What Might Have Been

I have been redoing all my music on my computer. I could not download files onto my MP-3 player because they were corrupted. So I deleted them all and am re ripping them to the computer. While doing so, I was listening to a tune by Little Texas. You guessed it, the title is ” What Might Have Been “. And I took that to apply to ball players whose careers may not have been what most thought they would be.

And the one player ever to wear the blue that applied to more than any other I could see was Pete Reiser. Born March 17th, 1919 in St Louis, Missouri. St. Patrick’s Day. And Pete was Irish.

Pete was the sixth of nine children born to George and Stella Reiser. As a boy his friends and family called him Pete, after the cowboy movie hero, Two-Gun Pete. He loved westerns and as a child would walk around the neighborhood with a pair of toy pistols holstered to his belt. Eventually his nickname became Pistol Pete.

His dad was a good semi pro pitcher started throwing pitches to his son at an early age, and Pete could hit them. His older brother, Mike, would take him to his sandlot games. So, at an early age, he was playing against older competition. Mike was later signed out of high school by the Yankees, but contracted Scarlet fever and died.

Pete was good at every sport he played. When he was 14, he impressed a soccer coach so much that he was paid 50$ a game. More than his dad was making in a week. Pete was ambidextrous. He threw and hit right handed, but could turn around and do almost as well with his left.

But his dream was not baseball, a devout Catholic, he wanted to play football for Notre Dame. He played SS in high school. And he did not believe there was a ball he could not catch. Later, as an outfielder, this belief would cause his downfall.

When he was 15, Reiser sneaked into a Cardinals try out, where he out-threw, and outran more than 800 other boys. He was disappointed when he returned home without a contract. But later, a Cardinals scout, Charlie Barrett visited the Reiser home and explained the Cardinals did not want work leaking to the Browns because they shared the park with them.

He admitted the Cardinals had their eye on him since grade school. He was too young to sign a contract, so they got permission from his dad to hire him as a chauffeur. That summer, he toured with Barrett all around the south, and at each stop he would get out and play against the other players. He got a taste of life on the road, having never eaten in a restaurant in his life. He liked it.

After high school, in 1937 the Cardinals signed him. He played SS for two teams in the Cardinals system. Then in 1938 Commissioner Landis ruled that the Cardinals system tied up so many young players that it was against the best interests of the game and he broke up their minor league system and monopoly by cutting loose dozens of players who were dispersed to other teams as a kind of Depression era free agency.

Of these, Reiser was arguably the best and the one Rickey wanted to keep the most. Rickey got in touch with Larry McPhail, who was running the Dodgers. They made a gentleman’s agreement that the Dodgers would sign Pete, hide him in the low minors for a couple of years, and then trade him back to St Louis.

He then called Reiser and told him to sign with Brooklyn, no matter what they offered. Of course this was against the rules, and had Landis found out, he would have stopped it. Pete signed with the Dodgers for 100$.

He was sent to Superior Wisconsin, of the class D Northern League. He hit .302 with 55 extra base hits. He was still hitting RH at the time, but when the coaches found out he was ambidextrous they encouraged him to swing around and hit from the left to better use his speed. He would hit that way almost exclusively for the next 10 years.

In 1939 at spring training, he caught the eye of player manager Leo Durocher. On a hot day, Durocher did not feel like playing SS and asked Pete to go play for him. Over the next 3 days, he was almost impossible to get out. He walked 3 times, had 4 singles and 4 homers. Durocher, who had been pining for a LH power bat had one dropped right into his lap from Class D ball.

Durocher was telling the beat writers that Reiser was going to be the Dodgers starting SS that year. Rickey called McPhail and accused him of a double-cross. McPhail contacted Durocher and told him to quit playing Reiser because he needed more seasoning. When McPhail came down to Florida for a face to face, they argued and he fired Durocher, only to settle their differences the next day.

Reiser was sent to Class A Elmira to start the 1940 season. But he suffered the first of many injuries when throwing a ball to the infield. He felt a pain in his elbow. He continued to play until the pain became unbearable. X-Rays were taken and they showed he had fractured his arm. He underwent surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow. He only played 38 games that year.

He went back to Elmira in 1940, but the Dodgers realized he had nothing to prove there. So they sent him to Montreal. He was called up and appeared in his first MLB game on July 23rd. After an 0-9 start, he batted .293 in 58 games and was one of the Dodgers most used bench players.

In 1941, Pete made his way into the starting lineup as the CF between Medwick, and Dixie Walker. He started hot, and stayed hot tormenting pitchers at the plate and on the basepaths. Making remarkable catches and throws from the outfield. Dodger fans knew they were seeing something special.

He hit .343 to win the batting title by a wide margin, led the league with 39 doubles, 17 triples, and 117 runs scored. He had a .588 slugging percentage and finished 2nd to Camilli in the MVP race.

On March 29th, 1942 Reiser married his fiancé, Patricia Hurst in Florida, the same day he served as best man, and his wife maid of honor at the wedding of roommate, Pee Wee Reese.

Reiser was playing even better in 42. He was hitting .356, and was riding an 11 game hitting streak. The Dodgers had a 8 game lead over the Cardinals. In the 11th inning of a 6-6 tie on the 19th of July, Enos Slaughter hit a long drive to center. Reiser raced towards the wall, narrowly missing the flagpole that rose from the playing field, caught Slaughter’s drive in full stride, and then hit the concrete wall a instant later. The ball fell from his glove. Although dazed, he threw the ball to the cutoff man, Reese. By the time Reese fired the ball home, Slaughter had circled the bases to win the game.

All attention turned to Reiser who was lying on the field motionless. His shoulder was separated, and he was bleeding from his ears. When Durocher got to him, he started to cry.

He was taken to the hospital and woke up the next morning with a fractured skull and a brain injury. Cardinal doctors recommended he not return to the field that season. Reiser ignored their advice and returned to the field as soon as he could walk. Back in those days the effects of concussions were not fully understood. In today’s game, he would not have been allowed to play. But Pete was the ultimate gamer.

He was weak and had trouble focusing, but nothing was keeping him out of the lineup.  He was never the same player again. He hit .244 the rest of the way. He still managed to hit .310, and led the league with 20 steals. Billy Herman, who had played with HOFers, Chuck Klein, and Hack Wilson said Reiser was the greatest player he had ever seen on a baseball field.

In 1943 he enlisted in the Army and was sent to Ft Riley in Kansas. He caught pneumonia on a night march and was about to be medically discharged when a Dr realized he had Reiser in his infirmary and decided to keep him there and form a baseball team. He made a deal with Reiser. He was excused from all duties, and could leave the base whenever he liked, and had his own private room.

Over the next two years, Ft Riley had quite a team with guys like Garagiola, Lonny Frey, Harry Walker, Al Brazle, Murry Dickson, Rex Barner, Ken Heintzelman, and Frank ” Creepy” Crespi. One player turned away was a colored player who was told he would have to play with the colored team, but there was no colored team. It was Reiser’s first encounter with future team mate, Jackie Robinson.

Pete was discharged in time to catch up with the Dodgers in spring. It was obvious to the brass that his arm was not what it once was. There had been talk of moving him to the infield if for no other reason than self-preservation.

With that out of the question he stayed in the OF. Of course, in his first exhibition start he went 3-3 with 3 walks. During the season, he fractured his fibula stealing 2nd base against the Cubs. His shoulder got so bad he was moved to LF. Chasing a fly ball hit by Whitey Kurowski, he crashed into the LF wall. While convalescing at home he burned his hands lighting the oven for his wife.

It just was not his year, nor was it the Dodgers. They tied for the pennant and lost 2 straight to the Cardinals.

He still managed to lead the league in steals with 38. But because of his shoulder, there was a hitch in his swing, and he was basically a slap hitter now.

1947. The Dodgers had a new look. Robinson was the man who drove the bus now. This was a stroke of good fortune for Dodger fans who had to suffer another brutal injury to their CF. Chasing a fly ball off of the bat of Culley Rikard of the Pirates, Pete snagged it on the dead run just an instant before slamming into the fence. He held onto the ball for the out, but fractured his skull.

The injury was so bad he was given last rites. He was in a hospital bed for 5 days hovering between life and death. When in the lineup, he contributed. He hit .309, and was second to Robinson in the stolen base department. The Dodgers went 94-60 to beat the Cardinals easily.

The ill effects of the injury were evident in the Series. He misplayed a couple of balls in the first 2 games, both losses, and in game 3 he injured his ankle on a steal attempt. Furillo took his place, and for the rest of the series he was a bench player.

In the game where Bill Bevens was pitching a no hitter, Reiser was intentionally walked. Sensing a chance, Shotton sent Miksis in to run for Reiser, and Lavagetto up to hit for Stanky. Seconds later Lavagetto got the only hit, both runners scored, and the Dodgers won 3-2.

Reiser was never a regular again. Durocher came back in 48, and wanted to keep him in the lineup, but quickly realized he was not the same player. He tried to put him at 1st base, but Pete had gained weight and was sluggish around the bag. He did not play much. Usually he was a pinch hitter and fill in as an outfielder.

After the season he asked Rickey to trade him, and in December he was sent to the Braves. He had a little better season with the Braves in 49. His second daughter was born in July. But in 1950, his average dipped to .205. The Brave released him, and Rickey, who was now running the Pirates signed him in 1951. He played in 74 games, hitting .271. Rickey released him and offered a job managing a team in the Pirates system, Pete turned it down.

In 52 he was signed by the Indians, who were managed by Al Lopez. He had been a catcher with the Pirates when Reiser broke in. He hit only .136, and played his last game in the majors on July 5th. The injury that ended his career was a separated shoulder he suffered while sliding in a game against the Yankees.

Pete might have stayed with the Indians, but he was needed at home. Sally, the younger of his two daughters had developmental problems, and he wanted to be closer to home. When he told Lopez he was leaving the game, Al cried. Thinking of the great player with such total bad luck.

He owned a car dealership and worked as a carpenter. Then in 1955, Dodger GM, Buzzie Bavasi offered him a manager’s job at class D Thomasville in Georgia. Pete loved coaching and managing, and did a good job with the kids that season.

The Dodgers won the series, and Pete was happy that even if he had not won a ring, his buddy Pee Wee did. Over the next few years, Pete managed the top Dodgers hitting prospects, including Tommy Davis and Frank Howard.

In 1960, Pete joined Alston’s staff in Los Angeles. He worked constantly with Maury Wills, and when the team moved into Dodger Stadium in 62, he helped Wills bring back the stolen base.

Reiser stayed on the staff through 1964, and got his Series ring in 1963.  In 65, he went to Spokane to manage the Dodgers AAA team. His stay as manager was short as he suffered a heart attack hitting fungos in spring. His replacement was Duke Snider, the same guy who replaced him in CF in Brooklyn.

Reiser returned to baseball in 66 in Chicago as part of Durocher’s’ staff there. Pete was with the Cubs through 69 before accepting an offer from Lefty Phillips to be on the Angels staff. He stayed there until the 72 season when he returned to the Cubs. He was with them through the wild 73 East race. During a brawl with the Giants, someone slugged Pete, and he disappeared under the pile, unconscious. Reiser scouted for the Cubs for a while in the late 70’s. After the 81 season, he told his wife he was retiring for good. Two days later, on October 25th, he died in Palm Springs at the age of 62. Cause of death was emphysema. Pete had been a heavy smoker since he was a teen. His wife Pat passed away in 2001.

There is not official count of the number of injuries Pete suffered during his career, but the best guess is at least 11 collisions with unpadded fences, five skull fractures, chronic dislocation of his shoulder, two broken ankles, damaged knee cartilage, torn muscles in his left leg, two beanings in the days before they wore batting helmets. He was carried off of the field on a stretcher 11 times. 6 times conscious, 5 times not.

Pete could look back on two things he helped create. One with pride, and the other with irony. The Dodgers, a hapless collection of clowns and losers in the years before he arrived in Brooklyn, now believed they could win every year. Pete helped that with his great 41 season. Also by the early 50’s, most teams had installed warning tracks, or at least planned to, and stadiums had begun to pad their walls. The first padded wall in Ebbets was made of cork. It is doubtful that anything other than modern foam cushioning would have saved Reiser given how hard he hit the wall.

Pete played full out all the time. And it ended up costing him dearly. And we as fans can only look back and wonder…what might have been.

This article has 84 Comments

  1. Thx for a great read Bear. So many stories that have never been told. Who knows if not for the injuries and the war how good a player Pete could have been.

    1. Thank you Cassidy. I have said many times how much I enjoy team history. And Pete was such a talented player. Another one you could pick is Clemente. Had they not given him such a big bonus, or if they had done the same thing they did with Koufax and let him learn while he was at the big league level instead of trying to hide him in the minors. What kind of difference would his RH power have played their first 4 years in the coliseum? And just his overall skills. Had he been a bit more cautious out there, Pete may have been one of the best ever to wear the uni. But alas, that was not the way he played the game.

  2. Hard to win a series when you score ZERO runs! Atlanta pitching isn’t that good! One good thing about tonight is that Woodruff won’t be hitting against Kersh!

    1. Reds aren’t that good of a hitting team either. Braves were good enough to shut down those hitters. Strange because Votto has been a good hitter pretty much all of his career, and Suarez hit over 40 homers last year.

    2. I think Atlanta’s pitching is why the Reds didn’t score any runs in 2 games. Would you disagree?

      1. Yes. Atl had much better pitching than the Reds. The kid Anderson was lights out.

  3. Great story and insight into Pete Reiser, Bear. As Cassidy said who knows how far he would have gone were it not for the many injuries he suffered. He was tough though and kept going right back into the game. Those pictures were good but hard to take.

    PS..my cardboard cutout has survived AJ Pollock’s “Down the Clown” throws. Maybe because as far as I know, I am not in left field.

    Was an interesting win last night. Kenley still makes me a little nervous but he pulled it off. Not much hitting but good for you Corey Seager, Mookie Betts, Walker Buehler and Jose Urias especially.

    1. Ahh, glad the cardboard version of you is safe. Urias did a good job. Buehler is hampered by the blister, that much is obvious. Right now, I trust him to get the team into the 5th inning at least. And according to Roberts they are using precaution because he will be needed if they advance.

      1. I said that, I just did not use his first name. And the quote from Roberts was about Buehler, not Urias.

  4. “You would also think, according to them and the amount of TV coverage he got, that Counsell has to be the greatest manager ever.” This from the last blog. My comment is, in the context of the game last night, Counsell is the greatest manager ever, Roberts not so much (whatsoever).

    I still think back to the WS with A$$holes, oops, I mean A$tros, even with them cheating, I think with a good manager the Dodgers would have beaten the A$$holes. As good as a people person that Roberts is, he is that bad as a in-game decision maker. I think we won the 600 pennants in a row because of AF and we lost 600 WS rings in a row because of Roberts.

    1. Beating a dead horse and preaching to the choir at the same time. Sweet. I think Dave had better have learned from his mistakes in prior series. And the point remains, no matter what, he is the guy is who AF and the owners want to run this team. We know the Stros were not on the up and up when they won. But unfortunately we do not get a do over, and they have been punished…sort of. Looking like the White Sox are going to win this one against the A’s. Roberts hit a 480 ft homer.

  5. Graterol was up last night during the 9th inning. So no, Roberts wasn’t going to ride or die with Kenley last night or any night going forward. He knows we need a ring this year, regardless of who gets in to win it.

    In a perfect world, we win the World Series with Kenley throwing a perfect 8th and Kersh on mound to win the title in the 9th. But it’s not a perfect world, so use whoever is hot and doing well.

    1. And the best team is not always the winner. Saw that last year. A’s were far superior to the Dodgers in 88. And on paper, the Yanks in 81 a better team too. I have been lucky to experience all of the Dodgers winners. Some Cub fans never saw a win their entire lives. I just want to see them be successful this time if for no other reason than Kershaw. Until CK leads this team to a title, there is just no way he can compare his career to that of Koufax. I keep hearing about Kersh being a future Hall of Famer. But the possibility is there that both he and Mike Trout, who is also a sure fire pick, will both go out without getting a ring. They would join Williams and Banks with that dubious distinction.

      1. Lots of Hall of Famers never won a ring. How about Ted Williams? Ken Griffey Jr.? Mike Piazza? Ron Santo and Ferguson Jenkins (also with the Cubbies).

        Tony Gwynn? Carlton Fisk? Don Sutton? Rod Carew? Gaylord Perry and Carl Yastrezemski?

        Dozens of others.

        I hope and pray that Kershaw and the Dodgers win one – but whether Kershaw ever gets a ring, he deserves a plaque in the Hall.

        1. Williams is Ted Williams. I just did not want to go on and on about the who’s so I picked the two I could think of at the time.

  6. Nothing would be sweeter than to see Kersh win a WS! Such a great ball player but even a better human being! Can’t wait to see that THIS year!

  7. A few years ago a certain relief pitcher had a 3.09 ERA in March and April.

    In May, it was 0.63.

    In June and July, it was 8.35

    August was 1.42

    In Sepetember, his ERA was 8.31

    But, then in the Division Championship Series, it was 0.00.
    In the League Championship Series, it was 3.00 and in the World Series, it was 0.00.

    This is the Legend of Joe Kelly -You never know what you are going to get, but there is the possibility you might get something really good.

    Some of you guys are so miserable lamenting the Dodger’s possible fate, that you are forgetting to enjoy the ride. Sometimes enjoying it means I have to stay away from this place!

  8. What do you mean Mark? I can’t wait till they win it this year so then I can enjoy it and say. Well they should have won 2or 3 by now and well let’s see them do it again next year!

  9. Said so well MT!!! It gets a lil old old doesn’t it though…
    Today I left the house for the first time get my PT done and most important walking, albeit with a walker… Sun was out and as I say often, There are no Bad Days…
    I’m thinking and praying the worst is over and it really helps that the Lakers and the Blue are one game up…
    I would have posted (actually my wife would have) right out of the gate, but the negativity was at a all time high… Dump AF or lay the blame with him.. Of course Doc and a few other favorites were being skewered, so I say to myself, self , keep your pie hole shut..
    The stories over the last month have been epic… Love to hear about Johnny Werhas and his struggles and coming out on top…

  10. Doc Rivers hired by the 76ers. A’s came back against the Sox and are leading in the 6th. As for all of the negative comments by fans who are supposed to be Dodgers fans, I can understand the frustration, but I also think they are putting the cart in front of the horse so to speak. They have played one game, and they won. It does not matter if it was ugly or how it was done, they won. wait until all the games are played before losing your marbles. And as one of my favorite movie characters of all time, Oddball, Donald Sutherland, in Kelly’s Hero’s said to the skipper, Gavin McLeod from Love Boat, hey Moriarty, stop with the negative waves!

    1. Bear – did you know Donald Sutherland graduated from Bridgewater High School which is ten minutes away from me?

        1. I don’t know. When he graduated he would probably have been 18. I would have been 13 so not much in tune with high school athletics as in those days we were not very mobile from even ten minutes away.

      1. I did not know that. I like Sutherland a lot. He has done some really good stuff. Oddball was a perfect character for him, as was Rickles part as Crap game. The money loving supply sergeant. Sutherland’s part in Space Cowboys was also great.

  11. Tonight’s lineup…
    1. Betts RF
    2. Seager SS
    3. Turner 3B
    4. Muncy 1B
    5. Smith DH
    6. Bellinger CF
    7. Taylor 2B
    8. Pollock LF
    9. Barnes C
    P Kershaw. big surprise for me, Smith at DH and no Joc.

    1. I love this line up with Barnes catching CK. This is the best line up at this point in time. It’s one I had predicted. Smith at DH is perfect. I might move AJ ahead of CT3 but WTF? Am I hearing folks bitch about about Muncy in the line up? Let me ask. Who would you play instead? Joc in the outfield and Belli too 1st? Joc has played his way to the bench and a pinch hit only role, as far as I’m concerned.
      Here is my quote from a couple of days ago. I repeat….”We are where we wanted to be all along. We have survived the short season virus free and, with the sad exception of Fergie, injury free. We are in a very good spot and things are set up nicely. Now it’s about Dave pulling the right strings and more importantly, THE PLAYERS GETTING THIS DONE.” Let’s just play the games.

      1. I do not care if he is in the lineup. I just think him hitting 4th is ridiculous.

        1. And Joc is the only player who has ever hit two homers off of Woodruff in a game. But Muncy in the 4 hole with zero production is just starting to wear my patience down.

  12. Muncy hitting 4th again? How incompetent does a player have to be before he is taken out of the lineup? I would have Smith in the 4 hole, Pollock after Bellinger and Muncy hitting 8th.

  13. I actually liked the strategy that Doc used yesterday (if it is a strategy and not just because of Buehler’s blister) when Doc went with one of the other starters (Urias) opening an inning and not during an inning with runners on base to get to the back of the bullpen. I just wish that we had 1 or 2 DOMINATE relievers there at the end.

    So I thought Doc did fine yesterday STRATEGICALLY with the bullpen.

    A lot of talk about Muncy. I look at it this way, Muncy walked twice so he did contribute, which is what I at least hope for with everyone.

    Barnes is going to catch today so he needs to step up his offense or the other guys need to make up what the offense loses (IF that is the case) with Barnes in there.

    1 down 1 to go. Lets sweep.

    1. I agree with the Muncy part. He got on base twice, which is doing his job. Guys behind him have to get him in.

  14. A few hours ago Bobby mentioned ” In a perfect world ” etc. That reminded me of Don Lawsen’s perfect game in the 1956 . I saw that game on TV. I think it was WOR channel 9. I saw the last pitch to Dale Mitchell and I will swear to my dying day that pitch was high and or outside. Here is a journeyman pitcher whose record a few years before was 3-21 striking out a .312 lifetime hitter who didn’t strikeout that often and who didn’t swing at the pitch.
    The umpire was “Babe” Pinelli who retired after that World Series and I still haven’t gotten over it.

    Dale Mitchell: Lifetime plate appearences: 4358. K’s-119
    162 Game Average: PA-628; Walks-50 K’s -19
    Post Season: PA-32 Walks-3; K’s- 1(ONE) Pinellis CALLED strike three.
    I have seen that over and over again and it’s STILL A BALL.

    1. You were close. The umps name is Babe Pinelli. But I agree, it was a ball.

  15. I know a lot of people say that there is no such thing as a dominant reliever. Tell that to Jansen he would disagree and he would be right if he’s talking about his career before the last few years.

    If the Dodgers had 2 dominant relievers along with the rest of their team right now I would bet everything that I have that the Dodgers would win it all this year. Don’t get me wrong they might still win it all.

    Off season priority number one, get at least one if not two dominant relievers if any are free agents.

    1. I already suggested Liam Hendriks. Nobody said a word.

      Muncy. Hit him 8th.

      Padres came alive.

      1. He’s been great the last two years but that’s it. I’m looking for someone with a longer track record of being dominant.

        Good suggestion though.

          1. But you and AF also signed Kelly, Treinen, McGee, Kolarek, Alexander, and over the years about a dozen other players that usta was.

      2. You are talking about the Hendricks who will be 32 next year and has a career 4.10 ERA?

        He has been great the last season and a third, but before that, he was not as good as Baez.

        Someone will give him big dollars. Would you?

        1. Nope. I don’t know a Hendricks. The guy I’m talking about is Hendriks. He’s channeled his inner dragon. And no, I would not pay him a dime, but I don’t have to, somebody else will.

  16. I am tired of watching the Dodgers play 3 guys left of second base and give up a hit.

    1. The pitcher is shutting them down. Good pitching beats good hitting. And tonight Woodruff is good. In 2018 He was pretty good against them too. A lot of baseball left. Time to get the bats going.

  17. The only guy not swinging for the fences gets a hit. All or nothing approach works in regular season against blah pitching. Doesn’t work in post season against good pitching.

  18. Where are our bats? Woodruff is fulfilling the prophecy that good pitching best good hitting. He is shutting us down, so far, even with CK pitching well. The longer this game goes, the worse our chances could be.

    My hats off to SD. What a comeback and yes, this is the most dangerous team out there!

  19. There we go! 3-0! This will prove that good pitching cannot overcome the good bats. No way, folks.

  20. Maybe that put it in play strategy works! Great ab by Barnes to get to Mookie! I take back all the bad things Mark said about Barnes earlier this year!

  21. The in-game comments on this board are quite fun.

    I remember my own comments fondly from Roberts’ meltdown last playoffs

  22. It sure could of turned out different it all happening with two outs. These Brewers are a little more competitive than I expected. I hope it’s them bringing their A-game because the better competition is in the windshield.

    1. To be fair the ump put him in a 2-2 count when it should have been 3-1 his second AB and a few people think Hader is pretty good.

  23. Vintage Kershaw, 12 K’s in 7 1/3rd innings. Padres tied their series with the Cardinals over coming 4 run deficits twice. They hit 5 homers. 2 by Myers, 2 from Tatis, and one from Machado. But, I am predicting that the Cardinals close it out tomorrow. Padres will have to use Johnny Allstaff, and the Cardinals are using their best, Jack Flaherty.

  24. Wow! Who was that masked man! 22 pretty good tonight! The start of a magical October for Kersh!

    1. More importantly, I hope this won’t diminish his next outing because if the Pads continue, they will be ready to rumble.

  25. CK looks focused and on his game. Max looks like he should sit. Give Rios a start at 1B, Max doesn’t even put the ball in play any longer it seems. Mookie is the man.

    1. Max hasn’t had a hit in a month. He should be a goner next season. Reminds me of the situation with Grandal, neither are real hitters and have fielding issues, Max being a much worse fielder than Grandal.

      1. He just signed and extension this off season. With Joc most likely gone next year, Max is going no where. Take that. Kersh with the big win. Masterful pitching and Graterol gets the save.

  26. ESPN announcers suck. They drooled all night over Woodruff’s stuff ignoring the gem CK was pitching until the game got late. Would not have given Bazooka the ninth. Should have pitched Treinen

  27. The defense wins games, is very important, ask the Brewers and Luis Urías how they did for a bad defense.
    A good team will expose the weaknesses of the opponent and the thread will break for the thinnest.

  28. Kershaw pitched a great game tonight! He seemed so calm and focused. He is definitely a different pitcher than the past couple of years. His body language was really positive. He seemed a much more confident pitcher. I have to give him credit because he performed. I have been so tired of reading the hype but no performance. His slider was excellent and curve good for the most part. His curve is most effective when he has a little zip on it.

    Having said that it was the brewers who are terrible. They couldn’t hit anybody any good. I am not taking anything away from kershaw because it was more than the brewers are bad. Kershaw mixed his pitches and was in command until I think he weakened the last out or 2. What scared me is that Jansen would come in and blow it. Graterol was a good choice now that it is over. He needed to get his feet wet. I am glad he saved it. That should help him moving forward.

    Our offense is really a question mark. Betts has been terrific and Barnes, Taylor stepped up. I don’t know what is wrong with muncy but he can’t even foul a pitch seemingly. Rios is a strikeout king so we definitely have a hole at first. I’m surprised he didn’t play joc as pollock is a dp, strikeout candidate against right handlers. He and seager hit into too many double plays. Pollock got bailed out by the Milwaukee defense. Turner, surprisingly is off to a terrible start. Good wins though. We were expected to win and we did so time to move on.

  29. It was a game we should have won against a team we should beat.

    The next series will be more intense. Especially if the Padres keep playing like they did last night. I hope the offense will wake up. There are a couple teams playing with their hair on fire. We aren’t one of them. Yet.

  30. Barnes came thru big time with that 2 out single, very clutch at bat, at a very critical time of the game. That at bat really won the game for us, if he goes down I think Brewers pitcher would have continued to dominate for a few more innings. Where’s the love?

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