The Los Angeles Dodgers face Matt Latos and the San Diego Padres tonight at Dodger Stadium. Right now, the stench of 6 straight losses is felt by the fans and the media. The players? This team has a resiliant attitude and they believe in their ability to get the job done. I am confident that the Dodgers can win tonight. However, and more alarming is the teams best option at SS, Raffy Furcal is out of the lineup and the reasoning is a bit unclear. Last night, everyone saw why we have Matt Kemp and his 5 for 5 night and why we pull all our hair out as fans when he makes base running blunders. It's not just him, but James Loney somewhat misjudged the throwing arm of Chris Denorfia in Center Field and advanced on the throw with 2 outs and Matt Kemp not exactly racing home. Sure that was a loss of a run, but let's say if Loney doesn't advance and Kemp scores, the Dodgers are ahead on the Padres and it certainly makes a difference for the psyche of the Padres being down a run or two and roughing up Clay Richard is a much better situation for the Dodgers.
Again, if the Dodgers can get a win tonight and win the next two, they have a good chance to gain a few games back and quite possibly back on the Giants.
I am looking at the glass half full here so seeing the Giants crumble in Colorado and Atlanta might put me back in "I told you so" mode. In reality, I am tired about hearing how the Giants are going to the playoffs when last time I checked, they have not clinched anything.
Vin Scully brought up an excellent anecdote from the past Brooklyn Dodgers ball club. The Dodgers of 1951, one of the best Dodger teams ever, in a 154 game season, won over 100 games. Now, Larry McPhail of the Dodgers brass came down to the club house and told the team: "You guys are going to lose." The Dodgers blew a 10.5 game lead in Mid August to not get to the playoffs. Does that bode well for us as fans? Not exactly, but some hope can be gained from Vin being Vin.
However, it's still a long way to go before the season ends and so as fans we have to weather the storm and pray/hope the Dodgers can win a long string of games against good hitting and pitching teams.
Ted Lilly on the mound tonight serves as somewhat as a stopper of this horrible losing skid. He eats innings, but also pitches effectively. I am hopeful that he gets the Dodgers to a good start of what could be a great winning streak and for that to happen, everyone needs to hit and run the bases well!
Go Dodgers!
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