What Do You Do When You Fall Down?
The Determined Dodgers fell down several times this season, but they got back up and kept themselves in the running. This Band of Brothers understand that as long as you are within striking distance, it s how you finish, and they are now finishing what they started and stumbled and got back up they never stopped running! In 2008 Heather Dorniden-Kampf, the favorite, was competing in the 600 meter race in
The Determined Dodgers fell down several times this season, but they got back up and kept themselves in the running. This Band of Brothers understand that as long as you are within striking distance, it’s how you finish, and they are now finishing what they started… and stumbled… and got back up – they never stopped running!
In 2008 Heather Dorniden-Kampf, the favorite, was competing in the 600 meter race in the Big Ten Championship, when the unthinkable happened on the final lap – she fell right on her face, but in a blink of an eye, she jumped back up and from the back of the pack, she won the race at the wire.
There was another race with an unbelieveable comeback when a runner came “from the depths of hell” to win:
The point is: It’s how you finish and it appears that the Dodgers are DETERMINED to finish this race on top. In a year so full of one step forward and two steps back, this team has pulled together and are now leading the pack. Yes, with their run differential, they should have about 95 wins, but that is history. They are just playing their best ball of the season, right about now and right on time. Different players are stepping up and doing their jobs. Team chemistry is a thing… sometimes it not the only thing, but it is tangible and this team’s chemistry is as good as it gets right about now. I have to tip my hat to Doc. Dave Roberts has kept these guys together and here they are… after I fired him several times this season.
Ask the Cardinals how important team chemistry is. When they fired Methaney, their clubhouse was a disaster. Under Mike Shildt, they have pulled together and will likely win one of the Wild Cards.
This is the Dodgers’ season to win… or lose. I have been saying it for a long time and I think it is becoming apparent: This team is build for the Post-Season. Tonight’s game is the biggest one of the season. It’s not a must win – even if the Dodgers lose they still be be in 1st place. But, if they win, it’s suddenly a two and half game lead with nine to play. This is the biggest game of Striker Buehler’s career. May the Big Dodger in the Sky be with him…
I am headed to the Big Island tomorrow morning and will be gone for a week. I have no idea if I will post or not, but hopefully AC and DC will keep you entertained. I will stay in touch!
Photo Credit: Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers
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Discussion (59)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Dionysis – Liking your stuff
1. Agree – Wouldn’t want that task if I were mgmt.
2. Agree
3. I guess, but sooner or later Fence post is gonna break your
heart… A dropped ball on a nonchalant effort, missed
cutoff, emotional overload etc. etc. But as I always say
what God given talent (AKA Carlos Berneir Hollywood
Stars PCL/Pitt. Pirates)
4. Agree
5. Really Agree and as you say he’s hot… Now will they see
it???
MJ – Been to the big island several times and it’s always alive… Volcanic National Park, something to behold.
For my last several visits I’ve settled on Kaui, great beaches and quiet…
just for fun, i’m going to list my [completely arbitrary] list of top five critical figures for us this postseason (yeah i guess i’m projecting us to make it–i’ll take the blame if we miss out):
1. ryu–i’m starting to wonder if saving him for game four is a wise idea. he seems incredibly dialled in right now and his tempo and command has never been better. he’s really making it look easy and if we put a solid defense behind him he can log quality innings and save our bullpen. he’s rested, he’s fresh, he might be our most dependable starter going into the postseason.
2. maeda–maybe it’s recency bias but damn do we need a guy capable of putting up a shut-down inning or two out of the pen. it’s no secret jansen is not himself this season and even when he is himself he’s fallible. a rock in the bullpen is exactly what we need and maeda, more than anyone else, looks to be that guy.
3. puig–say whatever you want about the astros. they have impact players. big-time big-moment high-caliber talent. we do too, but i feel we are slightly behind, even after swapping seager for machado and adding some complementary pieces. with bellinger and taylor taking steps backwards this year, more than ever we need another scary bat to add to turner, et al. as we just saw, a focused puig is a deadly puig.
4. grandal–simple computation here. we fell last year without him. we have him this year. he has a big payday coming, he’s healthy. he doesn’t even need to do that much offensively [and please don’t bat him 5th, DR], but he can draw a walk. he can control a pitching staff. he can provide some power in a deep lineup. he can be a difference maker.
5. taylor–he’s my favorite dodger so i’m showing my bias here. i like him atop the lineup. i like his energy. i like his attitude. i like his “grit.” he’s lost a few at-bats to keekay but i think the latter may be cooling off while he’s heating up. a slash and burn bat like we don’t really have a lot of. he can use the entire field and run the bases. a dangerous bat to unleash in key moments, strikeouts and all.
Man, I’ve been all over the world, and yet I’ve never done Hawaii. I need to get my butt out there soon. Maybe if we win the World Series, I’ll go?
MT…Stay clear of the lava and it is advisable that a man of your age after his 3rd Mai Tai remove the umbrella…
Have no fear we’ll drive thing in for you…
Mark
I hope you all have a great time!
I went to the big Island and it is much different, then the other Islands.
I didn’t go over Kilauea in a helicopter, but I did go see Kilauea, although it is more active now, then when I saw it.
It is just a different part of Hawaii to see, so it is interesting.
your best post this season, MT. kudos to you, good sir.