Los Angeles Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cardinals - 2009 NLDS Preview

It's time for dodger baseball!! Playoff baseball to be exact. So get ready LA, because this year the Dod's mean business. The excitement that Angelinos have enjoyed with the Lakers, USC, UCLA, and yes even our brothers under the command of Dodger legend Mike Scioscia the Angels has made it's way up the 10 Freeway from Staples Center to Chavez Ravine. It is the excitement that can only come from being a contender. The city is hungry for another Championship, it's in the air or smog as the case may be here. Smog Snog whatever... Dodger fans have waited for a team of this caliber for a long time and now, after one of the best seasons in decades, it is time for the boys to put the team from Brooklyn back in their rightful position atop the Major Leagues. Winning a game or even a series doesn't matter this year like it did last year. This time around our coach has a tan, our young kids aren't just potential and we sure as hell won't be afraid to throw inside on when needed! Lookout Philli hurlers....

This year is all about the World Series and the dream match-ups that would lie in store for baseball fans. Joe vs. NY, Manny/Torre back at Fenway or just a good ol' fashion freeway fight vs. Scioscia's Angels. But first there are a couple of other match-ups to worry about. Namely the St. Louis Cardinals, Chris Carpenter, a Wainwright and the best player in the game... Albert Pujols. On paper, the Cardy-nals present a pretty convincing case as a top contender for the title this year. The Dodgers by comparison, simply do not offer the same evidence (even with their leading record) and as such are Vegas underdogs in their own house in Game 1 of the NLDS. To these mainstream minds, the Dodgers don't have the pitching or the experience or enough star players not named Manny on their roster. To the Doddie faith, we've heard it all before and enjoy being unknown to the outsiders who write us off. Last years NLDS proved the Dodgers dominance as they dispatched the much heralded Chicago Cubs who couldn't even pry a single game away from the Dodgers. And if they gained confidence from the Cubs series, they also learned volumes about competition in the fall and what it's going to take to get the Dodgers to a Championship level of play from their defeat at the hands of the eventual World Champion Phillies.

When playing to the best of their ability the Dodgers (in my humble and totally unbiased opinion) are the best team in the country. An extremely balanced team, they have some of the best young talent playing in the MLB today, speed on the bases and in the field, solid power hitting, gold glove caliber infielders (Loney/Hudson) and outfielders (Kemp/Ethier), All-Star pitchers (Broxton/Billingsly), strong leadership, etc. etc. The question has never been about whether or not our guys were talented or capable enough, instead the question has always been about consistency. With a 95 win season and back to back Division titles, it seems fair to suggest that the consistency issue isn't really an issue for the Dodgers who manage to stay effective in the midst of consternation. This is the result of making Bigalow Green Tea a part of your diet and making Joe Torre & Friends the manager of the Dodgers. Truly a match made in heaven, together Torre and his team have transformed the club with the help of a very talented General Manager and of course Manny. With this team anything is possible, even the Series.

So at 6:37 tonight, I really don't care if the ESPN's brainiacs and their stat databases don't know what to expect from some of the Dods... I'm hearing, "waaaaa the pitching staff is a liability" while the team is admittedly void of an identifiable ace the Dodgers have starters that can be electric, the strongest bullpen around, and talented lefties and righties to fit the need. E.g. Cardinals don't like lefties so we have two hot south paws who I'm certain STL isn't taking for granted. I have faith in Joe Torre, Rick Honey, Larry Bowa, Donny Baseball, and even Brad Ausmus (who looked damn good as a skipper) and expect those men to manage the club effectively and put the Dodgers into the next round.

The Dodger Lineup is a playoff caliber list of talent that gives JoTo & Co. plenty of options. The Dod's, who led the league in batting average and on-base percentage, have plenty of speed, can hit the long ball and have a lot of extra innings/walk-off experience and heroics. Mostly thanks to Andre Ethier, who I'm expecting big things from tonight and for the rest of the month. The speed of Furcal, Pierre, Kemp, and pinch runner Jason Repko in the dugout make manufacturing runs an option throughout the game. The power hitting (done at DODGER STADIUM PEOPLE) is just FINE. Put Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Manny Ramirez, Casey Blake and new starter Ronnie Belliard in a hitters park and it's not even a question, this team can hit home runs. Add the hit factory that is Loney and Pierre along with Brad Ausmus, Jim Thome, and Mark Loretta to name a few and you almost start thinking "Olmedo Seanz, who?!" "Almost" being the operative word here as the Killer Tomato was simply awesome. Oh, and tha Dod's have the most prolific post-season hitter in baseball history just itching to punk your team, that is if you decide to pitch to Manny Ramirez.

"X" factors for the Dodgers Offense are:

1. FIRST INNING PRODUCTION - Get a couple in the first and the Cards will fall.
   
2. Matt Kemp/#2 hole - Assuming (and this is a sizeable assumption) that Raphael Furcal is producing at the top of the order, having Kemps offensive arsenal (SB's, extra bases, HR's, avg., etc.) to drive in Furcal and set up Ethier and Manny makes me pity whoever has to navigate that first half of the line-up every other inning.
   
3. DOUBLE PLAYS - Too many of these and the Dodgers will be in big trouble against the Cards pitching staff. Getting through the starting pitchers is going to be a big part of the Dodger strategy, hitting into double plays helps their pitchers get off the field and of course counts for TWO OUTS, which in the playoffs are extremely valuable, duh!?
4. Get Carpenter & Wainwright out of the game as early as possible. As the great one once said, "The best offense is NOT batting against Carpenter/Wainwright"
   

Easy Peezzzy, right boys? Oh we may want to walk Pujols anytime he is in the batters box and I do mean anytime. Let the Cards take their chances with the rest of their lineup and we should beat em after nine.
So for Dodger faithful wondering how the blue crew were going to take down the Cards, hopefully you have a little more confidence going into tonight's showdown at Dodger Stadium. With a win tonight we'll be on track for a nice looking fall. So, "Let's go Dodgers" and "Let's go L.A.!!!"

"It's time for Dodger Baseball!" The "Dodger Baseball" that wins championships. Indeed, it is high time for "Dodger Baseball" and a World Series Los Angeles Dodgers team!

We WANT TACOS & DEFENSE & OFFENSE & BENCH PRODUCTION & COACHING,....

Game 5 aka the most important game yet!

It’s game-time at the Staples Center tonight as my Lakers take on the lowly Nuggets of Denver, CO. I’m predicting a convincing win for the Lakers. They should be rested, motivated and pushed over the top by Pau Gasol who should see a lot more touches after his dominant performance on Monday. Looks like taco time for staples fans who should enjoy a double digit win.
If you don’t know what the title of the blog is and you call yourself a laker fan; shame on you. basically Jack in the Box does a promotional giveaway through which fans get coupons redeemable for two free tacos whenever the Lakers win and hold their opponent to under 100 points. Or at least thats what I think it is. Basically every time you go to staples expect tacos and expect the fans to ask the players for them.
Listen for the “We want tacos?!?!” chant at the end of tonight’s blowout. One of the commentators covering the game will be forced to comment on it and then attempt to convince you that LA fans are the worst around. The reality is the chant is an LA classic as far as chants go and a hell of a marketing ploy by Jack in the Box.
As much fun as hollering for 99 cent tacos is from seats that cost a weeks salary if you’re a true Laker fan you’ve probably been yelling for more than tacos lately while watching the “Birdman” put on a dunking display for all his weird Denvey fans. Denver it's like Salt Lake City on meth!

Sure “WE WANT TACOS”

but

“We also want defense and ball movement and coaching and leadership and bench production and our role players to play their role.” ANNDD then “TACCCOOOSSS” to wash it all down after the game.

To this point the Lakers have been able to survive on their pure talent alone. The Show has been getting hustled every night by the hungry Nugs however still retain home court advantage and the ability to win games in the fourth with Kobe and a lil sense of urgency. The Denver thug squad (minus Chauncey who I respect) like the rockets before them won’t be able to beat the Lakers by out hustling them or steal a win with an amazing performance from either Melo, Chancey or Smith. They need to play ridiculous defense, get out to an early lead, out-rebound The Show, and do something about Kobe & Gasol to have a chance at winning or at least escape without the LA taco hecklers having their way with them.

The question is who will step up for the Lakers besides Pau and Kobe. Bynum is my guess for a breakout performance in Game 5. With Pau Gasol getting more touches inside and drawing extra defenders things should open up nicely for Andrew. A number? I’d guess 17 points in 20 minutes for number 17. Bynum (aka the future) and some good ball movement, like actually passing the basketball around, and the Lakers cut out Denver's heart and lay waste to the little fantasy world they are living in where they "are the better team"! HA. We'll see about that thuggies.

For Denver watch
(1) Chauncey put the G back in PG,
(2) Carmello score a bunch
(3) Kenyon Martin act like the Nnati streetballer he is
(4) Coach Karl getting outcoached by a man that doesn’t coach!
(5) J.R. Smith get a string of 3’s in the 3rd quarter.

One Second; LeBron James 5.23.2009

Lakers vs. Nuggets: Game 2 Recap

10:06:37 AM Yutai: nah, they aren't pathetic. the nuggets just played better last night
10:07:01 AM Yutai: it was a good game. an extra bounce our way and we would have won. the lakers competed and played well.
10:07:05 AM Alex Rochestie: pathetic man. we've got nothing besides talent
10:07:07 AM Yutai: i have no complaints
10:07:30 AM Yutai: the nuggest have talent too. carmelo is incredible
10:07:37 AM Yutai: i am officially sold on chauncy
10:08:11 AM Alex Rochestie: yeah man. they also have heart, coaching, a sense of urgency, an offense, a defense, etc.
10:08:21 AM Alex Rochestie: lakers, just talent. thats it
10:08:50 AM Yutai: nah, i thought the lakers played a fine game last night
10:09:04 AM Alex Rochestie: never made a run last night. no ball movement. easy points inside. nothing from the bigs.
10:09:05 AM Yutai: these conference playoffs are incredible
10:09:53 AM Yutai: yeah, well phil never adjusted much to kleiza at the 4
10:10:07 AM Yutai: should have killed them on offense there.
10:10:45 AM Yutai: but i don't feel as bad about this loss as the rockets one. where i felt we beat ourselves. this time, i just thought the nuggets played great
10:11:07 AM Alex Rochestie: i'm sorry but phil was an absolute joke last night. its as if he isn't even watching the game
10:11:36 AM Yutai: bynum never got back in the game after 5min in the 3rd
10:11:37 AM Alex Rochestie: farmar needs more minutes
10:11:39 AM Yutai: which was weird
10:11:45 AM Yutai: he was playing well, so was jordan
10:12:05 AM Alex Rochestie: yeah man. bynum is in for the first 8 mins of each half and thats it
10:12:21 AM Yutai: i am looking very forward to game 3
10:12:32 AM Yutai: i will put my money on kobe taking that game
10:12:33 AM Alex Rochestie: at the end of the game walton and shannon brown were in the game way too late
10:12:57 AM Yutai: and fish has to stop driving in the lane
10:13:00 AM Yutai: into traffic
10:13:05 AM Yutai: please. he's not tony parker
10:13:42 AM Yutai: that's about as low percentage of a shot as anything from sasha's hands
10:14:05 AM Yutai: carmelo played amazing ball denial defense on kobe last night
10:14:09 AM Alex Rochestie: how though. he isn't getting shit done on D and the "offense" now is strolling the ball up the court, a bad pass to a player posting up and then a one on one matchup at the end of the shot-clock. MOVE THE BALL
10:15:06 AM Yutai: the lakers don't respond well to energetic, physical defense that denies the passing lanes
10:15:32 AM Yutai: rockets, celtics, and now nuggets
10:16:30 AM Alex Rochestie: check out the post game interviews on lakers.com. nobody gives a fuck or seems to care about loosing or have any answer as to what they are going to do next time
10:17:48 AM Yutai: that's always the laker's M.O. though
10:18:09 AM Alex Rochestie: i hear that but it is unacceptable with the players that we have for us not to have an offense strategy that gets players open shots.
10:18:20 AM Yutai: it comes from phil. i think he's just too zen now. you never see an ounce of emotion out of him
10:18:29 AM Alex Rochestie: i know man the same MO that lost us a title last year
10:18:42 AM Yutai: he looks as sleepy after a win as a loss
10:18:49 AM Alex Rochestie: just does not give a fuck
10:19:09 AM Yutai: i think this is the laker team we have. i have already come to accept that after the rockets series.
10:19:24 AM Alex Rochestie: i loved it when he just called a time out with seconds to go! what a joke
10:19:27 AM Yutai: they still have a shot at the title, but not a very good one
10:19:37 AM Alex Rochestie: drawing up a play! HA
10:19:53 AM Yutai: the last play was weird
10:20:05 AM Yutai: kobe was near the top of the circle when the ball went out
10:20:20 AM Yutai: shouldn't the play be a single or double screen for kobe to get free?
10:20:45 AM Yutai: kind of like the webber screen for bibby in the sacramento series?
10:20:53 AM Alex Rochestie: just pathetic man.
10:21:00 AM Yutai: but we were right there
10:21:27 AM Yutai: i still don't think last night was that bad. the nuggets played great. that's all. bring on game 3
10:23:37 AM Alex Rochestie: god game three. another 48 minutes of getting scored on, stupid turnovers/fouls, and home team that wants to win and probably will. can't wait!
10:33:20 AM Yutai: or who knows! the incredible dominating offense and stiffling strong side zone can decide to show up!
10:33:38 AM Yutai: you never know with the lakers! its like a magic 8 ball!

What To Make of the Bizarre Game 1's

Hallelujah! The Lakers are back! After two great days of basketball the Lakers and the Magic win two very close games and lead their respective opponents 1-0. Make no mistake about it, these decisions were huge and speak volumes about where things go from here.


For the Lakers loosing game one against Houston at Staples resulted in a confident Rockets team and a long hard faught series that many did not expect, especially with Yao, Tracy and Mutumbo sitting on the bench. The Lakers would advance of course but throughout the series revealed some blantant weaknesses. Volatile play from the big men who despite their size and talent allowed Louey Scola, Hayes, and whoever else offered to play big. To me the Lakers even when dominant didn't display a hunger and sense of urgency while the Cavs were demonstrating to the world why they were the team to beat this year.

Until Game 1 against the Magic the Cavs were on fire and seemed almost invincible even if they were playing the hawks and pistons. Although strong in my conviction that the Lakers will win the championship this year I started to fear playing Lebron & Co. in a 2-3-2 Finals format that demands the visitors win one out of the first two to have a chance. The Lakers indiffernce to getting embarrassed by Houston and poor production from it's bigs and bench I began to think could again sabatoge another season. "Thank god we don't have to play Dwight" I said to myself.

Ah but playoff basketball happened and the tables have turned. The unstoppable Cavs were beaten AT HOME despite controlling the game early on and Lebron running train on various "defenders" that looked like guards from an Austin Powers movie. Stan van the Man never gave up though and outcoached his opposite and took away the Cavs home court advantage and a piece of their swagger and confidence.

The Lakers began game one flat, uninspired and down early but this series would be different than the humiliation they allowed days earlier. Lingering frontcourt shortcomings didn't matter in this one and with NO answer for Kobe Bryant and a couple of big plays from the likes of Fish and Trevor the Lakers displayed a bit of a Laker pride. They didn't let Denver blow them out early, got control of the game, kept it close and let Kobe do his thing in the 4th. They retained home court and took a little wind out of the Nuggets sails who had a brilliant performance from Melo (at least offensively) go to waste.

So the Cavs are now looking at a long series or at least their longest on of this post-season and Laker fans although happy to be in the drivers seat against Denver are now faced with evidence that there are two very talented and capable teams to be scared of should we squeeze out another series in the west. Don't know who I want to face.

Cavs are still tough at home and have the 3-2-3 advantage which is huge even with the Laker win in Cleveland this year. They also are hungry as hell if able to hold the first two home games the Lakers would face a challenging road they didn't do so well with last year. Then there is the Magic who we had all written off until now. Stan Vans team has had success against the lakers, can obviously win a big game on the road and have a weapon the Lake Show wants no part of in Dwight Howard. So pick your poisen, either way it's going to be a great few weeks of basketball.