Dodgers (Yamamoto) vs Brewers (Peralta): 10/14/25, 7:08pm

[treego14]

15 minutes ago, Team Canada said:

Yesterday only confirmed that the path to victory is through the Dodgers' bullpen. Yamamoto can't possibly go 8, right? Right??

Right!

[torts]

He couldn't get through 1 this summer, so naturally, hell get through all 9 tonight 🤣

[Frisbee Slider]

51 minutes ago, Team Canada said:

Yesterday only confirmed that the path to victory is through the Dodgers' bullpen. Yamamoto can't possibly go 8, right? Right??

That would be 12 times longer than his previous start against Milwaukee.

[adambr2]

2 hours ago, Fear The Chorizo said:

Its such a tough call, because the defense is the reason it was even a game into the 9th - Bauers has to be in the lineup against any righty starter, but I think he will be at 1st and they will have either Perkins or Collins in the lineup instead of Vaughn.

Wishing Collins could get something going because he would be such a solid fit for what the lineup needs when he was going good, but he's done nothing offensively to inspire confidence lately.

Ortiz has a .368 OPS in the preseason. That’s pitcher level bad. It’d be one thing if he had a strong regular season track record to fall back on to assume he’ll get it going, but he doesn’t. 

The last four games have produced 1, 3, 0, and 3 runs, respectively.

I understand that run prevention is a big part of this team but none of that matters if you can’t score.

[Brewin]

The fascination that some on this board have with Monasterio is mind boggling to me. Ortiz is by no means an offensive threat, but Monasterio is basically at the same offensive level when you look at their career numbers:

Ortiz 943 AB/.233 BA/.651 OPS

Monasterio 533 AB/.250 BA/.672 OPS

Additionally, Ortiz is a vastly superior defender at SS. IMO, there is next to zero chance that Ortiz won't start every playoff game this season. If you had a clearly better option, fine, but I don't think Monasterio is that compared to Ortiz 

[adambr2]

8 minutes ago, Brewin said:

The fascination that some on this board have with Monasterio is mind boggling to me. Ortiz is by no means an offensive threat, but Monasterio is basically at the same offensive level when you look at their career numbers:

Ortiz 943 AB/.233 BA/.651 OPS

Monasterio 533 AB/.250 BA/.672 OPS

Additionally, Ortiz is a vastly superior defender at SS. IMO, there is next to zero chance that Ortiz won't start every playoff game this season. If you had a clearly better option, fine, but I don't think Monasterio is that compared to Ortiz 

Sure, they look super close if you’re going to only include their career numbers and not look at the entire picture including the context of how they’ve both played this season.

If career numbers were the only piece of information that mattered, Rhys Hoskins would be on the playoff roster and no one would be penciling in Andrew Vaughn and Jake Bauers into the lineup tonight.

[BruisedCrew]

3 hours ago, adambr2 said:

Monasterio started 3 games against the Dodgers this year. The Brewers gave up a total of 7 runs in those 3 games. We were fine. Remember when Ortiz missed the last half of August? Can anyone recall off the top of their head anything that went totally wrong at SS?

Contrary to popular belief, the infield defense of the Brewers does not completely cease to function with Monasterio in for Ortiz.

Since you asked I do remember something that went totally wrong with Monasterio at SS. 

In the Saturday night game against the Giants with the Brewers leading 1-0 in the top of the 6th, he fielded a routine grounder and made a wild throw to first to put the leadoff man on. After a walk, and a hit, and an error by Stiegler the Giants had 3 runs. From there the Brewers went to the bullpen scrubs. 

I don’t really care if Monasterio starts, but I don’t see that providing a sudden boost to the offense. In his 26 PA since September 1 he’s posted an OPS of .397. And his career record doesn’t cry out “instant offense”. 

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

1 minute ago, Brewin said:

The fascination that some on this board have with Monasterio is mind boggling to me. Ortiz is by no means an offensive threat, but Monasterio is basically at the same offensive level when you look at their career numbers:

Ortiz 943 AB/.233 BA/.651 OPS

Monasterio 533 AB/.250 BA/.672 OPS

Additionally, Ortiz is a vastly superior defender at SS. IMO, there is next to zero chance that Ortiz won't start every playoff game this season. If you had a clearly better option, fine, but I don't think Monasterio is that compared to Ortiz 

This. I think @adambr2 makes some good points about needing to score and maybe needing to switch things up when you know you're going to need runs. If there's ever a time to switch out Ortiz for Mona it's probably tonight, with a strikeout/fly ball pitcher on the mound. Can always go to Ortiz halfway through it you need defense.

But I'm not convinced Mona is a clear upgrade. Joey's been on base 4 times in 18 PAs. That's really not a black hole given what you expect from that spot in the playoffs. Bigger issue is that we haven't gotten a lot of production from the 8th spot in the order either. I'm not sure you actually gain very much by putting in Mona, unless you expect him to get on base twice. Seems like a lot to ask against Yamamoto.

I know we hit lefties well this year, but I just like our odds better against right-handed starters in the postseason. The platoon advantage from Yelich, Turang, and Frelick, plus the ability to get Jake "Babe" Bauers in the lineup far outweighs the smaller platoon downgrade from Contreras and Chourio. 

The biggest decision tonight seems like the OF. I would run out the same lineup as last night because I think you need Collins hitting from his stronger left side in the lineup, over Perkins hitting from his weaker side. Tough call given the defensive downgrade, but Collins looked okay in left yesterday, and Sal seemed fine in center. The big arm maybe offsets Perkins superior range and playmaking. Plus, we just need to get the starter out of the game. That should be priority number one. If your defense costs you 2 runs and you lose, you didn't score enough anyway (and I think lefty Collins is a bigger upgrade over lefty Perkins than righty Mona over righty Ortiz).

One thing I WOULD do if we face Snell again is let Jansen hit as DH. I know that seems a little wild, but use the extra righty bat. You can play Yelich in the OF (and sit Sal) or sit him and get him an AB or two later in the game. 

[Frisbee Slider]

Monasterio had 1.116 OPS over 53 AB in August. A .397 OPS in September over 24 AB. To the extent he has received any playing time this season, the only positive thing about his offensive profile is launch angle sweet spot %. That is to say he does a fair job hitting line drives.
 

[KeithStone53151]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25260341-tyrese-haliburton-trolls-brewers-wears-dodgers-cubs-jerseys-during-mlb-playoffs

Not sure where the best spot is to share this. If you thought you didn't dislike Haliburton enough...time to double down.

[adambr2]

4 times in base in 18 PA is a .222 OBP. That definitely seems like the definition of black hole to me.

It’s not an absolutely huge deal to me, though I’d prefer Mona, but unfortunately we did not do anything to improve our SS situation in July and so now we are stuck with who we have. I hope that’s not the status quo for 2026, but that’s a conversation for another day.

I'd start with Mona, see if you can get a spark and if he doesn’t show much the first couple ABs, you can easily go to the bench and then put Ortiz in to where he probably only needs to see one AB tonight.

I expect they’ll probably start Ortiz anyway, and I hope it is not Blake and Ortiz back to back. 

[Frisbee Slider]

29 minutes ago, Brewin said:

The fascination that some on this board have with Monasterio is mind boggling to me.

The back up quarterback on many football teams is always among the more popular players. 🙂

[BruisedCrew]

I would like to see both  Bauers and Vaughn in the lineup if they’re looking for more offense

[Fear The Chorizo]

46 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

Ortiz has a .368 OPS in the preseason. That’s pitcher level bad. It’d be one thing if he had a strong regular season track record to fall back on to assume he’ll get it going, but he doesn’t. 

The last four games have produced 1, 3, 0, and 3 runs, respectively.

I understand that run prevention is a big part of this team but none of that matters if you can’t score.

My post you quoted me had more to do with the decision on whether or not to start a defensive OF with Bauers at 1B and Vaughn on the bench against a righty starter, or throw Bauers in a corner OF spot with Vaughn staying at first - I get the idea of putting Mona in for Ortiz to start the game at SS...but I just don't see that dramatic an offensive upgrade between the two, and Mona could come off the bench later in the game to play other IF positions, too depending on how pitching matchups occur.  It wouldn't be upsetting to me to see Mona starting in place of Ortiz tonight, but honestly if we're worried about what we'll get offensively from the #9 spot in the order between those two players the rest of the lineup didn't come through again.

One think I'll add about the "run prevention" focus of the Brewers - it's long been something that's bothered me when it comes to how the Brewers build their postseason bench, and I think it really hamstrings them offensively when the pitching generally improves from the regular season marathon.  They are a defense-1st everyday lineup in many spots (or at least "all-around player" for the regulars), and then most of their bench players are also utility-level players whose calling card is their glove, not their bat.  I think the Brewers wasted a golden opportunity in September to get Hoskins a bunch more ABs than the 10 he got to try and get him in a good spot before the postseason.  Hoskins was carrying this team offensively at times in April/May when they were really scuffling.  A locked-in Hoskins on this playoff roster off the bench and even DHing against lefthanded pitching would be much more valuable than Lockridge, and the same argument could be made for him over Collins with how he's fallen apart late in the year at the plate.  I get that the Brewers opted to "dance with who brought you" over the past 3 months of the season, but in a way they removed a potentially tough decision by not giving Hoskins a regular September role.

It also stinks to me that the Brewers' primary RH bench bat with pop also happens to be their backup catcher, who essentially takes up a postseason roster spot and won't see the field unless Contreras gets injured in a game.  

 

 

[liveforoctober]

I'm also on board with Bauers and Vaughn both playing tonight. A couple different ways to make that happen... I'm ok with either of them.

[LouisEly]

Last night was probably the best possible way to lose.  Get dominated for 8 innings... only to show them that it's a 9-inning game.

Totally mind-mess with them that no matter how well they are doing, it's not over until it's over.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

45 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

4 times in base in 18 PA is a .222 OBP. That definitely seems like the definition of black hole to me.

It’s not an absolutely huge deal to me, though I’d prefer Mona, but unfortunately we did not do anything to improve our SS situation in July and so now we are stuck with who we have. I hope that’s not the status quo for 2026, but that’s a conversation for another day.

I'd start with Mona, see if you can get a spark and if he doesn’t show much the first couple ABs, you can easily go to the bench and then put Ortiz in to where he probably only needs to see one AB tonight.

I expect they’ll probably start Ortiz anyway, and I hope it is not Blake and Ortiz back to back. 

Andy Pages is a black hole (on base once in 29 PAs). Matt Shaw is very good (on base 7 times in 23 PAs). Ortiz has basically been Bryson Stott (on base twice in 14 PAs) in the playoffs. He hasn't been good, and he's certainly not continuing the tradition of light-hitting Brewers shortstops crushing October. I just think, on the list of things plaguing the Brewers offense, Joey Ortiz himself ranks about 6th. Want to fold it into "bottom of the order production" and maybe it's 4th. 

Even with a half a billion dollars, you can't buy October hitting from the 9 spot. You just have to luck into it. So far, we haven't. I agree with you that it might make sense to let Mona give it a shot tonight. Why not? But I think it would be a "let's throw some crap at the wall" kind of choice more than anything.

[tmwiese55]

IF there's a game to give Mona a start its probably with Freddy at P due to the K rate and being generally a fly ball pitcher.   Still, I doubt we see it

[adambr2]

I’m really nervous about Freddy facing Ohtani and Freeman several times tonight. Hope we can get a clean start.

[Brewluver]

1 hour ago, Frisbee Slider said:

The back up quarterback on many football teams is always among the more popular players. 🙂

OK, I'll bite ............ you caught my interest,

Name just a few please 

[dlk9s]

20 minutes ago, Brewluver said:

OK, I'll bite ............ you caught my interest,

Name just a few please 

He's not necessarily being literal. It's an old saying that the backup QB is the most popular player among fans because as soon as things go south for the starter, fans are calling for the backup to play. Grass is always greener, that sort of thing.

[dlk9s]

Snell just checked his strategy card again.

[Jim French Stepstool]

1 hour ago, Fear The Chorizo said:

My post you quoted me had more to do with the decision on whether or not to start a defensive OF with Bauers at 1B and Vaughn on the bench against a righty starter, or throw Bauers in a corner OF spot with Vaughn staying at first - I get the idea of putting Mona in for Ortiz to start the game at SS...but I just don't see that dramatic an offensive upgrade between the two, and Mona could come off the bench later in the game to play other IF positions, too depending on how pitching matchups occur.  It wouldn't be upsetting to me to see Mona starting in place of Ortiz tonight, but honestly if we're worried about what we'll get offensively from the #9 spot in the order between those two players the rest of the lineup didn't come through again.

One think I'll add about the "run prevention" focus of the Brewers - it's long been something that's bothered me when it comes to how the Brewers build their postseason bench, and I think it really hamstrings them offensively when the pitching generally improves from the regular season marathon.  They are a defense-1st everyday lineup in many spots (or at least "all-around player" for the regulars), and then most of their bench players are also utility-level players whose calling card is their glove, not their bat.  I think the Brewers wasted a golden opportunity in September to get Hoskins a bunch more ABs than the 10 he got to try and get him in a good spot before the postseason.  Hoskins was carrying this team offensively at times in April/May when they were really scuffling.  A locked-in Hoskins on this playoff roster off the bench and even DHing against lefthanded pitching would be much more valuable than Lockridge, and the same argument could be made for him over Collins with how he's fallen apart late in the year at the plate.  I get that the Brewers opted to "dance with who brought you" over the past 3 months of the season, but in a way they removed a potentially tough decision by not giving Hoskins a regular September role.

 

 

 

Good stuff in here. The struggles of the everyday LHH & a couple of the others are the big issue & aren't going to be alleviated by playing Monasterio; rather what needs to happen is for the collective ABs one thru seven to get more to the norm so this isn't a discussion. And I think they're right in putting a lot of weight on the defensive side of the ball, in this particular spot on the field. The time when you DON'T need to emphasize that is when you're scoring runs. We haven't been. I'd be OK with Monasterio getting a start, but I understand why he hasn't.

Hoskins is a great point; I mentioned awhile back how I raised my eyebrows a little when he didn't get more ABs after returning, just to see if there might be a bench fit there.

 

[Brewluver]

19 minutes ago, dlk9s said:

He's not necessarily being literal. It's an old saying that the backup QB is the most popular player among fans because as soon as things go south for the starter, fans are calling for the backup to play. Grass is always greener, that sort of thing.

I don't understand.

Is Frisbee Slider unable to answer for himself ??

I hope he's ok 🙏

[Frisbee Slider]

44 minutes ago, Brewluver said:

OK, I'll bite ............ you caught my interest,

Name just a few please 

Most Chicago Bears backup quarterbacks have seemed popular over the years. The idea that life would be better with the other guy is universal.