October 3rd, 2016 at 6:00 am 
by Evan Bladh Let me start this by saying that this is an opinion piece. My Dodger editorial. This is my third re-write of it. Ron felt that perhaps I went a little too far in my first draft. I re-read it and he was right. So I re-wrote it again…and again. What is it they say? Never send an email when you’re mad? It’s the same thing with blog articles I guess. So what you are about to read is the tame version because when I finished the first version about 10 minutes before the end of Sunday afternoon’s 7-1 loss to the Giants in the final broadcast of Vin Scully’s Hall of Fame career, there was smoke coming out of my keyboard.
Does this team have the killer instinct? They didn’t this weekend. Do they have the fortitude to reset and play like the team that took two of three from the Giants and then swept the Rockies in four? We all hope so. (Does it sound like Jim Tracy is writing this piece? Definitely). Color me skeptical about the Dodgers.
Dodger management had a decision to make following the clinching last week. They could rest the guys and play out the schedule without taking risks and playing things safe to ensure that the rotation was lined up and the guys were healthy. Or they could go all out and strive hard for home field advantage and try to ruin their rivals season by eliminating them on the final weekend of the season.
All signs point to the Dodgers opting for the former.
I didn’t really agree with that tactic, but what do I know? As a fan, I wanted bragging rights over the Giants. I wanted them eliminated from contention. My memory of their miraculous finishes in even numbered years is too fresh. I can’t stomach another one of those.
One of the Giants three World Series titles came as a result of them making it to the postseason as a Wild Card team. (Photo credit @SFGiants)
With the opportunity to step on their throats and put the Giants “even year” success to rest, the Dodgers strolled into AT&T Park with the tenacity of a church mouse. Rolling over and allowing the Giants to gain momentum, confidence and (worst of all) hope.
San Francisco was arguably the worst team in baseball since the All Star break. They certainly didn’t deserve to be in the post season. Up until three days ago, they were a team very few had any reason to fear. Even members of their own fan base have admitted that the season was done. I read the posts myself, over at some Giant message boards and blogs.
Leave it to the Dodgers to up and give them the confidence that they can have that postseason magic once again.
In seven short days, we have seen a Dodger team at their peak and now their valley, with little concern being expressed for their recent five losses in six games. At least that is what the team is conveying on the surface.
There comes a time to step off the accelerator and get healthy. I understand that. But COME ON! These were the freaking GIANTS! Our hated rival. That ball club with a fan base that is so misguided and demented that they get more joy over a Dodger loss than a Giant win.
It all comes down to what I call the “wussification” of the game. Players share the same agents. Team loyalty is watered down by free agency. Players move from team to team, fraternize with each other, etc. I watched Roberts and Bochy yucking it up with the lineup card exchange before the game. You would have never seen that in the 60s during the Alvin Dark, John Roseboro, Juan Marichal, Maury Wills days. Even in the 70s and 80s, do you think Reggie Smith would have stood for that? Or Pedro Guerrero, who single-handedly attempted to take on the entire Giant team in the Mike Marshall home run game?
The only real disdain that exists between the Dodgers and Giants is between the fans now. Sure, the players want to beat each other, but there isn’t that measured dislike for each other. Yes, it springs up now and then when it is so obvious that something must be done when a first class jerk like Madison Bumgarner lives up to his bad-guy reputation, but then they somehow make peace. A former teammate like Culberson extends an olive branch to his friends in the other dugout and everyone kisses and makes up.
Does that mean that I think the Dodgers were rolling over and letting the Giants sweep the series? Of course not. But there is an argument that can be made about the Dodgers just playing out the schedule. They turned Ty Blach into a Cy Young on Saturday. Ty Blach, a AAA pitcher making his first major league start. I give the kid credit for pitching a great game, but look up how many first or second-pitch outs the Dodgers hit into? How many third strike takes were there? Do you think the Dodgers would have been taking that approach in their at bats had those games had a significance on the division title?
They didn’t even challenge the kid. They allowed themselves to simply get beat. Almost as if they were saying, “We can’t beat lefties, so go ahead and hurry up an beat us … got a reservation at the Wharf for dinner.”
The Dodgers simply played out the season with a whimper and played it safe while the Giants were playing for their very lives, and the Dodgers were their defibrillator. The Dodgers could have buried the Giants but now the world gets to see Bumgarner pitch another postseason elimination game. Let me tell you, if I had to put money on the Mets-Giants game at Citi Field on Wednesday, it would all be going on the Giants.
So the Dodgers playing it safe did little to give us confidence heading into postseason play. However, they got some answers to questions that were important. Those were costly answers, as they cost the Dodgers several games:
- They know Brandon McCarthy can’t pitch in relief and shouldn’t be on the postseason roster.
- They know that Kiké Hernandez shouldn’t be there either.
- They know Julio Urias should be on the roster as a long reliever or even as a possible Game-4 starter.
Was getting those already obvious answers worth giving the Giants hope and confidence again? They now have that smidgen of a chance that they always seem to take advantage of. If by chance the Dodgers get past Washington in round one, don’t be surprised if the Giants are there waiting for them in the NLCS after beating the Cubs. We’ve seen Frisco’s October (devil) magic WAY too frequently over the past six years.
How ironic that the Dodgers may have to face San Francisco when they could have put them out of their misery and closed out their season had they played respectable on the final weekend. Now there is the possibility that they’ll have to face their three lefties and Cueto in that series against their hated rivals.
Ah, now I’m getting way ahead of myself. One game at a time. Cross that bridge when we get there. The Giants are in the wildcard game again. Bring on the Nationals!
Still, I can’t get over that the Giants got the wildcard again. I just shake my head. It can’t happen again.
So fresh and so clean.
Posted in 
While I agree w/ points made in this article, I don’t agree with overall sentiment. Dodgers took 2/3 when it mattered to them.
I can’t disagree with the 2 out of 3 when it mattered, but I have serious concerns with this team vs. lefties AND while playing on the road. Considering that they don’t have home field advantage and at least in the second round, they’ll have to face a lot of lefties, that’s a concern.
#OneandDone
I hope you’re right, but recent history proves otherwise.
my thoughts exactly. I’m tired of people saying “who cares, we’re in the playoffs” we will care when we see the Giants again..
Completely disagree. Sure I would’ve liked to eliminate SF, but that’s definitely not more important than getting healthy
I hope we see the Giants again. That would mean we’re in the NLCS against an easier team than Cubs, with Home Field Advantage
Considering the Dodgers sub .500 record on the road, they better have home field advantage. The Cubs haven’t gotten over the hump and won in post season. The Gnats take the whole thing every time they’re in the playoffs, no matter how bad they are, they somehow win the whole thing.
This just sounds as someone scared of the Giants. Beating them isn’t the goal, winning the WS is!
You’re darn right I’m afraid of the Giants. They’ve been beating our butts for two years now. 4-16 in AT&T Park sound familiar? Another Giants championship and I seriously think of walking away from watching this game. There’s only so much heartache a person can take. One Giant champion ship in 52 years was a fluke, I could live with that. But three in six years is a dynasty. And I’ll tell you this. This Giants starting starting staff is much better than any of those they put out there in 2010, 2012 and 2014. The Dodgers should have taken this weekend seriously and at least taken one game in the series.
You want bragging rights? You just won the division after being 8+ games back with Kershaw injured!
Who cares about Division titles? We have 15 of them over the years. The only thing that matters is the WS.
Word. How many division title banners are hanging at Staples?
Using your words, the only thing that matters is winning the WS — but that was not the message of your editorial. My take, 2016 Dodgers’ season was so intense for months that once the NL West was won the team had a collective let-down that was completely normal. To expect a team to maintain that intensity through the remainder of the season and the post season is not realistic.
Good point, but my primary objective in the “editorial” was to point out that the Dodgers lacked intensity or a caring attitude in the final series. And a big part of getting to that ultimate goal of winning the WS is knocking out the Giants. So in a round about way, their failure to do that could possibly contributed to the demise of that goal.
Now that a few days have passed and cooler heads prevail, I can honestly see the valid arguments that many are stating here. Keeping up the intensity for 162 + games can be seen as unrealistic. I was just noting that guys making outs on first pitches and using that type of hitting approach was evidence that they were simply getting through at bats quickly, and that led to Blach getting to the 8th inning with a pitch count in the 90s.
that was a spot-on piece. Lays out my frustrations as well. Winning the NL West is not the goal here, guys.
I very much agree with the points made in this piece, can’t even say that Roberts was resting players. Backing into postseason
Evan – It’s probably safe to say that (nearly) every Dodger fan on the planet is as frustrated as you are with how the final six games of the regular season played out – especially after (as you noted) they were clearly on a mission until that point.
That being said, I have to agree with Gordon Moody (Kershaw’s Wrath) and a few others (both here and especially on Twitter): The postseason is about to begin, not end.
While the frustration level from the final week of the regular season is somewhere around 10.0 on the Richter Scale, let’s at least give Dave Roberts a chance to prove to us that he made the right decision(s) and, more importantly, let’s stand behind our beloved Dodgers in a show of support and unity. You don’t have to look back very far (New York) to see what this type of support and unity (thanks to the Pantone 294) can do for a team.
GO DODGERS!
You’ve got no argument from me Ron. You know I want to be completely wrong on this one. Go Dodgers!
i feel you, and am also frustrated. but my take is that once postseason play starts, reg. season goes out the window.
Either you believ
e in this team or you don’t. If not then get off the boat.
What are you, the Captain of the Titanic?
At first glance, reading your article Evan, I’d say it looks like I could’ve wrote the same thing myself but I think it would be a shock if the Cubs don’t, at least, make it to the World Series and the Dodgers will be the team that they’ll have to get passed.
Evan, as a long-time reader of your posts, I know you are as passionate a fan as any who have bled Dodger blue and know you aren’t afraid to tell it like it is. I truly understand the sentiment behind this article, and I truly get it. It’s not like the Dodgers threw their “B” team in the mix for each of the last six games, but they did demonstrate a lack of intensity or urgency in competing for home-field against the Washington Nationals next week.
Those of us who follow the team through each and every game understand that the intangibles of the game, like momentum and urgency, are key to moving forward and driving deep into the postseason.
This year, as in the last few years, the Dodgers have placed too much emphasis on getting the team “set up” for a playoff run. They’ve been in a position to have secured the NL West Division early in each of the last four years. But as in the previous three years, the Dodgers didn’t go very deep into the playoffs. Perhaps a different mindset is in order when preparing for the postseason. Perhaps it might be that the throttle needs to be floored and finally choke the life out of the hated ones.
I so get it… and I also know you believe in this team despite the obvious lack of intensity being demonstrated by this Dodgers team during their final week of the regular season. NOW is the time to hit the accelerator and put our competitors in the rear-view mirror.
Go Dodgers!!
Amen Kevin.
Passion can swing a lot of ways. I know I’m catching some heat here, but I try to tell it like it is. I’ve got a bad feeling about the Giants again. If the Mets end their season, I’ll be doing cartwheels. And there will be those that will say, “That idiot at TBLA didn’t know what he was talking about.” Im fine with that. I’d love to be wrong and to see the Dodgers string off 11 straight wins and sweep to the championship. You all know that. But the momentum we had 8 days ago has disappeared. Maybe that is over-rated. Maybe the mindset Dodger management opted to go with is the chemistry that will win a championship. I sure hope so.
I spent 18 years of my life in the Bay Area and still maintain my home there. I understand the rivalry like no other. I put up with the insults and the stupid comments and the homerism in the media and the LA bashing that is a constant in daily life there. So I guess that makes me a tad sensitive on the subject. The Dodgers can never beat the Giants enough. If they finish the year 19-1 against the Gnats, Im wondering why they didn’t win the 20th.
Here’s hoping that we forget all about this last week of the season and start raking offensively.
I understand there are different philosophies about running a race. Some like to get out front and canter to the finish and some hold back and go to the whip down the stretch. But when we play the Giants it’s different, like USC-UCLA. It’s not about the standings; pride is on the line. Maybe these days most of the players, coaches and ownership doesn’t feel that way, but the fans do.
There’s four days to “rest” the team. Hopefully, they can flip a switch and go into playoff mode Friday.
“May” my ass – will – without a doubt! That’s a missing piece of the formula for years – do I want to be wrong – of course!
I totally get what you are saying Evan. No matter what we say, the Dodgers definitely let the air out of the balloon during those last eight games. It did appear they were just treading water because all of those games weren’t played with the “B” team. It certainly appeared the momentum and sense of urgency was gone.
However, I don’t think we should live in fear of the Giants even though the Dodgers had an opportunity to knock them right out of the playoffs and literally struck out.
A whole new season is starting, guys will be rested, more healthy and so much depends on Clayton. He has to win the big games, with shutouts if necessary. He has to be Orel Hershiser of 1988. We call him the best pitcher on the planet so he has to be just that in the playoffs to be worthy of that title.
This team was built for the the marathon(depth)- the long haul – and now we have to see if it can also sprint. We have to see if there is a difference maker. Right now, what’s done is done, it can’t be undone, and it is not very productive to dwell upon it or use it as a marker to predict what will happen. That just leaves a gnawing in the stomach. Something else is on the horizon for the Dodgers starting on Friday. That’s what I focus on and not what is behind us. I have no doubt the team is too and Dave Roberts and staff are preparing for it.
though I share your sentiments across the board, sf wont get past the cubs, if even the mets. not same team from prior years
I certainly would have preferred to go into the playoffs with a little bit of momentum, and being swept by SF was more than upsetting. But I am not all that pessimistic with the NLDS regardless that the Nats have home field advantage. The Nats have strong pitching, but not as good as the Mets in 2015, and if not for Daniel Murphy (and maybe Pedro Baez) the Dodgers would have played the Cubs for the NLCS (even with the disastrous Game 3). This year with Strasburg and Ramos out, Murphy not fully healthy, and Harper who I believe has been hurt all year, the Nats are going into the playoffs limping as well. Trea Turner is legit and is scary good offensively, defensively, with good speed (great leadoff which the Dodgers do lack). Scherzer is beyond good, but not as good as Kershaw. The Nats have one LHSP in Gio Gonzalez and will likely face Rich Hill in Washington in Game 2. That leaves Tanner Roark against Kenta Maeda (with 8 days rest) in Game 3 in LA. Jansen and Melancon seem to be a wash as closers.
Corey Seager appeared very tired, and seemed to drop his intensity once the Division was won. He needed to refuel. Kershaw should be ready to go with a lot less innings pitched this year, but is he the only starter that can go 7 (or even 6)? Are Hill’s blisters behind him for the playoffs? Doc can’t hide him anymore; he is going to have to pitch. Is 8 days enough rest for Maeda who also seems to be running out of steam coming into the playoffs? Can Puig stay hot against Gio? Can Reddick keep his September going (.400/.435/.569…1.004OPS). Or Joc Pederson (.298/.452/.702…1.154OPS)? I believe that Utley, AGon, and Turner are all healthy and ready. LA has good veteran leadership, which the Nats do not seem to have much of (although Jayson Werth is formidable). That leaves the bullpen where LA has done well this year. And they all should be well rested beginning Friday.
I like the Dodgers chances against the Nationals. We can worry about NLCS once we get there. Let’s win this one.
“Trea Turner is legit and is scary good offensively, defensively, with good speed.”
Word…
Evan, I agree in general with you. I want to see our Dodgers come out Friday with the fire the 1932 Brooklyn Dodgers had. Though a last place team, they finished the season by knocking the Giants out of the WS, in answer to manager Bill Terry’s question: Is Brooklyn still in the league?
I doubt there’s any Dodger fan who isn’t disappointed with how the season ended. I just don’t see it as a momentum issue. A 4 day break effectively wipes out any momentum.
Pitching: Because of his DL stint Kersh is better rested for the post season than he’s ever been. Hill is well rested too. If he can avoid any more blister issues he should be good for 7+ innings. Kenta is a 5-6 inning pitcher. So they have a LHP pre-planned to be ready for the 6th inning. I was thinking Julio, but the way Brett Anderson has pitched out of the BP he might be the man for the job, allowing Julio to take the 4th starter role.
On that subject: Doc, use your 4th starter!! Clayton’s so-called meltdowns have had 2 common factors, pitching on short rest and an unreliable BP. The BP issue no longer exists. There’s no reason for another short rest issue.
Since the WC began I’ve wanted to see a Dodger-Giant NLCS. This seems like a good year for it.
I find it hard to call a team a dynasty who only made the postseason 4 out of 7 years, and 3 of them as a WC. But baseball has often used that word somewhat freely, such as the Braves “dynasty”, who only won 1 WS, or the ’88-’90 A’s “dynasty”, who only won 5 games in 3 WS. That 2nd win in ’90 was so shocking it triggered an earthquake.
I reckon I’ve said enough for now.
The point being, RTR, is that the Dodgers knew they had a four game layoff once the season was over… why didn’t the team choose these four days to “rest up” rather than conduct team tryouts? They knew what they had.
Four days may interrupt momentum, but it would have been much harder to interrupt a teams’ winning momentum rather than what the Dodgers ended up with during the final week of the regular season. If they’d kept their stranglehold on the hated ones, we wouldn’t be in a position to tempt fate yet again by handing the Giants their wild card entry. After the way they played in the second half, the Giants have no business being allowed to compete in the postseason.
Just my two cents worth…
Good piece. I agree 100%. They auditioned guys to find out what we already know. Nothing pissed me off more than watching McCarthy pitch and there was plenty to piss me off in the SD series. For quite some time now there has been any true rivalry between the Dodgers-Giants players just the fans. There has been more of a rivalry with St. Louis and Arizona players.
Turning momentum off and on isn’t easy to do and the Dodgers had plenty of time to rest players this week. For a team that can’t hit lefties it didn’t make sense to let a team in with two good lefty starters. What’s done is done I guess but I agree with this take.
Yes it did especially when Roberts let McCarthy pitch in the series!
they woke the Sleeping Giant(s)
I’m confident, Evan, the Cubs will expose the Giants weaknesses early and often, especially their bullpen, who have blown more late-inning leads than I care to count.
Look for Mad-bum’s start in game three to be a high-stakes elimination game for the Giants. Let’s see how he does with the heat turned all the way up.