a proper thread for the 2017 NLCS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs

congrats Hernandez on the record.

yuck to the dodgers in part, but the idea of a puig world series winning bat flip single is mouth watering.

and maybe the heat for Game 1 will kill Lasorda

Grew up hating the Dodgers, but this club looks about as good as you can get and they are missing Seager (who might be back for the series). Only saw them play a couple times this year, so the playoffs was the first time I saw them play for a few days in a row.

Chris Taylor is a ball player, he was really impressive in this series. Got to figure there is someone in Seattle's organization going "I told you he was eventually going to be good". The pitcher the M's got for him from LA is already gone from their club waived back in Dec 2016.

The Dodgers are going with Kershaw for the first game? I don't think I'd do that, unless he has a history of ineffectiveness on long rest. I'd be thinking two starts, 2-3/6-7.

LegallyEagle
For the World Series, no reason to save up for a next round. So should the Dodgers go with a 3-man rotation and put Wood into the bullpen?

Jeff Sullivan
Nah. You still don't want to overtax your players. I think you just start Wood and think from the get-go that he might get only four or so innings

btw

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-cubs-already-need-to-retool/

There is really no excuse. pic.twitter.com/Jx1KV2RiCk

— Richard M. Nixon (@dick_nixon) October 18, 2017

Seager "expected back"

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/21085932/corey-seager-expected-return-los-angeles-dodgers-game-1-world-series

There's hardly a team in baseball history that wouldn't start their well rested ace pitcher in game 1 of a playoff series (yes, I know the Indians just did it).

Starting in game 1 and 5, and being able to pitch in relief in game 7 is preferable to starting in game 2 and 6 anyhow.

If you count him as well rested, yes. But, based on Kershaw's track record in the postseason, I'm not sure if taking his regular turn does--I think giving him an extra day or two would, though.

If he's 1/5 and first guy out of the bullpen in 7, it's probably a moot point anyway.

his track record in the postseason doesn't mean shit

NoTime: Part of my reasoning would be that I don't see the Dodgers as being the Red Sox, where there's this chasm between Sale and the other starting pitchers. The Dodgers won 104 games, and could have won 110 if not for that bizarre October interlude. They've got three really solid starters besides Kershaw, any one of whom I'd be okay with in Game 1. Darvish has been great so far; I'd go Darvish, then Kershaw with the extra day.

Anyway, Kershaw it is. If he's facing the Astros, I hope he loses 1-0; Yankees, I hope he wins 1-0.

(September interlude--my favourite Frank Sinatra album.)

A.: Kershaw > Verlander > Keuchel = Darvish = Hill

10:32
Dave Cameron: I’d probably go Kershaw, giant gap, Verlander, small gap, Keuchel/Darvish, Hill.

10:33
Scott Wood: I think small gap is better than giant gap. In my humble opinion.

10:33
Dave Cameron: Nah. Kershaw is head and shoulders above every other pitcher.

Darvish has been lights out in his two starts but in general he's better on the road, while Hill pitches much better @ home if regular season stats mean anything at this point