If winning 100 games in the regular season and looking like jack asses in the playoffs is exciting for you, then these Dodgers are perfect. It’s not for me, and I’m not excited for this brand of terrible baseball. As predicted by me, and many of you, the Dodgers lost again, falling 4-2 to the Dbacks and are now down 2-0 in the best of five NLDS. They’ll travel to Arizona for game 3 where they’ll be easily swept.
As I’ve said back in April, the Dodger’s starting pitching is pathetic, and Bobby Miller continued their season long woes with another horrible start. The rookie lasted just 1.2 before he forced Dave Roberts‘ hand. Doc had to hook him after he allowed three earned runs and couldn’t escape the second inning. In that dreadful first inning Corbin Carroll walked, Ketel Marte reached on a bunt single and Tommy Pham singled to load the bases. Christian Walker’s sac fly (this time James Outman made a great leaping catch against the wall) brought in the first run. Gabbriel Moreno’s ground ball scored Marte to put the Snakes up 2-0. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. singled in the third run to make it a 3-0 game, and send Dodger fans to the exits five minutes into the game. Sound familiar? Miller did strike out Alek Thomas to end the inning, but the game was already over.
That’s because the Dodger bats disappeared into the October night again. Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith combined to go 1 for 12. Zac Gallen, Arizona’s starting pitcher showed the Dodgers what starting pitching actually looks like (hope Andrew Friedman takes notes) tossing 5.1 innings allowing two earned runs on five hits and striking out four.
J.D. Martinez homered in the bottom of the fourth to breathe some life into Dodger Stadium, but there wasn’t much else to cheer about. The Dodgers did have a couple of rallies that they screwed up. In the bottom of the fifth, Outman walked and Miguel Rojas singled to center. But Mookie grounded into a force out and Freeman stood and looked at a called strike three like a statue.
Just Dingers. pic.twitter.com/htc2xIMt6P
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 10, 2023
The real heroes of the game were the Dodger bullpen. Brusdar Graterol was called in in the second inning, and put up some zeroes. Ryan Brasier pitched multiple innings as well, but one mistake to Gurriel extended the Dback’s lead to 4-1 at the time.
The next failed rally came in the bottom of the sixth. That drove Gallen out of the game, but as usual the Dodgers didn’t do much. Max Muncy blooped a single to center, and JDM singled into right. Arizona hooked Gallen and called in some random kid named Saalfrank? Predictably he didn’t have much trouble against a team that has already given up. Pinch-hitter Chris Taylor walked, and Enrique Hernandez singled up the middle off of Saalfrank’s glove. That did score a run, but it just brought false hope that the Dodgers weren’t going to blow it. With the bases loaded the Dodgers had a golden opportunity, but you know these are the loser Andrew Friedman Dodgers. Outman struck out swinging and then after sidearmed Ryan Thompson was brought in, Kolten Wong (Why is he on the roster?) pinch-hit for Miguel Rojas and weakly grounded out.
The Dodgers got a couple of base runners on the rest of the way, but that was it. The Arizona bullpen locked up the win and that was it. It’s pretty simple here, if these players can’t perform in October than it’s time to find new players. But the stench of the front office needs to be cleansed first. Looking forward to another 100 win season next year and getting swept in the division series by the Marlins. Dodgers baseball at it’s finest folks! My advise to the Dodgers….just lose on Wednesday. There is no point in dragging this out any further and making us any more miserable than we already are. Lance Lynn will take the ball in game 3, no clue who takes the mound for the Dbacks. But do we really care at this point? The Dodgers are already booking their winter vacation plans as we speak.
Yup. Sucks.
Dodgers needed luck, but with their top two pitchers and hitters this bed they are going to need divine intervention.
Scott, this unfortunately is what I have been ranting about all season long. Weak rotation, taxed Bullpen, RISP, KO’s, weak ground outs and pop outs, sloppy defense. This is not acceptable baseball to me. The Dodgers are playing right into the D-Back’s game plan.
Offense still MIA. Top of the lineup woes. Betts, Freeman, and Smith tonight were no shows. Outman seems to be still in shock after his game 1 miscue. Might have to start CT3 or even Kiké in CF for remainder of series. Weak starting pitching is their problem right now.
Kudos to bullpen tonight!. The only positive.
All in the hands of Lynn now, to keep their hopes alive, but I cannot see Kershaw and Miller being able to close the deal.
I was afraid of this and I did not want to see the Dodgers embarrass themselves again, like last year. What a disappointment. They might as well have just forfeited and thrown in the towel.
They did forfeit
They could not afford to forfeit and lose all that revenue from their loyal fans, who packed Dodger Stadium, bought those $$$ tickets, guzzled all that $$$ beer, vacuumed up all those $$$ Dodger Dogs, bought all the $$$ Dodger gear, and oh yeah, paid $$$ for parking in McCourt’s backyard.
When Mookie and Freddie lead the way, they follow. Mookie and Freddie did not lead, that’s all there is to it. Yes, pitching was atrocious, but couple that with no offense and sloppy play, and a sweep by the Snakes was inevitable. Game 1 was a total bust, but Games 2 & 3 were a couple of productive hits away from victory. The Bullpen did their job, so blame it on the offense… a two run deficit is not out of reach to a good ball club.
However, even if they managed to get lucky and win the NLDS, they would not have gone very far after that without starting pitching. So maybe by losing now, saved them from further embarrassment. Just think of all that revenue $$$ lost by this early exit. Friedman and Co, can drown their sorrows in leftover beer, and feast on the leftover Dodger Dogs, or knowing them, they probably will save them and feed them to the hungry Dodger Fans next year. How about free Dodger Dogs for the homeless…. Served up by Friedman and DR!
It will be interesting to see who’s head is on the chopping block. Might be DR and/or Friedman? Too bad hey can’t fire the players, because of all those high dollar contracts are guaranteed. I see a lot of free agents walking, and I see a lot of team options rejected. I see a totally different team next season.
Try to have a relaxing offseason, Scott. Things have to get better next year. Hard to believe they could get worse.
You think it’ll be much different?
I think it’s possible we get Ohtani, but this year was the big change year. Not sure who else you see leaving.
Obvs Kershaw, but beyond him?
I’m very curious who you think leaves.
My list:
Lynn, Kike, Peralta, Kershaw if he wants. Probably a coupla bullpen arms, but that’s normal attrition.
Again, I’d like to see Taylor leave. And I wouldn’t mind moving on from Muncy, but he still provides value for that dollar amount.
This is the first time in MLB postseason history (excluding shortened seasons) that all 4 teams in the LCS have 90 or fewer regular season wins.
Its all a crapshoot
Is there any responsibility in your mind on the teams itself?
What would you do to resolve the issues with the Dodgers? I’m interested to hear your ideas.
Manager’s impact is negligible, but the Dodgers are so close maybe just a negligible change is needed.
So, move on from Roberts!
Sign Ohtani and a pitcher.
Hope for better luck.