Relax Dodger fans, Joe Buck is not the problem

How do you solve a problem like a Joe Buck?

Don’t make it one. And knock it off with the tweets, like a well-known L.A. sports-talk figure sent out this week: “Question for #Dodgers fans. Do you think Joe Buck is biased AGAINST the #Dodgers?”

It’s a Pavlovian, dime-store trick. It plays into Dodgers’ fans worst insecurities.

There is no problem. On any game of MLB import, we’d rather have no one else than Buck. Or Dan Shulman, Matt Vasgersian and, add to that club, Joe Davis.

But we can see where the Buck blowback comes from, as perhaps one becomes weary from the overexposure of having done everything Dodgers-related this postseason, from the seven-game National League Championship Series up until this point. John Smoltz, he’s the one who’s been here the entire ride. Pair them up, and it’s Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly in “Step Brothers.” Or “Anchorman.” Or “Talladega Nights.”

You could make the case that Buck sounds as if he’s bored with all this rancor, is beyond the gravity or importance of these championship-level games, is trying to shake off any nervous energy by defaulting to snarky retorts for some deviant amusement. It’s some way to keep him engaged with this private joke of his — that, people, please, it’s just a game, stop taking things so seriously.

Seriously, enough already. If you’re aligned with other Dodgers fans waiting 30 years to stop scratching an itch, Buck will only become more like the mosquito buzzing around your mojito.

More in Tuesday’s Game 1 than in Wednesday’s Game 2 of Fox’s World Series telecast, Buck’s modus operandi could have rankled enough L.A. viewers to hear what they wanted to hear about any backhanded compliments coming the Dodgers’ way.

The play-by-play man acknowledged the Dodgers’ abilities. He pointed out their weak spots. What else do you want?

A couple of more too-cool-for-school comments came up Wednesday, but maybe Buck’s decelerating, knowing that before he can land in L.A. for at least Games 3 and 4 on Friday and Saturday, he has a stopover in Houston for a midseason minutia of an NFL Thursday night game that Fox continues to over-publicize.

Who wouldn’t feel a little stretched at this point?

1/30

Red Sox’s Mookie Betts scores a run in the fifth inning of game two of the World Series against the Dodgers at Fenway Park.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles TImes)

2/30

Dodgers players at the end of game two of the World Series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles TImes)

3/30

Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger strikes out in the eighth inning.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

4/30

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal chases after a wild pitch thrown by Scott Alexander in the seventh inning.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

5/30

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts takes out relief pitcher Kenta Maeda in the seventh inning.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

6/30

Red Sox’s J.D. Martinez hits a single in the sixth inning to score a run.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles TImes)

7/30

Red Sox’s Andrew Benintendi scores a run in the fifth inning.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles TImes)

8/30

Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger makes a leaping catch as teammates Enrique Hernandez and Chris Taylor get out of the way.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

9/30

Red Sox’s Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi celebrate after both scored on a J.D. Martinez single in the fifth inning.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

10/30

Red Sox Andrew Benintendi and Xander Bogaerts celebrate after Benintendi scored on a J.D. Martinez single in the fifth inning.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

11/30

Dodger relief pitcher Ryan Madsen is disgusted after walking Red Sox Steve Pearce with the bases loaded.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

12/30

Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu waits to be taken out after walking Red Sox’s Andrew Benintendi.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

13/30

Dodger pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu steps on base ahead of Red Sox’s Ian Kinsler for an out.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

14/30

Red Sox pitcher David Price reacts after allowing an RBI single to Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

15/30

Red Sox Andrew Benintendi makes a leaping catch hit by Dodgers’ Brian Dozier.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

16/30

Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig celebrates after hitting a single to score a run.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles TImes)

17/30

As Red Sox pitcher David Price looks on, Dodgers Manny Machado scores on a single by Yasiel Puig.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

18/30

Red Sox pitcher David Price grimaces as a run is scored on a Matt Kemp sacrifice fly to tie the game in the fourth inning.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles TImes)

19/30

Dodgers’ Manny Machado gets the ball ahead of Red Sox Ian Kinsler to tag him out at third base.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles TImes)

20/30

Dodgers’ Manny Machado tags out Red Sox Ian Kinsler at third base in the second inning.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles TImes)

21/30

Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu throws to first as Red Sox’s Mookiie Betts dives back.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

22/30

Dodgers’ David Freese tries to catch a foul ball in the second inning.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles TImes)

23/30

Red Sox’s Xander Bogaerts scores on a single by Ian Kinsler in the first inning.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

24/30

Dodgers first baseman David Freese tags out Red Sox Mookie Betts in the first inning.

  (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

25/30

Dodgers’ Manny Machado pops up in the first inning.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

26/30

Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu throws in the first inning.

  (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

27/30

Red Sox pitcher David Price throws in the first inning.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

28/30

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts hugs Kevin Millar in pregame ceremonies honoring the 2004 Red Sox championship.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

29/30

Dodgers’ Matt Kemp is bundled up as he works out.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

30/30

Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu shares the field with a band as he warms up.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

No problems here

ESPN Radio’s World Series coverage, coming to L.A. on Wednesday via the Angels’ KLAA-AM (830), recovered nicely from a power outage in the bottom of the fifth inning. Shulman did play-by-play into his cellphone, relayed through to ESPN headquarters, and sent out over the air until the issue was resolved. No beats were missed.

May we recommend

Thumbs up: Kevin Kennedy when he subs in for Steve Sax this week on KLAC-AM (570) new 6-to-9 a.m. morning drive Dodgers talk. The onetime Red Sox manager knows what a Fenway circus can do to a team’s equilibrium.

Thumbs sideways: Stick around for the Fox KTTV-Channel 11 local post game show, if only to hear from Steve Garvey and Jose Mota in the studio. Just don’t expect too much depth and substance from the banter and inane questioning “reporters” Liz Habib and Pablo Alsina attempt live from the field, where they just seem to want to remark about how cold it is.