there are so many targets to point at tonight. Precisely because of this it would be appropriate to point the finger at Roberts-the easiest.. 1) why pull Julio when he did. 2) why allow Baez another inning. 3) why not allow Braterol to pitch the 9th.

No. 1 is a good question. I think the analytics thinking there has something to do with Urias going through the lineup for the 3rd time. No.2 is questionable because I think Roberts wanted Baez to throw his really good changeup to Lowell but Smith called two fastballs in a row and that resulted in the HR that changed the direction of the game. Smith is very young and that was totally on him. Lowell in proven to not be good with the changeup-something that Baez has really improved on this year. No. 3: Another good question. Graterol was lights out and pumped up. IMO Roberts has an emotional connection to Jansen. Of course that should not be part of the equation but Roberts is a really good guy and I'm sure part of his thinking was "if I don't put Jansen in for the 9th he will be destroyed and be ineffective the remainder of the series. " And Jansen has been their "closer" for years and to put Graterol in that position in the most pressure situation so far in the series would, in Roberts mind (maybe) eliminate him for any future help. Of course , with the goal a championship, this should not be a consideration. But that's not Roberts and that may be his fatal weakness.

But where was Betts tonight with men on base? What about Muncy ? Bellinger?

In a bull pen game-advantage TB

Just one strike away-oh my !


IF your not a Dodger fan and more a general fan of baseball this may well have been the best WS game ever. Back and forth, back and forth-and what an ending

This may have been the Ray's Kirk Gibson moment.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 10/24/2020 10:09PM by waterfield.