***Official*** MLB 2025 Thread

[Ryback_feed_me_more]

Druff, who takes the L for the Dodgers essentially blowing themselves out in G3?

They havent been the same since and honestly had the Jays not blown their best chance to win G3 in the top of the 13th they'd be partying in Toronto right now. Toronto flat pwned them in Game 4&5 honestly expect Toronto to end it tomorrow night but I guess anything is possible.

Is it Dave Roberts once again doing a shit job with a bullpen that honestly really isnt better or worse then Torontos anyway?

Truth is No way can LA win both games in Toronto which they have to do to win B2B. I already feel bad for the Japanese version of Babe Ruth aka Ohtani, dude likely wouldve won the WS MVP if LA won back to back as he was and remains the likely NL MVP winner (he wouldve already been planning his induction to Cooperstown already had they done so).

[Kalam]

They havent been the same since and honestly had the Jays not blown their best chance to win G3 in the top of the 13th they'd be partying in Toronto right now. Toronto flat pwned them in Game 4&5 honestly expect Toronto to end it tomorrow night but I guess anything is possible.

Is it Dave Roberts once again doing a shit job with a bullpen that honestly really isnt better or worse then Torontos anyway?

Truth is No way can LA win both games in Toronto which they have to do to win B2B. I already feel bad for the Japanese version of Babe Ruth aka Ohtani, dude likely wouldve won the WS MVP if LA won back to back as he was and remains the likely NL MVP winner (he wouldve already been planning his induction to Cooperstown already had they done so).

Truthfully the Dodgers have been playing mediocre baseball for pretty much the whole second half of the season, which they seemed to snap out of in the playoffs. If you look at the second half of the season where they basically played 0.500 ball for 80 games, there is a lot of 2-3 game streaks where the offense did nothing and the bullpen was super shaky. For those of us who have been watching the Dodgers the last 3 months, nothing super surprising has happened in the last 2 games.

Obviously I want the Dodgers to win and think they still can, but I am not going to be shocked that a team that played 0.500 baseball for 3 months straight lost a 7 game series to another very good team.

[Dan Druff]

The Dodgers' second half problems were masked by their 5 game winning streak at the end of the regular season, which coincided by a string of unhittable starts by Snell/Yamamoto/Glasnow (including that embarrassing loss when Yamamoto was pitching a no-hitter, and they took him out after giving up a HR with 2 out in the 9th, up 3-1).

Then they came into the postseason and rolled over 3 teams with more tremendous starting pitching, except for that one game against Philadephia.

But the bullpen issue was lurking in the shadows the entire time, and now with the offense struggling, there's too much weight on the starting pitching to carry everything.

[Dan Druff]

Sanlmar has a point, though.

It is Ohtani who really needs to carry this team over the finish line.

If we get GOAT Ohtani like G1 of the Wildcard, G4 of the NLCS, or G3 of the World Series, the Dodgers have a good shot. If we get swing-at-everything-out-of-the-zone-and-strikeout Ohtani like we have most of the other games, Dodgers probably lose.

It seems, however, that the Blue Jays have caught onto this Jeckyll/Hyde situation, so they'll likely pitch to him when he's not looking good, and will walk him when he's crushing everything. They definitely took that approach in Games 4-5, as they only walked him once in 8 plate appearances, after auto-walking him during the final 5 plate appearances in Game 3.

The one advantage the Dodgers have is that they can throw everything at the final 2 games, ptiching-wise. This means Ohtani can pitch in Game 7, if so desired. That will help a little bit.

It will be hard to win 2 in a loud stadium like Toronto. However, the Mariners did it, which almost left the Blue Jays for dead.

[Sanlmar]

The Dodgers seek to avoid losing the World Series for an MLB record 15th time in franchise history.

They are currently tied with the Yankees with 14 losing trips. They are not remotely close to Yankees Fall Classic success.

The Dodgers will walk away with one title or another

[simpdog]

There is always next year.

Spend another few hundred million and they will be back.

[Dan Druff]

There is always next year.

Spend another few hundred million and they will be back.

The city of Toronto is going to blame you for this post if the Dodgers come back and win

[simpdog]

There is always next year.

Spend another few hundred million and they will be back.

The city of Toronto is going to blame you for this post if the Dodgers come back and win

I was mocking the Dodgers payroll, not posting bulletin board material.

Definitely no guarantees here like you said if the Dodgers win tonight anything can happen in Game 7.

The Jays need to hit Yamamoto early and also get his pitch count up. Get him out asap and get into the middle relievers.

[Dan Druff]

Payroll isn't going to help much for the bullpen issue. Very hard to buy consistent middle relief -- or even closers in many cases. Look at the disaster this year.

You either have to luck into good middle relief (as they did last year), or trade for it midseason.

I've always felt the best strategy is just to grab a million super cheap guys, invite them to spring training, and keep whoever looks good. And when it comes time to sign any long term or for big money, say adios except for the very very elite closers.

The Dodgers better hope Betts gets himself right, because they have 7 more years of him.

[simpdog]

They certainly don't need any starting pitching. Middle relievers are tough, agreed.

And then they need someone behind Ohtani. Suarez? Bichette?

[simpdog]

Hopefully the Jays get lucky again tonight....

[Dan Druff]

Yoshi could be tired after the back-to-back CG, though he had a long break between the first and second CG.

I did notice betting MLB that it has been smart to fade a pitcher in his next start after a CG. Hopefully that's not a factor tonight. It was a good sign that Yoshi felt strong enough to pitch in relief just 2 days after his CG start (though he ended up not being needed).

I just have to hope tonight that we end up having November baseball.

[Sanlmar]

Yoshi could be tired after the back-to-back CG, though he had a long break between the first and second CG.

I did notice betting MLB that it has been smart to fade a pitcher in his next start after a CG. Hopefully that's not a factor tonight. It was a good sign that Yoshi felt strong enough to pitch in relief just 2 days after his CG start (though he ended up not being needed).

It’s worse than that

Yamamoto was warmed up in the pen and ready to pitch in the 19th inning of Game 3 of the World Series, despite having thrown a complete game just two days earlier

[Sanlmar]

Hopefully the Jays get lucky again tonight....

Snell caught heat for this. Rightfully so

[Dan Druff]

Gausman has been so good.... except that one inning.

I disagree with the walking of Ohtani. He hasn't hit well the last few games. That came back to burn them for an extra run.

The question is... how long can Yamamoto last?

[Jayjami]

Gausman has been so good.... except that one inning.

I disagree with the walking of Ohtani. He hasn't hit well the last few games. That came back to burn them for an extra run.

The question is... how long can Yamamoto last?

We're going to ride him until the wheels fall off. He's starting to fade, but got out of the jam.

[Dan Druff]

I'm nervous here.

Long 9 outs coming. Hopefully 9 and not 6.

[Dan Druff]

All the Dodgers are striking out.

Just 3 more outs and they can try to figure it out tomorrow.

[Kalam]

Never in doubt.

[Dan Druff]

Better to be lucky than good.

2nd and 3rd no out.... and somehow 3 pitches later it's over.