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Postseason Playing Pepper: Los Angeles Dodgers

Posted on October 6, 2009 at 10:43 PM
Filed Under: Baseball Bloggers Alliance | General Baseball | Los Angeles Dodgers
If you were reading this blog before this season started, you may remember a series I did called "Playing Pepper", where I asked five questions of a blogger covering each major league team.  With the season coming to a close, I thought I'd tap into the talents of the newly formed Baseball Bloggers Alliance and ask five new questions of the bloggers covering the postseason teams.

With the Cardinals taking on the Dodgers in this first round of the playoffs, I caught up with Matt from fellow Blogs By Fans blog Feeling Dodger Blue to get his take on the Redbirds' opponent.

C70: What is the Dodgers' strength going into October?

FDB: It's hard for me to even admit they have a strength right now, but I guess I would have to say their bullpen. Broxton has been mostly untouchable as the closer and Sherrill has been great since the trade.  With Troncoso and Belisario, this team has a way of shortening up a game if they have a lead.

C70: What worries you about the team?

FDB: This team has way too many concerns to be considered a serious contender this year. For one, the starting pitching is about as makeshift as it gets. Sure, the starter's ERA this year has been good, but it has been very piecemeal. Finding two or three shut down guys to match up with other teams' shut down guys is going to be hard. For me, though, the biggest concern is getting hits with runners in scoring position. When that happens, this team is rolling, and when it doesn't they look as mediocre as they've looked the last eight games.




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√ Not So Fast, T-Mac [Tremendous Upside Potential]
√ Payroll breakdown [Feeling Dodger Blue]


C70: What player left off or added to the postseason roster would surprise casual observers, if it happens?

FDB: I think that if Chad Billingsley were left off the roster, it would surprise casual observers, but certainly not those of us paying attention. He's basically been bad for over three months. I don't think it will happen, but it would be a shock to people who recognize names. As far as players added, I'm gonna be surprised if both Juan Castro and Mark Loretta make it.

C70: Who is the one key player for the Dodgers, the player that, if they don't go well, the Dodgers go home early?

FDB: Most people point to Furcal and say that he is the catalyst, but he's been going good for a while and the team is now. If you look back at their slump in the middle of the season and their slump right now, you'll find one player who has been ice cold and that is Andre Ethier. When he goes well, the team wins. He not only provides power and protection in the middle of the order, but he has the ability to hit the ball to all fields when he's in a groove. I think Ethier is vital to this team and without him hitting, they have no shot.

C70: Have the expectations for this team changed with their struggles in the last week or so?  Do people have a less positive mindset of how October is going to go?

FDB: I think people have had a less positive mindset about this team since late July/early August. For the first three months, it was a World Series appearance being considered a given. This team was that good. I think by the time the NL West raced tightened in August, most people knew this team would be lucky to get to the World Series. Confidence started to rise a couple of weeks ago as this team started playing better in September and looked to be on the way to clinching home field advantage, but right now I would say most Dodger fans agree that they are a paper tiger, or a house of cards. They're being exposed and that does not bode well for the post-season. If they don't make the World Series, it will be a terrific failure. The talent is there and to establish yourself as the best team in baseball for half of a season can only lead to disappointment if you do what the Cubs did last year.

Thanks to Matt for giving us the inside look and we wish the Dodgers the best.  Or maybe I should say, the second-best!  :)


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Heroes
Matt Holliday (13)
Albert Pujols (11)
Adam Wainwright (11)
Jaime Garcia (9)
Ryan Ludwick (9)
Chris Carpenter (6)
Colby Rasmus (6)
Skip Schumaker (6)
Yadier Molina (6)
Brendan Ryan (4)
David Freese (3)
Brad Penny (3)
Blake Hawksworth (2)
Jon Jay (2)
Jason LaRue (2)
Felipe Lopez (2)
Nick Stavinoha (2)
Allen Craig (1)
Kyle McClellan (1)
Jason Motte (1)
Fernando Salas (1)

2009 Top Hero: Albert Pujols (28)
2008 Top Hero: Albert Pujols (25)

Goats
Yadier Molina (10)
Matt Holliday (8)
Brendan Ryan (8)
Albert Pujols (7)
Dennys Reyes (7)
Skip Schumaker (7)
Colby Rasmus (6)
Ryan Franklin (5)
Chris Carpenter (4)
David Freese (4)
Blake Hawksworth (4)
Kyle Lohse (4)
Ryan Ludwick (4)
Felipe Lopez (3)
Adam Wainwright (3)
Mitchell Boggs (2)
Trever Miller (2)
Jason Motte (2)
Allen Craig (1)
Jaime Garcia (1)
Tyler Greene (1)
Joe Mather (1)
Kyle McClellan (1)
Adam Ottavino (1)
Brad Penny (1)
Nick Stavinoha (1)
Jeff Suppan (1)
PJ Walters (1)
Randy Winn (1)

2009 Top Goats: Rick Ankiel and Todd Wellemeyer (13)
2008 Top Goat: Troy Glaus (13)

    Cardinal Nation Approval Ratings (March 2010)
    Albert Pujols 98.7% (up 0.8%)
    Adam Wainwright 95.6%
    Chris Carpenter 93.6%
    Yadier Molina 92.0% (down 1.4%)
    Dave Duncan 87.0% (up 2.8%)
    John Mozeliak 86.1%
    Matt Holliday 84.5%
    Bill DeWitt 83.0% (up 2.8%)
    Skip Schumaker 81.1%
    Tony La Russa 80.6% (up 1.5%)
    Mike Shannon 80.3% (down 11.3%)
    Colby Rasmus 76.8% (up 10.8%)
    John Rooney 76.2% (down 4.7%)
    Mark McGwire 73.2%
    Ryan Franklin 69.7%
    Kyle Lohse 66.8% (down 10.5%)
    Al Hrbrosky 46.2% (down 7.7%)

    2009
    Rick Ankiel 83.9%
    Chris Duncan 69.1%


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