Fallen and They Can't Get Up

Not to beat a dead horse, but the Dodgers again provided more emperical evidence to the theory behind their momemtum gathering decent in the league standings. In a tight 3-2 ball game last night, Grady brought in dead arm specialist Aaron Sele who yeilded 3 runs to the Pirates, and in the process made Xavier Nady, Jack Wilson, Jason Bay, and some guy named Paulino look like Andy Van Slyke, Chico Lind, Bobby Bonnila, and Barry Bonds. Again, the offense tried to come back and would have won the game had they only been helped by a little bit of decent pitching. Hey Grady, if you are looking for another arm, I'm always available. I can hang a curve like the best of them. Unfortunately, the point to this game is to not hang those curves, and the "slider" that Sele attempted to throw last night to Nady looked like something Napolean Dynamite's Uncle Rico would have thrown.

Now the Dodgers find themselves in at dead tie with the Phillies, who's wide nosed first baseman Ryan Howard is the latest home run hitter du jour and the darling of the ESPN Baseball Tonight crew. At least we don't have to watch all of Barry's at bats on that show as their talking mouth stuffed shirt host and ex decent ball player anchor cream their shorts over the young slugger. With the schedule favoring the Phillies, it is starting to look rather grim for the blue.

They do have the possibility of winning the west, of course, just like I may someday run and finish a marathon, however that would take something that the Dodgers desperately lack, heart. Jeff Kent is the latest to illustrate his drivng desire to win. With the bases loaded and 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth, Kent took the count to 3-2. Yes, the moment that every kid dreams of, sans the world series, two outs, bottom of the ninth, winning run on base, chance to be a hero, put your team back into first place, etc. Here is the pitch and he totally swings at ball four and strikes out against Soloman Torres. Game over, drive safely, thanks for coming.

I'm not putting it all on Kent, he should have not had to be in that position. Had the bullpen, again, done their job perhaps Kent would only have to worry about not letting squibers bounce through the infield and score runners from second, much like he let happen in the 7th inning when Wilson singled home Chris Duffy. Regardless, it is what it is, and now it's a giant crap sandwhich which all of the fans are going to have to eat.

If the Dodgers can't find their way out of this recent funk that has seen them lose 2 of 3 in series with the Brewers, Cubs, and now Pirates, barring a Buc sweep tonight, then they will most likely miss the playoffs. It wouldn't be anything new as fans have grown accustomed to it, however going from the top of the standings to missing out would be devastating to this organization and would most definately warrent a complete overhaul. It is down right unacceptable to be in the lead for most of the race only to be passed in the final lap. See, I can deal with a youth moment and even a "rebuilding year" if the organization was to present it to me that way. If they said, "hey, we are going to play all the rookies and get them the experience they need so that we could win in 2 or 3 years," then I could deal with that and deal with the last place finish. But they are hitting us with a combination of old farts and rookies who hit a nice stride in July and August but have hit a wall and can no longer hang on in September. That to me is a big waste of time, and something that shows no commitment to the city and the fans by the loveable "haaaard ons" the McCourts.