Yes, of course the home winning streak was on the line, but a win would have been very cathardic.
The Dodgers needed this win, both for the psyche and the soul. This win would have built a huge amount of confidence and it would have exorcised a demon or two.
And what makes this loss horrible is that they blew a 6-0 lead, and did it against the worst team in baseball, the Washington Nationals. The bullpen gave up an astounding 10 runs in three innings.
So much for all the pundants saying the Dodger bullpen has been solid all year. Every time they say that, I yell at them as if they can hear me and tell them the numbers are skewed because of how good Jonathan Broxton has been.
A loss like this could also equal a tailspin. They are a fragile group of baseball players and they just blew a huge lead, at home, to a horrible team. Now, their rival comes into town. Sure, they lead the Giants by 5.5 games, but San Francisco has been playing better.
This could get ugly, and I am very nervous that it will happen. Chad Billingsley, who has shown to be an emotional guy, pitches tonight and absolutely must be the stopper.
One thing I hope to see the offense realize, is that the game doesn't end after the first inning. This team scores so many runs in the first inning, but kind of gets comfortable and goes dormant for innings at a time.
They are averaging 1.13 runs in the first inning, and they are averaging right around .6 runs every other inning. It's been especially drastic on the homestand.
The offense needs to remain consistent. Last night, had they piled on and not kept the Nats in the game, we're not talking about a loss right now.
Sorry to see that defeat last night, I thought they could hold on. Important series this weekend!
I was under a mandatory evacuation due to a fire here in Santa Barbara, the same day that Manny Ramirez recieved his 50 game suspension, the same day the Dodgers blew their 13 game home winning streak...I am now back home and Im more in shock from the Manny deal than anything else...Its been a couple days now and this sucks, the offense is still strong and capable but Im not leaving the boiling pot on the stove to watch Manny bat anymore. It looks like the wind was taken from the Dodgers, and thier offense reminds me a lot like...well like last year before we had Manny! Please get us some bullpen help and a starting pitcher before we reel off a big loosing streak and lose all momentum that we gained in April...Ned/McCourt give us something to help us with our wounds!
I just dont have the same confidence in this team without Manny, and I dont think they have enough in themselves...maybe stults and weaver will continue to step up, maybe the young kids will step it up...but thats a lot of maybes that we didnt have a week ago with the loss of one player...scary! I was more confident in this team before we signed Manny this spring.
There is a plus side though, Matt hoped for a 9-2 homestand earlier which looked promising and optimistic, but I thought a 8-3 homestand would be just fine and that is now cemented. Dodgers need to win tomorrow or else they will lose two consecutive series to the second place division team, yet alone the damn giants. However I'd be a fool to bet money on Weaver against timmy. We also have two tough series against the Phillies and Marlins.
Today was a big game. They had to have a win, because beating Lincecum is not going to be easy. A loss today might have equaled a four-game losing streak and a tailspin. They need confidence and momentum. Ethier hasn't looked the same at all since it happened. I think he worries me the most.
Lasorda I am glad you are safe and your place is still intact.
I'm glad you are okay also. Scary.
mee too...glad you are alright man...not a good a few days for you at all. not a good stretch for the team either. the road trip will tell a lot. today was a good bounce back win. much needed.
Appreciate it guys...thank you, all in all it turns out my neighborhood just got coated in lots of ash....but its a new day, GUCK THE FIANTS! Lets beat timmy!