MILWAUKEE — Wage inequality was the focus of the series even before the first presentation was made – the work of small market franchising manager which won more regular season games than any team in baseball.
“I’m sure most Dodgers couldn’t name the eight guys on our roster,” joked the team’s Pat Murphy. Milwaukee Brewers.
If the previous six months have been any indication of how a team can win without superstars, Dodgers win 2-1 Game 1 of the National League Championship Series showcased the firepower that can be had for $400 million.
The Dodgers won the game in which a tangled play against the center field wall led to an inning-ending double play that cost them a run—and likely more.
They won the game with 11 runners stranded.
They won a game in which the Brewers emptied their best bullpen to secure as many advantageous matchups as possible.
The Dodgers won because they had a $162 million first baseman. Freddie Freemanwhose solo home run in the sixth inning gave them the lead. The Dodgers won because they had a $182 million starting pitcher. Blake Snellwho pitched eight scoreless innings.
Talent wins.
Dodgers can buy as much as they want.
Visions of a petty Brewers offense overcoming Freeman's absence or Shohei Ohtani or Mookie Betts?
Looking back, how sweet.
Have you thought about how the Brewers' pitching depth could overcome the Dodgers' individual dominance?
Looking back, how crazy.
The Dodgers absorbed the Brewers' best collective blow and pulled out a victory that gave them control of the best-of-seven series.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto will begin for the Dodgers in Game 2 on Tuesday. Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow will begin Games 3 and 4 at Dodger Stadium in order.
How can the Brewers match that?
Invite the Seattle Mariners.
Bring World Series.
The Brewers' futile attempt to stop the Dodgers on Monday night involved using six pitchers in what is known as a bullpen game. The weapons pipeline was solid. Snell was an exceptional person.
Snell allowed only one baserunner in the eighth inning, Caleb Durbin, who singled to lead off the third inning.
Snell chose him.
It wasn't until the Dodgers turned to their bullpen in the ninth inning that the game became close.
So the bullpen remains an issue. So Ohtani's form remains in question as the Brewers refused to pitch to him.
But neither problem is serious enough to sink the Dodgers, especially against this opponent.
Going into this series, much of the conversation in the center of Otaniwho was one of 18 with nine strikeouts in the previous round against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Between NLDS and NLKS, manager Dave Roberts publicly called on Ohtani improve the quality of your shotsin particular, do not swing on internal passes from the plate.
“We’re not going to win the World Series with a game like this,” Roberts said.
President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman suggested a more lenient assessment of Ohtani's NLDS. The rhetoric bordered on hyperbole: Friedman described the performance of Phillies pitchers in historical terms.
“I think it was the most impressive execution against a striker I've ever seen,” Friedman said.
Friedman explained: “Listen, if a pitcher who has really good skills plays at an A-plus level, hitters won't be able to hit. It's too difficult to hit. It's more about hitting errors than lack thereof, and they executed it with him at an elite rate.”
Perhaps not wanting to create any bulletin board material for Ohtani, Murphy also described the mini-slump as a reflection of the dominance of Phillies pitchers Christopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo and Ranger Suarez.
“These guys are really, really good,” Murphy said. “So I don't think Ohtani is struggling. I don't. It's baseball.”
However, Murphy spoke as if he intended to repeat Phyllis's plan as closely as possible.
“I want to throw lefties against him whenever possible,” Murphy said. “A lot of lefties always have a harder time going up against lefties who hit speeds of 95 (miles per hour) or higher and dive into them.”
The Brewers used left-hander Aaron Ashby as their leadoff hitter. Ohtani led off the game by drawing a walk against him. The Otani walked twice more, both times on purpose. He didn't hit any hits in his other two appearances, but the Dodgers did it.
Ohtani wasn't the only premium player they could afford.
