The most important win since the dawn of mankind | Blue Notes - A Dodgers Blog

The theoretical victory tonight ain't small potatoes, either. But without last night's 6-1 win over the Padres, one that pushed the Dodgers 2.5 games outside the Wild Card race, there ain't a rare feat to attempt capitalizing on tonight. Chad Billingsley got bumped up in the rotation to fill in for a thumb (and mood) addled Derek Lowe, but didn't miss a beat picking up where Lowe might have left off. He occasionally missed his mark, as evidenced by the juiced bases jams that twice required wriggling out of. But wriggle Bills did, not letting the pressure of a huge contest spiral his efforts out of control. For that matter, weren't no jitters displayed by James Loney, who continued his mission of knocking the snot outta the ball. Between his and Jeff Kent's long balls, the Dodgers found more than enough offense to create a life sustaining box score.

For Derek Lowe, a freak thumb injury's been the latest hiccup in one seriously trying season. Should things go as hoped, however, the righty will try his (relatively speaking) luck on Saturday.

The big 5-0 approaches...

If the Dodgers don't get into the playoffs, it's YOUR faults.

Tonight's features a fogie showdown on the mound. David Wells going up against Greg Maddux. If hella bushels of combined wins and cats who don't walk anybody are your "thing," don't miss this bad boy.

Comments

I have been a dodger loyalist and bled blue since 1963,but in my own perverse way I want the dodgers to flame out which I believe they will.Their future is unlimited with the younger guns coming of age and a strong farm system I think we will be the (cleveland Indians) of the national league, team on the rise with nothing but promise.Grady Little must be fired he is one of the biggest buffon's and incompetent managers I have ever seen,McCOURT needs to be cornered into this and by the dodgers flaming out he will make the right decision and by the way Little can take his buddy colletti with him another moron and idiot,these two should not be in authority to lead the kids to the promise land.

Posted by: Doder Nation | September 13, 2007 at 10:36 AM

What are the chances that Gumpy will start Gonzo and Nomar tonite?

With a much deserved DAY OFF, I guess they would be expected to play and contribute to another LOSS. As sad as it sounds, I don't expect GUMPY to break his stupid pattern of playing musical chairs with ETHIER, KEMP, AND LAROCHE/ABREAU...........

With MAD DOG on the mound against our very own BOOMER along with GONZO, NOMAR, SAENZ, HERNANDEZ, SEANEZ, etc...... Senior Citizens NIGHT gentlemen!!!

Posted by: JC Blue | September 13, 2007 at 10:46 AM

AK/BK/anyone who knows, really -

I read that it is unlikely the Dodgers will pick up Wolf's $9 million option for 2008. Is there a chance, or is it even allowed that they buy out his contract, and then in turn sign him to, say a 1-yr deal for $4 million?

I mean, he'd like to come back, and perhaps he'd be willing to take, as others have in the past, a "home-town discount." I think he was a quality starter this year, who ran into bad luck with his injury.

Afterall, even with Penny, Lowe, Billz, Loaiza & Schmidt as our "starting 5," when was the last time a team ran out the same 5 starters all year? We know as well as anyone that we're bound to run into an injury. Besides, why not have Wolf and Loaiza battle it out for the 5th starter spot, and repeat what they did this year with Hendrickson and Tomko if both Wolf & Loaiza are healthy & pitching well in Spring Training?

I hate to imagine it, but they couldn't be any worse!!

Posted by: Brian | September 13, 2007 at 02:12 PM

i think gonzo and nomar hit well against maddux. im not too sure though. correct me if im wrong, but against someone like maddux, isnt it better to hit the vets? i mean, they would be harder to fool right? we'll see.

Posted by: the WOLF | September 13, 2007 at 02:27 PM

Wolf-

I agree with the logic that the vets should (emphasis on should) be able to handle Maddux better than the kids. However, I don't think that at this point it is possible to argue that the lineup is a good few runs better per game with the kids in. We are winning when Jeff Kent is the only vet out there. We're not winning when Abreau/LaRoche and Kemp/Ethier sit. I can't imagine the position Little is in right now, trying to negotiate the lineup, in the middle of a heated race, when the vets are struggling and the unproven kids are doing well. I know that we all (myself included) rip on him, and it is usually warented, but I do not envy at all the position that he is in the next few weeks.

Posted by: Nick | September 13, 2007 at 03:48 PM

true nick, well said. its just that i think the vets can be good against maddux, one of the rare times i agree with this logic. that said, the kids are sick right now, so i would play the hottest ones. i think kemp or eithier should be the odd man out until the 6th. i know i might get killed for saying that, but im afraid that kemp will get pwned with maddux's crazy pitches. im not sure andre's record against maddux. i hope im wrong.

Posted by: the WOLF | September 13, 2007 at 05:38 PM