The $300 million disappointment: Dodgers suffer another early playoff exit

[Dback Jon]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-b...ture-postseason-disappointment-041201251.html

So this is what a $300 million payroll gets you. For the third straight season, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been prematurely bounced from the postseason.

The club dropped Game 5 against the New York Mets in the NLDS after only picking up two hits after the first inning. Both of those came from $2.5 million man Justin Turner. The club's high profile additions couldn't push the team ahead. The $300 million Dodgers now find themselves in the same position as the $72 million Houston Astros: Eliminated from the playoffs during the Divisional Series.

For most franchises, this wouldn't be a bad thing. Making the playoffs three years in a row is a strong sign of a successful club, and everyone knows that anything can happen in a best of five series. You could run into a pitcher like Jacob deGrom twice, or Daniel Murphy can briefly transform into Barry Bonds. The best team doesn't always win in the postseason.

 

[82CardsGrad]

 

[Ronin]

Is Don Mattingly gonzo?

 

[elindholm]

Is Don Mattingly gonzo?

As a Dodgers fan, I hope so. The flaws in the roster aren't his fault, but even so, he has to be held accountable for the woeful inability to manufacture runs and the bullpen's constant collapses.

The payroll is comically bloated, but on the other hand, four of the top five salaries belong to Kershaw, Greinke, Gonzales, and Ethier, who collectively were the only steady performers (except for maybe Turner). So at least they were getting what they paid for, approximately.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Is Don Mattingly gonzo?

is water wet?

 

[Iceman]

Is Don Mattingly gonzo?

Can only think so at this point

 

[BC867]

Is Don Mattingly gonzo?

He should have been gone prior to this season. He has never been anything more than a marginal manager. And not one to lead the Yankees of the West. He played for the Yankees, but never managed for them.

For decades I held a soft spot for the Dodgers, because at the age of 11 they were my first love. That was until the "pissing in our pool" incident.

And I hoped to see them beat the Cubs because I always root for NL Western teams in the post-season if the D-backs are not involved. Now I am rooting for no one until our D-backs next season.

But I still am an NL West fan and think that Mattingly as Manager is a detriment.

 

[overseascardfan]

LAD will still spend this off season IMO. They will have no choice as Greinke will opt out of his current deal and LAD won't let him go without throwing a huge of at him. Kendrick is also a FA so they will most likely try and bring him back.

On paper they are very strong so its not like they have to make wholesale changes.

 

[elindholm]

On paper they are very strong

Are they? They didn't have anyone bat .300 while playing most of the season. Gonzales is their best hitter, but he's starting to get long in the tooth. No one else in the lineup scares anyone, except maybe Ethier, but he's even older.

They can't seem to assemble starting pitching depth; everyone they bring in to back up the two stars either underperforms or gets hurt. And the bullpen is markedly below average.

Counting the postseason, they finished 94-73, which sounds pretty good until you remember that they started 22-10, so it was a paltry 72-63 after that (a win rate that would project to 86-76 over a full season). Subtract out Kershaw and Greinke, and they were well below .500. From my perspective, the team needs to make much more out of what they have -- but they also need to be starting with more.

 

[GatorAZ]

The Dodgers will make the playoffs every year for the foreseeable future. I think it will be similar to the Braves division title streak in the 90's.

 

[BC867]

As a Dodgers fan ...

I did a double-take when I read that.

Perhaps that is why your posts have been so disrespectful against D-backs fans.

So you are, as you say, a Dodgers fan, not just by location, but by choice.

Hey, you're not going to pee in our pool, are you?


Prior to your posting that you are a Dodgers fan, I had posted that I no longer have warm feelings for the team that was my 1st love when I was 11 years old, the Dodgers.

That was after they announced and bragged about the peeing incident. That was the ultimate disrespect.

 

[Ronin]

Reports: Dodgers, Mattingly mutually agree to part ways

http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/reports-dodgers-mattingly-mutually-agree-part-ways

 

[BC867]

Reports: Dodgers, Mattingly mutually agree to part ways

http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/reports-dodgers-mattingly-mutually-agree-part-ways

As a former Dodger (and always National League) fan, I say . . . it's about time!

Keep those ex-Yankees in their own league.

We got rid of the Yankee bullpen coach/D-backs pitching coach Mike Harkey.

Now L.A. is getting rid of the Yankee 1B/Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. And are primarily considering managers with experience.

Good for the N.L. West, of which we are a part. Good for the D-backs. Good for the Dodgers.

 

[Ronin]

As a former Dodger (and always National League) fan, I say . . . it's about time!

Keep those ex-Yankees in their own league.

We got rid of the Yankee bullpen coach/D-backs pitching coach Mike Harkey.

Now L.A. is getting rid of the Yankee 1B/Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. And are primarily considering managers with experience.

Good for the N.L. West, of which we are a part. Good for the D-backs. Good for the Dodgers.

 

[BC867]

While watching Andre Ethier shouting at Mattingly during the playoffs, I couldn't help but think, "Maybe this will trigger something."

After Justin Turner led off the inning with a double, Ethier followed with a popup to left.

Ethier returned the dugout and began yelling at Mattingly while simultaneously walking away from him. Mattingly followed, and twice Ethier turned toward Mattingly and yelled at him while gesturing angrily with his arms, pointing twice at the field and twice directly at Mattingly.

"He was mad about the ump's call," Mattingly said. "I was trying to settle him down. I didn't want him thrown out of the game, and Andre's pretty emotional. It was nothing more than trying to settle him down."

After the Dodgers' 3-2 loss, which ended their season, Mattingly said he didn't think Ethier was angry with him.

"He's maybe yelling at me because I'm trying to settle him down, but it was nothing between us," Mattingly said.

Ethier was not at his locker after the game.

Mattingly's spin was not very convincing.

 

[overseascardfan]

Are they? They didn't have anyone bat .300 while playing most of the season. Gonzales is their best hitter, but he's starting to get long in the tooth. No one else in the lineup scares anyone, except maybe Ethier, but he's even older.

They can't seem to assemble starting pitching depth; everyone they bring in to back up the two stars either underperforms or gets hurt. And the bullpen is markedly below average.

Counting the postseason, they finished 94-73, which sounds pretty good until you remember that they started 22-10, so it was a paltry 72-63 after that (a win rate that would project to 86-76 over a full season). Subtract out Kershaw and Greinke, and they were well below .500. From my perspective, the team needs to make much more out of what they have -- but they also need to be starting with more.

We had a couple of .300 hitters and a couple above .275 and look at our record. They have 2 SP's that I would say are in the Top 5 in the majors right now. They have a much better farm (well not if their Top 5 prospects get promoted) and can go buy the bullpen they need. I would trade places with them as they are a lot closer to a WS than we are.

 

[FArting]

Dodgers hire Dave Roberts as their manager.

 

[Ronin]

Dodgers hire Dave Roberts as their manager.

I have never heard of him, He any good?

 

[Phrazbit]

I have never heard of him, He any good?

I know he is fast!

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[Dback Jon]

Not a lot of managerial experience.


First minority manager of the Dodgers. Born in Okinawa to a Black American Marine and a Japanese mother.

 

[AZ Native]

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[BC867]

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LOL