Holding Serve Would've Been Better. Don't Like Our Chances.

What a great win Friday and what a great at bat by Andre and an even greater performance by Vicente Padilla. Maybe the best performance by a Dodger starter since Ramon Martinez struck out 20 Braves one night. (I think it was 20) But, for 7 innings, Pedro Martinez, an ex-Dodger and a guy who should've been a Dodger again, (instead, we got John Garland who didn't even make the roster for the NLCS) makes the Blue look like a bunch of tee-ballers. That's bad. Ya gotta figure their ace, Cliff Lee, who tends to have 5 great games followed by 2 weak games, is going to shut us down tonight. He's right in the middle of a hot streak and if they can't touch Pedro, who hadn't pitched in nearly a month, they oughta have a really hard time with Lee, last year's AL Cy Young recipient. Meanwhile, Matt Kemp looks like Moe/Shemp from the Stooges Three at the plate, flailing and pratt falling with every pitch. He's obviously nervous and excited and falling back into his old habits. Speaking of habits, and, in spite of Manny's heroic 2 run dong off of a low 80's Cole Hamels change-up in Game 1, he's clearly lost his mojo completely. Off the juice, he can simply no longer turn on an inside fastball. And, knowing he's off the stuff, he no longer has the confidence in being a superman and no longer trusts his hands to get through the hitting zone in time. But he still thinks he can hit it out. So, he compensates by torqueing his body too soon, bending his back knee and swinging upward in an attempt to lift the ball over the wall in left. It's obvious to everyone watching but Manny and it's awful and he's terrible. The only way he can help the team is to concentrate on hitting line drives and going oppo. Only then can the home runs come back naturally. If only Manny Would. Until then, he's an out smack dab in the middle of the lineup where they need someone who can drive in Ethier and Furcal. He's killing us.

Speaking of killing us, let's talk Joe Torre and the ownership. First of all, Joe Torre should admit he blew Game 1. Clayton Kershaw, our ace of the future ... (I said, THE FUTURE)... fell apart like a kicked down sand castle on a beach full of bullies in the 5th inning. It was clear, it was obvious, and, once again, it was awful. His whole facial expression and demeanor changed. Personally, I think he was rattled by plate umpire Randy Marsh's atrocious ball and strike calls during Ryan Howard's at bat in the 4th. Kershaw clearly had Howard struck out twice and the ump instead awarded him first base because ... because... he likes Howard? Who knows? Next batter, pitch up in the zone to Jayson Werth who almost hits it out. Then he goes out in the 5th and tried too hard to please Randy Marsh's queer eye and he falls apart. He gives up a solid hit to Ibanez, walks Feliz on 5 pitches, and, following an ineffective trip to the mound by Honeycutt, he falls behind on Ruiz, then gives up the 3 run blast. THEN, he walks the pitcher, Hamels, on 4 pitches. Joe, he's done. You got Scott Elbert warmed up, you got Troncoso loose, the kid has clearly lost it, SO, FOR SHIT'S SAKES, GO GET HIM!!! No? You're NOT gonna pull him? You're going to leave him in to pitch to Rollins, Victorino, Utley and HOWARD??? Well, you all saw what happened next. Instead of a decent shot of going into the bottom of the 5th, only down 3-1, they wind up down 5-1. What was the difference in the game? 2 runs. The Dodgers lost 8-6. Could very well be the worst piece of managing I've ever seen, next to Charlie Manuel's decision to remove Pedro after the 7th inning. Then, I thought it was odd Torre chose to start Padilla, a righty, in Game 2 instead of Wolf, but he proved me wrong there. Torre's the best.

And the ownership. This bullshit about the McCourts' split should've waited until after the Dodgers season was over. Inexcuseable. MLB should NOT allow married couples to buy teams in states where there is community property. It's not fair to the fans. If they have to sell the team because Frank can't wrest control from Jaimie, we'll all become children of divorce, costs will be at an absolute minimum and we'll be in for some very lean years at the Ravine.

If the Dodgers lose tonight, they'll have a very tough road ahead. The key is to GET INTO THE PHILLIES BULLPEN ASAP.