Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
The NLCS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets is knotted at one game apiece.
Since the Dodgers lost Monday’s game by the score of 7-to-3, many so-called Dodger fans have been freaking out. The Dodgers have had a rough season, and it is a miracle for this team to make it to the NLCS. Also, the Dodgers need only three more victories to go to the World Series.
Entering spring training, most baseball pundits believed the Dodgers would win the World Series for the first full-season championship since 1988 after spending $1.3 billion. Once again, the Dodgers have proven money doesn’t necessarily buy a world championship. The Dodgers spent their money wisely.
In baseball, no one can predict what will happen each year. This is why millions of baseball fans come back after a year and after a year. Baseball presidents and general managers can use their fancy spreadsheets and computer programs to identify the most talented players. These programs and spreadsheets can predict injuries. Andrew Friedman is the best executive in baseball but cannot predict injuries.
Before spring training, the Dodgers knew Clayton Kershaw wouldn’t pitch until after the All-Star break. Yes, Kershaw came back to the mound on Thursday, July 25th against the San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers waited to wait until May to start Walker Buehler, returning from his second Tommy John surgery, and Buehler didn’t perform up to expectations. After an exceptional first start against the Saint Louis Cardinals in March, Bobby Miller had a poor sophomore season partly caused by right shoulder inflammation.
Tyler Glasnow was the biggest starting pitcher acquisition in the 2023-2024 offseason, and for most of the season, he performed well, even earning his first All-Star selection. After the middle of June, Glasnow struggled. Just before the All-Star break, the Dodgers put Glasnow on the IL, and Glasnow returned. He still struggled after a good start. He made his last start of the 2024 season on August 11th. No one knows if Glasnow will pitch in the 2025 season since his right elbow injury is undefined.
The Dodgers had three young starters – Emmet Sheehan, Kyle Hurt, and River Ryan – for a backup plan. Sheehan couldn’t even start in spring training because of right elbow pain. In May, he underwent Tommy John surgery, and he might return after the All-Star break in 2025. In June, Hurt had his Tommy John surgery, and in August, Ryan had his Tommy John surgery.
Dustin May was scheduled for his return from his second Tommy John surgery after the All-Star break, but he had a digestive surgery forcing him to return in the 2025 season.
If Gavin Stone didn’t make every start until the middle of September, the Dodgers wouldn’t have gone to the postseason. Last Wednesday, Stone underwent right shoulder surgery and won’t pitch in the 2025 season.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto missed three months of the season with a strained rotator cuff. Before Friday, Game 5 of the NLDS, Yamamoto was inconsistent.
Many Dodger fans questioned why Dave Roberts chose to have a bullpen game on Monday. He didn’t have a good choice. If the Dodgers had a healthy starting rotation, they wouldn’t have Landon Knack on the roster. Roberts needed to save other pitchers for the rest of the NLCS.
If the Dodgers have their potent offense produce enough runs, they will win the NLCS even though they don’t have a healthy starting rotation and missing Joe Kelly, Brusdar Graterol, and Alex Vesia. While the New York Mets are a good team, the Dodgers are a better-rounded team with more playoff experience. The Dodgers should win the NLCS in 6.
