My Wrongitudinal Cynicity Has Clearly Paid Off. GO DODGERS!

I figured it’d be best if I just shut my mouth for a couple of days. This thing that’s happening – not the bail out, the Depression, the election, the bitch from Alaska – this thing with the Dodgers is beyond words for me. You can chastise me, call me a negative ass and bask in the glowing warmth of my glaring wrongitude. All you have to do is to read almost any of my past blogs to see that, not for one minute, did I believe the Dodgers had any real chance of advancing in the Playoffs. For most of the season, I was a firm believer that the Dodgers had little chance of even winning their awful division. When it appeared they were going to pass the Snakes, they lost 8 straight in late August and I claimed the season was over. I mean, they were playing horrible ball. They got swept by the Washington Nationals for Christ’s sakes. But, I learned you can’t count Manny and company out, especially when you have the inept D’backs in front of you. On September 6th, the Dodger’s fortunes changed for good. They took over first place and never lost it. Still, I counted them out. Thought they played poorly against the midget Giants and criticized the likes of Kemp, Casey Blake, Martin and Loney. I mean, let’s face it, they only won 84 games. Then came the division clincher when AZ lost to St. Louis and I faulted the Dodgers for partying too hard. I declared too much satisfaction and complacency had set in, that Torre let things get out of control and that they would not be ready for the Playoffs. I prayed that the Mets would win the Wild Card so the Dodgers wouldn’t have to play the Cubs in the first round. Well, all went sour… until the 5th inning of Game 1. Then, the magic took over. What it comes down to is the team has changed. Suddenly, they’re executing, they’re taking advantage of their opponents’ mistakes – every mistake – and they’re working counts and delivering timely hits with smart at bats. But, don’t for a minute think that the Dodgers swept – that’s right SWEPT – the great Chicago Cubs with hitting, even though they beat three of the toughest pitchers in the NL in Dempster, Zambrano and Harden. They did it with pitching, pitching and more pitching. Lowe was sensational in Game 1. Billingsley pitched a gem in Game 2. Kuroda pitched very well in Game 3 – especially in his later innings. Cory Wade has really arrived and Jonathan Broxton really answered the call, pitching better than he’s pitched all season. So, now that we’ve proven miracles can happen, it would no longer be considered such a miracle if the Dodgers can beat the Phillies and advance to the World Series. In fact, even though Philly has home field advantage in their band box ballpark, most experts pick the Dodgers. But, surprise! I have my reservations and doubts.

- First of all, the Dodgers, with Manny and Blake, were swept in Philly 4 straight just a little more than a month ago – the beginning of their 8 game losing skein.

- Secondly, the Dodgers top three pitchers – Lowe, Billingsley and Kuroda – are righties. The best hitters in Philly’s lineup are lefties. The trio had little difficulty with the predominately right handed Cubs lineup, but how will they fare against Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and the switch hitting Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino?

- Philly is pretty damn hot right now and Brett Meyers was one of the hottest pitchers in the league the last couple months of the season.

- The Phils have 3 players – Howard, Utley, Burrell – with more than 30 home runs. Jayson Werth hit over 20 and Rollins and Victorino are extremely tough.

- The overconfidence factor. Once you get past a team like Chicago, it’s easy to take that Philly team too lightly. Hopefully, Torre doesn’t let them do that.

- And, of course, the obvious: The Phils have home field advantage, so that means the Dodgers would have to win at least one game at Citizens Bank Ballpark to take the series.

I’m still confused as to why Torre elected to move Manny up to the 3 hole and bat him in front of Ethier instead of behind Ethier. It’s obviously hurt Ethier and helped Russell Martin, and I know they swept the Cubbies with that batting order, but is it really the best thing to neutralize Ethier’s bat that way? Also, should Torre consider letting lefty Clayton Kershaw, 20 years of age, get a start against that lefty Philly lineup? Good question.

Now, my prediction. I just hope I’m not wrong again, because I actually think the Dodgers, in spite of all my concerns, are going to win this series. You got 3 hot pitchers, you got Furcal back at the top of the order, you got Manny, you got a happy, poised team all of a sudden and you got that elusive October Mojo. Dodgers in 6.