That's the breaks

Boy oh boy did things break right for the Dodgers yesterday.

Manny Ramirez kept coming up with men on base. Ryan Dempster forgot his google map of the strike zone. Derek Lowe’s sinke was sinking. And James Loney scrapes a millimeter off of strike three to stay alive for another pitch. Then he breaks out the rye bread and the mustard (for the salami, that is).

But beyond that, the heart of Chicago’s order came up in the eighth inning, otherwise known as Broxton time, giving Big Jon what was really a save opportunity without the pressure of pitching in the ninth inning, something that has often spooked him. The 9th inning guy often has a tougher job than the closer depending on which batters are due up in each inning, and last night was definitely an example of that happening.

Then, with a five-run lead, the Dodgers don’t have to waste Saito, can give the Man from Japan another day of rest, and best of all, get to throw Maddux in the home field where he began his career. If the Dodgers don’t advance—and it’s only one game, so let’s not get ahead of ourselves—that may end up being the Hall of Famer’s final appearance on a baseball field. And where better to end your career than closing out a victory for your team in the Friendly Confines.

I love the patient approach showed by all the Dodger hitters—except, oddly enough, Loney. Although Dumpster had walked the bases full, Loney came out swinging at two pitches in the dirt. Can’t argue with the results, however. Definitely a haircut of the highest quality. You can’t get a better haircut than that, not at Supercuts, not at Fantastic Sam’s, not at Iago of Beverly Hills.

I also loved seeing Manny in the camouflage argyle sweater. What’s the deal? Is he hoping to blend in with the preppies, or stand out from the GI Joes?