That was a bad loss today. I was keeping an eye on the Reds game, and they were up 5-1 so I figured it was over. I check the scores at 8 pm, and BOOM! Brewers win 6-5. The Brewers scored 5 runs in the last 3 innings.
That’s a loss that could haunt them. And where in the hell did the Nationals come from?
Yes, and Dusty used 4 pitchers in the eighth inning. None of them named Aroldis Chapman. Of course since they tied the game up, he couldn’t be used in the ninth, it not being a save situation. Instead, Zach Duke, who was a September call-up pitches the ninth and allows the game winning home run.
Why do managers not simply use their best pitchers when it matters the most? Dusty is one of the worst, but he is not alone in this.
Also, that makes twice this season that the Reds would have hit a go-ahead home run in the top of the 9th at Milwaukee, except for Carlos Gomez robbing it.
“Not alone”? Hell, ALL managers are the same. I do not believe there is a single manager in baseball who is willing to vary from the Closer Script.
They do this to keep their jobs. Baker will not be much criticized for “holding back” Chapman for a save situation. But if he uses Chapman in the 8th and the Reds lose, he’ll be ripped in the press.
The press, and most of the fanbase, are not smart enough to realize that the way relief aces are used is stupid. They don’t want managers to do things the ideal way; they want managers to do things they way they’re used to. If you act conventionally and lose, the players are blamed. Act unconventionally and lose, and the manager is blamed.
It was seen as noteworthy in the previous game when Baker reluctantly brought in Chapman for a (gasp) four-out save, with bases loaded and two out in the eighth.
Dodgers 86-63
AZ 75-73
Magic #4. Kinda tough week for the Blue.
Yeah, there are stretches of multiple games where Chapman doesn’t take the mound. The guy needs some work, surely, from time to time, even if it’s not a save situation, no?
I mean, presumably every relief pitcher/closer in MLB was a starter at some point in their careers (Little League, high school, college, whatever).
I hate that conservative, scripted bullshit too.
As I told a Giants fan on Friday, with the little bit of tension between the Dodgers and D-Backs earlier this season, it may actually be sweeter to clinch in Arizona this week. I hope for a long, drawn-out shot of Gerardo Parra looking dejected, personally.
This assumes, of course, that the Dodgers can get their acts together. As you said, a tough week.
When I did last week’s update, the magic # was 10, now it’s 4, so not a disaster. Hope we can get healthy.
Dodgers become the first team to clinch a playoff spot, winning the NL West in Arizona this afternoon!
Now, time to get healthy for the postseason!
And finally, let’s go Tribe!
About fucking time!
Now play the bench for the remainder of the season and rest the pitching and lame.
Woohoo!
This.
Man, the NL Central race is so tight! The Cards lost today so the Pirates are one game back and the Reds are two back after (barely) sweeping the Astros.
The Reds have nine games left…six of which are against the Pirates…three away, three at home to close out the season with three more against the Mets at home sandwiched in between.
The two series with the Buccos should be epic, and depending on what St Louis does (they have three games each with the Brewers, Nationals and Cubs) could very well decide the division winner.
My palms are sweating already.
And the Red Sox clinch a playoff berth. Woohoo!
I still have their magic number at 1. Granted it seems damned unlikely they won’t win 1 out of 8 remaining, but still…
That’s for the division. They’ve at least clinched a wild card spot. But no one in Boston is celebrating yet.
The “magic number” is combined leading-team wins and trailing-team losses. The Red Sox only need a win if the Rays sweep all of their last series against the Orioles, Yankees, and Blue Jays.
Realistically, all the divisions are decided except NL Central (and whichever teams come up short there will play the WC game).
The best series to watch this weekend might be Rangers-Royals.
Ahhh…got you. Didn’t catch the distinction.
I agree that they are practically settled, but the whole point of the magic number is the assumption that 2nd place will win all of their remaining games. It’s the number that 1st place has to win to control their own destiny. It is reduced by 1 whenever 1st Place wins OR 2nd Place loses.
The actual formula is 163- <1st Place Wins> - <2nd Place Losses>.
Current counts (Team (Lead) - Magic Number - Games Remaining:
Red Sox (9) - 1 - 8
Tigers (6) - 4 - 9
Athletics (6.5) - 4 - 9
Cardinals (1) - 9 - 9
Dodgers (10.5) - 0 - 9
Braves (8.5) - 2 - 10
Well, SOMEbody is…see post 134.
Serious question seeking serious answer. There’s been a bit of a stink made about the fact that the Dodgers decided to celebrate clinching yesterday by jumping in the pool at Chase Field. Whatever I think personally of the so-called unwritten rules of baseball, I can see how that might be considered a violation of them.
However, one of the things that has been pointed out is that prior to the win, the Diamondbacks organization had asked the Dodgers NOT to celebrate on their field should they clinch (which may have been the Dodgers’ motivation for seeking another part of the stadium in which to party). I’m thinking, who the hell does that? Who even has the right to make such a request? And what is their motivation? This comes from a organization that reportedly won’t allow people to sit in the best seats in the house if they’re wearing gear supporting another team. I’ve never heard of a team making a request like that before, and it makes them sound (to me) rather pathetic.
Any ideas?