Too Late For The Heimleich?

It’s happening. I know it is. The Dodgers are choking in ways only Dodger fans can recognize. Their performance the last three games was simply horrendous. They got lucky in winning last night, but make no mistake: with what is now dwindled down to a 2 1/2 game lead over Arizona with a week to play, this blogger’s feeling is they are done. Their outfield defense is the worst I’ve ever seen. Last night Andre Ethier allowed a very catchable fly ball to simply land behind him. Today he let a catchable ball simply land in front of him. His bat is no longer magical. Stuck on 20 home runs, he hasn’t hit a double in quite some time. Their hitting has gone south in a big hurry. Manny took a day off today while still playing, which is something only Manny can do. He was very lucky the fly ball double off the bat of Eugenio Velez didn’t result in a run. Didn’t matter anyway. Russell Martin decided to take the inning off and simply allow pinch runner Brad Hennessey to steal 2nd with 2 outs in the 9th inning in a 0-0 tie with the division on the line. Vinny’s only explanation? “Martin was surprised.” Nice.

Martin looks terrible at the plate. Absolutely clueless. Juan Pierre should be starting in center and leading off because Matt Kemp, in spite of his home run yesterday, is horrid and getting worse as the season winds down. Next to The Stink, Casey Blake is the worst hitter I’ve ever seen. I mean, he’s atrocious. His hands are slow. He dives in after every pitch trying to pull everything. He swings and misses a ton and he checks his swing constantly reflecting his indecision. He’s terrible! A decent fielder but an awful hitter. I’m glad he wants to go back to Cleveland. In addition to re-signing Manny, the Dodgers need to shop for a third baseman this winter.

Basically, the Dodgers have discovered that with a week left in the season, they have virtually no middle of their lineup outside of Manny Ramirez. Loney, hitting behind Manny, has no power. Ethier, who should be batting third is batting second. Outside of Blake DeWitt, who’s doing the best he can, they play with no heart, no desire and no anger.

Here’s how it’s going to go down: As I predicted in an earlier blog, the St. Louis Cardinals will have nothing left to play for when the Snakes arrive there for their 3 game series tomorrow. The Snakes scored 13 runs today in Denver and have Brandon Webb going tomorrow. They know what’s at stake and they’re responding accordingly. The Dodgers , meanwhile, are completely clueless. After the D’backs defeat the Cards tomorrow, they’ll be only 2 games out of first place with 6 to play. The Dodgers will get shut down by Dad’s ace, Jake Peavy on Tuesday, and by the time we all go to bed Wednesday night, the Dodgers will likely find themselves in a tie for first. Next weekend, the Giants will destroy the Dodgers playoff hopes in San Francisco.

I hope I’m wrong, but I’ve seen this before. It’s a classic choke job and the Dodgers are primed for it.