Postseason Playing Pepper: Los Angeles Dodgers

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.

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!  :)