October 2016 – Page 4 – Dodger Thoughts

On October 10, 2016

In History, Postseason

By Jon Weisman

The playoffs are so relentlessly tense, I was wondering when the last time Dodger fans could sit back and revel in a postseason romp.

Turns out, there’ve been a ton of pressure-packed innings in a row. Not since October 6, 2013 — 18 Dodger playoff games ago — has Los Angeles won a postseason game by more than three runs — in modern shorthand, a game that didn’t require a save.

But even though the Dodgers tied a franchise record for runs in a playoff contest with a 13-6 victory over Atlanta in Game 3 of the 2013 National League Division Series, that game was a roller coaster, considering the Dodgers trailed 2-0 early and didn’t break it open until scoring three runs in the bottom of the eighth.

Despite strong start, Dodgers fall in NLDS Game 2

On October 9, 2016

In Postgame, Postseason

By Jon Weisman

The cut on Rich Hill’s non-pitching hand looked small. The bruise on his psyche looked large.

On a day that the Dodgers — baseball’s No. 2 offense in 2016 with the bases loaded — couldn’t take advantage of five such at-bats, Hill saw a promising start derailed by a three-run home run from Nationals catcher José Lobatón, lifting Washington to a 5-2 victory that evened the best-of-five National League Division Series at 1-1.

Game 3 of the NLDS takes place at Dodger Stadium on Monday at 1:08 p.m.

Following Lobatón’s homer, Hill was shown on the Fox Sports 1 broadcast with the small mark on his right hand after banging it in the dugout in anger. It was not the only time today a Dodger would hit something hard in vain.

NLDS Game 3 start time: 1:08 p.m.

On October 9, 2016

Game 3 of the National League Division Series will begin at Dodger Stadium at 1:08 p.m. Monday.

NLDS Game 4 (if necessary) will take place Tuesday — at 2:05 p.m. if the Giants beat the Cubs on Monday, or 5:08 p.m. if the Cubs eliminate the Giants.

Auto gates open three hours before first pitch, and stadium gates open 2 1/2 hours early. Limited tickets are available.

— Jon Weisman

Yasmani Grandal gives the inside scoop

On October 9, 2016

In Catching, Postseason, Pregame

NLDS Game 2
Dodgers at Nationals, 10:08 a.m.

Dodgers
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Josh Reddick, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Andrew Toles, LF
Rich Hill, P

Nationals
Trea Turner, CF
Bryce Harper, RF
Jayson Werth, LF
Daniel Murphy, 2B
Anthony Rendon, 3B
Ryan Zimmerman, 1B
Danny Espinosa, SS
José Lobatón , C
Tanner Roark, P

By Jon Weisman

Before Saturday’s Game 2 of the National League Division Series was postponed, Yasmani Grandal gave a pretty entertaining press session with reporters.

Here’s how it began:

Q. What is it about Kenley Jansen that makes him not only able to have five-out saves, like what Dave (Roberts) asked him to do last night, but lets him thrive in situations like that?
YASMANI GRANDAL: 98-mile-per-hour cutter.

Q. Anything about his mentality —
YASMANI GRANDAL: No. 98-mile-per-hour cutter.

If it seems as if Grandal was being curt, he actually gave thoughtful and lengthy responses to subsequent questions …

On catching Game 2 starter Rich Hill:

It’s fun to catch Rich just because of … all the angles and how much movement he has got on his fastball and his curveball. It seems like he has got five different curveballs and three different fastballs. So that aspect of a game is pretty fun for me to do it.

I don’t know about other people, but you know, at times it’s a little bit challenging. … You don’t know what his curveball is going to do when he drops down. You don’t know what his curveball is going to do when he’s throwing it over the top.

At times it is a little challenging just to catch the ball to try and help him out behind home plate, and to make sure that I help him out doing what I’m capable of doing behind home plate. Like the stats said, framing is one of the top things in the league right now. … My challenge, basically, each and every day, is making sure that I’m prepared to help him. If I’m able to get a couple strikes here and there, then that’s always a good thing.

NLDS Game 2 postponed until Sunday

In Postgame, Postseason

That's a tarp. It's raining. #journalism pic.twitter.com/0vUtOOoSSe

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) October 8, 2016

By Jon Weisman

Well, that’s that for today. Game 2 of the National League Division Series has been officially rained out and rescheduled for 10:08 a.m. Pacific Time on Sunday, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced.

Games 3 and (if necessary 4) remain scheduled for Monday and Tuesday at Dodger Stadium, after the teams travel late Sunday to Los Angeles.

Aside from the general fatigue of losing a travel day, the postponement could have a direct impact on the Dodgers’ pitching plans.

Relievers could potentially be asked to work three consecutive days.
Game 5 would no longer come on four days’ rest for Rich Hill if the Dodgers decided to go with Clayton Kershaw on short rest in Game 4.

Nothing has been announced, but it seems Julio Urías is more likely than ever to make a Game 4 start — if necessary. Update: Dave Roberts confirmed as much this afternoon.

Expect rain-delayed start for NLDS Game 2

By Jon Weisman

For days, the Hurricane Matthew-influenced weather has put an on-time start for Game 2 of the National League Division Series in jeopardy, and it does appear there will be a delay for the 1:08 p.m. Pacific/4:08 p.m. Eastern scheduled first pitch.

Dave Roberts told reporters today it’s likely that the game will be delayed until an expected window of drier weather sometime after 2 p.m. Pacific/5 p.m. Eastern. (Note that the Weather Channel forecast above is on Eastern time.)

Roberts added that he expects MLB to take measures so that starting pitchers can avoid warming up and then having to shut down. Rich Hill told us earlier this week that he doesn’t expect that to be a problem.

For Clayton Kershaw, winning makes the grind worth it

By Jon Weisman

Clayton Kershaw, as you would expect, was much happier about Friday’s NLDS Game 1 victory than if he had “pitched a shutout for seven innings and we hadn’t won,” as Mark Whicker of the Register captured.

“It was a grind,” Kershaw added, according to A.J. Cassavell of MLB.com. “A lot of guys on base all the time. It definitely wasn’t easy. It was definitely as close as you can bend without breaking.”

Video: Vin Scully is timeless

In In case you missed it, Postseason

MLB Network put the spotlight on Vin Scully one more time in this video promoting the National League Division Series that only gets more dramatic as it goes.

— Jon Weisman

Pitch hits Turner hard, Turner hits pitch far

[mlbvideo id=”1203755383″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

By Jon Weisman

It was the worst of déjà vu, it was the best of déjà vu.

Dodgers ride homers, bullpen to NLDS Game 1 triumph

In Bullpen, Postgame, Postseason

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Clayton Kershaw didn’t have his best stuff, not by a longshot. But he had some of his best guile, some his best perseverance and all of his best bullpen.

With four Dodger relievers throwing four shutout innings, the Dodgers survived a nail-biting, seat-squirming Game 1 in the National League Division Series, edging the Washington Nationals, 4-3.

Kershaw lasted five innings, punching out seven batters but bobbing and weaving through three runs on nine baserunners. Joe Blanton, Grant Dayton, Pedro Báez and Kenley Jansen worked the back end, to make a Dodger offense led by homers by Corey Seager and Justin Turner stand up.

Remaining NLDS start times unveiled (with asterisks)

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

The start times for all potential National League Division Series games between the Dodgers and Nationals have been announced — sort of. First pitch for Games 3-5 will depend on how quickly the other series end.

Here is the schedule — all times Pacific:

Game 1 (Fox Sports 1): Today at Washington, 2:38 p.m.
Game 2 (Fox Sports 1): Saturday at Washington, 1:08 p.m.
Game 3 (MLB Network): Monday at Dodger Stadium, 1:08 p.m. (or if there are only two games that day, 3:08 p.m.)
*Game 4 (Fox Sports 1): Tuesday at Dodger Stadium. 2:05 p.m. (or if the Giants-Cubs series is over, 5:08 p.m.)
*Game 5 (Fox Sports 1): Thursday at Washington, 2:05 p.m. (or if the Giants-Cubs series is over, 5:08 p.m.)
* if necessary

At Dodger Stadium, autogates will open three hours before game time, and turnstiles will open 2 1/2 hours before game time.

Limited tickets are still available at dodgers.com/tickets. Just clear your day like it’s Opening Day and come on out…

Click below for the full October 10-13 playoff schedule.

Dodger bullpen runs deep heading into NLDS

In Bullpen, Pregame

Kenley Jansen and Joe Blanton (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

NLDS Game 1
Dodgers at Nationals, 2:38 p.m.

Dodgers
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Josh Reddick, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Andrew Toles, LF
Clayton Kershaw, P

Nationals
Trea Turner, CF
Bryce Harper, RF
Jayson Werth, LF
Daniel Murphy, 2B
Anthony Rendon, 3B
Ryan Zimmerman, 1B
Danny Espinosa, SS
Pedro Severino, C
Max Scherzer P

By Jon Weisman

Any Dodger game that starts with Clayton Kershaw on the mound ideally ends with Clayton Kershaw on the mound.

But with seven relievers who have performed strongly down the stretch, the Dodgers can be as aggressive with their playoff bullpen as they have been in years.

Of the six relievers the Dodgers would use to preserve a lead, none had a September ERA higher than 2.00, and only Joe Blanton had a September WHIP above 1.03.

Kenley Jansen, of course, is the primary candidate for the ninth inning, and if necessary could be drawn into the eighth inning. This year, Jansen entered six games in the eighth and saved five of them.

In the set-up roles, the Dodgers can mix and match righties Joe Blanton, Pedro Báez and Josh Fields with lefties Grant Dayton and Luis Avilán, with Ross Stripling held back for extra innings.

That means even if Kershaw only goes six innings, the Dodgers could go batter-to-batter against a Washington starting lineup that goes R-L-R-L-R at the top.

Dodgers’ NLDS roster made official

In Postseason, Transactions

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Today, the Dodgers’ National League Division Series roster officially became what they unofficially indicated it would be Tuesday. Here’s how it looks from a lefty-righty standpoint:

Kershaw says he feels less pressure to carry Dodgers

On October 6, 2016