September 27th, 2018 at 9:30 am 
by Ron Cervenka After the Dodges took two of three from the NL West last place San Diego Padres to wrap up their final home series of the 2018 regular season last Sunday, it left them in first place in the division with a 1.5 game lead over the second place Colorado Rockies and with a Magic Number of six with six games remaining. As a result, there was an air of optimism among Dodger fans of “WHEN the Dodgers clinch the division.”
Not anymore.
After losing two of three to the already eliminated NL West third place Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night while the Rockies won their sixth consecutive game, Dodger fans woke up on Thursday morning with their beloved team now in second place in the division a half-game behind Colorado and with a Magic Number of three and three games remaining against the hated San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park, turning that air of optimism into “IF the Dodgers clinch the division.”
Oh sure, one can argue that the Dodgers still hold one of the two National League Wild Card spots one game ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals. But with the way that they looked against the less-than-stellar Dbacks over the past three days, and with a Giants team that would love nothing more than to take out the Dodgers from postseason play, things are now a bit more uncomfortable in the City of Angels.
“As far as getting to the postseason, we control our own fate. We’ve got to win baseball games,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters after Wednesday night’s embarrassing 7-2 loss to Arizona. “Those guys [the Giants] are going to bring their best stuff against us. There’s a little bit of our backs are to the wall. I know we’re going to come out and play on Friday. We’ll be ready to go. We’re a dangerous team. We believe in ourselves. Not how we scripted it, but now our focus has to turn to the Giants.”
You don’t say.
Although it is a manager’s job to remain positive and impart confidence on his team, the brutally painful truth is that the Dodgers have painted themselves into a corner and must – absolutely must – pull off a three-game sweep of the Giants this weekend if they are to have any hopes of making the playoffs.
(Video capture courtesy of Sports Net LA)
But it’s what Roberts said next that is – or at least should be – of concern to Dodger fans.
“We did have chances [on Tuesday] and didn’t get it done,” Roberts said. “Today, the one at-bat or hit eluded us. When you put up two runs in this ballpark, it looks like you’re kind of flat, but I know coming in we were not flat, I know that.”
Sounds like a serious case of denial to me.
To anyone who watched the three games at Chase Field over the past three days, the Dodgers couldn’t be any flatter. The culprit – just as it has been all season long for the Dodgers – is their complete inability to hit with runners in scoring position.
Check this out: In the just-concluded three-game series against the Dbacks, the Dodgers went a combined 8-for-36 (.222) with runners in scoring position and stranded a total of 27 runners on base.
If that’s not flat, I’m not exactly sure what is.
The Dodgers one and only extra base hit on Wednesday was this second inning double by Yasmani Grandal. He would eventually come around to score on an RBI single off the bat of Dodgers starting pitcher Ross Stripling. Unfortunately, it would be the last run that the Dodgers would score in the eventual 7-2 loss to the Diamondbacks to drop to second place in the NL West with three games remaining in the regular season.
(Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)
The good news is that the Dodgers have Thursday off to try to figure it out and will pit left-handers Hyun-Jin Ryu, Clayton Kershaw, and right-hander Walker Buehler against the Giants beginning on Friday opposite right-handers Madison Bumgarner, Dereck Rodriguez, and left-hander Andrew Suarez respectively.
The bad news is that the NL West fourth-place Giants, who have absolutely nothing to lose, will be pulling out all the stops to beat the Dodgers this weekend … and that you can absolutely positively count on.
Wake up, Dodgers!
…or it’s going to be a very long – and miserable – off-season.
Posted in 
I have been a dodger fan since I was about 8 years old. I am now 63 years old. I can remember listing to them nightly on the small radio my dad had. I have listened and watch them over the years and I can say I am not impressed with the new phisilophy of the game. This mix and match doesn’t work. I have watched Dave Roberts make poor coaching decision night after night. For example not playing the the hot hand or pitcher (the World Series) players fail to play small ball or home run hitters not taking a pitch. These strategies are baseball 101. I am sad to say as long time dodger fan this is another disappointing year. However I will remain true blue to them because I love baseball and the dodgers. Go LA.☹️☹️☹️
You and I are the same age, Elaine, and I have endured the same pain and suffering.
I couldn’t agree more with you. There is no “two strike approach” for these kids today (except for Turner, of course).
I’m pretty sure I know how this one will end.
I just can’t imagine the Phillies beating the Rockies today. It seems the only chance we got here is the “Law of averages” stepping in to block the Rockies. Here’s hoping the Rockies lose before the regular season ends. We’ve got to win this series against the Giants to, at least, stay alive, and maybe catch the Cardinals, the way I see it.
They’ve already caught, passed, and hold a one game lead over the Cardinals. As far as staying alive, they’d better work hard at it.
Speaking of working: Once more Machado, after twice getting burned, stood there and watched a ball near the fence. This time it was a fly out so didn’t get as much notice. I’ll be glad to see Corey back at SS next year.
Remember back when players used to run until it was sure?
What I meant by “catch the Cardinals” was end up being ahead of them as we are now. That they don’t pass us by the end of the regular season.
I read it the same way you did, Bob.
Elaine called it. “Doc” lost the World Series with his overmanagement and he lost the past two games with his micromanagement.
Everyone here has brought up good points and are obviously devoted Dodger fans.
If you really look at the Dodger team,first on paper, they have an awesome team with many all stars, and potential all stars. The name of the game is the WIN! The players need to do what they need to do at the plate, on the field and on the mound. This is not little league where you teach them to just have fun,… this the Major Leagues and the Dodgers are THEE ELITE team of the majors. As I said before the players MUST do their jobs and so do the manager and coaches, but if they are all not on the same page, it will be impossible to win. The Dodger fans deserve better,… so what really is the answer??
Learn from your mistakes Dodgers,… take charge and do the job that we all know that you can do, play all aspects of the game when the situation comes up,… small ball, trusting your pitches, hit and run, run and hit, steals, running out hits,… I really don’t need to go any further,… I’ve loved this team since 1965 and will never give up on them but really DODGERS,… come on!!!!
This is not an awsome team jc. And there are no allstars on this team except Kersh and janson and the one year wonders. Below average outfield, suspect pitching, no bullpen, no depth and no second base or first for that matter. What were you thinking.
I have been a Dodger fan since 1962 all the managers we have had since then our current one is the one that likes to get noticed the most I understand playing everybody during the season to keep everybody rested but when it comes to the crucial games stick with your starters period when a player is hot play him. You can’t have a player of the week that hits five home runs in two days then barely plays the next week. Kemp had an incredible weekend against the Diamondbacks helping win the games at Dodger Stadium with walk-offs he has barely played since then we need to win a game in Arizona and he goes with a bullpen game saving a pitcher for a game that may not happen and that pitcher if the game does happen will be inactive for over 8 days… how effective will he be? With the decisions he has made all season long I truly believe with another manager and not with him trying to be everybody’s friend we would be 8 games ahead by now
“I have been a Dodger fan since 1962 all the managers we have had since then our current one is the one that likes to get noticed the most”
Two words: Tommy and Lasorda.
Otherwise I’m mostly in agreement with you.
The issue with a new manager is it’s still the same front office. How about they say: “OK, Doc, you have one year doing it your way. It’s on you to prove your way is better.”
Won’t happen, but it’s a good dream.