Little bears
It's official, the Dodgers are heading to Chicago!
It has nothing to do with their Nomar-managed 3-1 loss to the Giants in the regular season finale Sunday afternoon in San Francisco, but a Milwaukee win combined with a Mets loss gives the Brewers the Wild Card and means the Blue head to Chicago for a series between two teams steeped in tradition and history. 2,024 times the teams have played, each winning 1,012, and now they'll see each other in the playoff with both franchises looking to reverse years- in Chicago's case, 100 of 'em- of postseason frustration. While it's not quite a century, the Blue are a sad 1-12 in their last 13 playoff games, and haven't clutched this guy for 20 years. (Some might argue the first step for the Blue would be to win two games in the same series.)
The standings say the Cubs, who won 13 more games than LA in the regular season, are the favorites. The Dodgers, though, were strong in September and have plenty of experience. The Cubs dominated the season series, but the Blue rightly note they're not the same team that was swept visiting Wrigley in May.
Of course, for many outside southern California, Chicago is the sentimental favorite. 100 years, people.
When they take the field Wednesday evening, the Blue could have Rafael Furcal back in the starting lineup at short, after he successfully navigated through parts of four games this week. That's the good news. The bad? Hong-Chih Kuo won't be available out of the pen, at least for the first round. Kuo experienced numbness in his fingers pitching in the pen Sunday afternoon, and the Blue aren't taking any chances. For Chicago, 2B/RF Mark DeRosa believes he'll be sufficiently recovered from a calf strain to play once Wednesday rolls around.
Great breakdown of the LA roster from Dodger Thoughts, and Dodgers.com has some additional information for you. The Cub Reporter puts numbers side by side, including pre/post dreadlocks.
The Chicago Tribune gives the edge to the Cubs... barely.
LA's playoff appearance means the season will continue, but not that speculation about the big issue after it's over- namely what to do with Manny Ramirez. Ross Newhan writes the Dodgers need to resign him. It's something that has to happen. Bill Plaschke disagrees. TJ Simers is on board with Manny in '09.
Subscribe to this Blog | What is RSS?
BRING 'EM BACK IN 2009?
MADDUX-Not as a player.
PENNY-Have we ever gotten a full year out of him? His recent whining about the Dodgers not caring about him has been annoying. See ya Brad.
LOWE-A month ago I would have said no but the pitching staff looks mighty young next year so if he can be retained at a reasonable price, go for it.
KENT-If he still wants to play it should be as a DH.
BLAKE-I'm not as high on him as some people but he is a good clubhouse presence. If the price is right.
NOMAR-He would be a good utility man but is probably too expensive for that role and is just so fragile.
MANNY-Problems with age, expense and attitude. I'd give him 50 mil for 2 years but longer would be pressing your luck.
FURCAL-Yes if he is willing to sign an incentive based contract based on games played.
The bulk of the money saved should go toward signing Sabathia. I know they are weary of long-term contracts for pitchers but he seems to be risk-free.
Posted by: uclart47 | September 29, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Bring on the Baby Bears...Is it Wednesday yet???
Posted by: K T | September 29, 2008 at 10:37 AM
AK,
Are we doing a Live Blog for the Series in Wrigley???
Posted by: K T | September 29, 2008 at 10:39 AM
KT-
We'll have live blogs, live chats, live everything. The playoffs will be so damn live, it's scary!
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | September 29, 2008 at 10:59 AM
"Park still shouldn't be allowed to grip a baseball in Wrigley Field." My favorite quote from the Dodger Thoughts column. Hope Torre reads this as well.
Go Dodgers.
Posted by: LossLeader | September 29, 2008 at 11:13 AM
PAY THE MAN HIS MONEY - I am growing to believe that a Mannyless 2009 would be like Cheers without Ted Danson.
Posted by: benzo jones | September 29, 2008 at 12:40 PM
AK/BK...You guys "Rock" or "are the man/men" or whatever todays current saying is
Posted by: K T | September 29, 2008 at 01:22 PM
While it is true that even my sabermetric predictions (see http://sabermetrati.blogspot.com) have the Dodgers' chance of losing as very high, I'm working on a way to take into account the game's pitchers--obviously Lowe is a perfect pitcher to start in Wrigley; but Dempster is a monster at Wrigley. Problem is, that always leads to small sample size and the best predictor is the season that just passed in it's entirety.
Posted by: Dave | September 29, 2008 at 01:53 PM
Where were YOU last night...?
My family was fortunate enough to hang out at Dodgers Stadium with well over 10,000 fellow True Blue fans! It was a beautiful evening. The one damper on the evening was that the concession stands quickly ran out of food and drink since some 'genius' in Dodgers management only planned for around 5,000 fans to show up.
Apparently, this pessimistic employee underestimated the appeal that FREE parking and "reduced price" grub would hold for fans with nothing better to do on a sunday night in our Ciudad (aka: EL Lay).
One can only hope everyone in the Cubbies organization will also be underestimating this *new & improved* Dodgers team that will be descending upon the Windy City. Keep your fingers crossed Blue Crew fans...
P & G R
Posted by: Purple & Gold Reign | September 29, 2008 at 02:19 PM
AK / BK...Any word yet on the postseason roster for the first series
Posted by: K T | September 29, 2008 at 03:41 PM
Ulcart,
Maddux - Agree. But I doubt if he would want to come back in a non-playing capacity.
Penny - Agree.
Lowe - It's not going to be a reasonable price. I say take the two draft picks (don't forget, Blake DeWitt was the result of losing Paul Quantrill), and use the money saved to sign another pitcher, be it Sabbathia or someone else (but NOT the oft-injured Ben Sheets). If a reasonable trade for a pitcher is possible, then that's another avenue for the Dodgers to explore.Young staff or not, based on what I've seen, I would like to see James McDonald make a bid for a rotation spot.
Kent - Agree.
Blake - Not the answer for a full season in my opinion. Take the draft picks and seek another solution.
Nomar - Agree. However, if he's willing to take on a utility role at a reasonable price, he could be valuable. Playing a lot less might actually keep him healthier and stronger.
Manny - No doubt that any long term contract would be a risk. I'm betwixt and between on this one. His age is definitely a strong factor, but he does keep himself in good shape. Whatever the case, the Dodgers need to bring in a power bat to play leftfield, be it Manny or someone else. I've even begun to wonder if it would be feasible to make a run at Mark Texeira, provided that either he or Loney could play leftfield. But I don't know the answer to that one.
Furcal - If he's willing to sign an incentive based contract, that's fine with me. He could then be backed up (on the Dodgers or close by in AAA) by Hu (in my mind, a better hitter than we saw this year) or even Ivan DeJesus (.324 at Jacksonville with a .419 OBP).
Sabbathia - He's going to get a monster contract, and no one made up of flesh and blood is "risk-free". However, if the Dodgers decide they can afford him, then go for it.
Also, keep in mind that there are players that will be available that none of us are aware of. Free agency, trades, etc.; whatever the Dodgers do, they need a power hitting corner outfielder, a third basemen with reasonable pop, and another solid veteran starting pitcher if Lowe doesn't return. As things stand now, I prefer to see DeWitt stay at 2B. But if the Dodgers could acquire a second baseman (e.g., Orlando Hudson via free agency), I wouldn't be averse to moving DeWitt back to 3B. There's a good chance that given maturity, experience and a full season, he could hit 20 HRs.
Finally, and this is a long shot, if a good hitting catcher with strong defensive and throwing skills can be obtained at a reasonable price, then Russell Martin could conceivably be the answer at 3B. Moving to third would keep Martin from wearing down in the second half, and would probably result in a higher average and increased power and run production.
Posted by: Brooklyn Dodger | September 29, 2008 at 05:23 PM
BK
KT and I told you that the live blog was the key. I am glad that you finally saw the light.
Dodgers in 4.
Benzo
You are right "Pay the man his money"!!
Package
Posted by: Package | September 29, 2008 at 05:31 PM
Do the Sabermeterati account for the Live Blog?
I don't think the Cubs even KNOW what the K Bros got cooking in their kitchen.
And I'm not talking about the Ramen noodles.
Posted by: benzo jones | September 29, 2008 at 06:43 PM
That post by 'David S' was not me
David
Posted by: dAVID s | September 29, 2008 at 07:20 PM
why would the sabermeterati account for the Live Blog when you don't account for the sabermeterati?
Posted by: VA Blueblood | September 29, 2008 at 07:47 PM
Uclart- excellent points and agree with most though i am a little more to brooklyn Dodgers points.
If.... we can get CC then use the Lowe money to get him, if no CC then go hard for Lowe. I also am excited about McDonald, Elbert, Stults, & Kershaw.
Overpay a little to try for Manny for two years, if he would pass on a bigger, longer contract elsewhere. I think longer than two years is a mistake.
I am not sure about the opinions of martin playing 3rd. Wouldn't he just be a mediocre 3rd powerwise? He doesn't seem interested in signing longterm here anyway. I think that maybe Loney needs to be dangled for some power. I did not feel that the last two years but am slowly going that way.
Go Dodgers!!!!!
Posted by: TimDodger | September 29, 2008 at 08:38 PM
uclart47 / Brooklyn Dodger
Bring back Kent as a DH? Did you guys forget this is the National League.
Benzo,
He beat me straight up pay the man his money!
Posted by: dcerros | September 29, 2008 at 08:39 PM
Don't hate me for writing this but.....Martin might be a good trade bait for the Dodgers. We haven't seen the All Star Martin in two year. He burns out in August and September so we really only get 2/3 of a season out of him as a good hitter. I think we have a good kid down on the farm to replace him . It seems to me that Martin is not the same guy he was two years ago. We should be able to get another catcher just like we did when LoDuca was traded and Piazza left via free agency. I am not saying get rid of Martin, just that if he could get us a power hitting LF as part of a package, why not?
Posted by: Jack in DC | September 30, 2008 at 05:27 AM
dcerros,
Ulcart said that if Kent still wants to play it should be as a DH. He didn't use the term "bring back". In other words, it appears to me that he's saying that if Kent wants to come back it should be to an AL club, NOT to the Dodgers. At least that's how I interpret his words.
Posted by: Brooklyn Dodger | September 30, 2008 at 06:25 AM
Agree with most of the sentiments of their players. I think Boras is going to push Lowe out of what the Dodgers are willing to pay, and with his age, I think they'll get outbid by the Braves. Penny's a question mark for me, if he's healthy, you have him for under $10 million. You know going in you have Billingsley, Kershaw, and Kuroda, Schmidt will hopefully be healthy enough to give us one year, and if you can get Sabathia, then I'd consider letting Penny walk, otherwise, I'd keep the guy around. If they can get Manny and Sabathia on contracts with lower salaries next year, and making it up later in the contract, they can use the money they'll save after next year when Jones and Schmidt are gone. But if Lowe leaves, they need a big time pitcher to replace him. I'd like to see Furcal back, but depends on the price, considering how much of his time was spent on the DL. Blake's a pretty inexpensive option at third, I'd like to see DeWitt at 2nd, because he has solid power potential for the position. If there was a way to trade Loney and other prospects for Fielder or Howard, I'd be fine with that.
Posted by: neoncactus | September 30, 2008 at 12:47 PM