Pen State

Looks like another loss snatched from the mouth of victory. Expecting two innings out of Sborz? Insanity defined.

GO DODGERS!!!

I'm going to say that I root for the Predator because obviously if he does well so does the team. But, I was ticked off but not surprised after the time I spent watching the game only for him to blow it again. I really hope this is just a bump and he overcomes it and regains form down the stretch and into the playoffs. I read a commentary by someone saying he stinks and has always stunk when it matters in the playoffs. I thought about it and responded by saying that indeed he has. It could be debated that he is the solely responsible for blowing the air out of the bubble and letting the Asstros beat us in 2017. That Marwin Gonzalez HR in the 9th, in game 1, I think, gave the Asstros all the life they needed to kicking our asses. He was supposed to be premier. Even though early his choke job was probably the biggest moment in the series.

I read somewhere on this board and I can’t for the life of me find the post about Mark Prior (bullpen coach) commenting on the Vulture to the effect that in some of his bullpen sessions and warm-ups the dude is “lights out”, while others he appears very mediocre and VERY hittable.

I’m guessing last night was the latter however, if Prior can spot this during warm-ups, would it not benefit both KJ & the team by informing DDF II of this BEFORE bringing him into a one or two run game?

Or does that just make too much sense?

GO DODGERS!!!

Team save percentage at 59%.

That’s simply unacceptable for a team this good and it looks like Doc is going to ride that horse of his right out of the dugout and into the sunset if he blows his third straight WS appearance.

Three saves in six appearances does not win you too many titles.

I wasn’t a huge fan of hiring Doc from the get-go, although he was a better choice than Captain Banana Hammock. He’s far too close to the same mold that brought us Torre and the original DDF. FAR too reliant on stats and books and analytics with little to zero decisions made on guts or instincts.

I had a supervisor once who was given her position strictly based on her being a woman and ethnicity (Asian). She literally had NO IDEA what I or others under her, most of us with 10 - 20 years experience, did.

All she had was a bunch of books and manuals to refer to. One report I completed was for an eight figure premium policy (yes - $10 mil plus for their worker’s compensation & liability policies).

We’re talking one of the largest corporations in the world based right here in little old Cin City.

The controller provided me with computerized detailed reports for all of their operations which I took home with me at his insistence. Took me the better part of a week to set up our internal program worksheets and enter the data into them.

When I turned the report in, she immediately pulled it and questioned where the numbers came from, why they weren’t verified and on and on and on.

She insisted I re-contact the controller and prepare him that I was going to need a bunch of garbage that I actually didn’t and likely spend the better part of a week at THEIR offices.

When I advised I wasn’t going to do that, she advised that “the books” said it should be done that way. My response was “the books aren’t always right”.

If I’d have followed her instructions, the first call that controller would have made would have been to his agent advising him to move the policies and their $10 mil premium to another insurance company.

I had the sense & balls to go over her head and present the report and my position to my manager and her boss. It was sent through and processed later that same day.

I wish someone could convince Doc that the “books” aren’t always right.

GO DODGERS!!!

Jansen should have done better. The guy got totally screwed though. He had Choi struck out, blue couldn't pull the trigger. Next guy pops out, game should have been over.

Whether the pitch to Choi was a strike or not wasn't even debatable.

Completely agree with you on that missed call, but that’s when he should have reached down deep and blew Choi away. Instead, he served him a lollipop that Choi blasted which led to the eventual tie.

After getting the lead off hitter, he gives up a single and a walk as well. I know the guy isn’t and can’t be perfect each and every time out, but we’ve seen this movie FAR too many times this and even last year.

The worst thing is, a LOT of these hits are coming when he is either ahead or WAY ahead (0 - 2, 1 - 2) in the count and for whatever reason, he cannot “close” these guys out.

Giving up hits and long balls to seasoned veterans and stars is one thing. Serving them up to scrub bench players hitting .200 is another, which he has done more than a few times this year.

He will cost us another WS if he is our only choice and alternative to close. Doc is being just as stubborn on this as DDF was on a number of “book” items and it might end up costing him his job.

Yes - Kelly & Baez have also surrendered runs lately as Doc stated. But how many were in a ninth inning, two run lead closer role?

And if any of them were, their opportunities to close have been minute compared to those afforded to Jansen.

If and when the next opportunity arises, ALL options for closer should be considered, including the above, Maeda and anyone else that can get the ball over the plate without it ending up in the bleachers. Hell - J STILL owns a zero point zero ERA! 😝

GO DODGERS!!!