Ugh
For all the breaks that went the Dodgers' way in the Division Series, they went the other way in the NLCS.
How many balls off Dodger bats got caught right at the wall? 15 feet to the left and a good 4 times, we've got at least two-run homers and the entire complexion of the game changes.
How many times would Rafael Furcal, normally a dependable defensive shortstop, commit three errors in a single inning? A 5-0 game is very different than a 3-0 game.
Cory Wade, who's been lights out all season long, gives up a long ball to tie it in game 4. Jonathan Broxton, who'd given up all of two home runs all season long, gives up a long ball to hand over the lead in game 4.
If you'd bet me that Chad Billingsley would only pitch a total of about 5 innings in two starts, I'd have thought you were nutso.
It's been a long time since the Dodgers were at all competitive in the postseason, so I'd forgotten what this empty feeling in my gut feels like. With Manny, Furcal and Derek Lowe all potential free agents, next year's team could look very, very different. I have hope that with all the talented young players the Dodgers have that this is just the beginning, but man... that's a lot of talent to lose. Granted, two thirds of it was only with the team for about two months of the season, but still. Yuck.
How many balls off Dodger bats got caught right at the wall? 15 feet to the left and a good 4 times, we've got at least two-run homers and the entire complexion of the game changes.
How many times would Rafael Furcal, normally a dependable defensive shortstop, commit three errors in a single inning? A 5-0 game is very different than a 3-0 game.
Cory Wade, who's been lights out all season long, gives up a long ball to tie it in game 4. Jonathan Broxton, who'd given up all of two home runs all season long, gives up a long ball to hand over the lead in game 4.
If you'd bet me that Chad Billingsley would only pitch a total of about 5 innings in two starts, I'd have thought you were nutso.
It's been a long time since the Dodgers were at all competitive in the postseason, so I'd forgotten what this empty feeling in my gut feels like. With Manny, Furcal and Derek Lowe all potential free agents, next year's team could look very, very different. I have hope that with all the talented young players the Dodgers have that this is just the beginning, but man... that's a lot of talent to lose. Granted, two thirds of it was only with the team for about two months of the season, but still. Yuck.