這回和去年相比下我們稍被看好了些，雖然各大媒體還是認為在Cardinals的兩大CYA候選人封鎖下Dodgers並不樂觀，且仍認為Dodgers沒有啥特別的優勢，至少NL第一的戰績似乎讓各大媒體的記者和專欄作家認為Dodgers稍微可能給Cards一些麻煩(至少沒像去年那樣一堆預期Cubs 3:0的)...
Kemp打第一球(偏中低沉球(？)...)的這隻全壘打讓Dodgers在很難丟分的Chris Carpenter手中拿下2分，而且拜首局Cardinals打者在不穩的Wolf手上滿壘僅得1分，也讓之後沒啥打擊表現的Kemp拿了當天Dodgers打者最高的WPA。
投手貢獻最大的是臨時被叫上來吃局數的Weaver，成功守下Wolf四局再度留下的滿壘爛攤，不過我認為當時的情況不該使用Weaver，而應該用牛棚裡更有戰力的投手，叫setup直接出來面對高leverage的情況才有更大的機會封鎖對手，找Weaver出來吃局數不是不對，而是用的時機不對。
次戰在Adam Wainwright的好投封鎖下形成投手戰，決定勝敗的關鍵則是Matt Holliday要命的2出局後飛球失誤，不過這點WPA系統就看不那麼清楚了，因為讓比賽結束不了的雖然是Holliday，背黑鍋的卻是吃下BS+敗投的Ryan Franklin。話說回來，Holliday的失誤只是讓比賽停不下來罷了，真正讓Dodgers獲勝的是Belliard和Loretta適時的安打。我並不覺得Cards manager Tony La Russa在選擇使用Franklin的時機有錯，而Joe Torre代打Loretta也沒有錯...因為他代的是投手，且板凳上只剩打擊一樣不讓人有任何期待的Ausmus和Castro。Cards輸了場不該輸的比賽，最後的結果打擊Cards相當大。
另外值得一提的還有Torre提前在八局就先讓Broxton上來面對Cardinals的中心打線Albert Pujols、Holliday和Ryan Ludwick，這是OK的調度，也就是我上面質疑首戰在臨時換Wolf下場時應選擇更好的牛棚投手(再換Weaver出場長中繼)的意思。不過這回的小缺失在，提前叫Broxton出賽是在比賽1:2落後的時候...我能理解Torre 1分都不想再多丟的心態啦...但他首戰在領先時不先叫牛棚強者出來守是怎樣？
最後戰在Manny首局就先把棒子熱起來的情況下，Ethier又砲轟補刀；Cards打者僅在首局得到滿壘機會，之後就被Padilla一路封鎖到他退場休息，然後門再度被Sherrill和Broxton關起來。
from ESPN
AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
from ESPN
AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
from ESPN
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
Quotes
"I didn't see the ball. Obviously, I can catch a ball that's hit right at me. It's very difficult to swallow. We had a chance to win the game. It was unfortunate that it happened when it did."by Matt Holliday
"That ball got lost in 50,000 white towels shaking in front of Matt's face. It doesn't really seem fair that an opposing team should be able to allow their fans to shake white towels when there's a white baseball flying through the air. How about Dodger Blue towels?"by Adam Wainwright
Wainwright這段話是這個系列賽的經典名言...不過據信在這系列賽裡先發投最好的Wainwright講這話是為了替Holliday緩頰...
"To me, Albert is just out there in a class by himself. It may cost me tomorrow, you know, a three-run homer instead of a two-run homer. But I’m still going to make somebody else beat me."by Joe Torre
Torre對付Pujols的策略是...避開他，讓後面其他人打就對了。
"We got lucky yesterday. We got lucky the day before with all the men they had on base and we were able to escape."by Joe Torre
Torre也承認我們真的很幸運...
"It's a big deal for me to help this team win, and it's a big deal to me to be a part of this. The Dodgers have treated me really well since I've been here. The most important thing that has happened is that they have treated me like part of the family."by Vicente Padilla
Padilla突然變成一個好人了...
"To sweep the Cardinals, it just doesn't happen. I would have never guessed we would have swept them. It makes the champagne a little sweeter."by Casey Blake
"I've been saying from day one—I'll take our pitchers over anyone else's. They've consistently come through in the biggest series."by Casey Blake
總覺得老人裡最會說話的還是Blake...
"If ignorance is indeed bliss, then you're looking at some blissful people. They didn't know they were supposed to lose."by Randy Wolf
Wolf對媒體忽視Dodgers的看法...
Poll: How Many Playoff Games Will The Dodgers Win 2009?
宣傳一下希望有空的人來我的blog投Dodgers會在今年季後賽獲得幾勝呢？的投票...這老梗去年也辦過...在blog右上角。
