One of the recurring complaints about the Dodgers is that the team seems to not play with a sense of urgency. Others say that the team lacks fire and that this is directly related to their manager. Dave Roberts is a low-key type of guy. That is his managerial style. Alston was the same way. Lasorda on the other hand was an in-your-face type along the lines of Leo Durocher. And there are many who have said that this team would probably have a championship or two more if they had someone who was more fiery and not so friendly to his players.
Of course, since fans do not know what goes on in the clubhouse or on the field, they are all guessing as to what goes on behind the scenes. Because we are all basically snoopy, we really want the whole story. That’s why exposes sell so well. I remember the uproar about Jim Bouton’s, “Ball Four.” He crossed the line, what happens in the clubhouse stays in the clubhouse. His teammates on the Yankees were pretty pissed.
The Dodgers have had a few incidents of their own, the Sutton-Garvey fight that left Garv with a black eye prior to a game. Bill Russell giving a player what for in the dugout during a game. Milton Bradley melting down and tossing a water bottle at a fan. There were probably more we did not hear about. And of course, Lasorda, on National TV cussing out Doug Rau during a World Series game. The TV station did not broadcast what Tommy said, but a video of it came out much later.
Over the last several years there have only been a couple where the team was behind at this point in the season. And their lead in the division was never this close this late. By mid-September, they usually are on cruise control. Things are different now. They are not feeling pressure from just one team, they have two hot on their trail.
This homestand is a huge test for this team, and the organization. Forget the fact that the team has been racked by injuries to important players and forget that they spent well over a billion dollars in the off-season on just three players. The fans want the World Series win and they want the players to show that emotion and never say die attitude on the field. The hokey-pokey type dance they do when they get hits, that fans would see less of and more, yeah! Let’s win this thing.
As I see it, this week is a very crucial stretch for the Dodgers. They are not playing the slugs of the league, they have a 2nd place team fighting for its playoff life, a team over .500 who are trying to see what they have for next season, and a team tied for its division lead that has a load of young very talented players trying to prove themselves.
The Dodgers themselves are getting some important pieces back. Muncy and Edman, will no doubt be activated as early as today. The news came down a little while ago that Hunter Feduccia has joined the team in LA because Austin Barnes took a ball off of his toe in St. Louis yesterday and it was bloody and sore. And they are waiting on a CT scan to see the status of Freddie Freeman who jammed his finger on a ground ball on Saturday.
So, it definitely is the time to kick into high gear and show that urgency the fans feel is missing. Betts returned at the opening of the Brewers series. That was an important road trip. They could have had a 6-1 trip, but the pen and the offense had some bad days, so they were 4-3. They were extremely fortunate that over the weekend, the Padres lost 2 of 3 to the Rockies. The Diamondbacks were swept by the Rays. The lead is now 3 over SD and 4 over Arizona. Yep, time to kick it up a notch, and you are going to have to do it against some good teams.
I checked the records and the Dodgers going into this week are 29-27 against teams at .500 or over. 17 of those losses came at the hands of three teams. The D-Backs, Phillies and Padres. They will definitely have to be better than just above .500 against these opponents. They are much better at home than they are on the road, 38-22 home, 35-30 on the road. Of the 37 games left, including tonight’s, 21 of them are at home. They play 6 of their last 9 games at home. So, there is a good reason to feel pretty good about the stretch run.
But I also think it is time to show some fire and determination. Getting Muncy and Edman into the lineup can do nothing but boost the confidence of the players on the roster. For the first time in three months, this team is going to be at full strength in the field. Pitching is another conversation though. They are not at full strength and won’t be for at least a few weeks. If Glasnow comes back healthy and ready to go, and Yamamoto also, this team is much better equipped to make a run at a championship.
No minor league games tonight
Let’s tell it like it is. This is the weakest roster the Dodgers have had in several years. The neglect, arrogance, short sightedness of management has resulted in many losses this season. The misguided and boring obsessions with load management, lefty-righty matchups and .200 hitting utility players is a huge reason the Dodgers are struggling to stay in first place.
Management is sad, predictable and weak. If they get swept out of the playoffs again, heads need to roll, along with pink slips.
Lux’s journey is kinda amazing. 5 years ago he hit over .390 at AAA and was a top 5 prospect.
Struggled (those who downplay Pages or Outman should check his stats for the first couple of years) had a great 2022. Blew out his knee.
You don’t see that struggle and resilience.
Kudos for the org keeping the faith (and developing him)
It’s lovely to see.
Was Alston really laid back. Didn’t he threaten to kick anyone’s ass who wanted a piece of him?
Have been reading the on going debate of Ohtani or Betts leading off. It is a moot point. If Ohtani wants to lead off, he will. It is not up to Doc.
A very satisfying win.
Stone was spectacular, and Lux and Max came up big. Edman, the new guy, singled and stole a base. Seems a good fit for the “second lead-off” role.
Edman is slated for SS tomorrow, so Kiermaier must be back at CF.
Today’s lineup might be what we should expect in the postseason:
Shohei DH
Mookie RF
Freddie 1B
Teo LF
Lux 2B
Smith C
Max 3B
Rojas SS
Edman CF
That’s a deep lineup. On a postgame show, somebody suggested that Max batting 7th is like having “a second cleanup hitter.”
And if the Dodgers want to put their very best defense on the field, perhaps….
Teo Kiermaier Mookie
Edman Rojas Lux Freddie
(pitcher)
Smith
Bear, do the teams get 26 players or 28 for the postseason roster?
I’m just not a fan of fiery speeches and public confrontations by managers to motivate players. All that shit should be handled behind closed doors, in the clubhouse. I have never seen a fiery pregame speech or an ass chewing have any baring, once the game starts.
It might be fine in the movies, the way you do it in a Win One For the Gipper, but in the real professional world, that shit is not a motivator.
I can’t help but remember high school football. We were shitty. The Coach was shitty, but he had some fabulous pre-game pep talks that had some guys pounding lockers and snorting shit out their nose. And that lasted until the first quarter when better team punched us in the mouth. Kind of like the Mike Tyson quote about every opponent having a game plan til you pinch them in the nose.
Different players are motivated for different reasons. I played for personal pride. I didn’t want to embarrass myself. Others played for their big egos. Others play angry and resentful. Others loved the game and had fun. Some are cerebral others instinctual. And some need a kick in the ass. And you better know your players and trust your leaders. You want to lose your team? Embarrass them in front of the public or in the press.
How do any of us know what goes on in the Dodgers clubhouse? Do you think Freeman or Mookie or Smith or Teo don’t give a shit? Because they aren’t fiery enough? Do you really think that a Doc giving Freddie Freeman an ass chewing, would be a good thing?
I wasn’t paid to be a cheerleader. I was paid to play baseball, the best I could, day in and day out. I much prefer a professional approach where everybody knows what it takes to win. A team with character, not psychopaths. And, as a team player, you realize that if you do your job and your teammates do their job, you have a great chance to win. Winning is an abstraction. It’s a by-product of everybody doing their job, working together, and picking up a teammate.
I love passionate players but it better be real and not playing to the crowd. I was always suspicious of the friggin Rah-Rah guys, who ran into the wall when the ball was 6 rows deep. All sizzle and no steak.
If you are one of the critics who miss the Billy Martin’s, Tommy Lasorda’s and Bobby Valentine’s, good for you. But if you really think that makes players play better, you’re wrong.
Lux has carried this offense for over a month now. Great job to work himself out of the year long slump. That oppo homer was a thing of beauty.
And the next at bat he worked himself from being behind in the count 1-2 working the walk. Hopefully he can keep that up.
Great game by Stone too.
And welcome back to the Muncymator!
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not to throw Dodger Orange Drink on everyone’s excitement over this “new” lineup, but the Dodgers only had 4 hits last night (I know they got 5 walks), 4 hits is not going to cut it in the playoffs. They didn’t win last night because of their pathetic offense, they won because of a superior effort of the stating pitcher. Sorry for the buzzkill but let’s be realistic. Currently, we have some real problems scoring runs and preventing runs.
I watched the game last night, read the box score this morning. Of the 11 players in the box for Seattle, 7 had OPS’s in the .600’s or less. Dodgers were 4 for 28, 0 for 1 WRISP. Interesting, don’t you think?
Stone, 7 IP, 90 pitches. Against the Seattle offense, he did what was necessary. He threw strikes. I hope the rest of the staff took notice.
This team is better with Muncy and Edman. Don’t f with it. With the occasional night off for all them, stick with this lineup the rest of the way.
It doesn’t matter who leads off, though I would go with Mookie. If Ohtani wants to lead off, he will lead off. It feels to me he is the LeBron James of this team. Much quieter of course, but he’s the leader. And why wouldn’t he be? He’s the best baseball player on the planet.
It’s my opinion the Dodgers are the best team in the NL. They just need to stay healthy and slam their way to October. Glasnow, Yamamoto, Flaherty, Kershaw, Stone, Buehler/Miller/Knack/Wrobleski…. I really like our chances going forward.
Did anyone know that Max Muncy is 9th all time in Dodgers home run history??
He’s right about Piazza and Pedro Guerrero, and he’s 7 behind Carl Furillo for 8th.
The game last night had something for everyone. If you like a pitching duel then the first six innings were for you. If you like the Dodgers scoring enough runs late to win the game then you got your wish. A little HR power? Gavin Lux and, of course, Max Muncy provided that. It was like old times! By old times I mean earlier this season when the team had a deep and healthy lineup. Not, the recent lineups full of utility players trying their best to keep the team competitive. When it was all said and done, the Dodgers came away with a 3-0 shutout against a weak hitting Seattle team. Just what a division leading team should do!
It appears that Gavin Stone has returned to dominance after a couple of shaky starts. This should put an end to the fear that Stone would need to be put on the IL in order to manage him to get through the playoffs. What does he do? He allows two hits and strikes out a career high of ten! Last year he pitched 131 innings. Now he is at 128 innings. With his next start and probably reaching a new high in innings pitched. Will his arm fall off? Will he instantly become mentally fatigued? Or maybe, he will use what he has learned this year to continue his very successful season. You know, how to actually pitch and manage his talents to get through the season and finish strong. But, will Dodger management allow this to happen? We’ll see.
Gavin “frickin’ Lux. I remember when he first came up to the Dodgers. He had been the minor league player of the year in 2019. The expectations from Dodger fans were over the top. He would be the next Dodger Rookie of the Year and a future Hall of Famer. Until he wasn’t. After a late season call up in 2019 and a HR in the NLDS against Washington, he had a rough time in the shorten season in 2020. He only played in 20 games and hit a sad .175 with a horrible .596 OPS.
In 2021 Lux played 59 games at SS in the place of Corey Seager. Lux, also, played at all three OF positions, 2B, and 3B. He was basically a player without a position. But, through all that he had a decent offensive year and provided some good production at the bottom of the order. But, many fans were disappointed with Lux. Where was all of the Hall of Fame results?
In 2022, the team was still trying to make Lux an outfielder. To be kind, he was never going to be a major league outfielder. He had a similar offensive season as in 2021. Fans continued to be down on Lux and many were suggesting he be traded. I wrote several times I would be happy if Lux could develop into a solid, every day 2B who could provide plus offense.
With both Seager and Turner signing free agent contracts with other teams, Lux was penciled to be the fulltime SS in 2023. We all know what happened.
Again, in 2024, Lux was to be the Dodger’s SS. That didn’t happen. The Dodger front office decided right before the season to move Mookie to SS and put Lux at 2B. As the season progressed, Lux’s defense at 2B improved and was solid. Offensively, he was awful. I thought his swing was odd. Phil Jones and Badger confirmed that his swing was a mess. Many wanted him traded or even DFA’d. I wouldn’t have been too upset if he had been traded. Well, all those who wanted him gone, how do you feel about it now? Foolish? All it took was for Gavin to get away from the one approach Dodger hitting coaches and some time with his uncle during the All Star break. Wow! What a difference! He’s currently the Dodger’s best hitter and seems to be getting better and better. Good for Gavin… and the Dodgers. Hall of Famer? No. A solid, everyday second baseman? I think so. And, I’m good with that. I’m sure the Dodger front office is as well. Even though they did their best to hinder his development for several years.
Carry on.
Guys, I just wanted to let you know that there will not be a new post tomorrow. Have a dinner I need to attend this evening. But I will post the minor league results and the game results, and you can post on that tomorrow. I am researching a couple of others that will be ready in a couple of days.
A friend of mine (not someone who comments) sent this to me, this AM.
Apparently the remark came with baby cries.
I do not know of any morons here at LADodgerChronicles. We do have a lot of fans with different opinions, and are all welcome. I will be proud to host all those labeled morons on LA Dodger Talk.
The Braves have to be close to LAD in terms of injuries. They have now lost All Star 3B Austin Riley for at least the rest of the regular season, and maybe the entire season due to a broken hand after a HBP.
Guys,
I have a scheduled interview with Ned Colletti on Friday. I’ll be posting the interview on my site once it’s finished. Also interviewing will be Sports Artist Dave Hobrecht.
To make this a bit more fun, I’m willing to take a few questions from you guys that you want to ask Ned. Be serious though, nothing about snakeskin boots.
I think I can take at least a few, so if you want to ask Ned anything, let me know what you’re question is here, and I can ask him.
Today Dave Roberts said there will be some “difficult conversations” on how they go about activating Chris Taylor when he’s ready to return.
He noted there’s a few different arguments for players and ways it could go.
To me, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Heyward go. Limited versatility in the field, the leadership angle is abated by Freeman, Betts, Kershaw and Smith. He has one job, hit RHP, and he’s not good at it: wRC+ vs RHPs = 81.
For a corner OF you need more.
That said, I doubt CT3 provides more!
Oy — I feel for Buehler. His mind is writing checks that his body can’t cash. He knows what to do, but he just can’t do it (yet).
That’s the jolt that the team gets with Betts and Muncy back.👍
This is the most I’ve ever seen Doc get fired up. lol. Maybe I’m forgetting something.
The Dodgers back to back homers:
Muncy welcome back!! No doubter
lux stay hot!!
WB 0-2 seemingly on every hitter then 3-2 then walk or hit. Can’t finish hitters and non competitive pitches
will smith such a good start in the first half and just brutal in the second half
teo cold as ice which means kkkk…
umpire Buckner awful
edman just made a spectacular play at ss
vesia Mr 3-2 on every hitter
phillips back on track. Good 1-2 punch with Kopech
if someone on the current 26 man has to be dfa it’s got to be Heyward
our defense has really gotten better with kiermaeier, edman, Betts, rojas
what if Betts, Ohtani, freeman, smith, Muncy,teo had their best months in September/october? Would that be too much to ask?any professional can get hot for a month or 2.
That’s why I’ve said before. I think Heyward would be a good pinch hitter. Power off the bench instead of Kiki off the bench or Kiermaier. You can also include Pages off the bench when he’s not starting against LHP. See mine and OhioDodger’s conversation up above on how to squeeze pages in.
I knew C.B. Bucknor was bad but he’s been taking it to Angel Hernandez level tonight on balls and strikes
CB Bucknor has to be the worst ump in the majors. I have never seen a worse strike zone. Buehler should have thrown a wild pitch into his mask. He is already blind. Might have knocked some sense into that idiot.