[Rams Dominate]

My thoughts on Greinke is he's 32 years old NOW & wants a 5 year contract? He'd be 37 when his contract expires, not in my world...
Letting Murphy go from 1st to 3rd on a walk is inexcusable, I see on the Dodgers website they're blaming Seager who has very little if any experience with a "shift defense', way to go, blame the new guy & future of this franchise & everyday player, really good not to point out that the shift defense is just recently being used in the MAJOR LEAGUES not the minors where Seager has been playing...How about maybe blaming the pitcher & catcher as well, they're just twiddeling their thumbs anyway in that defense...
As has been pointed out ALL YEAR, this team very seldom plates guys in scoring position, at one point 0-11 last night! Lots of blame for every one, its a TEAM game after all, but lets blame the rookie...Geez...

[snackdaddy]

I also heard one guy mention that was the pitcher's responsibility. They have to account for that during the shift. If a guy walks, someone needs to be there. When I pitched, I remember I had more than one responsibility. During sacrifices I covered 3rd because the corners were charging. Its the same thing with a shift.

[Rams Dominate]

On a replay I saw Grienke acting startled when Murphy went to 3rd, then looking around like wtf...That play beat us, I would think that someone would notice that 3rd had NOBODY except Roenike (sp) our 3rd base coach, who was kicking 3rd base when suddenly it was occupied by Murphy...
I played 3rd & was a corner outfielder when I played but I can clearly remember our coach stating the pitcher, in a pinch, covers 1st & 3rd, altho we never played a shift ever other than to slid towards or away from your base for certain players...I know I should let it go but it just kills me when my team beats themselves...

[moklerman]

Grienke is apparently opting out and as well as he pitched, I'm ready for the Dodgers to start living and dying with the farm system. High priced FA's aren't really working out anyway.

[Rams Dominate]

Greinke is not only opting out, he wants a 5 year deal! He has 3 years left worth $78 million total @ $26 million per...Greedy comes to mind... We might have a couple pitchers ready to go but so far only Urias (17-18 years old) is good enough but so far even he isn't consistent & is maybe 2-3 years away, we start living & dying with our farm system right now we're gonna be living in the basement...There's a reason Lee isn't here, everytime he's moved up he struggles...Pitching wise we can't live off our farm, even our #1 draft pick has already had Tommy John surgery, we picked up some international players but so far they aren't impressing anyone either...I'd love for us to live off our farm system but now isn't the time imo, but I sure do love Cory Seager & Hernandez, there's another position player that's impressive but I can't remember his name...To me though pitching is the name of the game...

[snackdaddy]

Grienke is apparently opting out and as well as he pitched, I'm ready for the Dodgers to start living and dying with the farm system. High priced FA's aren't really working out anyway.

Yeah, the high priced free agent route has resulted in early exits in the playoffs. While teams that don't spend near as much are still playing. I'm still lukewarm on Mattingly. His options were limited with the roster they built. No legit pitcher after Kershaw/Greinke. Poor bullpen between those starters and Jansen. Offense that can't score if they don't hit HR's. But that play at 3rd was unacceptable. You don't make mistakes like that in the playoffs. Thats coaching. They might still be playing if it wasn't for that.

[Rams Dominate]

Grienke is apparently opting out and as well as he pitched, I'm ready for the Dodgers to start living and dying with the farm system. High priced FA's aren't really working out anyway.

Yeah, the high priced free agent route has resulted in early exits in the playoffs. While teams that don't spend near as much are still playing. I'm still lukewarm on Mattingly. His options were limited with the roster they built. No legit pitcher after Kershaw/Greinke. Poor bullpen between those starters and Jansen. Offense that can't score if they don't hit HR's. But that play at 3rd was unacceptable. You don't make mistakes like that in the playoffs. Thats coaching. They might still be playing if it wasn't for that.

Nice post SD, totally agree...+1

[Hacksaw_64]

Dodger Farm system is rated 3rd in MLB.

Top 30 Dodgers prospects

http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015?list=la

[Hacksaw_64]

My thoughts on Greinke is he's 32 years old NOW & wants a 5 year contract? He'd be 37 when his contract expires, not in my world...
Letting Murphy go from 1st to 3rd on a walk is inexcusable, I see on the Dodgers website they're blaming Seager who has very little if any experience with a "shift defense', way to go, blame the new guy & future of this franchise & everyday player, really good not to point out that the shift defense is just recently being used in the MAJOR LEAGUES not the minors where Seager has been playing...How about maybe blaming the pitcher & catcher as well, they're just twiddeling their thumbs anyway in that defense...
As has been pointed out ALL YEAR, this team very seldom plates guys in scoring position, at one point 0-11 last night! Lots of blame for every one, its a TEAM game after all, but lets blame the rookie...Geez...

I don't have any problem giving Greinke a 5 year deal. He's very cerebral type pitcher, and can probably pitch until he's 37, much like Maddox. If he's only good for 3 years, who cares? It's not really your money is it? Spend it. It's fool's gold. Fugazi.The Dodger dogs are gonna cost the same at the ravine whether they sign him or not.

[snackdaddy]

My thoughts on Greinke is he's 32 years old NOW & wants a 5 year contract? He'd be 37 when his contract expires, not in my world...
Letting Murphy go from 1st to 3rd on a walk is inexcusable, I see on the Dodgers website they're blaming Seager who has very little if any experience with a "shift defense', way to go, blame the new guy & future of this franchise & everyday player, really good not to point out that the shift defense is just recently being used in the MAJOR LEAGUES not the minors where Seager has been playing...How about maybe blaming the pitcher & catcher as well, they're just twiddeling their thumbs anyway in that defense...
As has been pointed out ALL YEAR, this team very seldom plates guys in scoring position, at one point 0-11 last night! Lots of blame for every one, its a TEAM game after all, but lets blame the rookie...Geez...

I don't have any problem giving Greinke a 5 year deal. He's very cerebral type pitcher, and can probably pitch until he's 37, much like Maddox. If he's only good for 3 years, who cares? It's not really your money is it? Spend it. It's fool's gold. Fugazi.The Dodger dogs are gonna cost the same at the ravine whether they sign him or not.

I agree. Greinke's style of pitching is not as demanding as a hard thrower. I can see someone like DeGrom losing it not long after 30. Greinke reminds me a lot of Maddux. They really should emphasize bringing him back. They also need legit bottom of the rotation guys. After Kershaw and Greinke the drop off was substantial. And the bullpen was shaky at best. If they want to finally get over the hump in the playoffs they need to shore that up. Imagine if they had a legit number 3? The game they scored 7 woulda been a win and they woulda taken the series in 4. Instead they give up 13 runs.

Luck has a lot to do with winning in the playoffs too. They had legit number 3 and 4 guys in Ryu and McCarthy. But they lost them to injury before they could even start the season. Seems like the teams who win aren't always the best team in the regular season. Things fall in place for the winners.

The Giants won with guys who had career games at the right time and a hot pitcher. The Mets are getting HR's from Murphy who only had 14 during the season, which was a career high for him. He averaged a HR every 50 at bats before the playoffs and only hit double figures twice in his career. DeGrom is the hot pitcher and the other guys are getting it done. No one really saw them going deep. Yet, they're one win from a sweep and world series appearance.

As long as the Dodgers keep getting there they have a chance to get hot at the right time. But they could increase their chances by shoring up the bottom of the rotation and bullpen. Wouldn't hurt to build an offense that can manufacture runs instead of waiting for the long ball. A run here or there woulda changed the outcome of the series with the Mets. So they just gotta keep getting there. Sooner or later something might fall in place for them.