After the Meltdown
The good thing about baseball is that there are 161 tomorrows. Of course, the way the Dodgers are limping towards the end of the year, that's the bad thing, too. Depending on your perspective, the Blue have seven more chances to make things right, or seven more cracks at totally crushing the spirit of loyal fans across these great fifty states. And I don't want to be a pessimist, but given the general tenor of L.A.'s September, your average betting man would throw the mortgage down on the latter. There are plenty of places to find fault, but start with starters who rarely finish, or even come close.
"I think if you sit back and itemize everything throughout the course of a season, how you do is going to be based on your starting pitching. Whether it's April, or May, and throughout the course of the season. When they're strong, it's good, when they're faltering, things are a lot tougher," Little said. And the high pitch counts his starters have racked up don't just screw with the bullpen. The effects are felt all over. "You ask your defensive players to stay on their toes, and that becomes a difficult thing to do and comes into play." Anyone looking for evidence of that can check the tape of last night's loss.
Little doesn't have the luxury of attending to fatigue at this point, either. "That is a concern this time of year, but you don't do a lot of worrying about it." Rest isn't really an option at this point. Which explains why Nomar, despite the fact he can barely run will play today, and that Russell Martin is in the lineup again this afternoon after a terrible Saturday night. "(Resting him) is something I might like to do, but right now is not the time," Little said. But he didn't want to chalk up last night's struggles to fatigue. "The guy's a good player, and he's done an outstanding job for us, but he's not going to be perfect for us every time."
That said, look for the D-Backs to stay aggressive on the basepaths. "That's a common occurrence when you get to this time of the year, when you have a team that isn't in a pennant race and a team that is," Little said in reference to the uber-aggressive, steal everything that isn't nailed down strategy Bob Melvin's gang employed last night. Why not take a crack at second. Not like they have anything to lose.
The Dodgers, however, have plenty. And honestly, they seem worn down. To play a little amateur head shrinker, walking through the locker room they don't look like a team expecting to win. More like one hanging by a thread. But like I said, I'm not a doctor.
TODAY'S LINEUPS: Cross them digits for seven strong from Hong-Chih!
Dodgers
Furcal ss
Lofton cf
Garciaparra 1b
Kent 2b
Drew rf
Betemit 3b
Anderson lf
Martin c
Kuo p
Diamondbacks
Callaspo 2b
Quentin rf
Jackson 1b
Byrnes cf
Hairston lf
Easley 3b
Drew ss
Snyder c
Hernandez p
—BK
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im not quite to jen's point, but im worried. we need to come out big today. im hoping for a line like this from kuo: 7 IP, 2 ER. that'd go a really long ways today.
COME ON DODGERS IT'S GUT CHECK TIME!
Posted by: bmurph | September 24, 2006 at 01:01 PM
"It was just tough luck today," said Penny softly afterward.
Tough luck?? I think he is the only one who thought he pitched into "though luck" yesterday night.
Posted by: Tom | September 24, 2006 at 01:05 PM
The Philles keep on winning and they have Hamels pitching 2 of their remaining games.
Posted by: Tom | September 24, 2006 at 01:07 PM
WEAK OF HEART NEED NOT APPLY.
Posted by: stargazin | September 24, 2006 at 01:12 PM
THIS GUY REALLY BURNS ME.
Posted by: stargazin | September 24, 2006 at 01:13 PM
Pirates threateing in the first inning. GO Fish and Pirates!
Posted by: Tom | September 24, 2006 at 01:14 PM
PEPPERONI PIZZA FOR LUNCH, GUYS.
Posted by: stargazin | September 24, 2006 at 01:17 PM
Pirates up 1-0.
Posted by: Tom | September 24, 2006 at 01:18 PM
THAT PHILLY OFFENSE IS PRETTY AWESOME, GOT TO ADMIT.
THEY START OUT BEHIND 4-0 AND THEY SCORE 9 RUNS.
Posted by: stargazin | September 24, 2006 at 01:19 PM
I'm sorry to say it, but after last night's debacle, the Dodgers' season is over.
I just can't go through another week+ of emotional investment in a team that can't deliver down the stretch, so I'm calling the season more for my own sake than because of any baseball analysis. This way, I can watch the remainder of the games and actually enjoy the rest of the season.
Of course, if the Dodgers miraculously make the postseason, I'll come crawling back on the bandwagon, but the way I see it right now, this team does not deserve to play in October.
In any case, I'll still be here the rest of the season. As Vin says, "And now let's go back to this one."
Posted by: Makoto Ueno | September 24, 2006 at 01:20 PM
Just so y'all know, I started an official live blog, for those "traditionalists" on the net. haha
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | September 24, 2006 at 01:25 PM
Is the Dodger season over? Not yet, but it will be if.......
-----Penny starts two of the remaining games
-----Lugo is in the lineup
-----Sele, Tomko, Hamulack, Dessens, Hendrickson are used in any meaniful games
-----No bunting (example in the first inning)
Posted by: Tom | September 24, 2006 at 01:30 PM
One more thing....play Saenz at third...Betemit and Lugo aren't providing any production.
Posted by: Tom | September 24, 2006 at 01:33 PM
I dont know whats going on in the Philly game but the rain delay might be a good thing. Of course it could be called off and its an official game.
Usually after a rain delay the games becomes screwy.
Makoto,
I disagree. You have to keep in mind the minipads have to play St Louis. And for the Cards, they'd rather see the Dodgers in the playoffs so I think either way they will play.
Posted by: mti | September 24, 2006 at 02:13 PM