For the first time, the big-market Los Angeles Dodgers used “Small Ball” to produce a run against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 of the NLCS on Monday night. And so, desperate things begin to look up for the two-time reigning world champions.
Of course, it wasn’t the first time the Dodgers came up short, but rare offensive production didn’t help them beat the Brewers to even the best-of-seven series. Game 3 will be played at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, with Milwaukee winning 7-4.
The Dodgers lost, likely because they failed to hit a home run for the second straight game. Tell you what: If the Dodgers suddenly decide to postpone homers until 2040, that particular market inefficiency might be a bridge too far.
Only six teams have hit more home runs than the Dodgers in the regular season, and they currently lead the team with eight in the postseason, even though they came to that point in the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves. But lately, they haven’t had any, and they’re talking about taking a radical step in their ranks to do something about it.
They can bench Shohei Ohtani in Game 3.
to breathe But you have to. The Dodgers’ two-way superstar is neither healthy nor effective at either end of the ballplayer spectrum. He hasn’t started a game since July and is 14-for-90 with a homer at the plate since August 19. Dropping him fourth, fifth or even ninth isn’t going to cut it.
He’s trying to turn himself into a puncher at the plate to provide something — and he did hit a single in Game 1 — but whatever Ohtani is doing right now is closer to slapping.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told The Athletic:
“He’s not feeling well. I think talking to him tomorrow is about trying to figure out what’s best for him and what’s best for us. He’s definitely earned that conversation and he deserves it.
“I will have (this conversation) with him tomorrow.”
Dropping Ohtani for rookie slugger Josue De Paula would be the right move, though DH isn’t the only spot he needs a swing at. How about trying other methods — more like Small Ball? Probably not, Roberts said, because the Dodgers don’t have the right personnel to handle hits and runs. That’s too bad, because it was kind of scary to see the Dodgers run small in the first inning of Game 2.
• Leadoff walk — Mookie Betts
• Weak grounder in right (productive!) — Freddie Freeman
• Wild pitch — Logan Henderson
• Sacrifice fly (now you cook with gas) — Teoscar Hernandez
Too many copycats?
Apparently the Brewers had left their playbook on the team bus when an unscrupulous driver found it and delivered it to Roberts, who gave it to President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman. Then he gave it to CEO Stan Kasten to run to FedEx to scan copies so Friedman could use AI to read the playbook for offers.
Especially smart: Waiting for Henderson to make two throwing errors to first base.
It was a complete poaching of Milwaukee’s supposed Small Ball regime. And it wasn’t nearly enough.
The Brewers have been a secret weapon hitting home runs this postseason. Five, in fact, including two in the NLCS so far. Their lineup had answers of all sizes in Game 2 for right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Dodgers haven’t used their best player and they’ve used their best pitcher without success, which bodes badly for the rest of the season.
Small ball, big ball. The Dodgers need to find some kind of ball that works in Game 3 or someone else will host MLB’s championship ball after the World Series.