Dodgers Order Takeout On Cubs Pitchers in Game One Of NLDS

There is a theory that revenge is a dish best served cold. While the temperature was a toasty 95° degrees in Los Angeles, it was a relatively frigid 56° in Chicago for game one of the National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs.

The revenge was for Dodger fans for whom constantly hearing how many playoff victories since 1988 had been coming close to a valid justification for homicide. The number was zero for 15 years until a touch of Limatime in 2004 changed it to one. Now the number is at two, and the question for all the fish-headed haters is how high do you plan on counting.

For those who wonder how the Dodgers, as the holders of the worst record in the National League playoffs could knock off the Cubs, who sported the best record this season in the National League, the answer is simple. Manny.

Manny Ramirez has been a one-man culture change for Los Angeles. Already home one of the most diverse melting pots in the United States, the injection of the fun loving, hard working, home run hitting Ramirez has turned a .500 hovering team into a bunch of hard charging, game changing, heart-breakers.

When the Dodgers ventured into Wrigley during the season, they were a quite different team. From May 26th through the 28th the Dodgers lost 3-1, 3-1, and 2-1. They displayed pitching prowess, but the offense has now taken a turn for the better. The acquisition of Casey Blake and Manny Ramirez added experienced power hitters with playoff seasoning.

The Dodger young guns have learned from observation how Blake and Ramirez go about their business. Blake is a quiet vet who gives a calming influence, plays outstanding defense, and carries a clutch power bat.

Ramirez is the clubhouse d.j. who also puts in the time to perfect his craft.  And what a craft it is. With tonight blast, Manny has 25 lifetime home runs in the post season. That’s a major league record folks.

The Dodgers were exceeding patient in game one, forcing Ryan Dempster to thrown 109 pitches in 4 2/3 innings. The first two hitters worked six pitch at bats, setting the tone for the game. The Dodgers are a much better team when working the count, something batting coach Don Mattingly preaches.

After getting out of a bases loaded jam in the third, a tiring Dempster hung a change that James Loney deposited into the centerfield seats. The Dodgers proceeded to dine on the soft underbelly of the Cub bullpen, scoring runs off each of the next three relievers. Avoiding the back end of the Cub bullpen is vital for Dodger success in this series.

Ramirez smacked an ankle high curve from Sean Marshall deeper into the centerfield seats than any mortal has a right to. The average human would pop up that pitch onto the fringe of the infield. But not Manny. Knowledge and strength were focused into a deep blast that took the heart out of the Chicago crowd.

The calm Blake drove a single through the box off Jeff Samardzija scoring Blake DeWitt who had doubled and advanced on a Jim Edmunds error, a ball a younger Edmunds would have gloved with a diving catch.

Russell Martin drilled a homer to lead off the ninth, setting up the final nail that was driven home by former Cub star Greg Maddux.  As the fifth starter, Greg has been assigned to the Dodger bullpen for the series. It must have been difficult for the Chicago crowd to see their one time hero finish off the current Cub squad.

Maddux was the third and final acquisition by Dodger G.M. Ned Colletti.  While his pitching hasn’t been up to his previously high standard, his presence is an asset for all other members of the Dodger pitching staff, an open fountain of knowledge and guile.

In a bit of a surprise, Dodger manager Joe Torre has decided to go with Rafael Furcal as his shortstop and lead off hitter. Furcal, after a blazing start the first couple of months and a viable MVP candidate, suffered major problems with his back.

Returning to play the last week of the season, Torre has put his faith in Furcal, who repaid that faith with a solid game. A tad rusty with a couple of strikeouts, Furcal did work two walks and played a flawless defensive game.

Young stars in the making like Martin, Kemp, Ethier, DeWitt, and Loney; combined with veterans Furcal, Ramirez and Blake has transformed this Dodger lineup into one that very well could deliver a World Championship to Los Angeles for a capper to their Fiftieth Anniversary.

This is something the Cubs and their fans had not counted on in a season which eyes had been directed so high, and now much be redirected down to see a possible fall the height of the Sears Tower.