Game on(e)!
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Join us for the Playoff Edition! of Purple, Gold, and Blue this afternoon at 11 am, where we'll be discussing Dodgers vs. CHN with guests Kurt Evans of Goat Riders of the Apocalypse, a fun and informative Cubs blog, as well as someone (Christina Kahrl? Will Carroll?) from Baseball Prospectus. That's the goal, at least. Click on the widget at the side of the page, or go straight to the chat board by following this link.
*****Also, we'll be starting the live blog at 3:00 pm, a half hour before game time to facilitate some live chat before the first pitch.*****
UPDATE: The official NLDS roster has been announced, and James McDonald bumps Ramon Troncoso off the staff. Everything else is the same.
Derek Lowe and Rafael Furcal are ready (Furcal says he can go all nine innings), Manny Ramirez has his teammates loose and confident, and Joe Torre helped create positive momentum in August and September (of course, having Manny in the order and a white hot Lowe every fifth day didn't hurt, either). Whether it's the Cubs hoping to end 100 years of futility with top shelf play at the most important time (dare to dream... but not too much) or SoCal baseball fans hoping for a Freeway Series, there's no anticipation quite like that which comes at the last moments before the playoffs begin, when visions of parades jostle for space with fear of heartbreak.
Those feelings are particularly acute for loyalists of these two teams, neither of which has hauled home much hardware in the last two (or ten) decades. With that, here's a bunch of stuff to help you get ready for tonight's Game 1 (3:30, TBS), confident that even TJ Simers is pulling for the local nine:
-Tony Jackson looks at the matchups for the series, and notes Scott Proctor or James McDonald could still find themselves on the roster for the NLDS.
-The Sporting News sees home field advantage as the deciding factor. Cubs in five.
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-For ESPN.com Insiders, Keith Law breaks down the Dodgers and the Cubs. Of their 10 baseball experts, only Jim Caple is your friend.
-Manny may be bringing the noise, but power hasn't always been easy to come by for the Blue, notes Kevin Modesti of the Daily News.
-Playoff Power Rankings and a SoCal baseball podcast with Fox Sports in Espanol's Adrian Garcia. And more things to look for!
-FYI, the Maddux deal has been completed, notes True Blue LA.
-Christina Kahrl (did we mention she might be on the show today?) has BP's preview of the Dodgers vs. the Cubs. For those who aren't subscribers (why aren't you a subscriber?), we present the following:
"...It's that pen which might save the Dodgers from the kind of outsized matchup their fourth game might otherwise appear to be, because that might also spare them from attempting to start Lowe on short rest, something that has yet to produce a quality start in the four times it has been tried in the LA portion of his career. Nevertheless, I still see this winding up as a Cubs series win in five, perhaps something of an upset considering the relative perceived virtues of the two clubs, but a victory that will be worth watching and hard-fought. I guess if I sketch out a scenario and take it to some fanciful conclusions, I can foresee a split between the two teams in the Lowe/Dempster matchup, a Cubs' win in the second game after losing the opener, a pitcher's duel in the third game that comes out with Big Z adding something to his legend, a pen-led win by the Dodgers in the fourth game that involves some Manny heroics at Lilly's expense, all capped by a Dempster gem for the folks at home. As long as I'm predictin', may as well aim high, right?"
Baseball is a numbers game, and here are some good ones.
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IT IS SO ON! I can't wait! October Baseball! Moment of Truth! DO WORK DODGERS!
Did I mention that I am excited? Geaux Blue!
Posted by: gus2327 | October 01, 2008 at 09:40 AM
Also, being in Louisiana and the Central Time Zone has finally paid off. Game time for me is 5:30pm...get off at 5:00 and a pleasent 20 minute drive later, I am in front of my TV. GAME ON! Very Nice.
Posted by: gus2327 | October 01, 2008 at 10:21 AM
I like the switch from Troncoso to McDonald. McDonald has been good so far why not see if he can continue to be. anyway excited for this afternoon!! GO DODGERS!!
Posted by: Gillbert | October 01, 2008 at 10:41 AM
how can the cubs put the bat on the ball when they have both their hands around their own necks?
Posted by: isaiah valeriano | October 01, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Great picture of Man-Ram.He looks good with LA on his dome. Whatda think - 3 years, 66 Mil. a 4th year option based on previous 3 yr performance that could give him a hugh ( whatever that will be in 4 yrs! ) check. That gives him time to sign another 1-2 yr deal in the AL for I'm sure not chump change to play out his career doing what he does best. Thats 5-6 years at over 100 mil.
Go Dodgers
The original dog
Posted by: dodgerdog | October 01, 2008 at 11:24 AM
From previous thread. RE: Swy and class act.
Or lack of it. Where is pouting Penny. He might have ruined his career by pitching in pain to spite the Dodgers. but after three years you would think he would want to be around now.
David
Posted by: David s | October 01, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Any internet feeds for the game?
Thanks,
Wes
Posted by: wesjoenixon | October 01, 2008 at 02:34 PM
Continue the Cubs Curse!
GO DODGERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | October 01, 2008 at 04:37 PM