|
|
|
Dodgers on track to be best in the NL
September 30, 2009 6:06 PM
|
||
|
Not only will the San Francisco Giants have to box up their Halloween-colored uniforms for the month of October, they will have to sit back and watch the boys in blue, the hated Los Angeles Dodgers, win the National League title. The Dodgers finished off the season with the best record, the lowest ERA and the highest team batting average in the National League. These accomplishments put Los Angeles just seven wins away from a World Series berth. Manager Joe Torre earned a 14th consecutive postseason appearance and has led the Dodgers to consecutive NL West titles. Center fielder Matt Kemp has become the first Dodger to achieve 30 home runs, 30 stolen bases, and 100 RBIs in a single season, which is one of many examples highlighting the team's balanced offense. The Dodgers will mirror their regular season success in the postseason to clinch a World Series berth for the first time since 1988. In the first round of the playoffs, they will take revenge against the defending world champs, the Philadelphia Phillies, who last season erased the Dodgers from the playoffs in a five-game NL Championship Series triumph. This season, the Phillies have struggled with their relief pitching, with the biggest offender being their closer, Brad Lidge. The once reliable Lidge is leading the majors with 11 blown saves and an ERA of over 7. He was the difference in last year's championship run but has been demoted from the closer role, significantly improving the Dodgers' chances for revenge. With home field advantage, Los Angeles will take this best of five series in four games. The Cardinals won five of seven regular season games against Los Angeles due in part to the Dodgers' failure to hit with runners in scoring position. However, Los Angeles' winning percentage in the season's last two months was close to .650, helping them clinch the NL West and reducing concerns about a post-All Star break slump that let the Rockies get within two games of the division lead. Home field advantage will play a major factor in this year's playoffs, and combined with their balanced lineup, deep and effective relief pitching and Torre's experience on the bench, they will send the Cards packing in seven games, earning them a World Series berth. When the Dodgers win the pennant, Giants fans in particular, and baseball fans in general, shouldn't be surprised because they will have earned the right to be called the best team in the National League.
»
|
ADVERTISEMENT
COMMENTS
Jeremy Balan said October 5, 2009 4:10 AM
I have read some terrible things in student newspapers before, but this is the worst. First, write opinions about something you have some sort of insight on. Not a team or a league that you don't cover. Second, this is a newspaper serving the community of San Francisco State University. I shouldn't have to remind you that. If I want an opinion on Major League Baseball, the last place I want to see it is on the pages of a student newspaper. It doesn't belong in the paper and the advisers and editors should have nixed this as soon as the idea was pitched. Third, the article is plain garbage. The first two points I made would be forgivable if the writer produced a coherent act of journalism. The article only regurgitates statistics and makes predictions with no substantial argument to support it. Jesus Christ, there has been some terrible writing in [X]press this semester. It's a pretty bad reflection on the journalism department, which I heard was actually pretty good.
POST A COMMENT
| |
|
|
|
 |
||
 |
|
|
 | ||
| BACK TO TOP | Copyright © 2008 [X]press | Journalism Department - San Francisco State University |
Mr. Cohen you sound as if you can read the future. You definately sound as if your a DODGER fan. I bet your from socal which would answer why you wrote this article the way you did. Remember this: Baseball has no known course of who will take the pennant and even if your correct in your assumption you will be very lucky. As for making fun of the Giants that is not wise in GIANT COUNTRY as giant fans remember there rivals well. I forsee your Dodgers getting destroyed by the Phillies, Cardinals or even the Rockies. Since you have a three game series with the Rockies you might be suprised how the Rockies will fair. Im not a Rockie fan at all but I will always pick the other team over the Dodgers. Just sheading some light on your hopes.