Yes, yes, and yes. Otherwise, it’s going to be a short post.

they haven’t haven’t completely changed. They’ve just added a few parts. The way I look at it, is the playoffs is a crapshoot. Also, I think of it this way: There is a reason that the Dodgers are 6 games over .500, and the cubs are 33 games over .500. They’re a better team, that plays in a better division. Think if the Cubs had all those games against the rotten West! I’m not worried about Z. I think the extra rest will really help. He’s had a lot of rest between starts twice that I remember this year. The first game back on those two occasions: a PEARL against the Cards, and that one thing he did against Houston. I think the keys to this series are: 1) Rich Harden- I haven’t heard anyone talk on radio or TV about the luxury of having a guy like Rich Harden pitching the third game. He starts the first game, on any team in the league. He has the stuff to be absolutely dominating. If they go up 2-0, you know you have an excellent change with Harden then Lilly going. I’m not worried about his velo, anyone that knows baseball will tell you that he certainly wasn’t cutting it loose against the Mets. He did have it in the low 90s also. He hardly threw any change ups, and I would bet a part of the low velo, and lack of change ups, was to not show his hand to a potential playoff opponent. Second, I think Alfonso Soriano is the other key. We will hear for the next 3 days about Manny Ramirez. Well, if Alf gets into one of his grooves, he will completely over shadow anything Manny does. His hot, is hotter than anyone else could possibly be. Can you imagine the boost to the offense if he puts up “one of those weeks”. Yes, the Dodgers have good pitching, and what looks to be a very formidable pen, however a large piece of their puzzle in Kuo is out for the series. Thats avery big blow to the Dodgers. I guess I should also say that a third key will be throwing strikes. We know that the Dodgers don’t supply the power as other teams, but they have a good OB% I believe. I know that most fans will be nervous even if they were playing the Pirates. But I like this matchup. Its also nice to be playing a team that doesn’t have the most experience. It would be nice to have a nice deep breath if Dempster throws some shutdown baseball, and the bats back him up.

the Dodgers offense was pretty challenged. Even with Manny, they went into an 8-game tailspin where it appeared they were going to drop out of the race.

They are better with him in the line-up, obviously. Not as noticable — but the trade for Dewitt to play 3rd has solidified the left side of their infield. (Having Furcal back in the line-up at SS isn’t too bad, either.) Ethier and Russell Martin are solid.

This is a much better team, offensively than the one the Cubs played earlier this season.

Saito’s a quality closer, but he hasn’t quite had the season he had last year. Their middle relief is “acceptable.”

Derek Lowe has beat the Cubs six straight times, I believe…..that’s a problem.

And, be sure to use paragraph breaks.

All of your thoughts will go for naught if it’s one big blob of copy. This is nothing that hasn’t been suggested time and time again.

have a preety damn good bullpen. They are missing Kuo for the whole series. Kuo has been…..Marmolesque this year. lots of strikeouts and low era in his reliefe role. Beimel has also been very good with a low 2 era. Saito, who is usually the closer has been shaky since coming off the DL and isnt his normal self (keep in mind the Cubs did preety good against Saito this year). Then you have Broxton closing it out for them. Broxton can throw some real heat. He is 14-22 in save opps but I bet a couple of those blown ones are before he took over the closers role. Regardless it is a very good pen that can keep up with ours.

If you ask me though our starting is quite a bit better and all the match ups seem to be in our favor. Our lineup is also alot better than theres and thats with them having Manny. We got home field advantage of course, so I am still very confident we can take the Dodger.

Also keep in mine the Dodgers havnt played a team with a good record in a few weeks. So even though they have been playing real well lately, it is also a little skewed.

He closed when Saito had injury issues mid-season.

Saturday night against the Giants. Looks like he’s back. ERA at that time 2.49. I’d say he’s OK.

It was his 8th blown save this year.

I remember there wasn’t a whole lot of offense this year between them (if I remember correctly).

…………are available to contribute, this will be a much tougher series. Both of these guys are vets with solid post-season experience.

And with Saito seemingly healthy, he and Broxton – regardless of which one closes – are formidable at the end.

Ethier, Kemp, Loney and Martin are solid hitters. Manny has been amazing, as everyone knows.

Lowe and Billingsley are a good one-two combo, enjoying the pitcher-friendly environs of Dodgers Stadium for half the year.

Anyway, the Cubs should handle these guys, but I’d prefer to see Kent and Furcal in street clothes. Looks like they’ll play to some extent, but hopefully not enough to make an impact.

Hey, have you guys been hearing about the Dodgers leaving Greg Maddux off the playoff roster? I dont think its yet set in stone, but there appears to be some talk of it. Wow, I never thought id hear a playoff team leave a HOF’er like Maddog off its roster… regardless of what he did over the season. In no way do I want Maddux to beat us, but hey, I love the guy… He’s a Cub, so I dont wish any ill toward him either.

I hoped he would pitch another season, but if hes getting kicked off the roster, I don’t know if his competitive nature would allow for it.

I wouldn’t do it, unless you have to. Make someone else beat you. First base open? Lead is less than 2? Don’t bother. Keep the two guys in hitting in front of him off base most of the series, and you beat these guys.

I know everyone talks about pitching matchups, bullpens, etc., but the Cubs success this postseason is completely up to their offense. It disappeared in the sweep last year to the DBacks. Can’t happen again.

DLee, ARam, Sori, bring the big sticks to the park, will ya?

is that this is a bad defensive baseball team. I mean, really, really bad.

Manny Ramirez was bad in left field in Boston, but at least there it was a small left field and he knew how to play the Green Monster. In the NL, he doesn’t know the parks or the hitters and turns a routine fly ball into a double at least once a series.

Kent can’t play second base anymore either and if Furcal replaces Hu at SS, then the Cubs should be able to hit the ball up the middle all day long without worrying about anyone catching it.

Kemp has great defensive tools, but makes bad reads on fly balls a lot. Sometimes his speed allows him to get the ball anyway and sometimes he just doesn’t get there.

And if Torre plays Nomar at third, it’s going to be crucial that the Cubs don’t strike out and put the ball into play. Because no one in the Dodger infield is going to catch it.

Ethier is pretty good defensively. Martin’s not bad behind the plate. That’s about it.