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Oct 19·edited Oct 19

Playoffs is not Mid-Season. It's the Playoffs. If you play a strategy for the next game, then there will be a next game. Was that Diaz pitching the 9th with a 6 run lead? Yes! Correct call.

Mid-Season you can make it up. Playoffs it can cost not just the game, but a series.

The Mets went from 'Can't Hit' to the confidence of 'Everybody has broken the slump" by Roberts management. They come to Dodger Stadium with their mantra of "Come from behind" combined with "All out of our slump" at peek emotions and belief.

Roberts mistake #1- Starting Flaherty. Pre-game he knew Flaherty was not well. Perfect. Match Bull Pen game vs. Bull Pen game. Let Flaherty get well and pitch him Game 6 vs. Manaea. A well Flaherty is much better odds if you need a game 6 vs. Manaea than a Bull Pen game.

Brass knuckles time. "No SP vs. No SP", then "One of 2 Best vs. Best." I like those odds better.

You can say Flaherty might not be ready for an early World Series game. Okay. But you have to get to the World Series for that to be a concern.

Did Roberts actually stay with a sick, not feeling well, not on top of his game SP Rotation for desired WS Rotation, then mid-game punt to play for Game 6 in NLCS?

Mistake #2 Not taking a sick Flaherty out after the first. Dodgers lucky the Mets only scored 3.

Mistake #3- just about every move Roberts made from that point on.

Pitching woes, whatever excuse you want to give, if the Dodgers lose this series in 7 then Roberts has to go. Period! No exceptions. No excuses. Done! the Fan base should Uproar and demand it.

Roberts can't manage the playoffs. If he gets lucky and they come back, great. But that is luck, not skillful management. It should still be considered.

Can we afford a next season like this? October 2025 with the same "Goofball Managing Errors?"

If Roberts was standing in front of me, I say the same things.

I watched Sparky Anderson manage the Big Red Machine in the Mid-1970s. He had a similar lineup. Sparky would have scratched Flaherty for not being well in a flutter of a hummingbirds wing. Then had a better match up for #6 game.

I think there are 3 mustard stains permanently on my TV screens from where I threw my Dodger Dog at the TV for stupid Roberts errors. If I get a new TV, will the Dodgers get a new manager?

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You nailed it Blake.

Win the game and take the weekend off - and reduce carbon emissions from the Mets needing to fly back and forth across the country. A win all around. Dave is a great manager, but there are times he plays it in a very boneheaded way. It's disappointing for sure.

Never let new life or belief creep back into a team when you have them on the ropes. And, that exactly what he did be tossing game 5.

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