Stop The Excuses, The Format is Not to Blame For Braves and Dodgers Choking
Even before the Phillies knocked the Braves out of the playoffs, the excuses were already starting for the so-called best team in baseball. The same can be said about the Dodgers getting beat by the Diamondbacks. It is not fair they say. The bye week hurt both teams, and it hurt the Orioles too. The Dodgers and O’s got swept out of the Divisional Round, and the Braves won just 1 game and scored just 7 runs. Clearly, something is wrong, right? Wrong.
Because there is an outlier. The Astros are the thorn in the paw of this very convenient excuse to defend the Braves and Dodgers. For two straight seasons now, the Astros have waltzed through the first round, despite this so-called disadvantage. Braves Manager Brian Snitker said it himself. He won’t use the layoff as an excuse because it did not bother the Astros.
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What is the difference between the Astors and the other teams with a bye? The Astros actually have a playoff-worthy rotation and bullpen.
The Braves, Dodgers, and O’s do not. The O’s were a great story with a young impressive lineup. But all year long there was one glaring weakness, their pitching. Their game 2 starter had a 4.35 ERA. The game 3 starter had a 4.12 ERA. Kyle Bradish was their only starter you could say was worthy of a playoff start. And he did well. But their other two starters allowed the Rangers to get out to huge leads right out of the gate. They knew they had these issues. But at the deadline, their big addition was Jake Flahtery, who had a 4.43 ERA before the deal, and a 6.75 ERA after it.
The same can be said about the Dodgers and Braves. The Braves had Spencer Strider, and then nothing. Max Fried was clearly not right, and their game 3 starter Bryce Elder had an ERA over 5 since the All-Star Break. And the Dodgers, well they knew they had no pitching all year. Dustin May was hurt, and Julio Urias is dealing with Domestic Abuse charges. They knew they needed pitching. Their answer at the deadline was Lance Lynn, who became the first pitcher to ever give up 4 straight home runs in the playoffs.
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Maybe, and this is bold, they lost because their pitching staffs are not up to par. The Astros have Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, and Cristian Javier. And the teams that beat those 3 100-win teams, all had deep pitching as well. Phillies go from Zack Wheeler to Aaron Nola to Ranger Suarez. The Diamondbacks have Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly. And the Rangers have Jordan Montgomery and Nathan Eovaldi. Now both DBacks and Rangers might struggle when it turns to a 4-man rotation in the Championship series. But they at least had the pitching to get through a 5-game series.
There is also the fact the Braves and Dodgers were both known for choking in the playoffs before this new format existed. But we don’t need to get into that history or this article will be 10,000 words long.
The greater point is, their pitching was not up to snuff. Yes, their lineups struggled too. But the Braves were never winning any series when they could only field one competitive starter. And the Dodgers’ only competitive starter is known for pitching poorly in the playoffs. That is the issue. When you are throwing Bryce Elder or Lance Lynn out in game 3, you have already lost.
So stop with the excuses. The Braves and Dodgers were not at a disadvantage because of the new format and the bye. They were at a disadvantage because the people who run those teams failed to assemble a competitive pitching staff. Injuries had a little to do with that. But both teams had chances to improve and failed to do so.
Blame that for them choking in the playoffs. And stop whining about how unfair things are for them. Because if they were really as good of teams as people say, they would be like the Astros. The Astros won it all last year, and have the chance to do so again this year. You don’t see them whining about the time off. But when the Braves and Dodgers choke like they always do, it is everyone’s fault but their own.
Here is the schedule for the NLDS:
NLCS Series Schedule: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
National League Championship Series Game 1
Monday, October 16
Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA
8:07 PM on TBSZack Wheeler is fresh and ready to go. According to Jayson Stark, he has the best Game 1 ERA in playoff history among qualified pitchers. He has pitched 20 innings and allowed one earned run for a 0.45 ERA.
National League Championship Series Game 2
Tuesday, October 17
Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA
8:07 PM on TBSThe Phillies own the best home field advantage in Major League Baseball. Current Phillies, former Phillies, opposing players, opposing managers, and media members have constantly talked about the crowd as an x-factor. The Phillies will play the first two games at Citizens Bank Park as the higher seed.
National League Championship Series Game 3
Thursday, October 19
Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ
5:07 PM on TBSThe Diamondbacks finished 43-38 at Chase Field during the 2023 regular season. They defeated the Dodgers in the Game 3 NLDS clincher, their only home game of the postseason. The Phillies lost three of four games in Phoenix in a June series.
National League Championship Series Game 4
Friday, October 20
Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ
8:07 PM on TBSWheeler, Nola, and Ranger Suarez are the only three pitchers on the staff to start during the postseason. Unless Thomson makes the unlikely decision to start Wheeler on three days rest, he will need to choose his fourth option. Taijuan Walker, Christopher Sanchez, and Michael Lorenzen will be available. A short outing from a starter and reliance on the bullpen would be the likeliest option.
National League Championship Series Game 5 (If Necessary)
Saturday, October 21
Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ
8:07 PM on TBSThe Phillies have reached the World Series three times during the 21st century. All three NLCS clinchers have come in Game 5. They beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008 and 2009 and the San Diego Padres in 2022.
National League Championship Series Game 6 (If Necessary)
Monday, October 23
Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA
5:07 PM on TBSIf the pitching matchups align as expected, Aaron Nola could get take the ball at Citizens Bank Park for Game 6 with his Philadelphia legacy on the line. Could he come up with the type of performance Phillies fans have always wanted from him? He’s been excellent with a 1.42 ERA in two playoffs starts.
National League Championship Series Game 7 (If Necessary)
Tuesday, October 24
Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA
8:07 PM on TBSA do-or-die situation with a trip to the World Series on the line might cause some panic attacks in Philadelphia. The Phillies have surprisingly never played in a Game 7 in their 140-year history.
