Well, I've got 2009 Dodger blue-dyed egg in my face again and I couldn't be happier. I'm a bad prognosticator of doom and I'm a bad fan. But I'm also a loyal fan. I love my Dodgers even when I hate them. Understand? Vicente Padilla pitches a gem in the most important start of his unheralded, somewhat controversial, never-been-much-of-a-factor career. Kemp finds new and unusual ways to stink, but still scores the first run of the game after reaching base with a swinging bunt on a pitch he should've taken. His subsequent 4 K's become irrelevent, however, because, as it turns out, Furcal, Ethier and Manny are studs again. This is what happens when a few key hitters and a couple of pitchers get hot in the post season. You win. Albert Pujols is neutralized, Holliday is still in shock and our Los Angeles Dodgers sweep their way through the NLDS against the favored Central Division champ for the second year in a row!! This, time, however, I'll put myself on the line. THIS TEAM MEANS BUSINESS! I still don't think they're that damn good, but ya know what? They ain't that damn bad either. They keep coming back from the dead time and time again and prove me wrong and, this time, after an entire season of skepticiosm, pessimism and cynicism and other isms, I'm finally a believer. Can they advance to the World Series? Sure. Will they? YES!!! Can they win it all? Why not? (Oh yeah, the Yankees and Angels) Aww, so what. This team finds ways to win when it counts. They simply shut the Redbirds down and, as the bottom of the 9th transpired, I raced upstairs to listen to Vinny's call. After Broxton's strikeout of Rick Ankiel, Scully described it as putting a ribbon on the package.
Of course, I'd rather play the Mountains than the defending World Champ Phils (we beat the Rockies 14 out of 18 this year) and, yeah, I'm a little worried about the layoff and about Matt Kemp's new found stinking, but I'm far more hopeful than I was last year. Then, I'm worried that could be a jinx. Maybe I should remain negative to help ensure the first trip to the Fall Classic for our blue since the Year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundered and Eighty-Eight, in which the event that provides this blog's namesake took place. Overall, you gotta love the way the team has played and as confidence builds, they should only get better. This is October baseball, and after many years of futility and a brief taste of it last year (here's hoping we don't repeat the NLCS the way we just repeated the NLDS) I think the Dodgers may finally be getting an idea of what it's all about.
And congrats to the Halos!! Next to the Dodgers winning, I like nothing more than to see the Angels win, and, almost as important, to see the Red Sox lose!!! What a comeback! 2 down in the top of the 9th, their hated, but reliable closer, Papelbon on the mound who's NEVER given up a single run in postseason play, 2 outs, no one on, 0-2 to Erik Aybar, and he gets a line drive base hit to center. This is followed by a great AB from Figgins who draws a walk, then the "Nation" under God becomes divisible to all, as Abreu doubles off the monster, they intentionally walk Torii Hunter and Vladdy drives in the tying and go ahead runs. How do ya like that, Fenway? I got your "Beat LA" right here.
And was it just me, or did anyone else notice the somber tones of TBS play-by-play announcer, Don Orsillo, WHO HAPPENS TO BE A RED SOX ANNOUNCER, and Buck Martinez. They were clearly pissed off when the Angels came back to win that game. Real professional. I hope they cry in their New England Clam Chowder. And shame on TBS for allowing a Bosox announcer to do a series in which the Bosox are competing. That being said, I sure wish Vinny was doing the games instead of Dick Stockton, who calls a catcher's mitt a glove and recently had this brilliant comment during Thursday's 3:00 PM start at the Ravine: "In about an hour and a half, the shadows are gonna get really bad for the hitters, so the first few innings, both teams are gonna try to score as many runs as possible." Ya think?
SO, are we on a collision course for a Freeway World Series? Well, we've never been closer. But the Yankess don't look too beatable these days. For that matter, however, neither do the Angels or the Dodgers. Baseball wise, I feel a little like Humpty Dumpty. I'm having a great Fall.
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"I know a lot of things get said about their payroll and all that stuff, but the bottom line is they are just great baseball players," Gardenhire said. "And, aside from all the other stuff, they are very, very talented. That’s why they make a lot of money, because they deserve it, because they have played the game for a long time and they get it done. And they know how to get it done and they play with class."
NYTimes
I think you'll agree that the two best teams in the AL emerged from the first round triumphant. Not always the case, as you well know. Suspect you secretly covet a "Freeway Series," but that's not going to happen on Girardi's watch. As good as the Angels are -- and they are very good -- the Yankees are better. The deciding factor is the Bomber's bullpen. Scioscia doesn't even trust Fuentes to close regular season games. Yanks exorcised some Anaheim ghosts going down the stretch, beating the Halos in the Bronx and in Cali. Given a seven-game series, the better team will prevail. Damon didn't hit in the ALDS. Either did Swish, Cano or Melky. I don't expect that trend to continue--not with all four of them. Yanks in six.
BTW, love the Maxwell Smart reference in the headline.
It now comes out through the Minn. press that the reason Nick Punto made the big turn around third was because he thought from the roar of the crowd that the ball had made it into the outfield and he could easily score. Of course, that wasn't the case. The crowd was roaring because it was an infield hit and Jeeter clearly had no play at first. The result? Put-out at third. End of rally, and, effectively, end of game. If you're scoring at home: 6-2-5. So much for the Twins cashing in on that home field advantage.
It's hilarious to scroll down and read some of your critical commentary concerning the regular season. My favorite is: "This team stinks in ways I can't even begin to describe." Or something like that. And here we are on the eve of the Dodgers playing in the NLCS, four victories away from the World Series. To trot out a hoary trope: That's baseball.
And the Hypocrite of the Year award goes to....
"Ban 'em for the whole year." - David Ortiz when asked what the penalty should be for players testing positive for PEDs.
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