2013 MLB Post Season

[moomba]

Any chance of someone getting some outs? Anyone?

 

[FRUMPY]

well that got ugly quickly lol. 4 unearned runs doesnt help. Garcia pitching tommorrow in game 4 doesnt fill me with excitement either.

Always thought the bats would be an issue for the braves with too many strikeouts but its been the starting pitching (medlen and teheran)

 

[dascman03]

Dodgers cruise to a 13-6 win. Some Dodgers notes:

1) Chris Capuano wasn't fantastic in relief, issuing lead-off walks in three straight innings, but no runs went across while he pitched his three innings (46 pitches), so he did his job after Ryu looked incredibly shaky.

2) Interesting situation tomorrow now with Nolasco going up against Freddy Garcia. With Capuano pitching today (the Dodgers' only long man in the bullpen), we really need a quality start from Nolasco tomorrow - Withrow can pitch multiple innings but is not a true long man. His last few starts have been incredibly shaky, although Garcia has a scratchy record himself (better in postseason, historically). I know we've got Kershaw pitching in game 5, so it's clearly advantage Dodgers, but you just can't take anything for granted in playoff baseball. And obviously the Dodgers would rather save Kershaw for a potential game one of the NLCS.

3) Our offense really fired on all cylinders today. If Ramirez had played the entire season in this kind of form, he'd be an MVP candidate. Just smoking the ball to all parts of the field. Rest of the offence is chugging along nicely as well.

4) Paco Rodriguez is struggling big-time out of the bullpen. He was a revelation for much of the season, but he's really young and began struggling late in the year. Not sure if he'll be trusted again after a couple of poor outings. Could he even be replaced altogether in the next round? I definitely expect the ever-reliable JP Howell to replace him as the situational lefty from here on in.

The Dodgers *should* win the series from here, but stranger things have happened.

 

[smiths]

If Nolasco gets taken out early tomorrow we can pretty much use the entire bullpen as Kershaw pitches next and would probably only require Wilson and Jansen. But I'd like to see them go all out to get the home win.

Even when Ricky has been good his pitch count always rises pretty fast so I see him going 5 tomorrow. I'll predict Nolasco 5, Withrow doing the 6th, Paco 7th, Wilson 8th, Kenley 9th.

If Hanley, Craw and Puig keep up the hot form pitching will be irrelevant.

 

[FRUMPY]

Ramirez has been enormous this series. Dont think he has hit a single yet, just doubles/triples/homeruns. Most have been pretty big ones as well in the context of the games.

Be tough for my braves to come back after such a terrible performance but hopefully garcia can go 6 innings. He has been very good in i think 4 spot starts for us in September so hopefully continues. His expereince should hold him in good stead. If we can get it to our bullpen with a lead i like our chances otherwise gonna be tough.

Good to see Heyward get going a little today, need him on base more and upton looked good today. Not sure the Uggla/Johnson swap has worked. I mean uggla has sucked all year but Johnson hasnt done anything and fielding has been average.

 

[smiths]

Hanley Ramirez has already tied Steve Garvey (1978 NLCS vs. the Phillies) and Duke Snider (1952 World Series vs. the Yankees) for most extra-base hits by a Dodger in a postseason series, with six.

 

[moomba]

Bit of talk that Kershaw will start tonight with Greinke ready for game 5 if needed.

I'm not sure, Greinke is a good option but Kershaw is an exceptional insurance policy if the Braves take it back to Atlanta. Dont think Kershaw will be as effective on 3 days rest so I'd be inclined to stick with Nolasco.

 

[moomba]

And Kershaw it is :/

 

[dascman03]

Yeah, don't really like it either. But if the Dodgers win today, Kershaw would have regular rest ahead of Game 2 in the NLCS (Greinke would have game 1)... but if the Dodgers lose today, both would be unavailable early in the NLCS.

On Twitter, Dbacks pitcher Brandon McCarthy (follow him, he's fantastic) said he thought Kershaw would be fine today, but starting on short rest could catch up with him later in the playoffs. Will be interesting to see how he holds up further into the playoffs (if the Dodgers advance).

The other NL series continues to be engrossing. Cards pitcher Michael Wacha took a no-hitter into the 8th inning today before Alvarez homered off him. Cards win 2-1 in Pittsburgh to take it to a deciding game 5, where it's Wainwright vs Cole. Great effort for the Cards to win at PNC.

 

[FRUMPY]

Bit of talk that Kershaw will start tonight with Greinke ready for game 5 if needed.

I'm not sure, Greinke is a good option but Kershaw is an exceptional insurance policy if the Braves take it back to Atlanta. Dont think Kershaw will be as effective on 3 days rest so I'd be inclined to stick with Nolasco.

Its an interesting move with the theory behind it that Greinke will be on normal rest for game 5 if it is needed and both will be on normal rest to start the next series if they prevail.

Kershaw pitched 120+ pitches last start, back on 3 days rest. surely he couldnt go any more than 5-6 innings.

 

[Primetime Pricey]

God i hate Balfour. Someone should just crack a bat over his head.

Anyways the Cards love to pull this shit year in and year out. Such a impressive team.

 

[hunterrory]

Tigers batting was poor in last year's World Series... I think it's even worse right now...

 

[Milang_Panthers]

Argh so close guess we'll have to do it in the fifth game now

 

[lionbear]

Don't like Kershaw starting today, really think they are rolling the dice on finishing the series today with a pitcher that has never played on 3 days rest. I think the Dodgers would be better resting him and starting him in Atlanta if needed. But I guess if they win then they can stay in LA and rest up for the championship series.

Could be a big night for the Dodgers Bullpen.

Shows guts though, if they win Don Mattingly will be a hero and Kershaw will be well rested for the championship series, but if they lose and go back to Atlanta a lot of questions will be asked.

 

[lionbear]

Anyways the Cards love to pull this shit year in and year out. Such a impressive team.

I loved watching the Giants do it to them last year, sadly for the Pirates I think its a case of so close but so far, game 5 and the series to go to the cards.

 

[smiths]

Don't like Kershaw starting today, really think they are rolling the dice on finishing the series today with a pitcher that has never played on 3 days rest. I think the Dodgers would be better resting him and starting him in Atlanta if needed. But I guess if they win then they can stay in LA and rest up for the championship series.

Could be a big night for the Dodgers Bullpen.

Shows guts though, if they win Don Mattingly will be a hero and Kershaw will be well rested for the championship series, but if they lose and go back to Atlanta a lot of questions will be asked.

I was kinda wary until I saw this post on dodgers forum

I almost posted this morning saying I was wishing the Dodgers would do this. This makes sense to me. With Kersh going tonight, assuming he's feeling strong, the Dodgers are VERY likely to wrap it up. Then, Greinke can go game 1 of the NLCS and Kershaw would be ready for game 2 on normal rest. Kershaw 1 and Greinke 2, or the other way around hardly makes a difference. I like this.

If, on the other hand, Nolsaco goes tonight and loses, everything is thrown off.

 

[jefffff34]

1) Longoria...come on do it again

2) These ****ing NAB ads, every single ****ing ad break are doing my head in. **** off.

 

[dascman03]

Carl Crawford hits his 2nd HR in 2 days to lead off the game. 1-0.

Let's go!

 

[Primetime Pricey]

God damn Dodgers

 

[smiths]

CMON MAN

So close

 

[FRUMPY]

Carl Crawford hits his 2nd HR in 2 days to lead off the game. 1-0.

Let's go!

That sums up our pitching this series. Crawford had homered once since May 6, now 2 this series. I think it is something like 13 leadoff hitters have reached in the last 17 innings of the series for the dodgers. That some pretty bad pitching. (and good hitting)

 

[moomba]

So far so good with Kershaw. Can handle swapping him and Greinke for game 1 and 2 of the NLCS but will be a mess if we lose tonight and have to start with Ryu or Nolasco.

So just get it done tonight.

 

[dascman03]

Kills me that I'm not watching it... got the radio on at work. Although that's arguably better when you've got Vin to listen to

 

[lionbear]

After last week, I have just enjoyed Rodney blowing a save

 

[Primetime Pricey]

amazed he didnt walk Pedroia.