The 2017 Dodgers WORLD SERIES!!! Thread

Quake Griffin · Post #461 » by **Quake Griffin** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 9:24 pm

I think Yasmani should start but I can agree that it's half gut, eye test, and part catcher's ERA. I cannot haggle with Austin's production or how he called Yu and the pen through that game. That could have been his finest game as a Dodger if we really think about it.

My investment in this discussion is:
- Who calls the better games/ are the pitchers most comfortable with; and
- This not being a thing, distraction etc. etc.

I previously thought with Logan slumping, we could resolve it with Austin at 2B. Logan has showed up and that's not feasible anymore.

But mostly, if you're picking Austin, just rip the band aid off and do it. Don't let it linger and have the media asking question after question about it. A comment like that can only be followed up by, "so.....Yasmani doesn't do the little things?" Or resentment from Yasmani. Keep the clubhouse clear of that garbage.

P.S. Glad to see that his rapport with Yu was taken into account.

Ranma · Post #462 » by **Ranma** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 9:45 pm

Kershaw is just more comfortable with Grandal and I've said before that I think Barnes has more ideas that stray from Clayton's comfort zone. Roberts noted how Austin has grown with increased confidence, which seems to support my assertion. Contrast that to Grandal, who previously had issues with the Padres' pitching staff over disagreements over pitch-calling and handling, where he has since seemed to be more submissive to our staff.

Barnes has always had a good reputation for handling pitchers throughout his time in the minors, which is why it surprised me to see him and Kershaw not being on the same page, but I recall a Kershaw-Barnes game earlier in the regular season where Clayton struggled with what I perceived to be his stubborn insistence on going with certain pitches only to have the team settled and succeed once he was taken out with a succession of new pitchers who excelled with Austin in that very same game.

Like Quake said, it could just be a matter of building rapport with Barnes but we all know how Kershaw has a tendency to favor certain catchers over others out of familiarity whether it is A.J. Ellis or Yasmani Grandal. We don't have time for Austin and Clayton to grow comfortable with each other during the playoffs, so that may have to wait for the off-season and spring training.

For now, if Kershaw is starting, even I have resigned myself to having Grandal receive him over Barnes just because of the battery dynamics. It also gives Grandal a chance to snap out of his slump even if it's at the expense of our offense.

To be honest, I'm siding with Barnes in wishing Kershaw would be more open to listening to Austin's input.

At the same time, whenever Grandal is starting, we better not have Granderson in there. We can't afford to gamble on 2 spots in the batting order. Bring in **** to play LF. I'd even consider doing something crazy like having Forsythe play 3B with Turner at 1B, Bellinger in LF and Barnes at 2B.

Ranma · Post #463 » by **Ranma** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 10:07 pm

Read on Twitter

Quake Griffin · Post #464 » by **Quake Griffin** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 12:02 am

Oddly enough, it pisses me off that Kershaw does that specific catcher thing. Kinda like it pissed me off that he ran to management begging for Puig to be traded.

You haven’t been an October Juggernaut bro. Quit acting like you have been one. Maybe Austin could call you through an 8th inning for once in these Octobers.

I hated when he did that with Ellis and I wish Yasmani would tell him no and to respect each catcher we have.

I know it’s weird given our stance on this topic but like I said...oddly enough, I hate that.

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Quake Griffin · Post #465 » by **Quake Griffin** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 12:16 am

We have a Game 5 in DC.

My mind says the Nats would be “easier”.
My gut says I may not want to face a Nats team that just got over the hump/ got the monkey off their back.

So bring whoever for the NLCS.
Cub or Nat.

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Ranma · Post #466 » by **Ranma** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 12:19 am

With the Cubs and Nationals now facing off tomorrow in a Game 5, that means their pitching staff will be taxed and possibly over-extended when they face us. Still nothing to take for granted, but I'll take whatever advantage we can get.

Quake Griffin · Post #467 » by **Quake Griffin** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 12:29 am

Surprised CC got the start over Sonny

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Ranma · Post #468 » by **Ranma** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 12:38 am

Quake Griffin wrote:Surprised CC got the start over Sonny

Now that you mention it, me too. Gray has the better career postseason ERA over Sabathia but C.C. has much more experience over Sonny. Gray was also torched in his previous outing against the Indians lasting just barely over 3 innings.

Neddy · Post #469 » by **Neddy** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 1:01 am

Ranma wrote:

Read on Twitter

great read!

Neddy · Post #470 » by **Neddy** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 1:28 am

Quake Griffin wrote:Oddly enough, it pisses me off that Kershaw does that specific catcher thing. Kinda like it pissed me off that he ran to management begging for Puig to be traded.

You haven’t been an October Juggernaut bro. Quit acting like you have been one. Maybe Austin could call you through an 8th inning for once in these Octobers.

I hated when he did that with Ellis and I wish Yasmani would tell him no and to respect each catcher we have.

I know it’s weird given our stance on this topic but like I said...oddly enough, I hate that.

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yeah I hated Clayton's mancrush on Ellis thing too, but not because of personal catcher thing but because Ellis was such an inferior player, both in terms of offense and catching. he was one of the worst framers in game, called a rather vanilla and fairly predictable game. Grandal is a huge upgrade over Ellis, but right now Barnes is hot in the batter's box and probably the better overall player going forward. but some guys do get very comfortable pitching to certain catchers, and in playoffs, I don't wish to test out a new catcher for an established star.
Personally, I really do not mind the personal catcher thing tho. Jon Lester had David Ross, Thor prefers Rene, Doug Mirabelli caught Tim Wakefield exclusively, Bob Uecker caught Phil Niekro, our own Chan Ho Park had Chad Kreuter back in the 90s for the dodgers. hell even Billy Chapel had Gus Sinski!

Quake Griffin · Post #471 » by **Quake Griffin** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 4:00 am

Time for me to stop feeling bad for these Yankees because they’re underdogs. They have a great shot to beat Houston.

They have 28 rings.
We need to add to our collection.

Man a WS victory over NYY would be SOOOOO sweet.

First things first.
Nats/Cubs.
Again. IDC who wins. Tough test ahead.

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Ranma · Post #472 » by **Ranma** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 5:01 pm

I read somewhere that the Dodgers need to win another NL pennant in order to tie the Giants and Cardinals given the drought since 1988, but two sources (Wikipedia and the tweet below) indicate we're currently 2 behind San Francisco and 2 ahead of St. Louis.

Read on Twitter

Quake Griffin · Post #473 » by **Quake Griffin** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 7:19 pm

Neddy wrote:Personally, I really do not mind the personal catcher thing tho. Jon Lester had David Ross, Thor prefers Rene, Doug Mirabelli caught Tim Wakefield exclusively, Bob Uecker caught Phil Niekro, our own Chan Ho Park had Chad Kreuter back in the 90s for the dodgers. hell even Billy Chapel had Gus Sinski!

I don't mind in a vacuum. He's a human and has preferences. I do mind putting himself above the team in the name of "comfort." This is why I loved when we traded away Ellis. Eff your comfort. You're gonna throw to the better catcher.

What do ya know, when Ellis leaves, all of a sudden Yasmani has the apparent magic glove and he becomes comfortable. Well, maybe has a magic glove OR maybe you're just a diva about the whole thing and you use comfort/routine/all those starting pitcher taboos to get your way.

Always thought it was funny he stuck with Ellis and in 2015. Here's Zack Greinke, not being a diva, during the Spring Training right after we traded for Yasmani and actually opening himself mentally to working with him

“He’s been unbelievable back there,” Greinke said. “His catching is better than advertised, and working with me individually, he’s been as good as you could expect. I don’t think, from what I’ve seen so far, you could ever have expected anything more.

“He’s done everything. His hands are great. He’s blocked everything I’ve thrown. People stole on him last year, but he’s had some really good throws in games I’ve thrown in spring training. And then his game calling’s been good.

“I couldn’t draw up a better catcher at the moment.”

And sorry guys. I think you can tell, I don't kneel at the altar of Kershaw. I love him. I really do. I just don't kneel at the altar.

Quake Griffin · Post #474 » by **Quake Griffin** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 7:24 pm

Ranma wrote:I read somewhere that the Dodgers need to win another NL pennant in order to tie the Giants and Cardinals given the drought since 1988, but two sources (Wikipedia and the tweet below) indicate we're currently 2 behind San Francisco and 2 ahead of St. Louis.

Read on Twitter

We may not catch the Yankees in my lifetime, but I'd like to catch the Giants and Cardinals and lead them both in Pennants and WS victories before I get out of here.

Has always made me wonder if we are supposed to be behind the Cardinals because Branch Rickey developed them first but I think I'm over it. We integrated baseball. We brought baseball to the west coast. We deserve to be the Kings of the NL.

Quake Griffin · Post #475 » by **Quake Griffin** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 8:07 pm

One of the things I love over the past 3-4 years is that people post the MLB Playoff games on youtube and you can watch them in full or, in my case, go back and see the full scenario which is better than a highlight.

Like watching Kenley k Goldschmidt to win this series.

Watch on YouTube

Ranma · Post #476 » by **Ranma** » Fri Oct 13, 2017 12:23 am

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Neddy · Post #477 » by **Neddy** » Fri Oct 13, 2017 1:43 am

man injured Seager is a big deal. if he can't go in game 1 or more, he could potentially waste a roster spot by putting him in, and without him the mindset of our lineup changes. if Seager can't go, we need Taylor at SS and re-instate Joc back on the roster to line him up against right handed starters of game 1 and 2.

Quake Griffin · Post #478 » by **Quake Griffin** » Fri Oct 13, 2017 2:55 am

Smfh.

We can’t win without Seager.

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Quake Griffin · Post #479 » by **Quake Griffin** » Fri Oct 13, 2017 3:47 am

They’re using all their pitchers.

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Neddy · Post #480 » by **Neddy** » Fri Oct 13, 2017 3:56 am

Quake Griffin wrote:They’re using all their pitchers.

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both Max Scherzer and Quintana pitched in this game. unbelievable. I guess if the Cubs are the one, Jon Lester will be the game 1 starter, and if the Nats make it, it will be a worn and weary Max. I hope the Nats win this game.