11:01pm: Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, in a postgame scrum, announced that Turner has a grade 2 hamstring strain and seemed to imply that his season is indeed over. “I think that’ll be it for him,” Roberts said, according to Hoornstra and others.
9:51pm: Justin Turner left tonight’s NLCS game four matchup against Atlanta with an apparent injury, as relayed by several reporters, including J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group. Turner grounded into a double play in the bottom of the seventh inning and limped his way to first base, then didn’t return to the field for the top of the eighth.
It has been a frustrating series for the third baseman, as he has also been dealing with a neck injury of late that caused him to be held out of the starting lineup in game two. The severity of this new injury is unclear at this point, but this raises the specter of Turner’s season being over. There are, at most, three games remaining in the NLCS after tonight, which doesn’t leave him much time to convalesce before the World Series.
Losing Turner for any amount of time would be a blow to the Dodgers, as he has been one of their best and most-reliable hitters for eight straight seasons. From 2014 to 2021, he has been a mainstay of the lineup, with a batting average between .275 and .340 each year. His wRC+ has always been between 123 and 158 during that span. He was worth at least 3.3 fWAR in each of those seasons, except for the shortened 2020 campaign, where he put up 1.3 fWAR. In 2021, he slashed .278/.361/.471 for a wRC+ of 127 and 4.0 fWAR.
This year’s postseason has been a struggle for him, perhaps due to these underlying injuries. Going into tonight’s game, he was slashing just .097/.200/.194 through 35 plate appearances.
Thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.
Prayers? He has a hamstring strain. He will be able to do almost everything he does on a day to day basis.
Amen
@Bart above
“He will be able to do almost everything he does on a day to day basis.”
So even with this injury – covid protocols still aren’t safe?
Bart, hamstrings have a habit of lingering.
Turner is a good player, it would be unfortunate if his injury impacts the results of the NLCS.
I don’t like when injuries help determine who wins and who loses. That’s why I pray that every injury heals quickly, even the less serious injuries, because I want the truly best team to win.
I think you have to put into context that the better team finds a way around injuries and adapts better or uses depth better. Injuries will always be a factor. Both teams in this series have massive ones. Like every sport once it gets into the playoffs it is a war of attrition.
The Braves have had to deal with the loss of Acuna for much of the year, yet they found a way to be where they are.
Because of this guys thoughts and prayers.
Eddy – I get what you’re saying, but all injuries are not equal. While I pray for good health to all, some injuries impact games far more than others.
When I was a kid, Jim Rice was hit by a pitch late in the 1975 regular season and missed the entire postseason. Would the Sox have won the World Series that year if he hadn’t gotten hurt? Absolutely, no doubt in my mind. That injury not only cost the Sox a championship, it extended the championship drought another 29 years. Millions of devoted fans died without ever seeing a Sox championship, because of that injury.
Losing Jim Rice certainly is going to hurt, but there is no way to reasonably assume one player will reverse a World Series outcome.
MF22 would be Rose, letting Jack freeze to death in the water while she lies comfortably on a door (or whatever it was) that easily could fit both of them.
Also, the Titanic would be the greatest ship ever if it weren’t for the huge hole in its hull.
It wasn’t the fact that there wasn’t enough surface area for Jack but that the buoyancy of the door/headboard. Jack’s added weight would have submerged the debris to the point they would have both succumbed to hypothermia
Eddy, I’m going you to show your work to explain your answer. 😉
Do you really pray about someone’s hamstring injury? Really?
If everyone prayed for others a little bit each day, the world would not be the huge cluster that it is today.
If no doubt in your mind then it must be true. Give Boston the trophy ⚾️
The ’75 World Series went 7 games
Red Sox lost 3 of the games by one run, including an extra-inning loss.
Rice was 3rd in MVP voting that year.
Juan Beniquez was one of his replacements in LF.
lady1959 – Life doesn’t work that way unfortunately.
I pray for good health for all.
It’s not that big a deal, prayers can be very short and simple.
Do you think I do it for like a half hour each injury? LOL
No hammy injury is worth a prayer. He is not harmed in any manner that requires divine intervention. He’ll be fine. God told me so.
Nice!
Rehab and be ready for next season. He is toast for the rest of this postseason.
It looks like the Dodgers are toast for the rest of this postseason
Dodgers came back from down 3-1 last year. If they want to move on, they’ll have to do it again. If Scherzer, Buehler and Urias were healthy and rested, I would say maybe, but none of them have sparkled and the Braves batting is too good for pitching that is not at its peak.
Eddie Rosario, two home runs a triple and a single. I guess Rosario, Duvall, Pederson and Soler have picked up for Acuna and Ozuna pretty well. And when you have Riley, Freeman, Swanson and Albies, the Braves may be the best hitting team in baseball right now. I am doubtful that their pitching can carry them all the way, so they will need that batting to keep it going.
The Dodgers pitching staff looks gassed and it sounds like they’re going with a bullpen game again tomorrow. If they manage to survive that I still can’t see them winning 2 in Atlanta
The Braves hitting is awesome, but they probably should send roses to the SF Giants for wearing down the Dodgers pitching.
They are gonna lose
SF didn’t wear down the Dodgers pitching staff. Dave Roberts wore down the Dodgers pitching staff by managing like he’s the “smartest guy in the room”. He’d be more deserving of the roses.
They should send flowers to the Dodgers FO for messingn up the pitching rotation.
Nope. It was the pinche Giants what done us in!
Last year was no real fans and no home field. Dodgers aren’t coming to Atlanta and taking 2 away from the Braves.
I am not even sure the Dodgers get to game 6. Throw out the bottom of the 8th last night and the dodgers been over matched
The dodgers pitchers are miss used using starting pitchers as relief and reliefs to start a game. A starter has a routine he goes through on game day when used out of normal routine it affects them.
Also the more relief pitchers you use the more likely someone doesn’t have the best stuff happens.
The bullpen games really hurt the relief. And using starters as relievers hurts the rotation. I like Robert’s, but this series could cost him his job.
Had absolutely nothing to do with the Giants. The Braves played four very close DS games, the Dodgers played five. Not much difference. Matzek has pitched in every single postseason game for the Braves as well. The difference? Snit did not get the bright idea to use starters in relief roles for no reason like Dave Roberts. You’ll never convince me that if Sherzer doesn’t pitch in relief against the Giants and Urias doesn’t pitch in relief against the Braves that both would not have been better and gone deeper in this series. That in turn saves bullpen innings. You Dodger fans can blame your manager, not the Giants. But the reality is the Braves simply look like the better/hotter team right now.
The Dodgers won’t fire Roberts because of last season. I don’t understand why they left David Price off the roster in a long series and insist on using Gonsolin in relief. His pitching choices have been bizarre even by Roberts’ standards, but he won’t be fired. Friedman would be afraid to replace him with someone who might actually think…
Get a clue. They exhausted their staff chasing the Gs
@Jflhoward….yeah, it wasn’t the Giants that battled every at bat, that caused bull pins to enter early or high pitch counts…yeah it was Robert’s that took every at bat. SMH
@ Manny – Houston may have a say in who has the best offense, but let’s not count out Boston yet either. The Red Sox play their best with their backs against the wall.
I think so too, @tstats.
I haven’t watched much baseball since the AL play-in game. But I have been tracking the effect of home runs via the box score.
For all the, “you can’t win hitting home runs in the playoffs” fellas: thus far, there has been but a single game that the winning team hit less home runs than their opponent*. NLDS Game 5. One time! Home runs have also provided all/the majority of scoring many games. Turns out, hitting home runs is actually an excellent way to win in the playoffs, uh?
Power hitting & solid starting pitching are the reasons why the Braves & sox are still playing. Home runs play. Particularly in October. The evidence is right there in the box scores!
*happened a “whopping” two times in the Mega Playoffs of 2020. So; this is nothing new.
Dodgers also had to play a wild card game against the hottest team in baseball.
No way he loses his job! Where has your team been the last few seasons.
Actually the first three games were all pretty even. The odds are now stacked in the Braves favor, but not because of any wide disparity. Just slightly better at this moment.
No kidding – when you have to put Max in the bottom of the ninth to make sure you win that game you are overusing your staff. Even throwing one inning can throw off your next start.
It’s a stupid argument – Roberts or Giants. The Dodgers did what they did BECAUSE the Giants were working it. It was a complete reaction and desperation to get to the next round.
Also, if you think it’s Roberts making these calls I have some swampland in Arizona to sell you. Friedman has a room full of analysts determining lineup and pitching and is piping stuff down to Dave 100 times a game. Roberts is there to keep the clubhouse calm and collected. He ain’t the guy deciding to start Knebel in game 5.
I am not just talking about the Giants in the playoffs, although that was a factor, too. Usually when you win 106 games you get to rest your team more than an 87 win team. The close race between dominant Dodgers and Giants teams changed that.
Exactly. They are just wiped out. The exhausted their energy fighting tooth and claw to get to the NL championship.
What staff has been better in the post season?
Not tonight. Dodgers up 11-2 in the 8th. Pollock hit two home runs. Chris Taylor hit three home runs. Flip the narrative and let’s enjoy some great baseball no matter who wins.
Dodgers are lined up well for game 6 and 7 but horribly for game 5. If they somehow win tomorrow, ATL could get nervous.
I bet Max starts tomorrow
Dodgers are washed. Poorly managed and mlb really screwed them with bauer situation. Bats have gone silent and the bullpen has been atrocious. First 2 games dodgers should have won but Braves came up huge. I think dodgers might survive tomorrow but will get smoked in 6 maybe 7. Either way I don’t see Braves keeping up with astros who look fresh.
Bauer screwed Bauer and the Dodgers with the Bauer situation. It was made known the Dodgers locker room didn’t want him back before the trade deadline.
bleacherreport.com/articles/10008695-report-majori…
Tatsumaki just kind of takes a dump on his own team when its convenient. Who needs rival fans when you have Tatsumaki fans lol
It wasn’t MLB screwing the Dodgers, it was Bauer who was doing the deranged screwing that messed everything up. Just saying….
Bauer is a non factor in any of this. He was replaced with Scherzer and we’ve moved on. The players don’t want him back, doubtful he ever puts on a Dodgers jersey ever again.
I think the dodgers have to be the ones nervous. They have to win a bullpen game tomorrow to stay alive. No pitcher can stay in too long or it could’ve horrible. Than if they win they have to go back to Atlanta. Unlike last year they will have full stands against them and they have to win game 6. Than once that happens they have to face Charlie Morton who was pretty good game 3 aside from the first inning.
As a Braves fan I said worse case scenario let us get one win in Los Angeles and than come home for game 6 and game 7 only needing to win one. I will take the odds of that happening any time
La has consistently had bullpen games built in since Bauer was suspended. It’s not a new thing to them
Is Scherzer passed his dead arm in only a few days?
The fact that it is not a new thing is part of the problem. Every team utilizes a pen game from time to time, but when you do it regularly you add 5 to 7 inning a turn on a bullpen. Every pen is pretty worn by the playoffs and those extra innings come back eventually. I know the analytics will say what they say with mixing and matching working in a pen game, but analytics used in the regular don’t equate to the playoffs. The more pen games you use the more you play with fire and wear down your pen, and the LA pen already looks cooked
The main thing that Bauer cost the Dodgers was using top prospects to replace him with Scherzer. As long as Dodgers are able to pay Bauer for part or all of 2021 and cancel rest of contract, then MLB is not at fault. But Braves may have take Ozuna back, so let’s see what happens.
Great comment mcdusty49 snowflakes like you are the ones that can’t be constructive when critiquing there teams poor play. Would you like me to sugar coat the mismanagement by Dave yet again? Bullpen taxed versus giants and gave up 2 leads in game 1 and 2? Dodgers hold those they win last night and move on to the World Series. Uneducated homer fans like you are the worst “bleed dodgers blue”
Uneducated homer fans like me? I’ve been a Dodgers fan my whole life and played/coached baseball my whole life bud. As I’ve posted on here several times, Roberts handling of the pitching staff has been puzzling and I’m not a fan of it. What I’m referring to is how you dig a grave and give up on your team before it’s over. At first you talked about how the Dodgers we’re gonna “run through” the Braves and it was over before it started and now you gave up before game 5. You are the uneducated one and seem to just like to spew garbage out of your mouth for attention. You do this on Lakers posts as well. It’s a tired act and if anyone’s not bleeding Blue it’s you brosef.
Tell him the pine tar stain ain’t cool.
His next job audition will be for “Pirates of the Carribean, Tales of Red-beard”.
I do love the Hulk Hogan retro hair style though. Super bald on top and long on the sides and back? The Hulkster is back in LA!
The dude has pine tar all over his jersey, all over his helmet, all over his bat, all over his hat—and none EVER on his gloves or hands.
Dude is the biggest poser who ever played the game.
Yeah the guy is clearly pretending to be a baseball player because it’s cool. I wonder when the Dodgers are going to realize it and try to recoup some of that money they’ve given him so far over the last 8 seasons he’s been able to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes
Time to go to bed grandpa
Yeah it’s not his bat path when he’s stretching, it’s him trying to be cool
It’s funny you say that, I had toast for breakfast this morning.
You’re just buttering him up.
Dodgers are done
That is what everyone thought last year when the Braves were up three games to one. You have to play every game to see what happens. Right now, I would say 87.5% the Braves win the NLCS and 12.5% that the Dodgers win the NLCS.
Arbitrary stats are stupid… But, benefit of the doubt if you wish to show us your math.
Those are not arbitrary stats. If you conclude each team still has a fifty percent chance of winning each game, then winning one in a row is 50 percent, two in a row is 25 percent, and three in a row is 12.5 percent. The first three games were decided in the last couple innings so I still think the teams are even matches for each individual game. Thus, if I was to assign overall percentage outcomes, I stick with 87.5 percent that Braves win the series and 12.5 percent the Dodgers come back with three straight wins.
I would say 87.5% the Braves win the NLCS and 12.5% that the Dodgers lose the NLCS.
I said that last night when they were down 5–2 in the 8th. This one definitely hasn’t gone how I’d hoped but I never counted the Braves out from the beginning. With that being said, I don’t count the Dodgers out either but Roberts is gonna have to stop trying to reinvent the wheel
with the pitching staff and the batters are gonna have to stop leaving all their buddies stranded on the bases
It’s not Robert’s trying ton invent or reinvent anything. Friedman and the front office are easily one of the most analytically driven and Roberts is a good soldier. He’s just orchestrating the moves the analytics are telling him to make
Maybe shave the beard? Less weight to carry to first and doesn’t pull on the neck.
Knowing the Dodgers and the Braves, he will come back with nothing wrong and goes 5-5.
Both Turners has been ice cold throughout the playoffs. The depleted starting staff (sans May, Kersh, & the misogynist) has created an overworked bullpen. Losing Muncy was the final nail; my team needs a few consecutive “hail mary’s” at this point.
I’m not crying about injuries as the Braves lost Soroka and Acuna. It feels like it’s their time to lose to whichever formerly cheating aL teambgetsvtonthe WS. If LAD lose tomorrow, I hope the Braves win the WS, regardless of that idiotic tomahawk chop.
Yes, Native Americans have made it clear they can tolerate the Braves’ name but the Tomahawk chop fosters racial stereotypes. If they do not get rid of the chop, then they should be forced to change name.
JT be replaced on the active roster by Manny Mota. And Mota will get a hit in his only plate appearance, of course, as a pinch hitter.
Better chance that he is replaced by Max Muncy who comes to the plate like Kirk Gibson, with Austin Barnes on 1B after getting a walk, down by one run in the 9th, and Muncy hits a game winning home run off of pitcher Will Smith.
I want to draw attention to this tweet by Molly Knight:
“The starting pitching looks cooked. Kershaw, Muncy, now Justin Turner all hurt. Bellinger out most of the year. Mookie hobbled all year. This is why repeating as champions is so hard. All that wear and tear on the body catches up.”
All their writers keep finding excuses for the Dodgers but never give credit to the Braves. Apparently, in their world, the Braves were healthy and had everything going their way this season.
Lets. DO. THIS!
Everyone slept on the Braves and went on the season record didn’t pay attention to trade deadline forward. Even the games Atlanta lost after trade deadline they were in most of them just didn’t get the big hit.
All of baseball thought dodgers would roll throw the Braves forgetting that the Braves had 3 of the top 5 national league runs batted in leaders; that all 4 infielders on Atlanta play great defense and all had at least 27 home runs.
Dodgers thought they would sweep Atlanta and 95% of the baseball media did too.
After the Braves win tomorrow, all the media will tweet, “Dodgers in 8”
And after Duval hits another homer and drives in a couple more like he has the past two games you’ll be saying bench Swanson for the WS and start Carmogo.
You looking at Duvall’s good night, but overlooking what he has done all postseason. I’m not saying he is a bad player – albeit I believe he is not a good hitter. You will never convince me a home run or nothing hitter is a good hitter. They are valuable though depending on how the rest of the team is like.
I just believe the Braves should improve their outfield defense and Duvall is the only realistic choice as Joc and Ros are playing. Regardless of what happens, win the game tomorrow. Snit keeps insisting on using Heredia as defensive replacement anyway. My cry is not being heard…yet.
Your cries and proposed moves would turn the Braves into an independent ball team
Duvall is very valuable in the fact that he lengthens the Braves line up. With this team especially it allows the Braves to have Freeman second when the line up turned over for some chances at two out RBI’s. Than Duvall batting 5th or 6th with home run ability and RBI ability let’s someone like Austin Riley not have to try and do too much and when a batter doesn’t feel they have to due to much I think there a better hitter.
Duvall is a above average corner outfield and is playing well enough in center field to justify him there. Neither Heredia or Pache can hit so with the National League line up you would have a easy outs with 8th and 9th place hitter.
Now days with all the advanced scouting and shifts etc. making the routine play is good enough to keep most offense first outfielders in the line up.
Duvall hit 230 this year, close to league average
Duvall had more RBIs than the other 0.230 hitters!
@Benjamin…..Hyperbolize much?
@Benji wait I keep reading that rbi’s don’t mean anything anymore.
that’s what all the new baseball websites tell me.
I think too many web sites etc. over think the game. Like tonight all Duvall needed was a sac fly to get a RBI and he did it. I think knowing the situation of the game is reflected in RBI’s
@StartPacheRemoveDuvallMoveAlbiesDown
A new username once a day or once a week.
Where is Acunaisoverrated, BumgarnerequalsNLCS, IanFanthemson, and a bunch of others.
Well you won 18 fewer games and got LA after the WC and a full set against a 107 win team
Oh yeah no Kershaw, Muncy, May, basically Turner and don’t even go into Bauer
Not exactly a full strength showing. Oh yeah atl blew this same situation last year too. How dare everyone not bow down!? The armchair GMs here who are all geniuses after it’s 3-1 are comical
Thats baseball McCourt. No excuses.
Playoff system isnt broken
Dodgers had ample time to replace Bauer May and build their depth/bench but chose not to do so
Youre facing an atlanta team without acuna ozuna soroka and soler……….
The TBS announcers finally figured out a reason the Dodgers’ pitchers aren’t as dominant as they might have been. They’re gassed from playing a 162-game season a year after playing 60 games. Yeah, everybody’s tired, but the starters aren’t as sharp. Roberts deserves some grief for using guys on short rest, too.
The injury to RAJ didn’t help the Braves, but it forced AA to bring in newer guys who actually were fresher because they hadn’t been playing every day for their old clubs (Duvall, Soler/DH-not-OF, Joc, Rosario). d’Arnaud hasn’t hit the way he could, but he’s handled the staff well because he’s played half a season.
The Braves may have gotten lucky from their bad luck. I’ll take it.
Stop the cries for pity McCourt. Loss of CY Bauer? No problem just sign CY Scherzer. Muncy down? Bring in HOF Pujols. Turner hurt? No worries, just go out and buy an even better Turner. $30 mil for Price and they bench him? No other team has the blank checkbook to spend wildly like that. With overwhelming and unprecedented MLB wealth the Dodgers and their fans just can’t make excuses.
Every team is gassed in Oct and dealing with injuries, ATL lost their entire OF this year and their RP was in shambles but seemed to overcome the losses with smart GM moves.
Win a WS in a 162 season before boasting. Manage a team under 200 mil salary before crying. That is the bar for LA
The Dodgers were the best team last year and played under the same circumstances that every other team played under. There is no asterisk next to their championship. If the playing field is equal for all teams, how can you say that they didn’t earn their accomplishment? If the Braves win they deserve it this year more than we do, plain and simple. Injuries are not an excuse, every team still in the hunt has dealt with them throughout the season and it’s part of the game. As a Dodgers fan if I have to point out a couple of things that could be blamed as reasons for not winning this series it would be the mismanagement of the pitching staff and the lack of hitting with runners on base. I am not counting the Dodgers out but if they happen to fall to the Braves it’s because the Braves earned it, not because the Dodgers aren’t a good baseball team and just “got lucky” last season because there were only 60 games. Seems like Dodgers haters will find just about anything to use as Dodgers hate fuel lol.
I understand your argument, but bringing in an aging Pujols who had been cut, as a substitute for Muncy and his 36 regular season homers, is not exactly living high on the hog.
Stick with Scherzer to replace May, Bauer and Kershaw.
I didn’t say the Dodgers weren’t the best team last year (they were the best team that money could buy – stevetheump.com/Payrolls.htm).
I didn’t say they didn’t deserve credit for winning a 60 game season, they did what the money suggests they should have done.. Bravo?.
But when you have their wealth to basically outfit an all-star roster every year while most teams in the league are seriously handicapped by comparison, then it’s really unbecoming to whine about being disadvantaged by injuries or exhaustion – injuries and fatigue that all other teams have as well.
That’s what I said
. .
So you’re crying because your billionaire owner doesn’t put as much money into his billion dollar baseball team? Gotcha
no, I’m not crying about that Mcdusty. Winning will always be always be $ race in MLB – I think there should be a salary cap as there is in NFL and NBA though, but not holding my breadth.
What i did comment on was that it’s weak for a Dodger fan to use injuries/fatigue as an excuse, especially given that the Dodgers have the highest payroll in league. Most WS champs over the past 15 years are from teams ranked in top 5 in payroll, if LA doesn’t get to WS then apparently they didn’t spend their $ wisely for a 162 game season
It’s not an excuse, every team goes through it. However to say that it doesn’t have a negative effect is also not accurate. I’m sorry bud, it just really sounds like whining/envy about us running a superior organization. Also, the Rays don’t spend money and are perennial contenders so the whole buying championships is just getting old.
The Dodgers had time to replace Bauer Kershaw and May, and got Scherzer. They also picked up Trea instead of a second starting pitcher.
It was too late to replace Muncy which is a key factor.
The Braves had time to replace Acura and Ozuna and got Duvall, Rosario and Pederson. They also got and then lost Soler.
Muncy might have been a difference maker but that is baseball.
Losing Muncy was huge. But let’s face it, the Dodgers offense has been inconsistent all season. They have large outbursts but then follow it with 1-2 runs type of games. At times they fail to get enough baserunners. Sometimes they get lots of baserunners but can’t get the big hit. Their overall offensive team stats are misleading because they have too many low run scoring games. Their starting pitching usually bails them out during those games but not this NLCS. Buehler, Scherzer and Urias all failing to execute pitches.
The Dodgers only played 60 games last year not counting playoffs. This is the reason why everyone who watches and follows baseball, that aren’t Dodgers fans, understands that their championship is an asterisk. Teams that win out aren’t necessarily the best teams, it’s who’s healthy and hot through the grind of a 162. Dodgers need a WS win to quite the critics. It’s been 32 years since the Dodgers have won a full 162 game championship! Facts
Says the Giants fan still cleaning the sand out of his whisker biscuit.
Mcdusty49…Says the Dodgers fan still waiting on a legit ring. Do you remember the last time they won a real World Series? We’re you even born? Lol!
Yeah I was alive for last year’s championship and also for 1988. Your life must be super interesting, lurking around and talking smack on other teams after your team got sent packing. That troll life takes dedication, congrats I guess
All that “wear and tear” of a 60 game extended spring training really took a toll…
Repeating is hard to do. It’s why no MLB team has done it since the Yankees ’98-00 teams. But using this argument after such a short season last year is purely grabbing at straws
David Price replace him and start tomorrow.
Rosario vs. Price (career): 11 AB, .545 AVG / 1.364 OPS
Freeman is only 2-9 (5K)
d’Arnaud is 2-5 (HR)
Price is not going to pitch unless he absolutely needs to. Extra innings and ran out of pitchers, for example. He hasn’t been good and hasn’t pitched since forever. Dodgers will go all hands on deck today. They 2 innings each from Treinen and Jansen. Graterol. Kelly. Vesia. Maybe Bickford. Day off tomorrow. Not the time to mess around.
This year feels different. Last year the Braves shocked everyone with that 3-1 lead. They made several crucial base-running blunders, and their rotation was a mess. This year they’ve got three legit starters coming up on normal rest. They also have more than four batters who can do damage. I like their chances.
I like the chances too the odds are crazy against the dodgers to be able to win 3 games in a row 2 years in a row. I think that is why we are seeing Max Fried tomorrow too Atlanta has the chance to win it so they are going for it.
The odds of Max Fried; Ian Anderson and Charlie Morton all failing in the next 3 games is low. Especially going back to Atlanta where the crowds will be loud for game 6 and 7 if needed.
Doesn’t take long to silence a playoff crowd lol
Anyone see the Braves fans kinda soft tomahawk chops? I saw one guy holding his arm up with his other arm. Take a look, you will laugh
The Braves are 6-2 this Postseason. I’m guessing their arms are tired from chopping so much?
Atlanta area orthopedic surgeons ready for business to boom when the postseason is over
Don’t matter they suck anyway they done
Yeah man they suck so bad, how embarrassing of them to make it to the NLCS I’m sure all the other 20 teams sitting at home since the season was ended are just laughing hysterically at how bad the Dodgers have embarrassed themselves this year
I’m just glad it was an apparent injury. These vague injuries *oblique* just befuddle me arse to no end.
He’s getting up there in age, at this point of the season I’m sure he has some vague injuries hampering him too. You could kind of see that he hasn’t felt like himself, hope some fresh legs will help spark something tomorrow
I will agree with the age and this has been along season. I think more teams need to give players more days off would make them a lot fresher for the season.
We took an under the radar hit right out of the gate this season when Edwin Rios went down. He was going to be the guy we could use to spell JT at 3B and keep some pop in the lineup. I’d love to have his bat sliding into JT’s spot if we can’t have a healthy JT
Didn’t even know that about Edwin Rios; I am a life long Braves fan but live in Central California so we hear a lot about the dodgers.
I think this is the Braves year picking up 4 outfielders from teams that were not going anywhere just seemed to bring magic to the Braves this year that most experts didn’t see.
The Braves have been hot and right now
are just flat out playing better than we are. I said from the beginning that they weren’t to be counted out and they have shown why.
Blame it on Rios.
Dammit Edwin why did you do this to us?
It’s hard luck for Turner, it just shows he was busting his gut to get to 1st and over extended and popped it, it is difficult when you are trying to find that acceleration up to 1st. I hope he has a good recovery, it’s never nice to be injured at any time, and especially not in the post season.
This series is never over with Dodgers stacked roster. I imagine Taylor goes to 3rd, Pujols at 1st, and Bellinger to PH when required if Fried starts. I will never count out the Dodgers, it should have been 4-0 if Snitker had let Matzek go 2 innings yesterday-if only. I still wonder why they called another fastball on Bellinger when that is what he eats for breakfast, no matter what height it was, it allowed Bellinger to get his hands out, and you just can’t allow Bellinger to get extension because he’s an unorthodox hitter in many ways. You could see he was just waiting for that pitch by the swing he took. I have full respect for the Dodgers, hence why losing with 5 outs to get yesterday I hope will not come back to bite Atlanta.
I do hope the Braves make Rosario a priority signing, but I suppose it depends on what plays out with Ozuna, or what they’re going to do with Duvall. The Braves need a lefty bat in their lineup besides Freeman(if re-signed) and Ozzie switching. Jesse Chavez, Smyly and Minter deserve huge plaudits for their efforts in GM4.
Duvall doesn’t have enough service time for free agency as the Braves kept in minors in 2019. So with Duvall and Acuna back at some point next year; Drew Waters knocking on the door; Christian Pache still too young to give up on not sure Rosario has a place. Plus nobody knows about Marcell Ozuna status for 2022.
I have predicted this all along that the Braves move on from Freeman or I believe he would already be signed and Atlanta uses it’s farm system surplus to trade for Matt Olson. Olson is from Atlanta and still lives in Atlanta so would be a good fit. I see no reason why Atlanta won’t have resigned Freeman already.
Yes, fair enough, and it will be a shame to see Rosario go depending on what plays out, he’s just that good as evidenced by a cycle v Giants on 5 pitches and nearly another in game 4 today. I heard Brian McCann talking about Rosario when BMac was with Houston, and he said Rosario was one of the toughest outs, that was enough for me.. I’d watched Rosario with the Twins, the guy hits both lefties and righties, can steal, he’s just a good all round baseball player. The Braves definitely need another lefty bat in that lineup for 2022. I think they will get something done for Freeman after this season concludes.
It’s funny that AA has had his eye on a few guys for a few years – Rosario, Pederson being 2 of them – and managed to get them in when the time/price was right. Rosario’s injury definitely helped his price, but getting Pederson/Soler for their hot streaks has been gold. Hoping we haven’t seen the last of Soler, even if it means more pinch-hitting from Pederson. Our bench is not good if Adrianza is the best bat off of it. Would love to see Pache as pinch-runner knowing how bad Will Smith is throwing out runners (pales in comparison to d’Arnaud…smh).
If the Braves win the NLCS, hopefully Soler comes back healthy for the WS. He’d give the Braves a legit DH for the first time in forever.
I’d much rather have Pederson starting. The guy plays huge in October. That’s not a knock on Soler. I just don’t think you take Joc’s bat out of the order and/or move Rosario out of leadoff the way he’s hitting currently.
Agreed, but vs. LHP they have Swanson hitting leadoff and he has no business out of the basement.
I think that the Braves will get Freeman back. But if they don’t, and the Dodgers can void remaining years of Bauer contract, Freeman could do worse than wearing Dodger blue.
A scrum? I didn’t see the presser, and I’m going to guess a rugby game didn’t break out, so was it some how chaotic?
The Dodgers do what the Dodgers do which is choke. At least Justin Turner doesn’t have to be on the field when they get finished off. See Dodger fans this is how a normal non-shortened season goes for L.A. Oh by the way don’t forget your * when you go. Have a nice off season buying players to join next years choke party.
Which is why in five games the Dodgers have outscored the Braves overall? After five games, Dodgers have scored 25 runs, the Braves have scored 24 runs. Braves have good hitting if they win give them credit rather than saying the Dodgers choked.
I’m so happy the dodgers are going home. I just need the Braves to get spanked by the Astros
You apply for that GM position yet? As this point, it couldn’t hurt. Cohen just needs someone to follow his tweets to the Promised Land.
Meanwhile the third place billion dollar LolMets season ended in August. The worst team money can buy!
It was terrible seeing Turner pull up lame. I felt really bad for him.
Can a Dodgers fan tell me why Roberts put Lux in CF? Why not put Trea there instead? He has a little more experience there and played the position pretty well for the Nationals. Or could Lux have played 1B with Bellinger in CF?
Yeah, putting a 23yr old guy in CF who has never played CF in the NLCS is certainly a move that seemingly should get more heat on Roberts. He seems like he’s over thinking things. The announcers were saying he wanted Lux’s bat in the order but I don’t know why they wouldn’t put him at 1B.
Either 1st or 2nd would have been better than CF.
because LAD has a dumb dumb as manager.
He could have put CTaylor in CF or Mookie or Belli or (hitting .160 in postseason) Trea
Lux is a 2B period.
Trea? What about Taylor in CF and Pollock in LF? Lux should be on the bench they way he has been hitting (and playing D).
Lux is a lefty. Sometimes managers get too hung up on the lefty/righty thing. They need to play the best players. The Braves don’t have that luxury. They have a pretty set group of starters, and everyone on the bench isn’t as good. If/when Soler comes back, they’ll have more depth.
This is the same regime that tried Joc at 1B for a week and D’Arnoud at 1B for a day. Joc at 1B was a complete disaster. Why would you put D’Arnoud at 1B? Is his bat that good? Is his catcher glove that bad? Lots of out of the box thinking. Maybe too much sometimes.
You don’t “try” new positions for the playoffs. They could easily just rotate Taylor, Betts and Bellinger at CF. No need to experiment.
They can still win it all. I expect everyone will rally around this injury and win the next 3 games and then go on to sweep the AL team.
Seeing the Braves in the Series would really take the sting out of getting ripped off for the All Star game.
Kudos to MLB for taking a stand on voter rights and moving the AS game. Time to get rid of the Tomahawk chop and it’s racial stereotypes. If the chop does not go, rename the Braves the Ballots or something evoking a civil rights theme to support voting rights.
Wut
It wasn’t about voter rights, it was about Democrat politics, and MLB got played. But let’s not resurrect that debate again. Let’s talk baseball.
Does your mindset also lead you to say every ballpark or bar or amusement park you are using a season pass or car rental company or bank/check cashing place or liquor store or anywhere else that requires id’s are wrong and offensive? And the Ballots is the dumbest name I’ve ever heard. If you really want to go completely soy and want a name change and it has to be civil rights motivated and you are the city of MLK Jr and Hank Aaron is your greatest player…and you go with Ballots?! You’re an absolute goose
If they did change the name, I could see Atlanta Hammers.
The Dreamers, the inclusive, the Sharks, the dragons, the rainbows, or the truth. Or name them the Galaxy. Then it would be cool when they play Cleveland! Guardians versus the Galaxy.
The Atlanta Geese! I love it. The fans can make honking noises instead of chops. Maybe the field can be renamed Aflac Stadium. Of course I would be fine with naming them the dreamers, the MLKs or the Rosa Parks. The Ballots was illustrating a point. Get rid of the chop or change the name. Dodgers over the Geese in 7 (not likely, but I can hope)
If they were the Hammers, they could keep the chop. They’d need to change the chant though.
They could name the field Rosa Park, but that would be more appropriate for the Montgomery Biscuits in Alabama.
The ironic part is Georgia now has similar, almost identical voting laws as Colorado, where they moved the ASG lmao.
You have to register to vote using government issued IDs and ss #. You have to fill this out for mail in voting in both states. The only différence is Colorado uses signature verification ve Georgia that uses SS digits or DL#.
In reality mail in voting should require all 3- sig match, ss digits, DL/ID #- for verificatioj of mail in ballots.
From a production on standpoint, this is prob pretty good news for the dodgers. He was struggling quite a bit. Even with the little production he had, they were weak hits.
Karma strikes the Covid Kid.
I understand why he ran out for the team photo last year, but he should have kept the mask on. I thought that MLB should have suspended him for five or six games at beginning of 2022, the rest would have done him good anyway.
Houston Cheaters VS Braves will be such a boring WS card in recent years. The rating will tell the same l promise.
I am rooting for Dodgers. But watching anyone even the Braves beat the Astros or Red Sox will still be worth watching.
Mets/Yankees had one of the lowest ratings of all time.
A baseball fan that cares about ratings? If they cared anything about ratings they wouldn’t continue the ridiculously-antiquated blackout rules in place preventing large portions of markets unavailable and/or disinterested in finding the cheese that has become watching MLB postseason these days.
Braves should give the MVP to the Turners….they are really showing well for the braves.
It you want to ignore the good games by Braves batters that is your business.
you failed to see my humor in that statement.
True
Did anybody see the clip with Darling screaming “Yes” after Bellinger’s homerun?
I didn’t hear it live, probably because my thigh slap masked it.
I like Darling and I’m sure he probably said it for the purposes of entertainment, but holy smokes, it does not look good for him.
Some announcers get excited when either team homers. Plus with Bellinger having had an epically bad regular season, it was sorta cool. But we would have to go back and look at Darling’s reactions to other homers and while that is valid, I am not the one to take the time to do it.
Nobody feels bad for Bellinger nor the Dodgers except Dodger fans.
I don’t understand the hate, disrespect, and general negativity regarding the Braves. They are one of the classiest teams in the sport, do not have tweeter warriors sharing their opinions and causing controversy, don’t have the money to buy players..etc.
If it has anything to do with their organizational name and the chop, then nobody can help you. The players and coaches have no control over that. I personally couldn’t care less what they do – change their name, remove chop, or keep both. Frankly speaking, if that bothers you so much, I’m sure you are the type of person to scream “racist” at everything that does not fit your ideology anyway. You will find another thing to pick on to fit your narrative.
If only the Dodgers had Bauer.
Most Dodgers fans would rather take our chances without Bauer.
If they had Bauer, they probably wouldn’t have given up $ and prospects for Scherzer.
Losing JT isnt a blow, it’s a mercy. Finally get his anemic bat, shaky glove, and base-clogging speed out of the way for someone that might actually produce something besides weak fly-balls and rally killing double plays.
He’s looked disinterested for a long time, absolutely no life in his game at all. If he was grinding through an injury it is clear the team would have been better with virtually anyone else in there.
You are mistaken, JT has been very animated when in dugout, he still has the passion, but his body can’t keep up.
2021: 27 hrs, .278 avg., over 60 walks, just injured now
Were you just guessing at JT’s numbers?
24 hrs, .288 avg., 52 walks
Decent numbers to be sure, but that is just hitting. His fielding has regressed sharply, and his base-running is a rally killer. Time waits for no-one, and JT’s has passed as a complete player. If the NL goes DH he may hang on a few years, but his lack of speed makes even that iffy at best.
Just my observations and opinion.
My 2021 JT stats are from baseball reference. I just double checked them. Where were your 2021 JT stats from? I am not saying baseball reference is 100 percent correct, but they are generally quite reliable.
If the Dodgers were paying JT to be a cheerleader then I’d say he’s on his game. They dont. They pay him to produce on the field and he has been abysmal.
Passion with a body that cant produce makes him exactly the same as me. JUST A FAN.
Your positions are shifting like beach sand in a gentle breeze. You said he looked disinterested and that is not the case. You said he has not produced in a long time, but as I pointed out his 2021 regular season stats were fine. If your idea of a long time is the post season, yes, he is injured and not helpful at the moment.
When I talk about a player I’m talking about how he plays the game. What he does in the dugout is of minimal concern. To make it clear for you, his AB’s look lethargic. I cant remember the last time he hit a ball in the air and didnt stand at the plate watching instead of running. As slow as he is you’d think he’d want to get going but that seems of little concern. I did not say he hasnt produced in a long time, I said he’s looked disinterested for a long time.
His at-bats looked ok at end of regular season. I agree that he may soon be a DH or part-time player, but when healthy, he can still hit. Run, well not so much.
@empirejim Sure, this postseason’s JT is not the same as past versions. But who are you going to throw out there now at 3B? Taylor? Sure. His glove won’t be as good as JT’s. But now you have to play Bellinger against lefties. Isn’t this the guy that you and many fans wanted sent down to the minors? Pollock has looked pretty terrible himself and now has to play. The Dodgers are just not as deep as past Dodger teams. JT’s bat would have been helpful against Fried today.
Watching MLB Network, all I hear is, “Dodgers did this wrong. Dodgers did that wrong”
If the Braves were down 1-3, they would be talking about how great the Dodgers are.
They are the defending champs and a big media market. Get over your little brother complex and enjoy the moment for your team.
My point is instead of giving credit to the Braves, who are earning their position, they are instead reverting back to how unfortunate the Dodgers have been. The bias is apparent and pretty clear.
Braves outplaying the Dodgers that’s for sure. Lots of second guessing by Dodger fans regarding rotation usage in SF and ATL series. I’m not denying that there isn’t an impact. But at the end of the day, the Dodger starting three pitchers have not executed pitches well and that was supposed to be the big advantage. And the Braves lineup flat out looks better than the Dodgers lineup. Eddie Rosario is freaking looking like Ted Williams. Paging Trea Turner. He’s gone missing. For a batting champ he sure looks lost at the plate most of the times. Pollock has been chasing out of the zone most of postseason. The quality ABs have not been there as much. Dodgers sure look like they’re done. We’ll see if they can solve Fried but if they can somehow survive today there is still a chance.
When LA has a payroll that is $100 mil higher than the Braves, it’s natural to talk about what went wrong? The expectations are higher.
A good part of that $100mm difference though is tied up to Bauer and Price, both non-factors in the NLCS. Braves should be given lots of credit. They’re flat out playing better baseball than the Dodgers and it’s not close. If not for the Bellinger miracle HR it’s a sweep. Dodgers need to go get Rosario. If you can’t beat them acquire them.
Freddie would look real good in Dodger blue. Muncy moves to 3B. JT is the DH. Problem solved. Just need to void years 2 and 3 with Bauer contract and spend the money on Freddie.
1. Betts OF
2. Trea SS
3. Freeman 1B
4. Muncy 3B
5. Smith C
6. JT DH
7. Pollock OF
8. Lux 2B
9. Belli OF
I wonder if Friedman hits the reset button a little bit and looks for bargain bin options. Maybe they let some of the expensive expiring contracts walk and try to replace it with cheaper talent. Unfortunately for the Dodgers their farm system is not as good so not a lot of options there for cheap talent. But I’m sure Friedman sees what Zaidi did with the Giants and thinks that he can do the same with reclamation projects. The Dodgers have deep pockets but after a few seasons of staying below the luxury tax threshold they went over in 2021 and may want to reset in 2022 if they can.
People like to talk about the big payroll and that is fair. But many forget that players like Max Muncy, Chris Taylor and Justin Turner were acquired as castoffs and re-tooled. And Buehler, Urias, May and Smith are farm system successes. The Betts and Bauer contracts are the big media market influence.
Above you inserted FA Freeman into Dodgers lineup. If you can’t beat em’ buy em’?
But to your other point, yes the Dodgers have also done a good job of developing their own. Money alone doesn’t buy success…but it sure is an advantage!
That was because the other poster suggested the Braves would not signed Freeman but would keep Rosario, Solent, Duval and Pederson. But if Dodgers skip Freeman and keep Chris Taylor, they can move Belli to 1B.