The Los Angeles Dodgers did their job and advanced to the National League Division Series after sweeping the Cincinnati Reds in two games. However, beyond the positive result, what this series showed was a weak point that is causing growing concern: the bullpen.
Although the Angels’ offense shone, especially in the first game with two home runs by Shohei Ohtani and two more by Teoscar Hernandez, the relievers failed to close out the games with the solidity that would be expected of a team that aspires to repeat the title. The final innings of both games became much more dramatic than necessary, exposing the fragility of a pitching staff hit by injuries during the season.
Colin Cowherd makes strong analogy to Dodgers: “It’s like watching a horror movie”
FS1 commentator Colin Cowherd did not hold back in describing his experience watching these Dodgers play. During his show The Herd, he used a comparison that quickly went viral:
Watching a Dodgers game is like watching a horror movie with an incredible cast. You just wait until the last 10 minutes and see if your favorites survive
The phrase reflects not only the tension generated by the final innings, but also the contrast between the team’s stellar talent and its apparent vulnerability at critical moments. Cowherd alludes directly to this duality: a star-studded roster, but with blind spots that could be fatal in the postseason.
And that is not a new concern. Throughout the season, the bullpen has been one of the team’s biggest question marks. The multiple injuries to the pitching staff have forced constant adjustments and while some arms have responded, stability still seems a long way off.
Dodgers vs Phillies: offensive power against October experience
Los Angeles is now preparing to face the Philadelphia Phillies, the reigning East champions for the second year in a row. The Philadelphia team is coming off a solid season and hungry for revenge after being eliminated last year at the same stage. The Dodgers, meanwhile, come in with momentum, but also with the question of whether their bullpen will hold up against a more offensively deep opponent.
With figures like Ohtani, Betts and Teoscar, the Dodgers have a cast of superstars worthy of any Hollywood production, but as Cowherd warned, it will all depend on what happens with their “terror bullpen.”
Read the full article here
