1-Man’s Opinion on Sports–Thursday. “Dodgers-Padres Dogfight…What Did This Week Tell You?”
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“Padres-vs-Dodgers—A Rivalry?”
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Well that has been interesting, this 3-game series at Petco Park…Dodgers-Padres….fight for first place….chase in a playoff race.
So what are we to make of what we have just seen, as these teams square off against each other 7-times in a 10-game span?
PITCHING….As we sit here right now, the Dodgers big three, Clayton Kershaw..Walker Beuhler..Dustin May is pretty formidable. Proven superstar, young phenom and up and coming star. Yes I know David Price is not part of the mix, but I think you would have to agree, the Padres front three are pretty formidable too. Chris Paddack has arrived as an ace. Dinelson Lamet has shown fire on the mound. Garrett Richards looks as if he has recaptured all the things that made him an ace with the Angels. EDGE: Dodgers
What I like is the depth in the Padres bullpen over the question marks that seem to dot the Dodgers relievers. Yes there is history with Kenley Jansen and Kirby Yates and the last couple of years of success. But in terms of trustworthy setup men, you’d have to agree the group led by Drew Pomeranz, Craig Stammen, and Matt Strahm seem to be more trustworthy than the up and down brigade of Dylan Floro-Pedro Baez and whomever else Dave Roberts runs out there.
EDGE: Padres
INFIELD….Hosmer-Machdo-Tatis and a utilityman at second base for San Diego. Turner-Seager-Muncy-Hernandez in LA. EDGE: San Diego.
OUTFIELD…You start with Mookie Betts alongside Cody Bellinger and add Joc Pederson, that is pretty dangerous. The Padres are not equal, unless we get vintage seasons from Myers-Pham-Grisham, and what chances are that? EDGE: Dodgers
CATCHERS…Austin Hedges gives you the edge on defense. They are a black hole at bat though, a combined 3-hits in 42-plate appearances, from Hedges-Francisco Mejia, heading into the Wednesday game. Austin Barnes-Will Smith are not the equal with glove or bat. EDGE: Padres
MANAGERS…Dave Roberts knows how to pull and push buttons. Jayce Tingler is learning on the job. Full season experiences, pressurized pennant races, playoff games, and the World Series gives you a volume of information to choose from…EDGE: Dodgers
Six categories…each team won 3-in the ratings. The starting pitching is almost equal right now. The only lopsided edge is the Dodgers hitting in that star-studded outfield.
By the way, this so-called rivalry has seen the Padres go (57-116) against LA over the last 8-years.
Just ahead, a road trip for the Friars that defines their season, this 9-game haul that takes them to LA-Arizona and Texas. They need to dominate this stretch to stay within a flyball of first place.
Just ahead for the Dodgers, a chance to pull away, with a 7-game homestand vs the lowly Giants and then again the Padres.
By August 14th, this season could be over for 1-team. Statement series coming up. If the Padres are going to be in this thing, they need to show they can do it now. We know the Dodgers can, for their Septembers and Octobers of recent years have shown us that.
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