Soul-crushing. Gut wrenching. Mind blowing. These are phrases that leap to mind as I try to put into words last night's Dodgers loss.
Quickly following these phrases are questions: How does Broxton walk Matt freaking Stairs on four pitches with 1 out and nobody on in the bottom of the ninth? How does he hit Carlos Ruiz with a pitch? Do the Dodgers just lack the killer instinct necessary to put a team away in the playoffs? Is this series over and, if so, will this Dodgers core ever win or do they lack some necessary element that needs to be obtained before the core is broken up by free agency? Will my head explode as I continue to hear Chip Carey fellate the Phillies throughout Game 5?
Baseball is, at its core, a game of failure. In that respect, as a baseball fan I should be insulated from these types of losses. But this feels like the failure of a Dodgers era -- call it the post-Gibson era. With so many hopes pinned on the young Dodgers stars, watching them crater in such a magnificent fashion (lead by, arguably, the best of them) undercuts not just this season but the whole theory behind this team. Some teams have that "winner" element that allows them to succeed in the most pressure packed, intense situations. It goes beyond the ability to relax (which Torre stresses so much) and treads into a combination of urgency and serenity that is typically referred to as confidence (though I don't think that captures it). I am starting to wonder if this iteration of the Dodgers has it. The inability to put away the division when it mattered. The epic failures of last year and this year against the Phillies. The season-long tendency to play down to their opponent. All these facts suggest this team embraces failure a bit too much and lacks "It."
There are lots of "X's and O's" issues that could be discussed about this game. Ted Barrett's umpiring giving Ryan Howard 4 strikes before his 1st inning home run. The Dodgers leaving the bases loaded after tying the game with 2 outs. The inability to get to the horrible Phillies bullpen for an insurance run or two. Sherrill's struggles in the 8th that lead Torre to call to Broxton an inning early (and for him to sit for 18 minutes while the Dodgers batted in the top of the 9th). Baseball turns on these things. But such discussions seem hollow when the soul of this Dodgers team seems crushed.
Some day, I hope, my baby girl will become a sports fan. I will sit with her watching our favorite teams and try to teach her what there is to love about grown men playing meaningless games for our entertainment, and will attempt to give her the passion that makes sports great without the fanaticism that makes losing so hard. And she and I will, at some point, have to face a game like last night. Then, as today, I will not know what to say.
Thank god the 'Horns won.
Well said, and I feel your pain (especially as the Dodgers currently trail 5-2 in the bottom of the 4th in Game 5).
ReplyDeleteAs an outsider, I would caution you not to overreact too much to the crushing loss in Game 4. Even if the Dodgers go on to lose tonight, it must be remembered that the team has won back-to-back division championships with back-to-back appearances in the NLCS. Sure, they have been unable to close the deal for two consecutive years against an excellent Phillies team, but that hardly would make me pessimistic about the future of the team. If anything, I'd feel good about a 95-win season and throttling of the Cardinals in the NLDS. Sure, the season will end on a sour note, but every team except the Yankees will be able to say that in about two weeks. Keep your head up, Dem Bum. You've got a tremendously talented young core who has tasted some regular season and post-season success over the last couple of years. Unfortunately, I don't see the Phillies falling off anytime soon, so...
Your paragraph about sharing games with your baby girl was excellent. As much pain as Game 4 caused in the Penny household, it's all part of being a fan. You remember the bad nights more than the good nights, sometimes. But it is those bad nights that makes the good nights seem so much more special. I expect baby Bevoette to learn that very quickly.
This raises one of the classic questions facing modern organizations: when to continue to invest in a young team versus going out and acquiring replacement pieces. I will bring up one example, though not because I have anything against this particular player. Take James Loney. At this point in his career, he is a serviceable 1B, who has shown a penchant for hitting in the postseason, but has also shown a troubling lack of power. He is still young, but not Kershaw young. Typical baseball wisdom would say that you need more power from the 1B position, and certainly the Phillies outslugged the Dodgers. Is it time to trade Loney -- one of the key "young guys" -- in favor of a more established veteran with some pop (but potentially less upside)? What about Russell Martin, who seriously regressed this year, but is also still young. The potential of Billingsley as a piece in a trade for Halladay has been well discussed, but it should be noted that Halladay had to be sent to the minors before becoming the pitcher he is now, and Billingsley is only 25.
ReplyDeleteMy concern is whether this team will be able to grow into the roles that are expected of them. If not, what is initially seen as wise investment in young talent can quickly become a stingy owner's unwillingness to go after the necessary pieces. I love this young group, but at what point do you say "they are what they are"?
I don't know that I have the answer to these questions, but I guess it is not the worst position to be in. I could be an Astros fan.