The calm before the, um, really big weekend series
All season long, the Dodgers have been waiting, begging really, for the noted and much-ballyhooed power combination of Blake DeWitt and Angel Berroa to finally step up, meet the hype (who could forget that preseason cover of Sports Illustrated?), and provide the sock the Dodgers have needed from them all year. Wednesday night at the Ravine, it finally happened. Their back to back jacks in the fourth fueled a four run inning and helped give the Blue a sweep capping 6-4 win over San Diego.
Okay, maybe we jest, just a little. Not about the win, of course, but the sources of power. For Berroa, it was his first homer since 2006, when he was still a member of the Royals, leading to his first curtain call since... well, maybe ever. For DeWitt, it was his second homer in as many nights, and when an eighth solo bomb from Casey Blake is tossed in as well, it's fair to say that the Dodgers infield came to 
play Wednesday night. A check of the box shows DeWitt, Berroa, and Blake accounted for five hits, four runs, and five RBIs. Not bad. Put it all together, and it was enough to earn Hiroki Kuroda a win on a night where he was far from good, but rather barely good enough. It didn't hurt that the Dodgers were facing a kid making his big league debut.
With the win, this weekend's big showdown with Arizona is set. With both teams idle today, the Dodgers will hit the field Friday night down 1.5 games in the NL West. To make up the ground will be tough, no doubt, since Arizona is set to throw its best all weekend.
The Dodgers will certainly enter the series with plenty of confidence, knowing the race for the division isn't over yet, despite many attempts from the Blue to let it get away. They have many a reason to feel good about themselves, from the five game win streak to some good news on the health front. Scott Proctor- the hopefully healed-and-therefore-useful version- pitched Wednesday, and the Dodgers received some good news on, among others, Rafael Furcal, who isn't having pain in his efforts to rehab.
Okay, maybe it's not all rosy news, as Andruw Jones admitted that, with his knee swollen and still in pain, that the '08 season is effectively over. He doesn't think he'll be able to make any sort of contribution the rest of the way.*
Manny Ramirez, NL Player of the Month.
Gene Wojciechowski of ESPN.com takes a look at Joe Torre, whose demeanor seems to fit in just fine on the west coast.
*Yes, we are aware of the irony of such statements, and provide them purely so that you, our loyal readers, might have a chance to break out a witty line or otherwise poke fun at Jones, his year, and perhaps Ned Colletti for signing him. We take care of you! Consider that graph our Misty May-Treanoresque set for the morning. Now touch your inner Kerri Walsh and spike that bad boy home.
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AK/BK,
The Deebo-from-"Friday"-like beat-down of the Padres aside, it's a very sad day in San Diego for very significant reason:
http://tinyurl.com/58otsx
I guess that means no more World Team Tennis calls from Temecula or Ultimate Equestrian Fighting callers from Escondido any more...
React?
;-(
Posted by: DodgerBlueBalls | September 04, 2008 at 09:42 AM
The ladies line is open... and in mourning.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | September 04, 2008 at 09:52 AM
AK / BK,
Since this is a most important series this weekend...How about a Live Blog Marathon Weekend....sounds good huh....Pretty Pleeease
Posted by: K T | September 04, 2008 at 10:05 AM
At 14 RBIs for the season, FAJ is receiving $1.29 million per run batted in.
With 9 doubles all season, Juan Pierre is receiving $1 million per two-bagger.
With 25.2 innings pitched as a Dodger, Jason Schmidt is receiving ("earning" would be too strong a word) $1.9 million for every three batters retired.
With 33 hits all year, Nomar Garciaparra is hauling in $280,000 per base hit.
With 9 strikeouts in 7 appearances, Esteban Loaiza fleeced the Dodgers for $888,888 per K.
The fact that the Dodgers are still in this race is either laughable, pathetic, or priceless.
Posted by: SaMo | September 04, 2008 at 10:09 AM
KT,
"AK / BK, Since this is a most important series this weekend...How about a Live Blog Marathon Weekend....sounds good huh....Pretty Pleeease."
Great minds think alike. We'd already planned on doing that.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | September 04, 2008 at 10:20 AM
SaMo, I can see a Mastercard commercial for the dodgers...
overpriced manager,
hyperactive trips to the DL,
big busts in FA,
still hovering near first place... Priceless
AK/BK thanks for bringing the live blog to the big series, it makes griping a lit easier with company.
Posted by: poppinfresh | September 04, 2008 at 11:54 AM
AK,
Excellent news..thank you
Posted by: K T | September 04, 2008 at 01:03 PM
Now, I'm just going out on a limb here, but my guess is MLB will SCREW me out of watching at least 2 of the games.
BUT, I'll still try to live bloginate.
As for taking a shot at your Jones tee-up... hasn't the poor man suffered enough this year. I really feel for the dude, he came, he tried, he fell flatter than a Friends spin-off.
No. More. Jones. Jokes. Ever.
Except... I heard that the real source of injury was when he was trying to suck maple syrup out of one of the maple bats... any truth to that?
Posted by: Benzo Jones | September 04, 2008 at 02:50 PM
As long as we're clearing out the vault of Andruw Jones jokes, here goes?
His swollen knee? Who knew he had knees in his stomach.
Andruw Jones is so fat. . . . (apologies to Gene Rayburn. . . "how fat is he?") He's so fat that when the Queen of the Netherlands knighted him, she had to wipe the lardo off her ceremonial sword afterward.
When Jones sees a sign that says "Dangerous Curve Ahead," he just turns around and walks home.
He routinely answers newspaper ads saying "Swingers wanted."
The Jonas Brothers have had more hits in 2008.
He carries a GPS in his uniform pocket to remind him which way to first base.
Sarah Palin lets her daughters hang out with Andruw Jones, because she knows he hasn't gotten to third base with anyone all year.
OK, I'm done. Please tip your servers.
Posted by: SaMo | September 04, 2008 at 05:24 PM
SaMo,
BOOOOO!!! Sorry couldn't help it.
AND PLUS we are talking about AJ right? .... BOOOOO!! ..... he hears this all night.
Posted by: Rob | September 04, 2008 at 05:57 PM
I think I recall some that wanted ALR instead of DeWitt. Like I said, "When I say huckleberries are ripe, get your bucket."
Package
Posted by: John Huston | September 05, 2008 at 08:04 AM
Blue are merely teasing its loyal fanbase once more, "pretending" (not seriously "contending"!).......they need to sweep the Snakes this wknd, and w/both Haren & Webb ready to go, just don't see it happening......hope i'm wrong and the blue boyz get it done, but am through w/one disappointment after another......
now, time for me to change direction, and rally behind UCLAn and Trojan football!!!!
Posted by: BettyWedder | September 05, 2008 at 10:42 AM
This is clearly the most important series of the year for the Dodgers. They could breakout and run away with the division or continue twisting in the wind playing sub-.500 ball and lose by a couple of games.
Posted by: Bush Says 2+2=5 | September 05, 2008 at 01:59 PM
Bush Says... is that fuzzy math?
Posted by: poppinfresh | September 05, 2008 at 03:29 PM