5 Reasons to be Optimistic

Just saw an interesting poll on ESPN where 30% of people WANTED to see the Angels win the world series (Yankees 27%, Dogs 25%, and Phillies 18%). I, for one, didn't realize anyone likes the Angels. Maybe this is the result of a bitter Red Sox nation, or maybe people want to see them do it for Adenhart. Either way, I was caught off guard a little by that stat. 

Also, 57% of Californians are more interested in the Yankees/Angels series than the Dogs/Phils...hmmmmm

As for the our upcoming Showdown, here are a 5 things that make me confident we can win this:

1) We only have to beat EITHER Hamels or Lee once. If we can sweep the back of their rotation-- a totally feasible scenario--we'd only have to win one other game. I'm assuming that both Lee and Hamels will pitch two games in the series.

2) We're not gonna get bullied around this year. Last year when things got chippy the Dogs stuck their tails between their legs. This year we have much more pitching depth, the toughest catcher in the majors, crazy Padilla, and a swagger we didn't have last year. 

3) James Loney and Jim Thome. Loney absolutely owned the Phils this year, hitting .393 with 2 bombs, 11 hits, and 17 total bases in 7 games. Add a potent JL to a lineup that is already gelling, and I smell upset. Also, I'm still convinced Thome's going to come up big at some point in the playoffs. 

4) George Sherrill and Hong Chih-Kuo. The best set up-man and situational left-hander in the majors. Kuo's career numbers against the Phillies: 8.1 IP, 0 ER, 10 Ks, 3 BB. 

5) Wolf/Kershaw in games one and two. The Phillies have scored half as many runs- and batted 30 points lower- against lefties. The crowd is gonna be amped up, Hamels just had a baby, and Cliff Lee is a nerd. If we can beat one of their two big guns in LA we're going to be in great shape. If we beat both, the series is over. 

5b) You know Bud Selig wants a Dodgers vs. Yankees World Series. Maybe we get a few calls?

5c) Hiroki Kuroda is back in the mix. Dude is typically lights out against the Phillies. Career stats: 3 G, 19 innings, 17 Ks, 5BB, 0.95 ERA

5d) Vin Scully

5f) Lidge vs Manny in the ninth. Lidge poops his pants, and Manny hits a bomb. 

Scully PWNS Swindle

I hopped into bed, flipped open my laptop and turned on mlb.tv just as the bottom of the 8th of last night's game began. Down 4-12, the Brewers put R.J. Swindle on the mound. A doughy looking fella who resembles something like Dave Matthews and Paula Poundstone's love child - A real comely ballplayer, as you can see. Swindle proceeded to get a major league shellacking. The type you would witness if your high school's varsity go-to middle reliever stepped on the mound to face legitimate major league ballplayers. That's what it looked like, and that's pretty much what it was. Mr. Swindle, Wikipedia tells us, "has five pitches, including a fastball, slider, change-up, cutter, and a 55 mph curveball." His "fastball," mind you, topped out at 80 mph. When Vin saw the man's curve, which clocked in at 53 and then 52 mph on the very generous Dodgers speed gun, he did everything except laugh in the dude's face.

“Wow, 52 mph! I think that’s the slowest pitch I’ve ever seen on the gun here at Dodger Stadium. I tell you what… if you strike out on that pitch, you really got Swindled!” [via Stop Making Sense]

Vin then went on to make some comment about how bad the Brewers bullpen and pitching prospects must be for Swindle to make the major league squad. It might have been the most pejorative thing I've ever heard Mr. Scully say.

Still, a couple Dodgers did strike out at Swindle's hand (Castro, Furcal), but when the inning was done the Dodgers had thrown 5 more runs on the board. Guillermo even put up an RBI bloop single. Swindle now has an ERA of 16.20. He has not thrown a scoreless inning this year. Seriously. Here's to hoping we see him on the mound tonight.

Casey Blake and the Los Angeles Sisters of Mercy

Well, I've made it to Los Angeles. In fact, I made it in time to catch Vin Scully make one of his brief monologues in the middle of the Rockies/Dodgers broadcast. That guy makes me so happy. 

 

I have nothing new to say about the Blue Crew except this: Casey Blake is the man. I'm sorry I haven't discussed him in an earlier post. I, like the rest of America, wasn't paying attention to him--he's not even among the top 5 three baggers in all star voting. Overshadowed by the newly acquired O-Hud, Manny taking birth control (or whatever), and Billingsly pitching like he's the best starter in the NL, Casey Blake has hit a quiet .308 (2nd on the Dogs) with a team high 8 home runs and 32 RBIs. All this AND he's got the grungiest beard in the NL West. Yet the only publicity he's gotten was due to that "mocking" gesture at the dude on the Giants. The fact is that he's been absolutely pivotal to our success, and he deserves some props outside the Chavez Ravine (where they gave out 20,000 CB bobble heads). So if you see CB around, be sure to buy him a beer and give him a pat on the back. Make sure he knows that we appreciate him. 

 

As far as the Lakers, I'm going to be brief. I think the Big Guy put it best when he said "the lakers just aren't street tough". We veil this truth in thrown elbows and tough-guy looks, but the fact is we're very soft. Granted, Phil's championship teams have always been a little fluffy, with the exception being the Bulls squad with Dennis "The Worm" Rodman, but this laker team has played like entitled, whiney brats this playoff series. I'm hoping someone--I'm looking at you Sasha Fierce--steps up and fouls Jones real hard tonight. Show the Nuggets, and Kobe, that we're not gonna take that stuff. I'm not saying we have to be the Detroit Bad Boys, but we certainly can't be the Los Angeles Sisters of Mercy. 

Still kinda sunburnt,

Doom Bizzle