[rams74]

I'm a fair weather fan at best...

The Dodgers have won the N.L West for seven consecutive seasons. That's a lot of wins.
Surely that qualifies as "fair weather?"

[snackdaddy]

Head scratching decisions to be sure. Kershaw has been off lately when he starts a game. Gave up 3 runs in the first two inning in his last start before he settled down. Too late as they lost that one.

When he gave up the home run to Rendon Roberts shoulda realized he wasn't ready and brought in Kolarek. Kolarek had Soto baffled the previous two times he faced him.

It worked out in the 9th with Kelly, but considering how much he struggled why would you push your luck for another inning? Especially when he's always struggled when he goes past one inning.

He had two guys in the bullpen he relied on all year and neither was used in this game. Just some baffling decisions. If its a matter of trust, Kelly should not have gone out there at all.

Kershaw is known as a playoff choker and now Roberts is too. Bellinger and Seager also had a bad series. Pollack struck out most times he went to bat. The team as a whole underachieved in this one.

[dieterbrock]

Dodgers only scored 4 runs in the final 2 games. Seems like a lot of heat thrown at the manager when the battery didn't help the pitching at all

[PARAM]

Dodgers only scored 4 runs in the final 2 games. Seems like a lot of heat thrown at the manager when the battery didn't help the pitching at all

And still they had a 3 - 1 lead in Game 5 going into the 8th. I have to agree with Snack (and others) that the bullpen had available arms to get 6 outs but they weren't used. It's usually said when a starting pitcher goes 5 or 6 and allows 4 or less, "they've kept the team in the game". Same could be said for an underperforming offense who had "done enough to win" by scoring just 3 runs, if only the staff could get the last 6 outs. A hold and a save by your 8th and 9th inning guys (or a combination of two 8th inning guys and a closer).

When you lose two World Series and then fail to make it to a third with a talented team, you can't (and don't want to) fire the players but the manager surely deserves to go. Of course there have been managers given longer leashes after that scenario (Tommy Lasorda and Ron Washington). I guess the Dodger brass need to decide is Dave Roberts a Lasorda or a Washington? IMHO, he mismanaged the end of the game.

[Elvis]

[PARAM]

Dave Roberts will return as Dodgers manager next season.

Well it'll be an interesting season next year. He'll need the team to start hot and stay hot IMHO. If they do he'll be fine. If they don't.....

[snackdaddy]

Well it'll be an interesting season next year. He'll need the team to start hot and stay hot IMHO. If they do he'll be fine. If they don't.....

Oh, they'll probably do just fine in the regular season. I don't see anyone in that division who can challenge them. But the playoffs are a different story. If they win 100 games again with another early exit, I can't see him coming back for another season. Unless they're fine with regular season success and playoff exits. It does bring the fans I guess.

[St. Loser Fan]

I really wish the Cardinals would have faced the Dodgers. There’s nothing better than an old school matchup between two marquee NL franchises.

BTW: if there are empty seats at Busch tonight, don’t rage. It’s like 43 degrees, windy and it stopped raining about and hour ago. I just pulled my winter hat and gloves from the basement to wear to the game.

[snackdaddy]

So far the Dodgers haven't made any moves. If they think they can stand pat, they won't be a legit World Series contender. We found out what happens when you don't have two solid starters. Playoff starters. If they re-sign Ryu they'll have a couple decent regular season starters with him and Kershaw. Over the course of a season they'll win more than they lose. But they aren't solid playoff starters. Buehler can be one. But you need two. Right now they don't have that.

They do have enough offensive firepower as is. But good pitching will shut down good hitting in the playoffs. If they're content to go after another division title, I guess they can stand pat. But if they want to finally win a championship, the current roster as is ain't gonna get it done.

[Hacksaw]

Alex Cora.