NLDS Game Two Deep Dive: Dodgers Avoid Catastrophe & Bail Out Dave Roberts

Photo Credit: Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are still up 2-0 in the NLDS regardless of how nearly disastrous things turned in the ninth inning, but Dave Roberts put us in that situation. It’s a narrative Dodgers’ fans know all too well and year after year Andrew Friedman has had the task of building a team that can overcome the inconceivable decisions its manager continually makes in the postseason.

So far this time around, this Dodgers squad appears capable of bailing Roberts out, but it shouldn’t have to. Roberts showed a mastery of lever-pulling in Game One, making all the right pitching decisions. Last night, he reverted to his old ways.

The Manny Machado pimped-home run in the sixth, followed by the game-saving catch by Cody Bellinger in the seventh, and the fanfare that ensued between Machado and Brusdar Graterol, should have been the only storylines from this thrilling game. Instead, we’re also discussing the fact that the Dodgers cannot rely on Kenley Jansen to hold a three-run lead in the ninth inning anymore.

Let’s take a deep dive, shall we?

It’s Dave Roberts’ Job To Put His Players In Positions To Succeed

Even though Kenley Jansen was able to record a save in Game One of the Wild Card Series vs. the Milwaukee Brewers, it was shaky at best. His velocity was in the upper-80s and he didn’t look sharp against a light-hitting Brewers squad. That should have been a clue to Roberts that he couldn’t afford to put Jansen in a similar situation against an elite lineup, such as the San Diego Padres.

In fact, it looked like Roberts knew his longtime closer didn’t quite have it anymore early on so he used Brusdar Graterol in Game Two vs. the Brewers and Graterol shut them down to secure the series. Then, in Game One of the NLDS, Jansen was used to get the final two outs, which he did, albeit with a four-run lead (non-save situation).

Prior to last night, Jansen’s two postseason appearances this year were enough evidence to tell you where Jansen’s at in his career as a back-end reliever. He shouldn’t be pitching in save-situations (three-run lead or less) and he shouldn’t be pitching on back-t0-back nights.

Unfortunately, last night was a save-situation and Jansen was pitching in his second consecutive evening.

Let’s rewind for a moment. In the seventh, Blake Treinen relieved Clayton Kershaw and got two outs before hitting a batter. Treinen was replaced by Graterol who recorded the final out of the inning by giving up a blast to Fernando Tatis Jr. Fortunately, Globe Life Field holds nearly every fly ball like the Polo Grounds and Bellinger was able to rob the Padres’ shortstop of a home run.

Graterol made quick work of the Padres in the eighth and when he was removed in the ninth, he only had thrown 12 pitches. Knowing exactly what not to do with Jansen, Roberts did it anyway. Despite Jansen facing the bottom of the San Diego order with a three-run lead, he gave up three hits and two runs while recording two outs in the process.

Even though Roberts had lefties Adam Kolarek, Victor Gonzalez, Jake McGee and Julio Urías presumably able to pitch, he decided to go with a reverse-splits, worn-out right-hander in Jansen who nearly gave up the lead. Then, with righties Pedro Baez and Dylan Floro, also presumably able to pitch, Roberts sends out Joe Kelly to put out the fire. Kelly got as close to imploding as it gets by walking both Tatis Jr. and Machado to load the bases. Mercifully, Kelly got Eric Hosmer to roll over to second to end the game.

After the game, Roberts said he’s “going to think through” what his plans are for the ninth inning moving forward. That’s a nice way of saying he’s not prepared to answer that question, but I think it’s pretty clear: Jansen cannot be allowed to close games anymore for the Dodgers. It’s a sad day that we all knew was going to happen eventually, but it’s the truth. The Dodgers don’t need Jansen anymore in that role – they have an elite bullpen without him. The Dodgers have yet another opportunity to win a World Series and ending the 32-year drought is far too important to throw away with more managerial mishaps.

The decision Roberts and the front office have to make should be this: the eight and ninth innings should belong to Treinen, Graterol or any of the other stellar relievers that match-up well in those given circumstances. In other words, a closer-by-committee. I don’t want to see Jansen or Kelly in there with the game on the line anymore for the rest of this postseason. Period.

Cody Bellinger Was The Difference In The Game

Cody Bellinger has arrived in the playoffs. His past struggles are well-documented once the regular season ends, but he’s starting to come alive in the NLDS. He’s currently hitting .286 in this year’s postseason and last night unloaded an absolute bomb, appearing to golf the baseball nearly off the ground and driving it over the center field wall for a solo shot in the fourth inning. Then, in the top of the seventh Bellinger made one of, if not the best, catches in Dodgers’ history by robbing Tatis Jr. of a two-run homer that would have given the Padres the lead. The Dodgers only won by a run and Bellinger’s catch saved two runs… so you do the math.

The extracurriculars that occurred after Bellinger’s catch were nothing short of a great Broadway show. I’ll let you take a look at the entire breakdown, via Jimmy O’Brien of Jomboy Media:

For what it’s worth, if the Padres, who act like they’ve won the World Series every time they hit a homer, are allowed to celebrate like they do, then everyone else should be awarded the same privilege. I’m fine with bat flips and touchdown-esque dances, but it has to go both ways. With that being said, I don’t really know what Machado’s beef was, considering how he acted following his home run off Clayton Kershaw.

Final Thoughts

Clayton Kershaw didn’t dominate like he did vs. the Brewers in the Wild Card Series, but he had a decent quality outing (six innings, three runs) and did his job.

Let’s not pinch hit for AJ Pollock anymore. He’s earned the right to hit lefties and righties and Joc Pederson hasn’t shown that he can hit anyone right now.

Max Muncy is back. He’s hitting the ball extremely hard and over his last two games he’s 3-for-8 (.375 BA), an OBP of .444, a double, two RBI and a walk. Not to mention he saved multiple errors last night by digging what looked to be 200 balls out of the dirt at first base. Keep an eye on him, folks.

Austin Barnes may have earned a spot in the lineup as the everyday catcher. We know he’s an elite pitch-framer, but he also saved a ton of wild pitches in the ninth inning as it looked like Joe Kelly was more interested in testing Barnes than he was with throwing strikes. Also, Barnes is hitting. 800 (4-for-5) this postseason with an RBI and two runs scored. Meanwhile, Will Smith, despite making a number of loud outs, is 0-for-11 in the playoffs.

Finally, loved the double steal in the bottom of the seventh with Mookie Betts and Corey Seager. I’d like to see more aggressive base-running to manufacture runs since Globe Life Field apparently hates offense and homers.

Jake Reiner is a writer and reporter for Dodgers-LowDown and co-host of The Incline Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @QualityJakes

 

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