Welcome back to the post-game show here on the Dodgers Radio Network. It’s time to take some calls. This next hour is yours, fans. Don't hold back.
Well, Roger, what do you think? Probably didn't think it would end this way, right?
I‘m just stunned. I really am. I mean how do you win 119 games in the regular season — more than any other team in history — and lose to the wild card team in the NLDS? That is just unacceptable to me and some heads should roll somewhere. Manager Jim Tracy should go or someone. This is ridiculous!
Well, I don’t know about that harsh reaction but I agree with you about being stunned and frustrated. Thanks for the call, Roger. The Dodgers just seemed listless in this series, and their pitching — the bread and butter of the season — just let them down at key times, including tonight
Steve, you hanging in there tonight after the tough Game 5 loss?
Frankly I turned it off after Kevin Mench hit the three-run homer off BK Kim in the first inning. I just had a feeling when they took Game 2 from us at home that we could be in trouble. I just wonder, do you think the guys got satisfied with the 119 wins in the regular season? They just didn’t seem to play inspired to me at all these past few games. And the Cubs did, and they move on.
It was obvious that A-Rod, hurt in the final week of the regular season, wasn’t himself, going 0-for in two of the games that he did play in. And like I said before BK, Clay Condrey and some of the bullpen just really gave it up at times. And this year, the offense didn’t rally the troops like they did in last year‘s playoffs. I mean Andrew Zarzour gave up five homers in the World Series last October, and the Dodgers still won that game. This year, there just weren't the answers from the offense when the team got down.
Thanks for the call, Steve. If you’re just joining us, it’s official. The Dodgers have been eliminated from the playoffs by the Chicago Cubs in Game 5 of the National League Divisional Series tonight, losing 7-6 at the Ravine. LA left Johnny Damon stranded at third base in the bottom of the eighth, a run that could have tied it up. Paul Lo Duca singled with one out in the top of the ninth, but Craig Wilson struck out and Damian Jackson grounded out to end the game and season, producing a frenzied celebration of Cubs players at the mound.
Chicago will now go on to play Atlanta in the NL Championship Series, while the Royals and Indians will duke it out for the AL pennant.
Let’s take another call. Rob, so you’re a Cubs fan, eh? You might want to lay low for a few days.
Ha. I moved here from Chicago about five years ago. I just wanted to tell all the Dodgers fans to chill out. Yes, you got beat but good grief we haven’t won a World Series in almost a century. You guys won last year and still had a great season this year. We were just hot this series. Preston Wilson had a great week and of course Mench’s homer was huge tonight. This could be the year for us.
Thanks for joining us Rob. I’m still trying to come to grips with a potential Cubs-Royals World Series. This could be the year for the Cubbies, though, you‘re right...
Eric, you OK tonight? You’re not jumping off a bridge or anything? My screener says you’re pretty, uh, wound up.
Yeah, I guess I’ve cooled down a bit now being on hold for 15 minutes. But the thing that kills me is that LA may never have this level of talent all together here again in our lifetime. And we choked. We could have gone down as the greatest team ever, and we frickin’ choked. I just don’t see us hanging on to all these guys next year. We blew our chance at real history.
The off-season will be interesting for sure. We already know that Johnny Damon, David Bell and Jeff Cirillo will be off to the free agent market. The arbitration hearings could be a big day for the future of the franchise. There are some guys in line to get big raises, and the Dodgers may not be able to afford to keep everyone around for 2004. I’d look for a few other starters to move on. We’ll see.
Well, we’re up against a break. We’ll be here for about 50 more minutes, so chime in with your thoughts. The Dodgers are done. No World Series this year. Back to take your calls in a two minutes...
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NOTE: Andrew Zarzour wasn't on the playoff roster this year, so at least he won't catch grief for giving up a bunch of long balls ... Maybe he should have been on the 25-man roster, but on paper at least, there were five other starters and a bunch of relievers who appeared the stronger choices ... sigh...