Kind of wild around here
As a Bronco fan, winning 9-6 in football isn’t exactly the way you want to wake up on Monday morning. Yet a fellow Denver fan pointed out to me the silver lining – that my favorite football team has yet to give up a touchdown this season. And why does that matter at Inside the Dodgers? Because silver linings are important in sports. They allow you to see through the obvious negative vibes and stay positive when you need it most.
Sure, a win yesterday would’ve been huge. It would’ve guaranteed us first place at the end of this series, but you know what? A win tonight would do the same thing. A win tonight and we’re right back where we were when this series started. And, if the season were to end today, we’d still be going to the playoffs.
I know, I know. These are tough pills to swallow after a great outing by Derek Lowe and a game that was obviously winnable, but this is no time to get down on the boys. When we were reeling in July, everyone stayed positive and the team bounced back. There’s no reason it can’t happen again today.
So get back to work. Try hard not to think about tonight’s game until you’re done with your work day. Then come on out to Dodger Stadium and get your fleece blanket and wave it like there’s no tomorrow. Or head home and watch the game with your kids, your friends, your family or your fellow Dodger fans. These next seven games are crucial because we’re at home and that doesn’t mean a thing if we’re all walking around with our heads down, right?
Inside the Dodgers 
In the same vein, below is my posting of just a little earlier today !!
I, like you drj884, have held back from commenting of late because it’s been hard to swallow the losses. Having traveled a lot throughout the country, and especially the South, it takes a lot to get used to a southern way of doing things. And I don’t agree with a number of things Grady does, but I have the luxury of seeing the results first. Grady on the other hand has to make decisions before it happens and I for one have to trust his judgement. This team lost 91 games last year, didn’t make a single trade until after the GM meetings last winter because of all the management changes. Has had to deal with the complete revamp of the roster by opening day and then a complete house cleaning of the bullpen during the season. On top of that we’ve had to deal with the loss our closer Gagne, a power hitting 3B in Mueller, our setup guy in Brazoban, a number of DL players throughout the season and more !!! Yet with a roster full of Kids, over the hill veterns, a closer from Japan and a weggie board Grady has this team near the post season. I for one think this guy deserves the Manager of the Year !!! Not our ridicule. I completely understand the armchair coaching but you guys are putting the complete failure of this team on his shoulders and he’s not between the lines !!! At some point the responsibity has to fall on the players shoulders and we have to accept the fact that these guys are human and aren’t perfect !! What you saw yesterday was a great game where guys like Lugo made a fantistic DP and then boots one on the very next play. THAT’S BASEBALL !! Like 53, I was there for the first and last pitch yesterday and although they lost I sure saw a good game by two very good teams !!!
Now let’s kick some Padres butt today !!
Go Dodgers !!!
Posted by: garysmith@glsmith.com | September 18, 2006 09:33 AM
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Gary… you can’t post this again until you learn to spell “Ouija” board correctly. :O )
Thanks Josh for the reminder to keep our heads up. I agree with your post Gary… both of them in fact. This is the time to stay positive. The Padres are a good team also and didn’t win as many games as the Dodgers have by accident. Sure we’ve missed some opportunities, but now is the time that our team needs our support. This will work itself out somehow and in a couple of weeks we’ll be touting this team for a great year. This team will be in the playoffs… one way or another. First in the division would be ideal and it still can happen.
Let’s smack-down the Padres today and put the Dodgers back where they belong… First Place!!
Furcal’s comments were on the radio this morning and I think he summed it up perfectly that that Dodgers try to do too much when they play the Pads. They get stressed, they get tense and they choke. I was about in tears for Chad the other day. The last time I saw something like that was at Shea a couple years ago and the Mets rookie pitcher was crying when they pulled him in the third inning. The Boys in Blue need a spa day before every Pads game – get them relaxed!
With regard to the stadium, I finally tried out the Dugout Club and am now officially addicted! When I first read about it, I wasn’t impressed. It sounded like a lame-o, overpriced gimmick. Boy, was I wrong! My favourite aspects are the peanut barrel and the hotdog “station”. Tomorrow will be my first time for dinner, and I can’t wait!
Furcal looks to me like the best player on this team. Maybe he will emerge as the leader.
Great post Josh (and Gary)! Thanks for the reality check. Now, let’s get back into first place tonight!
GO DODGERS!
PS: Hey Brad Penny – Don’t forget that Jake Peavy is a very good hitter. Pitch to him wisely.
Thank you so much – I needed to read this. I was at the game on Saturday and was so disappointed.
GO DODGERS!
Time to fight to the bitter end. Best case scenario is clinching division by Monday, but that would require the Dodgers to sweep the Pirates and then the Pirates to sweep the Padres. In reality, the Dodgers may very well still be battling for the playoffs on October 1. So hold nothing back, go full force and play every game like the season depends on it, because it does.
Go get ’em, LA.
You have to LOVE Dodger Baseball !! and Dodger Fans !! Who says we don’t have passion on the West Coast !!!
Beat’em into the ground tonight Dodgers !!!
PS: I knew I was going to get caought on that one Kevin “Ouija”, I didn’t have a clue, nor the time to look it up !! Thanks for the help. I asked MLB if they could add a spell check function to the blogg and they’re looking into it. I know I need it !!
Go Dodgers !!
Hey Gary – If I’m not mistaken, I believe that “Ouija” is a board game and “weggie” involves underwear. (Sad part is I knew exactly what you meant).
All in fun, of course.
Nicely put Josh, and I’m glad I’m not the only Dodgers fan who is also a big Broncos fan. I can totally relate – I was also looking for silver linings for their anemic offense (and there are many: awesome defense so far, and they did win yesterday, 1 and 1 is better than some other well regarded teams are doing so far). Hopefully their offense will wake up next week in New England – and hopefully the Dodgers offense will wake up well before then!
This is the *biggest* game of the season for them, bar none. They have to make a statement that they can beat the Padres and return to first. If they can’t do that, they’re in trouble. Fingers crossed.
Just goes to show you 53 that us OLD guys must all think alike !!!
Can you relate Harold ???
Go Dodgers !!
Yup. Gotcha Gary. I don’t think you are exactly an old guy but older than Ray and Patriotacts. However, we are of one accord in many baseball, Dodger things. Must be a lot of passion in LA. Look at the attendance. When we visited Dodger Stadium in 1985 the people at the stadium provided as much entertainment as the game. The one peanut guy was amazing. Tossing the bags of peanuts behind his back or over his head and never missing the target even ten people or so away. Grady doesn’t need a weggie, Peavy could use one, or a Ouija board tonight. Go Dodgers