Extra! Extra! (9.12)
OK, let's see. The Dodgers are eight games under .500 on the road (that's bad), but managed to split four games in New York against the National League's best team. But that's only after laying an egg in Milwaukee, dropping two of three to a team that had lost 10 straight going into the series and has continued to lose since the Blue left town. So which team will we see as L.A. opens a three-game set tonight in Chicago? After all, the Cubs are 5-19 in their last 24 games...just awful enough to give the Dodgers fits.
Seriously, though, that means the Blue should cruise to three straight wins, put pressure on the second place Padres to keep pace, and hopefully give themselves a little cushion going into the four-game set with the Friars this weekend. Right? Right? If only they were that predictable. The good news is the Cubs are just part of what is a relatively weak remaining schedule for L.A.
One thing that won't happen, no matter what the Dodgers do at Wrigley, is for Grady Little to freak out. That's just not how the dude rolls. But while he doesn't throw chairs or take a bat to the water cooler, he will juggle the rotation here and there, as he's doing for the San Diego series, setting up his troops so that the Padres will see Maddux, Billingsley, Lowe and Penny at the Ravine.
Bruce Bochy has responded by bumping up Jake Peavy, who beats on the Dodgers like Art Blakey on a snare drum, so his No. 1 will see the mound in L.A. as well. At least the Dodgers will miss this guy in Chicago.
So while the Dodgers know who will be pitching this weekend, who will play first base in '07 remains to be seen. How can you not sign a guy who literally could be man of the year? As for other questions? You've got them, and Ken Gurnick has answers.
One West Coast scout doesn't like the Blue's pitching.
TONIGHT'S GAME: It'll be Derek Lowe, the reigning NL pitcher of the month, against Sean Marshall, who reigns over nothing. Keep an eye on Derek Lee, who kinda owns Lowe (7-14, career).
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Dodgers will lose two out of three in Chicago.
Then get swept by San Diego.They always get beat
up by the Padres cause they can't hit their starters . Your starting pitching is a joke. You have one good pitcher,Lowe and thats it. Penny has one pitch only and he can't even control it. Maddux
is over the hill. Nomar is over the hill. You're
last in MLB in homers. Bunch of singles hitters.
If you think the Cubs are going to roll over and play dead for you , think again.
Posted by: rob | September 12, 2006 at 10:32 AM
rob,
youre right, the Cubs will not roll over and play dead for us but will still get swept anyway by the Dodgers.
Posted by: MTI | September 12, 2006 at 12:54 PM
Been raining on and off in Chicago. I hope they get to play ball.
Posted by: MTI | September 12, 2006 at 12:55 PM
what a weak blog. i post a challenge and there is no reply for 3 hours. l.a. fans are a joke. you have no passion at all.
Posted by: rob | September 12, 2006 at 12:57 PM
2 of 1 would be cool 3 of 3 would be sweeter, the Padres series is just gonna be freaking awesome i'll be there for darn sure!
Go Dodgers!
Posted by: bluebleeder | September 12, 2006 at 01:24 PM
That's cute Rob. Tell me, when was the last time the Cubs won the World Series? What's your record this year? I thought so . . .
Posted by: dodgersdogs4life | September 12, 2006 at 01:25 PM
rob
You want to trash talk, go to ESPN's forum. This is a Dodger Blog, dont mix it up.
Plus people are still at work in L.A.
Posted by: MTI | September 12, 2006 at 01:30 PM
We are confident in our team, reflecting the demeanor of our Skipper. Replying to an empty threat like yours is a waste of time.
The only thing good coming out of San Diego at this time of year are the Chargers. Go back to bed, rob. We'll wake you up when spring training starts.
Posted by: wasabi | September 12, 2006 at 01:41 PM
i just trying to figuring out what this blog is all about. if the cubs were in first place, the town would be goin crazy and if we had a blog like this it would be hoppin 24/7. there are about 10 regular bloggers on this site. do you think this blog will be here a year from now? l.a. cool -yeah u guys are way cool.go back to sleep.
Posted by: rob | September 12, 2006 at 02:02 PM
As a lifelong Chicagoan and Cubs fan, even I have to admit that the hated Dodgers (Koufax and Drysdale still haunt my nightmares!) will most likely sweep the Cubs in Wrigley. The team I root for positively stinks this year---and they're actually getting worse! The only consolation is that future Hall of Famer and all-around class act Greg Maddux is happy and with a team that may very well get to the World Series.
Posted by: Tim1979 | September 12, 2006 at 02:11 PM
tim1979-typical cub fan.i don't know whats wosre cub fans or dodger fans. at least cub fans have an excuse for not caring. dodger fans have a 1st place team and still no passion.
wasabi- your manager is like your city- "night of the living dead".its no wonder you don't have a football team.
how can there only be 10-20 fans in l.a. that have enough interest to contribute to this blog.
what'd you have about 40 million people in south cal.
Posted by: rob | September 12, 2006 at 02:33 PM
mti- what is this a communism blog. you only allow dodger fans. might wake it up if you had some dissension. commie bob
Posted by: rob | September 12, 2006 at 02:39 PM
Rob - If you were a Giants fan, I would be upset. If you were a Padres fan, I would care. But I just can't see myself getting upset at a Cubs fan. I don't hate the Cubs. It's hard to hate a team that's so good at losing. I mean, I have no ill-will for the Devil Rays (although I'd prefer to never do business with them again ahem Hendrickson, Lugo). Feel free to reply when I take time out of my busy day to browse the Cubs blog website, but I'd rather check out the White Sox. Easier to talk about teams that have done something in the last 100 years.
Posted by: Jeremy | September 12, 2006 at 03:13 PM
jeremy-my point isn't even baseball or winning or losing. its about having passion about something.
its about guys like you that evidently read the
blog and enjoy it but don't contribute.
one day this blog will dissappear and some will wonder why. someday the dodgers may move away the same way the rams moved away and some will ask why.
if the cubs were in first the city would be going wild. you guys can hardly stay awake.you can hardly be bothered to
get on a blog and express your passion for your
team.
i don't know, maybe i'm just jealous? but everyday
i see people sleep waking thier way thru the day
with no passion about anything.if you love it,
support it, whatever it maybe.
Posted by: rob | September 12, 2006 at 03:46 PM
Rob (aka Bartman),
Who cares what you think? You're a loser Cubs fan. You were born to be a loser. You do it so well that they call you a "loveable loser".
People on this blog reserve the right to address people that matter. You, being a Cubs fan, don't matter. You haven't mattered for 100 years. You won't matter ever again.
Now go away. Go milk the goat you curse.
Posted by: LoLo | September 12, 2006 at 03:51 PM
Rob,
Wait a minute. That's not you, stragazin? Is it?
Posted by: LoLo | September 12, 2006 at 03:52 PM
jeremy- so if i was a padre or giant fan, you would jump onto this blog to defend your dodgers but other wise you can't be bothered?
Posted by: rob | September 12, 2006 at 03:53 PM
mti- i appreciate your passion for your team.
no problem there.
Posted by: rob | September 12, 2006 at 03:55 PM
how sad to root for a team known as the "loveable losers"! If there wasn't so damn much to do in LA there would probably be more passion but I dare say go to a Dodger game and root against the Dodgers and then tell me how you feel about the fans.
Posted by: rdc | September 12, 2006 at 03:56 PM
Rob
Getting in touch with your feminine side? What a hissy fit.
Of course your blog would be going crazy if the Cubs were in 1st place. It would be like landing a man on Mars.
But that's why you are here isn't it.
Posted by: Andy B | September 12, 2006 at 04:19 PM
rdc- thx for caring enough to take out of your extra busy day to reply. good to know you're alive out there, buddy.
Posted by: rob | September 12, 2006 at 04:21 PM
hope ( very passionately) that we get the game in.
its raining.
Posted by: rob | September 12, 2006 at 04:24 PM
Rob-
1) The reason no one responded to you initially is because you're an attention-starved troll, and the best way to deal with those is to ignore them. But, if you keep pestering long enough, eventually you'll get a rise out of everyone (as we've already seen here).
2) If you want to see passion, try actually attending a game in Dodger Stadium this time of year. You'd be surprised.
Man, the joint's gonna be rockin' for the Padres series this weekend. Too bad I won't be able to go...
Posted by: Eric B. | September 12, 2006 at 04:26 PM
andy- thx for your passion. thats all i'm looking for. dodger fans that actually care.i knew there had to be one or two out there.
Posted by: rob | September 12, 2006 at 04:30 PM
lolo- everyone's opinion counts-thats the point.
already aware of your passionate nature.( and your love of spandex and fishnet stockings)
BARTMAN
Posted by: rob | September 12, 2006 at 04:35 PM