October 3rd, 2024 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka Shortly after it was announced on Wednesday that 28-year-old Dodgers right-hander Jack Flaherty and 26-year-old Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto would start Games 1 and 2 of the 2024 National League Division Series respectively against a then unknown opponent of either the Atlanta Braves or the San Diego Padres, who were going at it in the Wild Card Series, it was being widely reported that the Dodgers were optimistic that both 35-year-old Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman and 35-year-old utility infielder/outfielder (and Dodgers primary shortstop) Miguel Rojas would be activated from the injured list in time for Saturday’s Division Series opener at Dodger Stadium.
That great news soon became even more significant upon receiving the not-great-news that the Padres had defeated the Braves to win the best-of-three Wild Card Series two games to none. As a result, the Dodgers will face the Padres in the NLDS for the third time in the last five years, having swept them 2020 but being swept by them in 2022.
As Dodger fans painfully know, Mike Shildt‘s Padres took eight of thirteen from Dave Roberts‘ Dodgers during the 2024 regular season, including three of six at Dodger Stadium, four of five at Petco Park, and splitting the two games played in Seoul, South Korea to open the 2024 MLB regular season. That tallies out to an ugly .385 winning percentage.
To make matters even worse, the Friars won seven of their final 10 regular season games. Thankfully, the 98-64 Dodgers won eight of their final 10, but didn’t look nearly as sharp as their division rivals down the stretch.
Here’s where things get a bit sticky. Freeman slashed an un-Freeman-like .220/.313/.390/.703, with only one home run and two RBIs in his 11 games (41 at-bats) against San Diego this season, and Rojas a horrific .000/.182/.000/.182, going 0-for-9 in his four games against them. (His .182 OBP was the result of a walk and being hit by a pitch).
That said, if Freeman has indeed recovered from his September 26 sprained right ankle and Rojas from a tear in his left adductor (which he played through for a couple of weeks), having both back in the line-up, even if on what would undoubtedly be a limited basis, it could be the difference in the Dodgers being in the 2024 National League Championship Series or watching it on TV.
Play Ball!
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Posted in 
Dodger Faithful,
It has been a while since I last posted, but now that we have had all the thrills of an incredible season, I thought I might check in. First and foremost, I think the boys in blue did an absolutely amazing job this season given all of the injuries and hardships. Shohei and Teoscar have surpassed my expectations, and who doesn’t love the deadline acquisitions? Kopech has been amazing and Edman has given us something we have not had in a while with his left/right and SS/CF abilities, and Jumpin Jack Flash is a gas gas gas (sorry about that, I guess I got a little carried away). We are all so sad that Glasnow could not get through the season, but grateful for what he contributed, as well as the pleasant surprise of Gavin “StoneCold”. Yamamoto was great before the injury and realistically, we are going to need him to be on top of his game if we are going to advance. Given the circumstances, we are going to rely heavily on the bullpen; I believe they are equal to the challenge. Does anybody know why Gonsolin in not in the conversation? From what I have read, he was pretty awesome in rehab. I am thinking he could be a 4th if needed, although my heart wants a headline that says “Kershaw Does a Willis Reed”, or even a Kirk Gibson, wouldn’t it be something special for him to give us five shut-out innings in the NLDS or the NLCS?
So, my take: Freddie and Mookie are going to be better than they were last year in the NLDS (they have to be am I right?), Jumpin Jack and Yamamoto need to be their best, and if we can get the real Walker Bueller!!!! We gotta believe!!!
Now, for the Padres, I respect them make no mistake, what they are doing is remarkable and they have the swagger to go with it. I really don’t know what they traded to get Arraez and all the bullpen studs, but they have a great team. I am not afraid of playing them and we all know that there is a good chance that the games are going to be decided by the smallest of nuances. Yesterday I watched Max Fried get two strikes with two outs on Higashioka, and then give up a game tying HR that opened the floodgates for a five run inning. He gets that third strike and the game might have had a different outcome. To beat the Padres, we have to execute and get that third strike and shut the barn door before the horses get out!
I have loved this season watching this great Dodger team with all of the adversity and triumph. We all buried CT3 and look what he has been doing as of late, same goes for Kike and Muncy. All right, I have written enough, let’s get our minds right and go out and kick some Padre butt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In the words of our man Ron, “Play Ball!”
Great to hear from you, Cid. Welcome back!
Excellent points throughout. Not gonna lie, I was among those who had thrown the towel in on Chris Taylor and was a bit miffed when they brought him back instead of calling someone up from their outstanding farm system. But I am now fully onboard with him. He has been outstanding since returning. I now believe that CT3 will be instrumental in the Dodgers to making it to – and winning – the World Series.
Please don’t be a stranger here.
Play Ball!!!
Ron Cervenka, you are an idiot, proof read your post. The Dodgers won 5 of 13 for a .385 winning percentage.
Fixed. Thank you for your kindness.
I think that’s a little harsh, senior moment, maybe, math challenged, Possibly. Besides, it doesn’t really make a big difference does it? Just saying…
Thank you, Cid. It was indeed a senior moment – that, and doing these things at 3 AM.
Thank you again.