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“EVE OF DESTRUCTION”

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The Padres are on the edge.  The Dodgers know they are on the edge.

San Diego on the edge of going to the NLCS.

Los Angeles on the edge of falling off the cliff..losing another series.

 

How did you like that tension in that game?

 

Mookie Betts snapping out of a (2-31) playoff slump with a 1st inning bomb.

Jurickson Profar not able to go up over the wall to snare this one.

 

The explosive 6-run second inning by the Friars, the only scoring they needed in the (6-5) win.

 

The choking dog Dodgers defense, twice failing to turn double plays in the 2nd that would have gotten Walker Buehler off the mound.  End result a ton of pitches and a 6-run San Diego rally.

 

Thank you another El Nino-Tatis 2R-HR and a David Peralta 2R-double.

 

Then the scene in the dugout where an angry Buehler threw a tantrum, heaving equipment around, steamed about  the crap defense behind him, that  left him out there to dry.

 

A side note, maybe Buehler should get angry more often, because he was vintage Buehler after that, including telling Manager Dave Roberts to ‘get the F-off the mound, I am not coming out, and finishing strong.

 

But it was not easy for Michael King.  You could see frustration growing as he could not keep men off the bases, and gave up a Grand Slam shot to Teo Hernandez.  The Dodgers cut it to a (6-5) lead, but that was it.

 

The two starters had lots to deal with..’Stress Level-10’.

 

The Friar bullpen ripped off 4-shutout innings and struck out six to cap it.

 

Big story, both manager’s trying to diffuse the anger from Sunday night.

Bigger story, Dodgers fans showed the nation Dem Bums has new meaning

 

Shohei Ohtani, if he does not hit Home Runs, strikes out.  At a time they desperately need him, he may be trying to do too much.

 

Here comes Wednesday and it might be 11-10 because Martin Perez will start against a Dodgers bullpen day (in the playoffs).

 

Sure feels like it’s the ‘Eve of Destruction’ here.

 

So we are a step from doing what Peter Seidler wanted..’Slay the Dragon’.

 

The Dodgers (290M) payroll is battered physically and emotionally.

 

Dave Roberts could be terminated when all this is over.

 

And to the angry Dodgers’s fans…’Tough Crap’.

 

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“TUESDAY TALKING POINTS”
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Padres-Dodgers on Tuesday night, coming off the wild end of game bad theatre we saw in the Friars (10-2) bashing of Dodgers Blue.

Thoughts on what has to happen.

GAME 2…Think the winner of game two wins the series.

WHO IS HOT..Padres..7-home runs in 2-games against the shellshocked LA pitching staff.

WHO IS NOT..Anyone who is listed as a Dodgers pitcher-a starting rotation staggered by injuries, a bullpen overused, and no help on the way.

HEROES..Pick anyone wearing Brown & Gold..Tatis-Merrill-Arraez-Higashioka-Machado.  The stars are earning their money.

BUMS..A struggling pitching rotation that is faltering, from Flaherty to Yamamoto to a (1-6) Buehler.

KEEP AN EYE ON..If Freddie Freeman plays, or Max Muncy goes to first.

ON FIELD-IN STANDS..Will there be more antics from Jurickson Profar and Fernando Tatis in the aftermath of what happened Sunday night.

KEEPING SCORE…Last I checked, he Sunday night win only counted as one victory in the best of five series.  But the damage to the Dodgers psyche has to be devastating.  And the national image, the whole country saw it on TV, the emotional collapse on the field and in the dugout in LA.

NOTICE SERVED..The entire country following baseball now knows who this Padres team is, how strong they are across the entire roster, and how dominant the starting pitching is.

NEXT UP..Two pitchers going in opposite directions..13-game winner Michael King-resembling Greg Maddux, and Walker Buehler, no longer the dominant ace, and one you never know what you get start to start.

THE FANS…Friar faithful waving the Gold Towels, not just to salute San Diego, but like waving ‘good bye’ to the Dodgers playoff hopes.

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“PADRES-DODGERS-THE FANS”
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How can I nicely say something to the Dodgers fans up and down the West Coast.

How about just saying it…’Take That Bitch’

Some showing of power in the Padres-Dodgerts playoff series.
Some showing of ill will from Dodgers fans all night long.

The Padres no longer fear anything about the Dodgers.  Yes LA can show its muscle.  But so can San Diego.  And the Friars can display dominant pitching.  A dangerous bench. A trust worthy bullpen.  And a bold manager.

Yes Dodgers fans, who bombard me with Email and smoke me on social media, can show me their National League West titles…a World Series ring, tell me about their MVP candidate, and praise the record attendances yearly.

All true, but that was then, this is now.

And last night sure looked like a modern day all time low, for the Dodgers on the field, the fans in the stands, and the bums in the outfield pavilion.

And the Padres can now come home to close out this rivalry series this week, with the series tied (1-1)…games Tuesday-Wednesday..infront of likely 47,000-raging fans.

People here are different.  They don’t arrive late, leave early.  They scream ‘Beat LA’ all night long.  They not only sell out this stadium, they have shown up wearing Brown & Gold everywhere else in baseball.

Yes the Dodgers have legacy rights.  Yes Dave Roberts is a good guy running a clubhouse of rich men.  But again, that was yesterday and this is the 2024 playoffs.

So be proud of Ohtani and the tradition that goes all the way back to Jackie Robinson back in the day.

But let’s be realistic.  You’ve got problems- lots of injured players.  A battered pitching staff, a hurting-slugging first baseman, a hot and cold bullpen.

And the nation saw LA fans and its team roster act like punks as they lost on the field and then on the field of credibility in the 10-2 trashing on nationwide TV.

And a reality, you just got plastered (10-2) at home by the guys down south, in a game your ace started and wrecked.  A game that could have given you ownership of the series.

Pick any aspect of the night, and it was ugly.

Jack Flaherty, the ace by default got smoked.  Home runs. Jack Flaherty lost his mind, throwing at Fernando Tatis.  Jack Flaherty got into a screaming match with Manny Machado, looking bad on nationwide TV after getting knocked out.  I think players call it being a ‘red-ass’.    Catcher Will Smith started yapping-whining at home plate.  Then Freddie Freeman, epitome of class, had to come off with a reinjured ankle.

The Padres 6-home run effort was huge.  The defensive plays by Jurickson Profar-Fernando Tatis were highlite reel memories for a lifetime.

The fans response led to Padres players reaction-taunting if you will, so whose fault is that?

The Padres response was amazing, Machado calling a dugout gathering imploring his team to stay focused in the barrage of balls and garbage being heaped on his team.  So now the team comes together knowing they are all going to get booed  next time they play infront of 53,000-whining fans in LA.

What’s next?  The Padres plunking the legendary Ohtani?    Padres fans bringing out the gold towels to wave goodbye to the Dodgers playoff hopes? AGAIN.

I know it only counts for one win in the series, but this was crucial.

The Friars scared you in game one, and trashed you in game two.

Is it Tuesday night yet?

Dodgers fans…hate to pile on.  ‘Take that bitch’

======================

======

Hacksaw’s Monday Bonus PODCAST…1pm
You Tube Channel-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
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=======
“PADRES-DODGERS-THE FANS”
=======

How can I nicely say something to the Dodgers fans up and down the West Coast.

How about just saying it…’Take That Bitch’

Some showing of power in the Padres-Dodgerts playoff series.

The Padres no longer fear anything about the Dodgers.  Yes LA can show its muscle.  But so can San Diego.  And the Friars can display dominant pitching.  A dangerous bench. A trust worthy bullpen.  And a bold manager.

Yes Dodgers fans, who bombard me with Email and smoke me on social media, can show me their National League West titles…a World Series ring, tell me about their MVP candidate, and praise the record attendances yearly.

All true, but that was then, this is now.

And the Padres can now come home to close out this rivalry series this week, with the series tied (1-1)…games Tuesday-Wednesday..infront of likely 47,000-raging fans.

People here are different.  They don’t arrive late, leave early.  They scream ‘Beat LA’ all night long.  They not only sell out this stadium, they have shown up wearing Brown & Gold everywhere else in baseball.

Yes the Dodgers have legacy rights.  Yes Dave Roberts is a good guy running a clubhouse of rich men.  But again, that was yesterday and this is the 2024 playoffs.

So be proud of Ohtani and the tradition that goes all the way back to Jackie Robinson back in the day.

But let’s be realistic.  You’ve got problems- lots of injured players.  A battered pitching staff, a hurting-slugging first baseman, a hot and cold bullpen.

And a reality, you just got plastered (10-2) at home by the guys down south, in a game your ace started and wrecked.  A game that could have given you ownership of the series.

I know it only counts for one win in the series, but this was crucial.

The Friars scared you in game one, and trashed you in game two.

Is it Tuesday night yet?

Dodgers fans…hate to pile on.  ‘Take that bitch’

======================

=======

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“QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING”
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PADRES-PLAYOFFS…So walk back into history with me.  The Padres went to the World Series in 1984 against Detroit-following a stunning comeback playoff win over the Cubs.  In the mid 1990’s-the Padres went to the World Series at Yankees Stadium.  And now this year, they renew their longtime rivalry with the Dodgers with a legitimate chance to get to the World Series.  Which is the most exciting Pennant Race run have Padres fans experienced?  I think this year, 38-come from behind wins, all those 9th inning walkoff wins, the fabulous starting pitching, the talent deep bullpen, and the record 56 sellouts and 3.31M fans at Petco, an all time record.  This year more than any other.

DODGERS…For everything good about the Dodgers, Ohtani-Betts-Freeman-Smith-Muncy-Hernandez, there is something bad to consider.  The woeful LA starting rotation, shredded by injuries.  There is just 1-starter left, who was in the opening day rotation, Yosh Yamamoto.   Jack Flaherty will join him in the post season rotation.  After that it might be Walker Buehler and then bullpen days-think about that bullpen days.  No problem if the Dodgers big bats score 11-runs a game, but that’s doubtful.  Just like the Dodgers ability to get thru this series with San Diego

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