2008 NL West Champs!
Arizona got creamed by the Cards 12-3, which means the Dodgers won the division before their game tonight even started. Accordingly, Joe Torre went right to work, utilizing the last games of the season to prepare for the playoffs. Jeff Kent and Rafael Furcal both started the game, played 3 innings and got a couple of at-bats a piece.
Furcal is progressing. His first game back, his swing looked a little slow and he struck out. Although he didn't get a hit tonight, he did come close, and he got the bat on the ball both times without any problems. He hasn't driven a ball yet, but he has come very close to having two balls drop in for hits. There were no problems with fielding, but he wasn't put in any tough defensive positions either. Hopefully his back and his hamstring hold up after the start, and he'll continue to get playing time during the up coming series with the Giants.
Kent is 2-for-3 since coming back from knee surgery. I don't like Jeff Kent, but the guy can hit. In three at-bats he has shown himself to be the best pinch hitting prospect for the post season, with the possible exceptions of Garciaparra and Pierre. He will need a pinch runner, so it is somewhat questionable whether or not the extra baggage with have any effect. However, for those that see him as a detriment to the post season squad, I would just remind them of a certain famous home run by a quite hobbled Kirk Gibson in '88, and look where that went.
The guys on the Dodgers deserved this win. I think a lot of the guys who start now were highly underappreciated in the last couple seasons because they were rookies. This is their team now, and their victory. Congratulations guys, here's to the team sticking together, and many more victory celebrations to come. The Dodgers have some good vets, and a lot of young talent. It's an exciting combination.
Furcal is progressing. His first game back, his swing looked a little slow and he struck out. Although he didn't get a hit tonight, he did come close, and he got the bat on the ball both times without any problems. He hasn't driven a ball yet, but he has come very close to having two balls drop in for hits. There were no problems with fielding, but he wasn't put in any tough defensive positions either. Hopefully his back and his hamstring hold up after the start, and he'll continue to get playing time during the up coming series with the Giants.
Kent is 2-for-3 since coming back from knee surgery. I don't like Jeff Kent, but the guy can hit. In three at-bats he has shown himself to be the best pinch hitting prospect for the post season, with the possible exceptions of Garciaparra and Pierre. He will need a pinch runner, so it is somewhat questionable whether or not the extra baggage with have any effect. However, for those that see him as a detriment to the post season squad, I would just remind them of a certain famous home run by a quite hobbled Kirk Gibson in '88, and look where that went.
The guys on the Dodgers deserved this win. I think a lot of the guys who start now were highly underappreciated in the last couple seasons because they were rookies. This is their team now, and their victory. Congratulations guys, here's to the team sticking together, and many more victory celebrations to come. The Dodgers have some good vets, and a lot of young talent. It's an exciting combination.
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