Go Dodgers!

by reedjohnson on Sep 8, 2008 12:14 PM CDT

Despite our cruddy play over the last few days, one baseball development has made me feel much better: the rise of the Dodgers in the NL West. In case you missed it, LA swept the Snakes this weekend, and now own a 1.5 game lead in that division.

Though I worry about a possible Cub collapse a bit, I have little doubt they'll reach the playoffs. If we can hang on and win the division, our likely opponent, if this holds up, would be the Dodgers. I don't know about you, but LA scares me far less in a first round matchup than Arizona does. What are your thoughts on this? As far as I'm concerned, go Dodgers!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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I will be @ Petco 2 night

…to see Maddux pass Clemens on the all-time win list…

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Sep 8, 2008 12:23 PM CDT reply actions

I was also pulling for this to happen

Until I watched the games this weekend. The Dodgers have a far more potent lineup with Manny. Their pitching might not be as big name as the D-Bags, but Im not sold on the Dodgers being an easier matchup, not the way they have been playing lately.

Brandon Webb and Dan Haren haven’t been very good the past few weeks, and Randy Johnson is currently having some arm issues. They have never had a scary lineup to me, just a stadium we cannot win in, and a group of pitchers that are dominant.

All the being said, I think the Dodgers still pose less of a threat, but either team will be a difficult series.

Your 2008 Missouri Tigers! #6 2-0 (0-0). Next up Saturday home vs. Nevada. Chase for Heisman!

by nji232 on Sep 8, 2008 12:23 PM CDT reply actions

Dodgers are better than the D'backs

That is why they just swept them. I root for them because Maddux is there but right now
I fear them more than the D’backs. Webb and Haren have IMPLODED and they are not hitting well also their closer is uneven.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry

by Doggie Stalker on Sep 8, 2008 12:25 PM CDT reply actions

Focus on making the playoffs first and winning the division and having the best record.

… instead of focusing on an opponent.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Sep 8, 2008 12:47 PM CDT reply actions

Well I of course have personal reasons for focusing on the Dodgers

which are unrelated to the Cubs.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry

by Doggie Stalker on Sep 8, 2008 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions

I hear you Al...

First things first is definitely having the Cubs win the Central with the best record in the NL. But I have to admit my number two on the list is having someone other than the Diamondbacks win the NL West. I was hoping the Rockies could pull off a miracle comeback and win it because I live in Denver, but that’s not going to happen. I think all reedjohnson is saying is that he likes the match up with the Dodgers better than the matchup with the D-Backs. So I agree with you both…
Bring on the Dodgers, but only after the Cubs clinch the division.

by rynomite23 on Sep 8, 2008 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions

True, but...

it brings me some consolation after a week of bad baseball. We must look for the silver lining somehow…
I really don’t watch anyone but the Cubs, but did anyone catch those LA/Ariz games this weekend? I noticed in the box scores that Webb has been shelled the last few times out. What happened to him?

by reedjohnson on Sep 8, 2008 1:03 PM CDT reply actions

Pressure of getting to 20 wins

He needs to get that Sinker ball working for him again, I figure he’ll get to 20 on friday against the Reds, and I would much rather see the Dodgers than a AZ team that has playoff experience…against us.

by StevenABQ on Sep 8, 2008 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Careful what you wish for

I prefer not worry about who will play. I’ve been burnt far too many times rooting for team A to beat team B because I think it’s a better matchup. Team B wins and then turns around and beats my team. Case in point the 2003 NLDS series between the marlins and giants, I wanted the marlins to beat the giants so we could have home field advantage in the NLCS. Well, I don’t have to tell anyone what happened thier.

"Destiny is a matter of choice, not chance"

by MerlinDog on Sep 8, 2008 1:13 PM CDT reply actions

I know what you mean

I had a different preference, though, but for similar reasons. I wanted the Giants in ‘03, because then the scenario would’ve been:

Cubs beat the dominant Braves with Maddux (ex-Cub great) in the 1st round.
Cubs beat the Giants (Dusty’s former team) and Barry “(Prior)-will-learn-to-respect-me” Bonds in the 2nd.
Cubs meet the Red Sox (other famously cursed team) in the WS on its 100th Anniversary and win, breaking the curse first.

Though that sequence has great poetry and legendary potential, it was spoiled by a bunch of overlooked fish who had no interest in my scenario. I was naturally quite offended by this…

"This team makes your ulcers have a baby." ~Mark Grace

by Goodie1969 on Sep 8, 2008 6:55 PM CDT up reply actions

Guess I was the only one.

I wanted the Cubs to play the Yankees in the World Series. I figured it’d be pretty cool, historically, for the Cubs to beat the most dominant franchise in the history of the game.

Oh well.

One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought you ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth.
Joe Garagiola

by Ryan at Cubshub on Sep 9, 2008 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Good point...

…I remember rooting for the Cubs to play the Marlins in 2003 too. Whoops.

I heart the riot. (www.riotshirts.com)

by RIOTSHIRTS.com on Sep 9, 2008 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm with you...

Despite recent developments, I am worried about Arizona too. If your number THREE pitcher (Big Doofus) owns the Cubs, well, it gives one pause…

And look at all the ex-Cubs on the Dodgers! They’re jinxed! :-)

""At the end of the day, boys, you don't tell me how rough the water is, you bring in the ship." -- Steve Stone

by kentmeister on Sep 8, 2008 1:36 PM CDT reply actions

Much has been made

of the fact that all the Cubs’ opponents for the rest of the regular season have winning records. Even after the past 8 games, the Cubs have the best record in the league. if they can’t beat teams with winning records, they sure won’t go far in the playoffs, because everybody there has winning records and then some. (This isn’t the NBA or the NHL where everybody makes postseason.)

My point is, it doesn’t matter whom the Cubs play. If they play like they have the past week, they won’t beat anybody. If they play the way the have the first first 5 months, as Pat says, we’ve got a chaaaaance.

by Clark Addison on Sep 8, 2008 4:03 PM CDT reply actions