Chicago, it's their kind of town
Or so the Dodgers hope. With Milwaukee's win over Chicago and New York's loss to Florida, the Brewers are the Wild Card and the Dodgers head off to the Windy City to play the Cubs. Obviously, we'll have A LOT more to talk about regarding this series between now and Wednesday, but it's fair to say that the Blue drew the short straw on this one. Either Philadelphia or the Mets would have been a better matchup, for the simple reason that those teams don't feature a trio of starting pitchers like Ryan Dempster, Carlos Zambrano, and Rich Harden. All three of those guys are capable of thoroughly dominating opponents.
Dempster, slated to start Game 1, was 14-3 at Wrigley this year with an ERA under 3.00. Despte all the attention given to CC Sabathia in Milwaukee, you can certainly make the argument Harden has been more effective. Not necessarily as durable, but in 12 starts as a Cub, Harden's ERA is 1.77. That's good. Zambrano, though, sets up as the weak link. While obviously he's got the talent to pitch big games, a quick look at the splits show a guy who has been very bad in August and September, even with the no-hitter he tossed against the Astros on September 14.
Ted Lilly, set to start Game 4 for Chicago, has actually been far better of late.
The bad news is the Cubs are the best team in the National League, so it's a shame to lead off with them. The good news? Well, there are those who believe that it's too the advantage of the lesser team to play a short series. If the Dodgers can earn a split in Chicago, momentum swings large back their way. My gut says it goes five, with LA coming up just short-- but my gut says a lot of things that turn out to be total garbage.
Plenty more to come.
BK
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It doesn't matter who we play. If we don't get good hitting AND pitching in the same games, this will be over before it begins.
Unless they figure out how to hit a few sacrifice flies, they are incapable of manufacturing runs.
To be honest I have hope but don't expect much. But hey, anything can happen, right?
Posted by: Andy B | September 28, 2008 at 02:35 PM
What guys from our bullpen can be starters for 2009?? Kind of a random question but I've heard from some ppl that Wade could possibly be there and guys like broxton could join the rotation. Dont know how credible these are, but does anybody have an opinion?
Posted by: Justin | September 28, 2008 at 04:35 PM
lets get serious...CUBS have better hitting...better pitching...and Sweet Lou...
Cubs be takin it down
Posted by: joel | September 28, 2008 at 04:46 PM
If this game is to be won by the Dodgers it will be on the Base pads... the only major category where they whoop Chicago is in Stolen Bases.
Run Forrest Run!!!
Posted by: benzojones | September 28, 2008 at 05:32 PM
Manny hits great pitching - Dempster, Zambrano, Harden. The question is will the Cubs allow him to hit against them when there is a runner on. Thus, who is best suited to protect Manny? The best option is the .305 hitting Ethier and not Jeff Kent.
Posted by: Tom | September 28, 2008 at 05:33 PM
Any news on a start time yet?
Posted by: Paul Merrill | September 28, 2008 at 05:41 PM
I seem to remember another year when the Blue went into the playoff round with all of the "Experts" saying that they had absolutely no chance of coming out on top. They were going up against a team that had dominated them during the regular season - remember 1988?
Never before had a team so dominated by another managed to turn the tables in the playoffs. The Mets beat the Dodgers ten of eleven times in the regular season, and most of those victories were not even close. The Mets were heavy favorites when the series began, but our boys in blue not only prevailed but went on to add to that remarkable victory and take the Championship over the A's. I believe we can do it again. Keep the faith.
Posted by: Carl Creasman | September 28, 2008 at 06:57 PM
Dodgers have the best pitching....and as far as i know, pitching wins playoffs....GO DODGERS!
Posted by: Esdubsi | September 28, 2008 at 08:09 PM
There you go, Carl. Playoffs. Anything can happen. Just gotta get hot fast.
Benzo,
you're kidding, right? Of course you are. Setting out to steal bases is just plain silly. Like you.
Posted by: VA Blueblood | September 28, 2008 at 09:29 PM
If the Dodgers can get into the Cubs' bullpen, they'll do well.
Posted by: WBB | September 28, 2008 at 11:05 PM
I think they can beat the cubs if they get their hitting and pitching together.
Posted by: Baseball Games | September 29, 2008 at 05:53 AM
The only way the Dodgers win is if the Cubs beat themselves.
The Cubs are the most balanced team in baseball. When the top of the order struggles the middle picks it up. You cant zero in on one player. Manny will be a non-factor as the Cubs will be careful with him. Cubs have - Soriano, Theriot, Lee, Ramierez, Soto (rookie of the year), Derosa, Fontenot, Hoffpauer (next years rookie of the year). Cant shut them all down so the Cubs will score runs. And with Dempster, Zambrano, and Hareden they wont allow too many.
Cubs in 4!
Posted by: Pete W. | September 29, 2008 at 07:38 AM
Actually VAB, in a rare moment of non-sillyness I actually had a gander at the stats, and compared the 2 teams.
I was suspending my silliness so that I could focus on a decision. I wanted to know if i should elevate my hopes.
The investigation was a downer. But I did see that SB stat, and it made me wonder. If Torre could muster up some of that manufacturing runs shenanigans, we might actually win this thing. Granted the pitching needs to hold up, but I like our chances if we PLAY to our STRENGTHS.
I know... it's a bizarre concept, but it's better than watching all our guys trying to hit Home Runs all day.
I will now return to being silly.
Posted by: benzo jones | September 29, 2008 at 09:04 AM
As a Cubs fan I have to say that this should be a good series. Big Z and Harden are big question marks but the Cubs can score and score quickly. They never seem to be out of a game. Looking forward to this. Cubs in 4.
Posted by: Sean | September 29, 2008 at 09:10 AM