2025 World Series - Toronto Blue Jays vs Los Angeles Dodgers

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

The problem with Ohtani is he's so multi-dimensional that he can hurt you every way.

Pitch to him and he can crush you for a homer.

Walk him with nobody on base and he can steal 2nd and he's in scoring position (Jays were very fortunate on that steal attempt because he was safe before he tried to switch legs on the bag)

In the end the safest move is to intentionally walk him, and they should have in the 7th inning, but I do get why it's a tough call.

There is an alternate universe where they walk him in the 7th, he steals 2nd, and then Betts or Freeman knock in the tying run and we are sitting here questioning the decision to put the tying run that's a huge threat to steal on base.

or Betts/Freeman hits a home run and it's now a 2 run homer instead of a solo. Schneider would be called a coward.

I would have pitched to Ohtani in the 7th as well. WORSE case, it's a tie game. Obviously they couldn't pitch to him in extras.

[Jason14h]

Pitching it right down the middle probably didn’t help either ! You could have placed it on a T any better for him

[Sylvanfan]

They made the point on the broadcast where you do the mound visit and the first thing the pitcher does is serve up a meatball. Easy to say in hindsight, but just let the game flow. When you make athletes overthink things instead of relying on instincts these things happen.

I still think running for Barger when you already had France in the game plus Kirk was an unforced error. Barger at that point is still like the 3rd quickest guy you have and is perfectly fine in right defensively. If Straw was in to run for France instead if Schneider he probably scores.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

or Betts/Freeman hits a home run and it's now a 2 run homer instead of a solo. Schneider would be called a coward.

I would have pitched to Ohtani in the 7th as well. WORSE case, it's a tie game. Obviously they couldn't pitch to him in extras.

No one would have called him a coward. And if they did, then they’re morons. The guy is having the greatest run of playoff games in the history of baseball.

Only a complete idiot would say it’s cowardly to avoid pitching to him. Let him steal and deal with freeman and betts.

But to leave your best pitchers sitting down because they can only pitch in late innings is the kind of nonsense that got Seattle knocked out.

You bring in your best guys to face their best guys and if they don’t get it done then at least you lost best on best.

Putting out Dominguez AND not walk ohtani is doubly stupid.

Then to pull Barger and Kirk and leave us with a bunch of Single A hitters plus Vladdy destroyed out lineup.

Don’t get me wrong, Vlad and clement and Varsho were invisible but you can’t win a World Series game with 3 MLB hitters in your line up.

[dino7c]

Honestly I don't think they thought they would last long if they didn't take advantage of the guys on base at the time so they put in the faster base runners...neither did any of us, read the comments.

The fact they survived a million innings with the pitchers they had was kinda a miracle.

[868904]

Originally Posted by ben voyonsdonc

I’d be very surprised to see Ohtani go beyond the 6th. Coming off of elbow surgery, that the most he’s pitched. Getting long, quality at bats is going to be crucial to chasing him early.

The Dodgers bullpen performed admirably last night. They were well rested but the more strain we put on them, the more likely they’ll break down.

The Dodgers bullpen was suppose to be their Achilles heel but the last two arms that they “reluctantly used” were throwing over 100!

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

They made the point on the broadcast where you do the mound visit and the first thing the pitcher does is serve up a meatball. Easy to say in hindsight, but just let the game flow. When you make athletes overthink things instead of relying on instincts these things happen.

I still think running for Barger when you already had France in the game plus Kirk was an unforced error. Barger at that point is still like the 3rd quickest guy you have and is perfectly fine in right defensively. If Straw was in to run for France instead if Schneider he probably scores.

I hadn’t considered the France angle, that makes it worse in hindsight. Though it would have forced Straw to stay as DH instead of fielding, but it’s not like he made a difference in the OF

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Honestly I don't think they thought they would last long if they didn't take advantage of the guys on base at the time...neither did any of us, read the comments.

The fact they survived a million innings with the pitchers they had was kinda a miracle

And I get the thought process for the pinch runners but we weren’t even aggressive with them. Like you bring in Straw why? Barger isn’t slow. But if you’re gonna do it he better ####ing steal second or it’s a waste. Same with Kirk. I’d only Have pulled him if he hit a double and was in scoring position.

It’s like he managed half assed aggressive. Go all out or don’t bother.

[ben voyonsdonc]

There is simply no easy way to deal with Ohtani - particularly in the context of that lineup. As scary as the Yankees lineup is, it isn’t nearly as multidimensional as the Dodgers’ is. Walking Judge is almost a no brainer compared to dealing with Ohtani.

Ultimately, it’s a pick your poison situation. Sometimes you’ll pick really wrong and other times you’ll only pick slightly less wrong. It’s all about risk mitigation not risk elimination.

[dino7c]

I mean when you lose everything is magnified...

If the Jays take that outside pitch for a walk with the bases loaded the Dodgers manager looks like a bum for putting Kershaw in and blowing the game

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

No one would have called him a coward.

Especially after the game 5 fiasco against Seattle. With the game Ohtani was having I would have took my chances with Freeman. Betts has struggled so I wouldn't have been too scared of him.

[activeStick]

Had to move the game into the bedroom at 1am and then put my earbuds in to not disrupt the lady friend asleep lol. Not sure what time I passed out. As cold as the Jays bats got, the Dodgers weren't exactly coming up clutch either. Could've gone any way with these kinds of games, Jays will be fine and have proved doubters wrong time and time and time again. Big Jays win tonight is my prediction setting up for an epic game 5 and George back in the lineup or close to returning for game 6.

[DiNaMo]

Do you pitch to Ohtani at all today or ever for the rest of the series?

As a casual I find the 5 walks to Ohtani ruins some of the excitement of the game. It's like acknowledging prime McDavid, Messi, Ronaldo, etc. are too good and somehow being able to handicap them.

[bluejays]

I'm not saying it's easy to pitch to Ohtani, but our guys get breezed back a bunch, why not throw up inside at him to brush him off and keep him on his toes? All I see are guys throwing extreme to the outside where there's no chance of him swinging. Paint the outside corners and occasionally push him back. He's good but he's still a person who hits for average. I have high hopes for today as long as Bo and Kirk are back. Yesterday's sub for Barger was terrible but all can be erased today.

[activeStick]

There's no excitement watching him up to bat for me when he's against the Jays in the World Series. I think you decide based on situation. Nobody on, score is close or the Jays are running away with it, sure. If there's men on base and the game is close enough, I think you've got to walk him.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by DiNaMo

Do you pitch to Ohtani at all today or ever for the rest of the series?

As a casual I find the 5 walks to Ohtani ruins some of the excitement of the game. It's like acknowledging prime McDavid, Messi, Ronaldo, etc. are too good and somehow being able to handicap them.

its not like intentional walks are new...its a strategy as old as baseball. In 1870 the Cincinnati Red Stockings star player George Wright was getting walked.

I would give him four ####ty pitches though...buzz the tower maybe lol

[kipperiggy]

Why do the pinch hitters and pinch runners need to stay in the game? The word "pinch" implies to me that it's a substitute for that instance. What does happen if someone got hurt last night when the bench was empty? Why is it once you're out you're out...

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by kipperiggy

Why do the pinch hitters and pinch runners need to stay in the game? The word "pinch" implies to me that it's a substitute for that instance. What does happen if someone got hurt last night when the bench was empty? Why is it once you're out you're out...

Because they're substituting a player in the game. Think of the bench players like hockey players who are scratched only in hockey you can't dress a player mid-game to substitute a player in the game. Only exception is an emergency backup goalie.

Pitchers would just have to start substituting if they ran out of bench players.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

They made the point on the broadcast where you do the mound visit and the first thing the pitcher does is serve up a meatball. Easy to say in hindsight, but just let the game flow. When you make athletes overthink things instead of relying on instincts these things happen.

I still think running for Barger when you already had France in the game plus Kirk was an unforced error. Barger at that point is still like the 3rd quickest guy you have and is perfectly fine in right defensively. If Straw was in to run for France instead if Schneider he probably scores.

But having Straw as your DH makes no sense. Who would you bring Schnieder in for? Lukes?

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by kipperiggy

Why do the pinch hitters and pinch runners need to stay in the game? The word "pinch" implies to me that it's a substitute for that instance. What does happen if someone got hurt last night when the bench was empty? Why is it once you're out you're out...

If Gimenez had hurt himself when he fouled that pitch off late in the game, the Jays would have needed to use either Little or Lauer in the field. Probably would have put them in a corner outfield position and moved IKF to SS, Clement to 2B, Guerrero to 3B, and Lukes/Straw to 1B. If they had no pitchers left to play the field, they’d forfeit the game.