Thoughts on Game 3
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Reminder, we'll start the live chat portion of tonight's live blog about a half hour before the first pitch. 6:30 or so.
Sweep the leg, Dodgers.
That's the theme for the Blue heading into tonight's Game 3 against the Cubs at the Ravine. Up 2-0 in the best-of-five and sending Hiroki Kuroda to the mound, do not give Chicago any reason to believe they can get back into the series. As I mentioned Friday night, Derek Lowe has been on both ends of it, as have guys in the visitor's clubhouse. The Blue spent most of yesterday's media availability explaining that their record during the regular season isn't the best measure of the team's quality. They're good, not lucky, and have been the better team over the first two games.
Thoughts:
- Rich Harden has been dominant with Chicago, but isn't someone who will pitch deep into games. If the Dodgers can continue to be patient and work counts where possible- i.e. not do the pitcher's job for him- they'll have a chance to chase Harden relatively early in the game, even if they don't hang a lot of runs on him.
- Kuroda has, over the course of the season, been relatively erratic, capable of being either very good or very bad. But in August and September, he's been almost exclusively good. In 11 starts since August 1, Kuroda has allowed three earned runs or fewer in nine of them. He's also been extremely effective against right handed hitters. Not sure if you got the memo, but the Cubs have a few of those.
- I mentioned Mark Sweeney's reaction to being left off the playoff roster in yesterday's post, and today Bill Plaschke takes a look at Jeff Kent, another vet who isn't playing the role he hoped for in the postseason, and won't make noise about it. Listen to the audio, watch the film, talk to the players- it's clear everyone is pulling in the same direction.
- If there was a theme yesterday among reporters, it was Manny. (To be clear,the theme is always Manny.) But if there was a theme that wasn't about Manny, it was Rafael Furcal. We saw Thursday the sort of impact he can have on the Dodgers' lineup, something they've missed since the early weeks of the season. Dodgers fans and those who have been close to the team certainly realize it, but not everyone does- the team is fundamentally different than the one that muddled through the middle months of the season. Given how little time Furcal has had in the same lineup with Manny, the Dodgers are literally evolving in the middle of the playoffs. That's not the norm, but it is working for them.
- If the Dodgers have a weakness in the bullpen, it's on the left side. After Joe Beimel, all that's left is Clayton Kershaw, who has all of one inning of experience pitching as a reliever. Everything about the routine and preparation is different for bullpen types, and it's reasonable to believe Kershaw might struggle in the role, especially when you factor in his rookie-ness. Fortunately, between the efficacy of LA's starters and the construction of Chicago's lineup, the Cubs haven't been able to take advantage.
- Joe Torre says Takashi Saito is still the closer, despite his rough outing Thursday night. He's not worried about him, and neither am I. Closers always tend to suck in non-save situations.
Other nuggets:
-Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness has Game 3 thoughts as well, and also need your help captioning a photo.
-Mike Downey of the Chicago Tribune wonders how hospitable southern California will be for the little bears.
-The NYT takes a look at the cool, calm Manny.
-Tony Jackson looks at the effect of Don Mattingly on Dodgers hitters.
-Want to catch up on Cubs blogs? Here's a quick way to do it.
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Not worried about Kent; I think he'll get a nice pinch-hit somewhere along the way. And DeWitt has been playing well at second. It's actually kind of amazing how well this working out right now.
I still can't believe that Big Lou didn't start Harden in game 1. He's their best pitcher by far. Blue's going to have to study him carefully the first time through.
Psyched to watch Kuroda toss his first playoff game.
Posted by: VA Blueblood | October 04, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Some thoughts:
1. I'm not sure Harden is 100%. I read in the Chicago Sun Times that he was clocked only in the high '80's during his last start.
2. Sweeney's attitude is only proper. He's lucky to even be associated with a big league team and he knows it.
3. Kent's attitude means only one thing: he's physically unable to perform. If he was healthy, one wonders where how high he would rate on the professionalism meter
4. Can we quit with the revisionist history on Ned? Dylan (Softball Question) Hernandez even went so far as to write that Ned "saved the Dodgers season". Get it straight: Saying that the Manny trade took GM skill is akin to saying that finding a diamond ring on the pavement takes mining skill. Manny fell into Ned's lap like a dancer at Spearmint Rhino. As for the item about the AJ trade being more McCourt's idea than Neds...wellllll....ladies and gentlemen, that is what is known in the PR trade as a "plant" by Ned himself, bestowed on one of the many pliant newspapermen whose asses have been smooched by Ned for the last 4 years.
Bottom line: Ned needs to be gone; Manny needs to be signed; Furcal needs to be retained, and a power hitting 3rd baseman must be acquired to replace Blake. Ned will do none of the above if left to his own devices.
Let's get the sweep tonight, Blue!
Posted by: twerp1 | October 04, 2008 at 12:32 PM
I trust Beimel about as much as I trust Broxton, which is to say: not at all.
Posted by: Rufus Leaking | October 04, 2008 at 01:23 PM
i got a question...the timing might not be important, but...why does evryone assume that lowe won't be back for next year?..so he's a free agent, but wouldn't the dodgers still be interested in him as a ground ball pitcher ?? i read somewhere that he wants to finish up in detroit ??? what's the deal here ??
Posted by: cramsib | October 04, 2008 at 02:10 PM
Sometimes all the dogs pull the sled, other times the dogs smell the "you know what" of the one in front of them.
Our Dogs seem to be pulling.
I will be very happy if Hiroki Dokie justifies my domain purchase.
Posted by: Benzo Jones | October 04, 2008 at 02:31 PM
I am trying to "expect the worst, hope for the best", scenario. I love my dodgers, but I do not want to be over confident. I am considering not watching the game in fear that I would have a panic attack, lol (and the previous two games I barely had a chance to watch because I had work....so I am thinking that they win when I do not watch the game. Yes, I am superstitous.). But, speaking of superstitions....I read in the times that the Cubs had a priest come and bless the field with holy water before game 1 (maybe game 2). I think that it is ridiculous that they feed into that crap. I like the quote that Torre had. They are just setting themselves up for failure with that mentality. GO DODGERS!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: stephanie | October 04, 2008 at 03:04 PM
Beimel would make just about every MLB roster and, if the Dodgers dangled Broxton in a trade, they'd have dozens of bidders. He has the occasional inconsistency of youth, but he is highly talented. Both of them have contributed to the Dodgers' having one of the game's best bullpens.
Posted by: WBB | October 04, 2008 at 03:18 PM
My thought is I'd like them to sweep, lol!
Posted by: Andy B | October 04, 2008 at 04:26 PM