Dodgers: 2 Blown Calls in the 9th Are Not to Blame for the Loss
Friday night was almost exactly what you would expect from the Dodgers playing the lowly Rockies. After a big series sweep over the Padres down in San Diego, the bats went quiet aside from a pair of solo homeruns.
But 2 blown calls in the 9th inning are what had Dodgers fans leaving the stadium shaking their heads. There was this big missed call on what should have been ball 4 on Corey Seager. Rather than having 2 runners on with 1 away, they had just 1 more out to work with.
Then came a questionable called strike on a check swing from AJ Pollock to end the game. Rather than having 2 runners on again, Pollock was rung up and the Dodgers took the lost. But Dave Roberts wasn’t about to blame the umpiring for the loss.
Will had a really nice night and Trea ran into one – a really good piece of hitting. Outside of that we really didn’t do anything. …That inning certainly didn’t cost us the game. I think overall tonight, punching out 12 times, no walks. Not a good performance offensively.
The offense managed just 4 hits off of starter Kyle Freeland and struck out 7 times. They ended the game going 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position, all of which came in the 9th inning. They also left just 4 runners on base and the offense fell completely flat.
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Onward and upward. The Dodgers and Rockies are back at it tonight in Los Angeles with David Price on the mound against Jon Gray.
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The reason the Dodgers are having trouble catching the Giants remains the same. When the Giants do suffer a rare loss, the Dodgers do not take advantage. They completely lose their “sense of urgency” and go on cruise control as if the game were in the bag. Last night was a perfect example of a team acting like all it has to do to win is “show up” and then being shocked, shocked, that it still has to play the game. Of course it doesn’t help that the team is still “throwing away” games by trotting out half a dozen pitchers in a “bullpen” game knowing full well that at least one is NOT going to pitch well and that is all it takes to end up in the L column again. When you are spending $275M, you should at least have five guys who can start a game. A couple of more of these missed opportunities and the team will be looking a wild card game.
Rainbirdmuse, exactly right on all your post here. I’ll say it again, these BP games will catch up to Roberts and the team sooner or later before October gets here. And correct you are on that $275 million payroll and not being able to have 5 starters. Oh and BTW,don’t be too surprised if Giants do end up the NL WEST division winners, ending the Dodger’s 8 year run, and the team getting bounced in that WC game in part due to Robert’s ineptness and an offense that acts like there’s no urgency.
For the most part, the offense usually falls flat against any descent LHP. It’s been like that way all year. With the exception of maybe Pujos and Trea Turner, everyone else including the other RHB have struggled against LHP. And even though Roberts adjusts these lineups whenever a LHP is facing them it seems to matter not and results pathetically are the same.
What gives with Roberts giving everyone extra time off. By doing this we lose. If I went to a Dodger game in person and the star are not in I would want a refund
Freeland did pitch a good game; but when it’s time to play small ball; we should do just that. When you get a man on, you gotta move him over. Freeland was on the edges all night. He had 0 walks? Choke up and foul a couple off when you get 2 strikes. Poke at a few like Justin does. Trea should have poked a bunt or 2 down the line. Cody should do that once in a while. Taylor. These guys are really fast. They are going to succeed here and there. And it may cut down some of the shifts. Hats off to Freeland; but it was evident from the start he was on. Change the approach.
Yes, I know that there Dodgers offense has been struggling too often in the recent past, but in principe, how can you say 2 blown calls in the 9th of a 2 run game is not a very big deal. 1 is potentially game changing, but 2 is the same plus inexcusable.
Small ball yes, but how defeating to have earlier critic calls cheated against you as well? There is such a thing in baseball as momentum, no? And the streaky team who usually get all their runs in 1 or 2 innings Dodgers aren’t exactly that type of team? You’ve got to be kidding me.
Yes, I know that the offense has been struggling too often in the recent past, but in principe, how can you say 2 blown calls in the 9th of a 2 run game is not a very big deal? One at that stage is potentially game changing, but 2 is the same plus inexcusable.
Small ball yes, but how defeating to have earlier critic calls cheated against you as well? There is such a thing in baseball as momentum, no? And the streaky team who usually gets all their runs in 1 or 2 innings Dodgers aren’t exactly that type of team? You’ve got to be kidding me.
Roberts needs to be fired for starting Bellinger over Pollock against a left the worst hitter in MLB, who can’t hit lefties anyway and hitting.130 the last 3 weeks? Instead of Pollock who is has been one of the best hitters in baseball for 6 weeks? Fire the idiot. I’ve seen enough Roberts blunders to last a lifetime.
Again today, Sunday, another day to kick back for Roberts and the backup lineup. Sure….’they will win in the end’ said Roberts…..but in the meantime….yeah…I’d like my money back for paying the big bucks to see the Dodgers play AAA ball. Roberts trying to be Mister Popular as if he has even the slightest bit of Lasorda in him, which he doesn’t. Love the shades, his big smile to his fans as he hangs on the rails spitting seeds like a real non-class act. How about managing this group of stand out players like you want to win every game…like Kapler…like the Giants? This is not the group of guys showing that they want to end up as division leaders but who might just blow it in a Wild Card game.