We are the champions!
UPDATE: Click below for tonight's lineup. Both Furcal and Kent are in, and they'll brush the dust off Eric Stults, who will start. It's good to see all three on the field, though I wouldn't expect Kent or Furcal to play too much. Ardoin in for Martin, which is certainly no surprise.
Okay, technically not "we." I, for example, didn't do a damn thing this year, unless sitting around digging up fun YouTube clips and thinking of obscure pop culture references somehow adds to the win column. But the Dodgers, well they've won themselves an NL West title by virtue of Arizona's 12-3 loss this afternoon in St. Louis. It's not exactly the most exciting way to do it- players will know they're in the playoffs before many make it to the park- but I doubt anyone will complain. At worst, it takes a little juice out of the postgame celebration.
Besides, just because the Dodgers can't get party until later tonight doesn't mean you can't go somewhere, park the car, hand a buddy the keys, then buy up a bunch of champagne and start spraying away with abandon.
Now it's a matter of waiting. Having polished off Arizona, I would think most fans of the Blue will become, at least until Sunday afternoon, bandwagon members of the Mets Nation. Should the Amazin's lose out to Milwaukee for the NL Wild Card, the Blue will head to Chicago to face Zambrano, Harden, and Dempster, along with their solid bullpen. Not nearly as soft and chewy as anything New York or Philadelphia has to offer.
AK will have more from the park later.
BK
LINEUPS!
Padres:
Venable. CF
Rodriguez. SS
Giles.
RF
A. Gonzalez. 1B
Kouzmanoff. 3B
Headley.
LF
Hundley. C
Antonelli. SS
Peavy.
RHP
Dodgers:
Furcal. SS
Kent.
2B
Ramirez. LF
Ethier. RF
Loney.
1B
Blake. 3B
Kemp. CF
Ardoin.
C
Stults. LHP
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The Dodgers need to go for the kill tonight! I hope Joe starts the regular lineup and we kick the crap out of Peavy! Mostly because I freaking hate Jake Peavy.
Congrats to the Dodgers. Joe plays the Kids, McCourt picks up Manny and we're in the playoffs. Hopefully this ends the Dodger careers of Juan "Slappy" Pierre and Andruw "Buffet" Jones.
Posted by: Adrian | September 25, 2008 at 03:20 PM
Dodger Dog (from previous post)
If Brewers are wild card, Dodgers play Cubs.
If Brewers are not wild card (i.e. Mets or Phils are wild card), Dodgers play NL east winner (Mets or Phils).
I'm rooting for the Mets to win the division and Phils to win wild card. Mets will be happy just to be there. Phils are also beatable. Cubs are the team to beat; it would be better to face them in a seven-game series than a five game series.
And neither Jeff Kent nor JD Drew will be on base in the first inning to get thrown out on the same play.
Posted by: SaMo | September 25, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Winner Winner Chicken Dinner.
We'd have to face the Cubs eventually, so bring 'em on.
Strangle them boys with their ivy!
Posted by: benzo jones | September 25, 2008 at 03:30 PM
I think we can beat Philly. We swept them here, they swept us there, but their pitching is suspect and I'm expecting a good start from Lowe to get us going.
These next few days should be used to get the regulars a bit of rest (not too much!) before the playoffs begin and to see what some of the injured guys (Kent, Furcal) and young guys (Delwyn, Repko, Hu) might be able to offer us, if anything.
If we do face the Cubbies, well, it's better to face them early in a 5 game set than it is in a 7 game set. But they're going to be wicked tough to beat.
Hopefully the extra time off will be beneficial to Kuroda as well, as he's still better off with 6 days rest, as it is in Japan, instead of 4. If he can get extra rest and pitch at home, we've got a chance in that game.
Posted by: puddle | September 25, 2008 at 03:32 PM
Four - man rotation : Lowe, Billslingsley, Kuroda, Kershaw
Maddux, with all due respect to his hall of fame career, should not be on the postseason roster. If he starts any game in the postseason, it will be a disservice to the Dodgers and us fans.
I cannot see any reason why Sweeney should be on the postseason roster PERIOD. Anyone see any reason why he should be? D. Young and Pierre are good enough as our left handed bats off the bench.
Kemp, Martin, Ramirez, Ethier, Garciaparra, , Loney, Blake, Dewitt
Posted by: Tom | September 25, 2008 at 03:39 PM
The good news, too, is that this gives them a chance to do everything they want to get set for the playoffs. Guys can pitch, get some work, and get out. They're already set in terms of the rotation (Lowe would go on normal rest for Game 1, Bills for Game 2), but they can rest players in the pen, get Saito a little work if need be, give Raffy an AB or two, etc.
Maybe even Stults can pitch!
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | September 25, 2008 at 03:52 PM
Yo Adrian:
(Sorry, I'm sure you get that all the time, but I had to do it).
Sorry to say the Dodgers are stuck with Fatso for another year and Slappy Pierre for another THREE YEARS.
Posted by: SaMo | September 25, 2008 at 03:54 PM
Wow. Lo and behold...
Tonight's lineups, just sent over by PR...
Furcal. SS
Kent. 2B
Ramirez. LF
Ethier. RF
Loney. 1B
Blake. 3B
Kemp. CF
Ardoin. C
Stults. LHP
Stults is in, Furcal and Kent are in the starting lineup, though I doubt either plays particularly long.
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | September 25, 2008 at 03:54 PM
Congrats, everybody. Let's make a run for it. Too bad LaRoche can't be here for the playoffs (j/k).
Indeed, this makes the Mets games pretty huge. Especially if they have to play Santana on Sunday, making him unable to go in game 1. I honestly think the Cubs are the best team in baseball, so giving someone else a chance to knock them out is the best we can hope for.
Lastly, I hope Torre is careful not to rest the guys too much this weekend. Gotta keep everybody hot, especially the big guns. They don't fire well when cold.
Posted by: VA Blueblood | September 25, 2008 at 04:28 PM
How sweet it is !!!! Remember when we felt like this was the worst offensive team ever assembled ?
Great pick-up in Manny and a great charge at the end - the DBacks lost at the end, but winning 18 of 23 is what won it for LA. I am excited for the NLDS. Go Blue!
I'm surprised to see Manny in the line-up tonight.
Posted by: OhioVic | September 25, 2008 at 04:34 PM
Apropos to absolutely nothing....
How about this catch?
http://tinyurl.com/4bn3yv
Damn!
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | September 25, 2008 at 04:49 PM
kent is starting and playing 2B? can this guy even run? i guess if he re-injures himself, it allows torre to have one less decision to make but playing him and starting him is kind of unfair to kent if he can't even run yet.
Posted by: HI Dodger Fan | September 25, 2008 at 04:51 PM
Congrats to the Dodgers on being NL West division champs!! As far as the pitching rotation for the playoffs, I would have to include Maddox over Kershaw because of the experience factor. Although Maddox hasn't pitched too well in the playoffs, Kershaw is not there yet; maybe for relief. We are going to miss Penny.
Posted by: steve02001 | September 25, 2008 at 04:57 PM
HI Dodger Fan-
I think it's a question of figuring out who he can carry on the postseason roster. If Kent plays a couple innings tonight, it gives them a chance to see how he feels the next day, and how many days in a row he might be able to play. In the playoffs, if he can only hit but can't run or field, that means to use him requires two players, not one, which could be a strain on the bench.
Although in the first round, when the need for an extra arm is lessened, they might be able to get away with it.
But the point is, you have to know what you got, so to speak.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | September 25, 2008 at 05:03 PM
Steve,
Now you sound like Ned and Joe. Just because a guy was good 5 years ago, doesn't mean we want him playing now. Using that logic we should be playing AJ and Sweeney instead of Ethier and Loney
David
Posted by: dAVID s | September 25, 2008 at 05:28 PM
These next four games will be more like spring training, which is good for those who need to figure out what they can do, and what they can't.
Posted by: WBB | September 25, 2008 at 05:30 PM
WBB,
Torre himself agreed with the spring training comparison. They're definitely gonna use the time to take every last look they need, and they get to do it with house money, so to speak.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | September 25, 2008 at 05:31 PM
I think ideally we'd like to see the Phils, Mets, and Cerveceros go down to the wire in the maximum number of games, burning up their top starters and their bullpens in a series of 18-inning games.
Posted by: WBB | September 25, 2008 at 06:10 PM
It would be the best if the Dodgers somehow made it to the WS and the only thing standing between Joe and another championship is... Mike Scioscia! Now THAT would be a matchup I'd love to see!
Please Baseball Gods, make it come to pass somehow!
Posted by: Scott | September 25, 2008 at 06:36 PM
There are Slurpees and there are Icees. Tonight is an Icee kinda night.
Posted by: Benzo Jones | September 25, 2008 at 06:50 PM
Now that the Dodgers have won the west the focus now will turn on who the 1st round playoff opponen will be. I for one would prefer the Mets with their awful bullpen, and struggling offense. The only Pitcher the Mets have is Santana.
Kuo injury is a concern for me since the Dodgers will need him out the pen. Kuo has been extremely good and reliable, and it will hurt the Dodgers if he's not ready.
Posted by: dcerros | September 25, 2008 at 07:01 PM
it doesn't matter who the dodgers play. they'll be gone by game four. Anybody who thinks this team is any good simply because they've feasted on the likes of the giants, padres and pirates the last three weeks must think hillary clinton is still running for president. really was it that long ago that the dodgers played a winning team? they're road record outside the division sucks. they won all of one game in chicago, philly and new york combined this year, and that includes the dodgers with #99. Manny will be the 2008 version of Jose Lima, a mid-season savior who won't be back next year. and contrary to what bill dwyre thinks, that this town is all dodgers, all september, usc dominates the sports pages on saturday, the nfl on sunday and beginning in a few weeks the opening of training camp for a team that doesn't spray champagne simply for making the playoffs and for whom championships matter for winning the finals, err world series and not the worst division in baseball. seriously, even the second place d-backs are going to finish under .500. the dodgers will have the worst record of all eight playoff teams and if they played in any other division would be in third place. cheers to mediocrity! and for those of you who still like baseball in october, the best team in baseball is only a few minutes a way. the red sox will come here, then the rays, and then the cubbies. that all of america will be rooting for them to beat the new big red machine is fine. i expect bitter dodger fans to join them. thinking red instead. vladimir is going to look good in a world series ring.
~cmh
Posted by: christpher marc | September 25, 2008 at 07:55 PM
Tsk, tsk. I'm quite certain naysayers to the '06 Cards (83-78) displayed similar hubris.
>
Go Blue!
By the by, 27-21 Oregon State... Wow, this juju stuff really works!
Posted by: Caesar | September 25, 2008 at 09:29 PM
Wow Christpher quite the rant there.
*yawns*
This is a Dodgers town. GET. OVER. IT.
Posted by: Dodgers Gal | September 25, 2008 at 11:07 PM
Quick - Let's get some positive cosmic mojo going.
Everyone change the name of their fantasy teams to something like "Dodgers in 08" or "Dodgers are Champs!" or "Mannymania"
That is if you haven't all ready.
Posted by: ApaulO | September 26, 2008 at 12:53 AM