Postseason Playing Pepper: Los Angeles Dodgers (Part II)

Yesterday, I posted the answers I got to my Dodger questions from Matt at Feeling Dodger Blue.  I also asked Chris from Dodgerfan.net the same ones and got his responses today.  So as the Cards battle the Dodgers, here's another angle on the opponents.

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

DF: The strength of the Dodgers is definitely their offense. Andre Ethier has had a truly breakout year, and Matt Kemp is right behind him.Interestingly, Ethier struggled all year against left-handers, but fortunately for the Dodgers, St. Louis' rotation is full of righties.

The other key element of the Dodgers is their pitching. Kershaw and Wolf give the team two strong starters heading into the playoffs. They're not elite, but they can both get through six innings. This is key because the Dodgers bullpen is one of the best in the majors with Kuo, Sherrill and Broxton anchoring the last third of the game. If the Dodgers have a lead going into the 7th, chances are they will hold it..

C70: What worries you about the team?

DF: The rest of the starting pitching. Vicente Padilla has been tapped by Joe Torre to start Game 3 over Chad Billingsley who has struggled as of late when the game enters the sixth inning. Padilla has pitched very well for LA, including notching 10 strikeouts on Sunday against Colorado, but he's still Vicente Padilla. Kuroda is still hurt, which is a real loss for this team in the NLDS.

DF: I think the biggest surprise is Joe Torre opting for Ronnie Belliard over Orlando Hudson at second base for Game One of the NLDS. The O-Dog was simply amazing during the first half of the season, but he played a lot and seemed to wear down over time. Since coming over from the Nationals, Ronnie Belliard's bat has come alive and he's jump-started the team's offense on more than one occasion. The Dodgers will miss Hudson's defense when Belliard plays (Hudson had just eight errors all year), but he's a pro's pro and is a phenomenal playoff bench player for LA.

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

DF: For the Dodgers to advance to the NLCS, Manny Ramirez needs to have his presence felt. Since returning from his suspension, opposing pitchers just haven't feared him, and having his bat come alive as it always has in the post-season could change the complexion of the series. The other is Clayton Kershaw. The Dodgers need their young phenom to continue his magical season with a strong start, going deep into Game 2. If Kershaw falters, it could be disastrous for the Dodgers.

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

DF: Perhaps for the national audience and the casual fan that does not watch this team on a daily basis. However, I feel that the Dodgers match up well in a short series. I also believe that post-season momentum is generated inning to inning and at bat to at bat, so things can change on a dime. Perhaps the biggest advantage that the Dodgers have is starting the NLCS at home. While St. Louis is an incredible team, LA's best hitter (Andre Ethier) has been lights out against right-handed pitching (hitting .302 vs. righties and .194 vs. lefties) and incredible at Dodger Stadium (hitting 22 HR in LA compared to just nine on the road). He's definitely a huge key for the Dodgers as they look to get out to a fast start against the Cardinals.

Thanks to Chris for the insights!