If I have learned anything from Los Angeles fans in the years I have spent following their sports, it's that in their minds one game can make or break a season. One great win means they are on track to championship glory, while one bad loss means they should pack it in and prepare for next year. The loss on Monday to the woeful Pittsburgh Pirates is certainly one of those losses that makes Dodgers fans everywhere shake their heads, but there is much to consider before you tell yourself that the season is a wash.
First of all, there are 161 more games to go. That should probably be the main driving force of my arguments, and I could just end the article right here and everybody would have to say that I am one hundred percent correct. However, I don't feel like stringing you along like that, and there are definitely more positive aspects of Monday's devastating loss than the fact that they have another chance later on tonight.
Let's rewind the clock a couple of weeks. Joe Torre announced that Vicente Padilla was going to be the Opening Day starter for the Dodgers. This announcement was met with plenty of criticism and hysteria from Dodgers fans everywhere, as they tried to understand why Padilla was give the job. Before this announcement Padilla was largely considered the third or fourth best starter on the Dodgers staff. Many failed to understand why younger, more qualified starters such as Clayton Kershaw or Chad Billingsley didn't get the spot. So, while the Dodgers looked particularly feeble in the series opener in Pittsburgh, remember that their opening day starter isn't exactly opening day caliber.
The big performance for the Dodgers comes tonight, when Kershaw takes the mound. The Dodgers will rely heavily on Kershaw's maturation as a pitcher throughout the season, and he is widely expected to become the ace of the staff. After Kershaw tonight, the Dodgers other upcoming star Billingsley will throw on Thursday. The Dodgers are going to rely heavily on the arms of these two young men for the rest of the season, and most likely the next few years. While the starting rotation is the largest question mark for Joe Torre's club this season, it definitely is not as catastrophic as Padilla's opening day flop.
One of the bright spots I noticed from Monday's game was the offense. There seem to be very few flaws in the Los Angeles line-up this season. While players like Blake, Ramirez, and Furcal are on the downturns of their careers, the young nucleus of the Dodgers offense is just getting into their prime. Players like James Loney and Russell Martin are looking to become legitimate offensive threats, while Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp are turning into bona fide All-Stars. The Dodgers line-up did score five runs on Monday, albeit against a Pittsburgh pitching staff. However, it appears as if the Los Angeles offense is not going to be a problem, so even with the loss there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Another positive aspect from Monday's game was the bench production. While it is impossible to judge anything based on nine innings of baseball, the Dodgers seem to have carried over their tradition of a deep bench that helped them so much last season. Garrett Anderson had a pinch-hit single, which of course is one hit and could mean nothing, but its a positive thing we can take from an otherwise negative game. Bench production was crucial last season, we all remember that.
Overall, it is very important for Dodgers fans to consider the magnitude of the situation. Baseball, more than any other sport, is a marathon and not a sprint. The division is not going to be won in July or August, and it is most certainly not going to be decided on April 7th. Remember Dodgers Nation, there is a long ways to go and we haven't even seen the best pitchers the Dodgers have to offer. So don't panic quite yet, and always remember this: In August of 2008 the Dodgers lost 8 consecutive games to put them basically out of playoff contention. However they then rallied for 12 wins in their next 13 games, and won the division. Never give up hope Dodgers fans, especially on the second day of the season.
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