgers in a row retired by Padre pitching.
ReplyDeleteBetts hits the first pitch, and flies out to center. That's 16 in a row.
ReplyDeleteFreeman comes up to a chant of "BEAT L.A.," along with the general towel waving.
ReplyDeleteFreeman singles to center. Stunning.
ReplyDeleteFreeman is limping on every play, so he comes out for Chris Taylor, who will pinch run. The Padres are also going to make a change, as they bring in Robert Suarez to pitch. Suarez went 9-3 with a 2.77 ERA in 65 appearances. He has 36 saves.
ReplyDeleteSuarez will face Teoscar Hernandez, who will either hit a home run or get out.
ReplyDeleteFor Dodger fans, this is pretty much the season:
ReplyDeleteSuarez v. T. Hernandez (2 out, runner on first):
Pickoff to first (runner safe)
Pitch 1: called strike (0-1)
Pitch 2: ball low (1-1)
Pitch 3: ball low (2-1)
Pitch 4: swinging strike (2-2)
Pitch 5: Hernandez pops out to the first, and the Dodgers' season is over
Give credit to Freddy Freeman. With the Dodgers down 6-5, and their season on the line, he was the only Dodger to have a decent at-bat since the third inning.
ReplyDeleteGive credit also to the Dodgers' bullpen, which kept this game close. The Padres lead 6-5 after 8.
ReplyDeleteBut give a lot of credit to the Padres, who have been the better team all night and who are going to close out the Dodgers in about five minutes. Suarez stays in to slam the door against the Dodgers' lesser batters.
ReplyDeleteThe Dodgers are sending up Max Muncy, Will Smith, and Gavin Lux. Tonight these guys have combined to go 0-9.
ReplyDeleteMuncy and Smith go down very quickly, and now it's up to Lux. But by this point the party is under way in San Diego. The Padres haven't come this far to lose to Gavin Lux.
ReplyDeleteLux strikes out on a full count, because of course he does. The Padres win a great game, 6 to 5. There will be one more party in San Diego tomorrow night, and then the Dodgers can go home for the winter.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry, GoHeath. This, however, was a riveting thread.
DeleteIn the last three seasons, the Dodgers have played ten games in the post-season. All ten games were against teams from the NL West -- teams that finished well behind the Dodgers in the standings, teams with which the Dodgers were extremely familiar. Six of those games were in Los Angeles, and only four were on the road. The Dodgers are 2-8 in those games.
ReplyDelete