2017 REGULAR SEASON LA Dodgers & international

[Ranma]

I am sure you guys will have a different ratings for our starters as of right now, but IMO it is

Kershaw - Wood - Darvish - Hill - Ryu - McCarthy - Maeda until McCarthy can resolve his control. even then by the time he gets it fixed, I am not sure if Ryu hasn't regained his old mojo.

I actually agree with your assessment. Ideally, Darvish would be the #2 starter but until he regains his previous form with consistency, I'd put him 3rd and maybe even 4th in the rotation. I want to ease him into the rotation and gradually elevate him as he progresses with our pitcher whisperer in Honeycutt.

I even share in having more faith in Ryu right now over McCarthy. Like Darvish, it would be ideal for McCarthy to make the regular starting rotation because of his pure stuff, but his questionable mental makeup really worries me when he has been vulnerable to the yips. As Ryu keeps building on extending his streak of quality performances, we can't ignore his production.

My preference for the Dodgers' current starting rotation is as follows:

1. Alex Wood
2. Yu Darvish
3. Rich Hill
4. Hyun-Jin Ryu
5. Brock Stewart

Clayton Kershaw moves back to the top of the rotation once he's fully healthy and we have to wait and see what Brandon McCarthy has before I consider putting him back into the mix. The Dodgers want to continue to see what they have in Stewart as he recovers from illness and I agree with the plan to give him an in-season tryout. Kenta Maeda is more of an emergency fill-in should something else happen to the other starters, but he's been a solid option as a backup starter and bullpen option.

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[Quake Griffin]

No qualms with you guys' SP order.
Darvish's recent outings have not instilled confidence. Earn the #2 slot if you want it holmes.

Btw, since we're getting HFA unless we collapse, do we start the #2 guy at home in Game 2 or on the road in Game 3?

[Ranma]

Btw, since we're getting HFA unless we collapse, do we start the #2 guy at home in Game 2 or on the road in Game 3?

It would also somewhat be dependent on the opponent (and their homefield), but generally assuming that Darvish will be our #2 starter in the playoffs, I would start him at home in Chavez Ravine to shelter him from the pressure and his vulnerability to giving up the long ball. Apparently, he needs to get a feel early in the game in order to adjust and settle down with each outing,
but he does show an impressive ability to make in-game adjustments as the game progresses. However, he's also prone to collapsing after making bad pitches. Darvish is a bit of a wildcard but one with impressive stuff and a high ceiling for paying off.

[Ranma]

JULY A MONTH TO REMEMBER FOR DODGERS

It's pretty safe to say nearly everything was clicking for the Dodgers in July, as they led the majors in multiple notable categories.

[TKainZero]

Stupid ravin

[Neddy]

Btw, since we're getting HFA unless we collapse, do we start the #2 guy at home in Game 2 or on the road in Game 3?

It would also somewhat be dependent on the opponent (and their homefield), but generally assuming that Darvish will be our #2 starter in the playoffs, I would start him at home in Chavez Ravine to shelter him from the pressure and his vulnerability to giving up the long ball. Apparently, he needs to get a feel early in the game in order to adjust and settle down with each outing,
but he does show an impressive ability to make in-game adjustments as the game progresses. However, he's also prone to collapsing after making bad pitches. Darvish is a bit of a wildcard but one with impressive stuff and a high ceiling for paying off.

that is entirely based on the matchup.

considering it is highly unlikely that we don't make the #1 seed, we are most likely to see the surviver of the wild card round.

if a team like Cardinals or Brewers come out of it, they are all right handed heavy, and I would load up Kershaw and Wood in game 1 and 2, and lean on the veteran presence of Darvish if we won both, and maybe Hill if we have lost one of the games, and try to risk manage the game 3.

if we run into a divisional rival like the Rockies, who have a balanced team, once again the game 3 starter may be dictated by the outcome of the game 1, but I would most likely start Darvish for #2, and Wood to go into the well known confines of Denver where he has seen many times, against hitters he is well aware of. Darvish is home run prone, and in a less experienced division, I would Keep Yu out of Denver. in fact in this scenario, I would start Kershaw-Hill-Wood-Ryu/MCarthy/Maeda and use Yu for game 5 at home if needed so we can lineup Kershaw for the next round's game 1. I trust my offense to come through in this odd predicament. Hill's curveball won't work in Denver. of course this case also assumes we are up 2-1 before the game 4.

if we run into the DBacks, they are very right handed and yet they can't hit lefties. they can't hit lefties to a point where they needed to make a trade for JD Martinez. their home park is not a HR launching pad that Rockies are, therefore I would go straight up with Kershaw-Darvish-Wood-Hill. two lefties against their home, I like our chances of winning at least one.

if the Cubs somehow loses momentum of their very fragile lead and let the Brewers or Cards take over the division and Cubs fall back to one of the wildcards and win the 1 game series, then things get interesting. outside of Rizzo, they are right handed heavy and they can hit lefties. if we win the game 1 with Kershaw, I am throwing out Darvish and do the best we can to win that game 2. to go back to Chicago with 2-0 lead would ensure our victory, even if our next two pitchers are Wood and Hill. the windy city's unpredictable climate may come to harm but most likely help the breaking balls of Hill. if we need a right handed pitcher to come to a rescue early, McCarthy/Maeda/Stewart/Stripling should be available.

[Ranma]

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[Neddy]

75-31

incredible.

[Ranma]

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[Ranma]

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[Neddy]

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we are gonna go into the post season with a pitching rotation of
Kershaw-Darvish-Hill-Wood

McCarthy-Ryu-Maeda-Stewart as the emergency backup starters, one for one! many playoff bound teams would love to have that second group we've got as their front 4 rotation.

[Neddy]

bottom of the 7th and the game is tied.



somehow, I have a little doubt we won't win this. but if we lose, we get to shed some of the burdens that come with major long streaks.

[Quake Griffin]

Oh that guy I don't want on my team blowing a game.

Can't wait to see him facing hitters in October when my butt is clenched for every pitch for all 9 innings.


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[Takes5]

Freakin Braves only team that can give LA trouble in the last month. Good thing they won't be seen again later.

[Ranma]

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[Ranma]

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[Quake Griffin]

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McCarthy, yes.

The other 2...please stay the eff away.

[Ranma]

Oh that guy I don't want on my team blowing a game.

Can't wait to see him facing hitters in October when my butt is clenched for every pitch for all 9 innings.

I liked seeing Baez use his changeup more but he has to balance the usage of that pitch with his fastball. He's been over-performing based on the difference between his 3.85 FIP and 1.77 ERA along with a progressively lower strikeout percentage this season, which is down to 22.1% from 28.9% in 2015.

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[Ranma]

Wood continues to be susceptible to his former teammates in Atlanta while the Braves continue to act like the spoilers the Padres used to be for us. Turner bailed him out of the 2nd inning with that long throw across the diamond.