NLDS Preview: Cubs Vs. Dodgers
A preview and breakdown of the Cubs-Dodgers series.
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The Cubs look to end their drought of 62 years without being in a World Series and 100 years of not winning one. The Dodgers on the other hand have won one playoff game since 1988. This series is also featuring 2 of the best managers over the past 20 years in Joe Torre and Lou Piniella.
The Infields: Cubs vs. Dodgers
First Base: Derrek Lee vs. James Loney
Second Base: Mark Derosa vs. Blake Dewitt
Third Base: Aramis Ramirez vs. Casey Blake
Shortstop: Ryan Theriot vs. Rafael Furcal
Catchers: Geovany Soto vs. Russell Martin
This is very close. Furcal is coming back from surgery so his range and speed will be in question. Blake Dewitt is young(just turned 23) and is a converted third baseman. Derosa, who had a career year,(285-21-87-6) and Theriot who batted .307 are better up the middle. When you factor in the Cubs pop at the corners and behind the plate (70 Homers to The Dodgers 47) I would say the edge goes to The Cubbies
Advantage: Cubs
The Outfields: Cubs vs. Dodgers
Left Field: Alfonso Soriano vs. Manny Ramirez
Center Field: Jim Edmonds/Reed Johnson vs. Matt Kemp
Right Field: Kosuke Fukudome vs. Andre Ethier
The Dodgers have the best hitting player, let alone LF, in the past 2 months in Manny Ramirez. He has hit .396-17-53 in 53 games with The Dodgers. Add in Fukudome’s struggles lately, Soriano’s tentative play and the aging Jim Edmonds and this is an easy one.
Advantage: Dodgers
Starters:
The Cubs have arguably the best 3 going into the playoffs Dempster, Zambrano and Harden. Throw in Ted Lilly if he goes in game 4. The Dodger are without Brad Penny. They are still fairly solid with Derek Lowe, Billingsley, and Kuroda. But that isn’t quite the same.
Advantage: Cubs
Bullpen:
This is another close one. The Dodgers have 2 legit closers in Broxton and Saito. Throw in the fact they have Greg Maddux and young lefty Clayton Kershaw in there for the postseason and you have a damn good bullpen. The Cubs have a healthy Kerry Wood and possibly the best setup man in the league in Carlos Marmol. Along with Jason Marquis and ex-Notre Dame TE Jeff Samardzija The Cubbies are also quite formidable.
3 Comments
Hey, Kirby, you are right on! I agree pretty much across the board with you, except the numbers of the Dodger relievers are outstanding, so I would give them the edge. I picked the Cubs in four, but after last night, that ain’t gonna happen! Hopefully, they’ll win tonight.
Agreed. However, you left out the intangibles. The Cubs appear tentative and playing ‘not to lose’ rather than to win. The Dodgers seem relaxed and playing with a ‘nothing to lose’ mentality, and having fun. Either way I hope this series ends on Sunday because I have tix to both games in LA. Go Blue!
I can see what you’re saying about the intangibles. But it’s not surprising that it looks that way after the Cubs clinched a while ago. I think they had an off game in game 1 and they will bounce back. This is the closest of all the series in either league in my opinion. Also, I would say whoever wins this series should be able to take down either The Brewers or The Phils.