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…I think. Massive apologies for the huge site issues over the last day or so, including unintended RSS and ad issues. Couldn’t have come at a better time, right? Something like this will never happen again – promise.
I’m not entirely sure if anyone can even see this yet, but we’ll get back to Dodger baseball today.
O.K., that is now our lamest title for an article, ever. I know, I know…
So, as I’m sure most of you have heard, according to the L.A. Times, the big story is that Frank and Jamie McCourt have now called it quits and have decided to separate. While it’s generally sad to see any marriage end, for obvious reasons, that’s not really the concern here. Rather, what’s the effects that this can have on the team? Can the team survive this successfully or are we going to see another San Diego situation, where their owner, who alsoheaded for a divorce, pretty much slashed payroll and eventually traded the likes of Jake Peavy?
Right now, it’s hard to say, and there’s certainly a variety of factors that play into it, which we just don’t know. Though if they do indeed divorce, there’s definitely a chance that they would have to sell. It’s certainly a situation that deserves to be closely monitored, as this situation can either (and hopefully) turn out well for the team or it could end up bad. Very bad.
On the other hand, we’re Dodgers fans, so what’s new? Even during good years, there’s usually always that shot in the nuts (or as I call it: a “Holliday”) that has to happen. But there’s still baseball to be played, and meaningful baseball at that, so let’s get it going, already!
An update to “Kershaw starts Game 1” from earlier, also from the official blog: (actually, it was from the official Facebook page – hey, MSTI has a Facebook page, hint hint)
UPDATE:
Rotation will be Kershaw, Padilla, Kuroda, Wolf
Wow. It doesn’t surprise me in the least that Hiroki Kuroda takes Chad Billingsley’s spot, and that’s an argument for another day. But Vicente Padilla in Game 2? Randy Wolf bumped all the way down to Game 4?! What is that about?
I’m sure there’s a perfectly good reason for that; I just can’t think of what it might be. With all of the issues the Phillies have against left-handed starters, why wouldn’t you want to use Kershaw and Wolf in Games 1, 2, 5, and 6?
Plus, I get how good Padilla’s been as a Dodger. I do, and I have no problem with him getting a start. But is he really our second best pitcher? I can’t wait to see what Torre’s reasons are behind this.
Kershaw to start Game 1
He’ll take the mound tomorrow to open up. Game 2 starter still TBA.
Well, then. I guess there’s no more screwing around about who our “ace” is, eh? Very interesting decision, though. Not only does it put a ton of pressure on Kershaw – which honestly, doesn’t bother me all that much – but it does set him up to pitch Game 5 in Philadelphia, rather than Game 6 in Los Angeles. Kershaw’s been more effective at keeping runs off the board at home this year (1.83 ERA vs 3.81 ERA), though I suppose the underlying thought is that you don’t want to chance losing a series without having your best pitcher throw twice. The home/road split isn’t really as bad as it looks, either – his WHIP, K/9, and BB/9 rates are almost identical.
I think the real question, though, is the “Game 2 starter still TBA” line. How could that possibly not be Randy Wolf? Are you really going to go with Vicente Padilla or Hiroki Kuroda? No chance.
Over at ESPN’s SportsNation, they’re letting people vote on what they think the World Series matchup will be, and it’s overwhelmingly in favor of Yankees/Dodgers – no surprise there.
But there’s more to see than just that…
1) What the hell is going on in North Dakota? Lots of Angel fans up there? Particular ire for the Yankees?
2) Down in the bottom right, you can see that Yankees/Dodgers (symbolized in green, of course, because of the massive amounts of cash this series would make MLB and their TV networks) is also winning in the international poll… which, judging by that map, was taken 
with whales, sharks, and the other denizens of the world’s oceans.
3) At right, it’s good to see the hometown fans are showing faith in the Angels. Hey, Anaheimers (-ites?): you’ve been outdone by North Dakota. It’s not often I say this, but I am absolutely pulling for the Yankees to win the ALCS. Screw the Angels.
From the official blog: