From the last thread, I really believe McCourt would not allow Colletti to trade Kemp. I think one reason we still have Kemp, and some of the other young Dodgers, is not that Colletti hasn't wanted to trade them, but that McCourt has vetoed those proposed trades.

Mainly because there will be no game #163. The Dodgers will clinch on Friday in Phone Book Park

--

re: end of last thread, I just can't see Manny ending up in Seattle, not unless he wants to lose for awhile, become more obscure and get bored quickly (with the team, not the city). No offense to Seattle or anything. I would just be surprised. I would also be surprised if he ended up a Yankee. I think duck's 40% chance for Manny returning to LA sounds about right to me.

McDonald better fits the role of Fernando in 1980 than Kershaw does because he is more of an unknown, and therefore a more risky start.

People seem to forget how risky the thought of Fernando starting that 1980 game was before Fernandomania took off in 1981. The Dodgers didn't realize what they had in Fernando yet. Nobody really did.

And yes, I am one of those still bitter about Dave Goltz. I attended that playoff game as a 15 year old.

And Cubs fans are passionate, but the media is less vicious as New York or Boston would be.

9 - This has been oft-discussed on DT. I agree with you, except to clarify that it wasn't that the thought of Fernando starting was risky - it wasn't even a thought that was considered at all.

Eric Enders' antennae just went up.

for entertainment purposes, BRING IT ON! :o)

He's already thrown 215 innings after only pitching 150 last year. Isn't there anyone in that organization with the sense to stop Sabean or Bochy from doing this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=146BRrTOzXk

I don't recall Fernando being considered for the start either. There was a lot less media speculation during those days without the internet, etc.

Not to get too far ahead of myself, but Billingsley pitching tomorrow means his next start on regular rest would be Sunday. Lets hope he is not needed on that day, so that he can pitch well-rested on Oct 2 (with maybe a weekend bullpen stint to stay sharp).

Again, sorry for the pre-hatching counting, but I'm just laying things out there since they need to be planned in advance anyway.

If it's the fact that he doesn't draw a lot of walks, that seems strange to me.

Kemp swings at a lot of pitches that would otherwise be strikes, he just misses them. Yes, he does swing at pitches out of the zone, but so does Martin, and, really, just about every hitter to ever play the game.

Kemp also tends to strike out looking a lot. Is that disciplined? Or is that poor pitch recognition?

If the right offer came through why would you want to not want to trade Kemp?

He's still got the most upside of any of the young players and will likely be a superstar. I would prefer he be a superstar on my team than somewhere else.

Then he stays for sure. But it is not like the right price wouldn't move him. I was just wondering if there was a feasible "right price" out there.

The Giants might well trade Matt Cain for young hitting because they just can't seem to develop it [this is changing]. It makes sense for their organization to try to balance their pitching/hitting ledger. We have no such need.

Like I said earlier this isn't a rumor, but Hardy has been a much better baseball player than Kemp in the last 2 years and he's club controlled for '09 and '10.

http://tinyurl.com/4hbzvw

1. left field
2. third base
3. short stop
4. fifth starter

My way of dealing with this would be:

1. resign Manny (I'd be willing to go as high as 4 years)
2. resign Blake for 2 years and look to develop an in house replacement
3. Hu
4. I'm crazy enough to hand over the rotation to all the young guns (Billingsly, Kuroda, Kershaw, McDonald, Elbert/Stultz) and see what happens, otherwise, I'd look for a bargain back end guy.

There are other young players under 25, who I would value over Kemp such as Hanley Ramirez, Tim Lincecum, Felix Hernandez, and Ryan Braun.

http://tinyurl.com/youfkw

But that might be shooting a little too high.

They gave Kemp his 500 at bats and he gave us an average season. In fact I don't see one offensive player under the age of 26 who was impressive. The more at bats Kemp and Loney got the more their OPS+ dropped faster then the Dow Jones. I won't even beat the dead horse that is Martins slug% since the all-star break.

Next year at this time I hope they have rebounded and cashed in on the promise they showed in 2007 but let's face it, 2008 was not a growth year for these guys and all of them are tradable for the right package.

47 Prince Fielder can eat Travis Ishikawa for breakfast.

Unless Hu can fix his vision problems, I can't see him as more of a bench player.

http://tinyurl.com/bkdub

Prince Fielder is a vegetarian.

Maybe Kemp can develop into a monster. But I doubt very much that Ethier, Martin or Loney ever will.

2004 Final Week Heroes (Dodgers finish 4-3)
Steve Finley: walk-off GS
Ishii/Lima/Odalis: back-to-back-to-back 7+ IP, 1 R performances

1995 Final Week Heroes (Dodgers finish 4-2)
Raul Mondesi: 8-17, 5 RBI, .471/.471/.706
Eric Karros: 6-19, .316/.458/.684
Hideo Nomo: 2 starts, 2-0, 13 IP, 1.38 ERA

*I left of 1996 because it left a bad taste in my mouth even though the club mad the playoffs.

Its not as if we're trying to fit 9 Manny Rameriez on the field. And young players can and will take a step back in order to take a step forward. But they haven't regressed to the point where we should be actively looking to trade these players. I'd take Kemp over any young outfielder in the game today, including SCY, or Upton. We should allow Kemp to grow, and I doubt that we seen Kemp's peak as a player.

Most of what you said was spot on. We're looking good right now, but you're right, we haven't really been tested. That said, I've heard from a few people close say ManU is in for a shocker. Rooney's fitness and quality has really been lacking from what I've heard. I wouldn't be so quick to guarantee 15 in a row with the question marks you guys have. First things first, Fergie needs to find someone who can find the net.

As far as Bendtner goes, I have a lot of confidence in his ability. He's niftier than I thought with the ball, plus he can hurt you in the air. Overall, I think he's a decent option. And ever since the Fulham shocker, Denilson has played brilliantly. I think you're right about him becoming a special player, too. Looking into the future, there's a lot to like between Denilson and Walcott. I also like the young Mexican, Carlos Vela. Can't wait to see more of him.

Or are you just rooting for laundry?

1st half '08: 104
2nd half '08: 44

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/bsplit.cgi?n1=kempma01&year=2008

I realize the season's not over, but I'd call this a major improvement.

1st half: 1 K per 3.55 PA
2nd half: 1 K per 6 PA

If we don't re-sign Manny, then we'll need at least one of them to develop into a monster. Otherwise, it's back to the offense we saw from May-July.

Monsters are such innnnteresting creatures, they lead such innnnnteresting lives.

What did I miss?

I absolutely expected us to win Game 3 with Maddux pitching at that point. That was a sad than happy and than sad again game in person

Ryan Braun, Jay Bruce, the Upton brothers, and Nick Markakis.

What is amazing is that we are about to win the NL West and the 3rd year offensive players other then Ethier all regressed significantly from their sophomore seasons.

http://www.jibjab.com/view/140718

This is how I am feeling too. I am concerned about Martin's drop in production, but the walks have been great.

What are Martin's 2nd half numbers like this year compared to the past?

Also this:

"I don't think it would be ethical for me to comment, since I wasn't involved in the game," Leyland said.

As for Man U., everyone always takes their bad start as a sign of maybe this is the year they are terrible, but I think they are poised to have a very good year. We'll have to see, but I see people like Ronaldo, Anderson, Berbatov getting comfortable as the season gets along. They still make me chuckle when they start Gary Neville though.

I think MLB would be more interesting if I was in charge.

And Kemp played in fewer than 100 games last year. He is so young in his baseball career that he could really turn into anything. He could continue to be the player that he is today (105-110 OPS+ center fielder), regress and become Ryan Howard with the home runs, or really find it and become a 135+ OPS player that goes 35/35 every year for the next decade. I just think that his future is not as easy to predict when compared to other players because of his raw ability level and his lack of baseball experience. Playing the game seriously for only 6-7 years is just nothing compared to everybody else. To me, the power is the big question mark. I dont see him ever being a 80 walk kind of guy, but if he can tweak his approach at the plate, he can easily hit 25-30 homers next year. At 24, that would put him with the marquee center fielders in the game.

That should say Ryan Howard withOUT the home runs.

He's certainly not Mike Cameron right now (a comparison that's been made a lot), he's got neither the power or the defense, but Mike Cameron was one of the most valuable players in baseball in his prime. We should be thrilled if he becomes Mike Cameron.

Would Bills fair better with extra rest?

It is true that Kemp's defense is never going to reach elite levels so he's going to have to outhit Cameron, but there's no way Cameron could ever hit more than .260 or so.

He has shown a great arm this year, but I agree that he will never be an elite defensive CF.

For me the only person I wouldn't trade (for the right price) is Bills.

I think La Russa is keeping Lopez in the infield from now on because he's less dangerous there.

David Eckstein returns to St. Louis tonight.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117992621.html

Aside from the Coors Field numbers inflation, Helton also hasn't been as good a player as he used to be since he got accused of using steroids. Not sayin', just sayin'.

Its unfortunate in the sense that really isn't a lot of local LA sportstalk and Joe was a fixture especially for Lakers and Dodgers talk.

For my personal safety, I had to turn off the flash (you can never assume the sanity of a man who purchases/wears a Pierre jersey).

http://i33.tinypic.com/5z87.png

Wow.

I purchased and have worn a Pierre jersey t-shirt. So, point taken I guess. :)

Bobo, Bobo, bring back Sheriff Lobo!

With Pujols up.

Argh.

--

Did the Cards really just IBB Eckstein, or was that an unintentional walk?

Could McDonald/Stults do just as well or better than Maddux? Probably.

Piazza's OPS+ as a Dodger is 159, in 5½ seasons.

Sheffield had a 160 OPS+ in 3½ seasons.

http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/K5FD

.295/.380/.540 140 OPS+

Anyway, near the end of the interview, Kay asked, "Is Ramirez one of the greatest right handed hitters ever?"

Lasorda, rather abruptly, and after praising Manny for 2 solid minutes, said "No way." I thought it was kind of funny.

[cheers]

213 Yep. It's fine by me, they can believe whatever. I just want LA to get to the playoffs and then I'll take my chances vs. anyone.

--

Wow, cargill you (and I) might be right about this MNF game after all.

This is one nutty MNF game.

Replay seems to show an out though. :(

Webb was gunned by a mile at the plate though. Let's hope it affects him on the mound.

It's just like there are little baseball players inside my color screen thing attached to the typawriter.

go cards..!?

Al Hrabosky has been commenting on Reynolds all night about leading the league in errors and Ks. I have a bad feeling here.

2-1 AZ, going to the bottom of the 5th.

Underdog looking good.

[slinks away]

Theeeeeeeeeee Yankees LIVE!

(I think I'm projecting my resentment of David John Drew onto his jawless brother. I defended J.D. when he was on the Dodgers, and then look what he did to me.)

:(

Is that the same thing as chicken tenders?

http://tinyurl.com/3h4gxy
"Dodgers Face Shrinking Lead and a Crisis of Confidence"

Great. As if we didn't have enough to worry about, now we have New York following us intently.

Ah, I see. Sounds like nachos except with fries instead of chips.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1436/896744887_403e178772.jpg?v=0

In slightly better news... my bet's looking pretty good right now.

Hope it works out!

Uneasy lies the third base coaches' batting helmet.

{/paranoia, OFF}

Nice try, guys.

"The Western Division on the line...the Cy Young award on the line... what a gutsy call by Bob Melvin..."

The same words coming from Scully would have sounded dramatic. From these oafs it sounds like premature triumphalism.

317 - I put nothing past La Russa or Hurdle.

I'm gonna go do something productive for awhile. Don't see the point in watching this one any more.

323 I think Jack is here, too. It's a very crowded mountain retreat.

Or Jerry.

Oops, D-backs score an insurance run.

Still...like Jon says, the Dodgers have to collapse for this alleged momentum shift to matter. It's not enough that AZ is playing better. The Dodgers have to play worse. At home. Against a terrible team.

Pitching-wise, it's uphill from here for Arizona.

If these touts worked on Wall Street, they'd be in handcuffs by now.

Okay, off to write something other than a manifesto now.

What can you do about Arizona? Ah well, the worst case scenario is, I'll be getting about a 60 dollar refund.

It's more relevant to hear what they have to say anyway.

Interestingly, the announcers just came back from a break and both were forced to admit that AZ's chances are slim. The producer must have come into the booth and begged them not to make fools of themselves.

Huh...now they're complaining that Peavy won't pitch til Thursday b/c of his child's imminent birth. Mark Grace seems especially irritated.

Base hit to lead off the 8th for Ludwick.

The Brewers may get the title of "Most Disappointing" unless the Mets help them out. The Padres are pretty disappointing, although they just had a series of unfortunate events.

2nd & 3rd 0 outs.

Daron Sutton is simply awful.

Tigers
Yanks
Padres
Brewers
Braves
Rockies
Indians

Oh jeez -- that double play was also terrible. Now I'm going to mope.

Also, how can Melvin send Brandon Lyon out there? He's incredibly lucky he didnt blow the game. Lyon and Rauch should be relegated to mop up duty right now.

Dont really remember the details of those games, but as a Dodger fan I believe that all of the luck should belong to the Dodgers and nobody else.

It's not suppose to be easy to clinch divisions and this race is doing some damage to my internal organs.

Better turn the ol' Selectric back on...

Please.

Irrational, yes.

Also, the Dodgers are only up two games.

Go Dodgers!

Might want to buy tickets for Saturday's game in San Francisco if you can.

How can this not be fun!?

421 Check yer email.

I hope that wasn't a Rule 1 violation

Last 7 events: 2 positive outcomes. 28.6%

Last 11 events: 3 positive outcomes. 27.2%

Say goodbye to my fingernails -- they won't last the week.

Things would get mighty dicey if its a 1 game lead, & the Dodgers still having to face Linecum/Peavy.

swept San Diego
swept Arizona
won 2 of 3 at San Diego
won 2 of 3 at Colorado
won 3 of 4 in Pittsburgh
inexcusably lost two of three to San Francisco. No excuse. None. Simply incomprehensible that a team could not win every series against a weaker team.

So yes, the Dodgers' two-game lead and 14-5 September record is indeed their own stupid fault, while the Diamondbacks have surely been taken care of business with their 9-10 record in September.

Sure you have Manny and Casey Blake but I believe it will be Martin, Loney, Kemp, Ethier, DeWitt or even Pee Wee off the bench that will have to come through.

It will be up to Chad and Clayton to keep the team in the game, Cory and Scott to not let that man in scoring position score and then Big Jon to shut the door.

That's a lot riding on 20 to 26 year olds but this is what many here wanted to see. The season is in their hands, they have a little wiggle room but not much. They be best serve to have at least this lead when they fly up to San Francisco, 3 games would better, 4 well, we can dream.

There are no must wins when you are already in first place. I know what you're saying - it sure would be nice if the Dodgers won against the weaker pitcher - but it's just an overstatement. If San Diego can win a LeBlanc-Billingsley game - and you seem to be conceding that possibility - than surely the Dodgers can win a Billingsley-Lincecum game.
Come on you guys. Don't be this way. Life is too short. I'm not asking for or forcing anyone to be unreasonably positive. That's not my way. But all this doomsday thinking - doesn't it get old for you?

They didn't get complacent but I think it showed in those last two games, they just didn't play well. But a lot of that is due to the fact that they have not had good starts in the last 5 games until Lowe pitched yesterday.

Allowing myself to be angry about it is like getting mad every morning because I never want the sun to come up.

Wonder if Nomar plays 1st vs LaBlanc & Estes?

Maybe they will, maybe they won't but it is right there for them.

If they pull it off, I think I will be more excited for them because unlike 2004 and 2006, I think this team is made up with a core of players that I can root for a while.

So its fun, agonizing but never depressing. So have fun folks, it will be something to see.

I wonder if Jeff Kent will get any PH appearances in this series. I would hope and think so.

And Raffy? Are they holding him out for the whole week?

I couldn't be a Dodgers fan if it did :)

Honestly, in my heart of hearts, I believe they're going to pull this off. I don't think it's going to be easy though, and I don't think it is unrealistic to be concerned.

14-5 in September doesn't mean anything if we can't close the deal. D-backs' 9-10 September record doesn't take away their current momentum, and it doesn't take away their yearlong superior record which allowed them to have that bad month and stay in the chase.

But, like politics and the economy, there's no point in me thinking about it. What a wonderful day...for being sad.

I would just point out that people are already acting as if the Dodgers can't close the deal based mainly on the fact that they haven't been perfect in September. I mean, yes, they were mediocre for much of the season, but it's kind of weird to suggest they can't close the deal when they've been the hottest team in baseball in the season's final month.

Because the World's Greatest Fans are overrated?

I've never taken the chance to thank you for this great site, Jon, so I'll do it now. Thanks! Long time reader, only started posting recently. There is no better place to turn when I'm up or down about the Blue Crew.

Dodgers are -240 Tuesday (71% shot)

StL is -115 (53% shot)

Gas or Rocket Fuel?

Returning to the National League has presented the Dodgers manager with greater strategic challenges. It's definitely not as easy as managing the Yankees.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-dwyre23-2008sep23,0,4882010.column

How come no one's talking about that other local team, the one that glided into baseball's playoffs and isn't still trying to get in? Chalk it up to marketing, Manny and a craftily low-key manager.

Don't know Dwyre, could be because the Angels don't actually play in L.A. You might want to go to Orange County in order to hear about the local papers talk about the Angels.

I think no one is talking about them because the division isn't very good and everyone expected them to walk away with the division. Plus, not being the Yankees or the Red Sox doesn't help.

I found myself wondering what manner of baseball fandom is this? He didn't sound suicidal exactly. It was more that he used the Dodgers to confirm his bleak view of benighted humanity, in particular Dodger humanity. Our opponents would always win, he seemed to be saying. It's all the Dodgers' fault, because they are stupid, weak and untalented, but there's nothing they can do to alter their inevitable fate. Was he a fan or some kind of weird baseball Calvinist?

Anyway, I think that's what Jon is talking about in 433 . If being a Dodger fan makes you miserable, perhaps there are other forms of recreation to consider.

At no point this season did I expect them to be 2 games up with six to play. Not even with Manny. Furcal, LaRoche, Garciaparra, Saito, Penny, Jones, Kent -- this team has been churning players and most teams in such a state of disarray don't win. We also don't have a respectable GM or owner, although you can't avoid giving them a nod for a few of their moves. But this isn't a conceptually brilliant team like Boston, Anaheim or Tampa Bay. It's full of holes, is what it is.

What it comes down to is the players on the field right now, however they got there, wherever they're going next. I love the current lineup! I love the role players (not you Sweeney). I love the rotation and I'm madly in love with the bullpen. I'll go up or down with them. Whatever. They've got plenty of heart, soul, nads, whatever you want to call it. They're as good as they can be right now, this month, and they're going all-out for it. It's all you can ask. Like they used to say in Detroit: Bless you boys. Well yeah.

I don't really think that being a Dodger fan makes people too miserable as much as I think some people really seem to revel in that misery. They might not admit it, but they actually enjoy thinking gloomy thoughts and/or they crave being the ones to say "I told you they'd blow it." Too many times have I seen people take comfort in sorrow.

And if they turn out to be wrong, people will be too happy to care.

Like Warren Zevon said, "Enjoy every sandwich."

You folks with playoff tickets. Put them somewhere safe. You're going to need at least some of them.

Let's just rip off the Fly.

Then add a cleanup hitter and an ace to our young nucleus. Maybe even eat Jones and/or Schmidt's dead contracts.

Oh, and no more PVLs types like Sweeney hanging around all season.

Championship!

... heh ...

... but be that as it may, 470 hold your horses. This team will win in dramatic fashion. You heard it here first, or last. The Giants on the road, the last game of the season? Crazier things have happened.

Now that we got that out of way, Arizona still has to play 3 more games at St. Louis. They're not sweeping that series, and even if they go 3-1, that's what all we need which should leave our lead unchanged as long as we take care of our business.

However, I do believe that history and rivalries do count and count bigger when your main competition has an easier schedule. Many Dodger fans including myself are worried about the Giants and know that these last 3 games are like playoff games for them. San Diego has always played us tough, this season no exception. The D-Backs on the other hand are playing a St. Louis team that most likely will be eliminated tomorrow, I was hoping that they would be in it-making this 4 game series tougher on the Snakes. Once Arizona returns they play Colorado who they are 12-3 against.

So yes we have a lead and I didn't expect it to be 4 games with 6 to play, then I think I could relax, but a 2 game lead with 6 to play with 3 against your historic rival, that makes me nervous. We have clinched at ATT before and I hope we will do it again!

onto tomorrow i hope billz can fight through his first long season and give us some strong innings. really step up and be the ace in an important game. he usually owns the pads so i'm optimistic.

This is what being a Dodger fan is all about. Pain and suffering. Really, were are no different then the Hebrews being led across the desert for 20 years (actually 40 wasn't it?)(maybe thats what its going to take?) Listen, I would gladly take blue manna from heaven if it would make a difference. Some here just have to realize that.

Anyway, We are destined to have our heart broken again. Count on it. This is what the Dodgers vs. the Giants means. I can feel it; have been saying it all last week when I asked you to post JDT rule on the sidebar, Let's Not Count Our Chicken Until They Hatch...."

If my scenario is right (which I hope it isn't.) We'll lose it on Saturday; adding insult to injury the stinging sensation of a losing streak. You heard it here first. I can feel it. The Giants and their fans will have another laugh on us--some more fuel for the fire; and meanwhile, I'll be scurrying about the place--maybe YouTube to find a clip of Findley's Grand Whammer to stick it back into the gut of those idiots up north.

......and I hope I'm wrong!

In closing, just remember this:
-Wake-up each and everyday of your life heating this team, the San Francisco Giants... And while your at it, hate the New York Yankees too! I've been hating both of those teams my entire life, because that's what Dodger fans do....

On Friday I both lost my job and had to move in freshman Bruin Daughter to Sunset Village. I'm not looking for sympathy from anyone, but I hoped over the weekend the Dodgers would help change me from depressed. They did. They changed me to morose. And that would have shown up in my comments today.

A lot of emotion is let loose in comments gussied up as semi-rational thought, and the cathartic public expression is one of the great joys of this site. Thanks for letting us air it out sometimes.

--
So, in the now I am happy to be 2 up. And in the now Manny (along with our pitching of course) gives us a great chance to represent the NL. But underneath it all I am not thrilled because we can be so much better than this. Maybe I expect to much or care about things I shouldn't

As far as your comments about the site go, I appreciate them, but there are limits on commenting here and there always have been. I'm not deleting anyone's hyper-negative comments unless they break the site's specific rules, but I don't see why I shouldn't be annoyed by some that I think are over the top. I am passionate about the Dodgers, and when I believe they are mischaracterized, I react strongly.

I respect everyone here as serious baseball fans, and I hold them to high standards. As I keep saying, this place isn't a rubber room. I'm no therapist, but part of my purpose in dealing psychologically with the Dodgers is to (hopefully with some care) point out when minds are getting cloudy.

483
Thanks Ratt. I hear a job these days is just the time spent between searches.

I don't know. $600,000 to strike/fly/ground/pop/line/foul out once a week ain't a bad gig.

Damn them again. Damn those Giants to Hell!

Go Dodgers, and I can hardly wait for the playoffs to begin in all the Manny luster they will bring!

481 Sorry for the news. It will get better. I know it will.

486 Andrew, you are right. And sometimes being just tired can get to the best of us.

all we have to do is win the series & we should be fine.

I expect the Dodgers to go 3-3 the rest of the year (assuming a win tonight). I think the Dbax will go 5-1. Thats a tie - 1 game playoff.

Sure, a 16-5 run is great, but I think the reason people dont feel that confident right now is because a mostly .500 team usually cant sustain a 16-5 stretch for a 30 game period.

watermalon
papaya

that's pretty much it. I'm game for pretty much any other exotic fruits & vegies.

Why is it that a 2-game lead seems to be less preferred than the alternative?

I think the D-Backs bullpen will tell there story when it's all said & done.

I don't need anyone to explain to me why people are losing confidence. Part of it is statements like your final sentence, in which the standard that is set is above the standard that is needed. The Dodgers don't need to play .750 ball to win the division.

The team records when these guys start:

Webb 23-10
Haren 19-13
-----------
Big Two: 42-23 (.646)

Johnson 13-15
Davis 11-14
Scherzer 0-6
-----------
The "Others": 24-35 (.407)

Remaining Starters for AZ
Johnson
Scherzer
Davis
Haren
Webb
Johnson

Only two starts for the Big Two. No reason to be overly concerned.

No matter what this year has been more exciting than I expected. I thought this would be a quasi development year without us even being close to the playoffs, so to even have this drama at the end is a gift. This is what baseball is all about!

I don't know if I'd go that far. The Cards have lost their last 4 series, including a sweep in Pittsburgh, and they've lost 10 of 13. They're certainly good enough to lose 3 of 4.

Arizona doesnt have to face Cain/Lincecum/Peavy.

If its a 1 game lead after tonight, I feel the Dbax have the edge. Thats why I think tonight is a must win.

Eager anticipation mixed with anxiety.

Pretty much what I felt every time that I have ever stepped into a batter's box.

It's fun.

If you believe the Dbax will go 5-1, then the Dodgers do need to play .667 ball (4-2) to make the playoffs. Going 4-2 would be quite difficult if they lost tonight (hence making a win tonight of utmost importance).

Going 4-1 vs Peavy/Cain/Lincecum seems easier said than done.

It is not like we won't have the Dodger Rays or Angels to root for if we don't make it:)

I haven't been to Hawaii, but I don't recall anyone coming back from there enthralled with the local watermelon.

I also don't recall any episodes of Gilligan's Island that featured a watermelon.

Is this some global warming-related thing? I suppose if the theory's true, eventually polar bears will be "tropical" animals.

Sit back and enjoy the moment. Great finishes are what we remember and this is a great finish. If we beat Lincecum 2-1 on Sunday to clinch we will all remember it for years. It's supposed to be fun.

Amazingly enough, the Dbax won Sunday and Monday with Haren and Webb.

Those two won't pitch again til Saturday and Sunday. Assuming you're crediting two of the anticipated five wins to them. you're figuring their other pitchers are good for three wins in a week? It could happen, but it's not the likeliest outcome.

And it's strange that Billingsley, Lowe, Kershaw and Kuroda don't get the same benefit of the doubt, especially when combined with the Dodgers' stellar bullpen.

I think the Dodgers are just as likely to go 5-1 as the Snakes are. Billingsley twice, and Lowe/Kershaw/Kuroda/Maddux once each? That's not chopped liver.

My guess is both teams will go 4-2.

http://ussmariner.com/2008/09/23/yup-ignore-espn/

Indeed.

I do sometimes feel like we're in that scene in "Chicken Run" where the old rooster colonel says, "Nobody panic!" And then there's a pause, followed by all the hens yelling and panicking

One game at a time, folks.

I would like to see magic number down to 2 by the SF series. I'll admit to being nervous if it's higher than that.

drj884@yahoo.com

My one friend sent out an email stating that the Dodgers have no chance in the playoffs, b/c their 1, 2 of Lowe and Kershaw just doesn't stack up to anyone elses, and everyone behind those two is a journeyman starter.

Nope. Never have for some reason. some of my favorite fruits includ strawberries & guava among others.

Tony Jackson isn't going all sky is falling on us. I feel disappointed.

vr, Xei

http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_10533611

I wasn't gonna use tropical but at the last minute threw it in there for some reason. :o)

"There is no such thing as a false sense of security."

To me, all we need to do is maintain our two-game lead heading into the S.F. series. If we do that, it would take a miracle for Arizona beat us.

I know feathers get ruffled around here occasionally, but I've been enjoying the discussion immensely. It adds a tremendous context and depth to the games themselves.

I mean, the root of the problem is that Jimmy is too much of a square to go out with the Lovely Rachel without the error of alcohol.

At Home
10/2/04
On the 2nd to last day of the year, Steve Finley's grand slam caps a 7-run 9th inning rally (all with none out) to erase a 3-0 deficit, beating and eliminating the Giants
10/2/85
Hershiser wins #19, Marshall falls a triple short of the cycle to beat Atlanta; Dodgers clinch division over the Reds
9/30/83
Dave Anderson's 6th inning HR gives LA a 4-0 lead over SF. Fernando holds on to get the win, with a 2-inning save from rookie Orel Hershiser. Dodgers clinch division over the Braves
9/24/78
Rookie Bob Welch shuts out the Padres 4-0 to eliminate the Reds.
10/2/65
The Dodgers, behind a CG, 13-K performance from Koufax, beat the Braves 3-1 on the next to last day of the season to eliminate the Giants. The Dodgers finished the year 15-1.
9/24/63
Don Drysdale's 7 strong IP combined with a 3-run 7th inning rally capped by a walk (to Ken McMullen) and a balk gave the club a 4-1 win over the Mets, eliminating the Cards with 5 games left.
9/29/59
After winning game 1 of a 3-game playoff in Milwaukee, the Dodgers won the pennant by beating the Braves 6-5 in 12 innings. With Gil Hodges on 2B, Carl Furillo singled to SS Felix Mantilla, whose wild throw allowed Hodges to lumber home with the pennant-winning run.

On the Road
9/30/06
On the 2nd to last day of the year, Greg Maddux goes 7 strong innings for a 4-2 win at AT&T Park. The win eliminates the Phillies from wild card contention.
9/30/95
HRs from Piazza and Mondesi back Hideo Nomo's 8 innings for a 7-2 Dodger win in San Diego. This win clinched the division over the Rockies, who ended up as the wild card team
9/20/77
Tommy John outduels Ed Halicki at Candlestick, going 8.2 IP for his 19th win. The immortal Lance Rautzhan strikes out Gary Thomasson with the tying runs on base to preserve the 3-1 win, eliminating the Reds.
10/1/74
The Dodgers amazingly score 5 off fireballer J.R. Richard at the Astrodome, the capper being rookie John Hale's PH 2-run double in the 6th (Hale was 4 for 4 on the season). The Dodgers' balanced attack leads them to an 8-5 win, clinching the division over the Reds on the 2nd to last day of the year.
10/2/66
On the final day of the season, the Dodgers needed to win one game of the doubleheader at Shibe Park in Philly. After Drysdale only lasted 2 IP of a 4-3 loss in game 1, the Dodgers needed to win game 2 to hold off the Giants. Willie Davis hit a 2-run HR off Jim Bunning, and Koufax took a 6-0 lead into the 9th, holding on for a 6-3 win in the final regular season start of his amazing career.

So if I'm looking at it right, the majority of their playoff berths were clinched on the final weekend or within the final week.

That's really cool, although statistically sensible.

For instance, on October 2, 1985, the Dodgers only needed a win or a Reds loss. It was a Wednesday night, and they got both. The Reds loss in SD was 42 minutes shorter than the Dodger win so maybe they celebrated in the dugout earlier!

On September 8, 1955, the Brooklyn Dodgers score four runs in the first off of Bob Buhl of Milwaukee and set a National League record for the earliest pennant clinching date ever, as they win 10-2.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1955/B09080MLN1955.htm

The earliest date overall is September 4 by the 1941 Yankees.

Looks like we were only breathing easy in 63 and 77. I so remember Hale being 4 for 4 and waiting to see what the next season would bring for him.

Scoreboard announces Braves loss.
Crowd cheers.
Dodgers wave from dugout.
Anderson homers soon after.

9/26/88
Dodgers beat the Padres 3-2 in San Diego to eliminate Pete Rose's Reds. Fernando goes 3 IP, but got hurt. Peña got the win, his second most important that year. The final out was a Jay Howell-induced popup by Marvell Wynne to Steve Sax. Two nights later, Hershiser went 10 scoreless for the record.