Well, it all started well, and then the bullpen showed that they still need more work. I had a hunch that it would get closer as the game went on, but what a way to start.  The Dodgers were killing the Giants.

Andre Ethier’s grandslam was epic to see. I literally yelled in my house with joy, as I just wasn’t expecting it and it really blew the game open. He is definitely in the zone right now. To win the game on Thursday night, then hit two homeruns last night, he really must just believe that he can be the difference maker. What a cool feeling.

I give Vincente Padilla credit last night.  He finally looked strong.  Still not the ace, but getting closer if he keeps that up.  I keep pulling for Russ Ortiz to get out of his funk, but it just doesn’t seem to be happening.

If you didn’t see the game in the Bay Area last night, you probably missed some of the “added” commentary by the Giants announcers.  Matt Kemp got one high and tight.  Aaron Rowand got hit by a pitch and it ends up got a concussion and two broken bones in his cheek.  Matt Kemp tried to steal a base with a 9-3 lead.  All those things added up to a lot of tension brewing between the teams.  The announcers were convinced that there will continue to be tension, and I think they may be right.  Who knows, my prediction last year that Casey Blake will start a brawl (click here) may actually come true.  (I lean towards towards Matt Kemp starting it at this point).

The added commentary really came though with the hit on Rowand and the steal by Kemp.  Padilla has a history of “head hunting,” so there was no way to know if the hit was purposeful or not.  In reading the SF Chronicle today, even Bruce Bochy didn’t think it was intentional, but we’ll never know.  With the attempted steal by Kemp, they felt just seemed like poor sportsmanship given the lead by the Dodgers at that point of 9-3.  Again, it was probably a little cheap, but as the end of the game showed, the Dodgers gave up 5 runs in 1 inning, so no lead is truly safe.

The best part of the game for me though was that the Giants finally got knocked around a little.  They have been playing really well, but they showed that even they have weaknesses…ironically in their starting pitching.

Today’s game should be good to watch.  What do you think, is there a brawl brewing?

Bengie Molina - Fox Sports.com

Well, so much for predictions. Vincente Padilla just didn’t have it tonight, and the Dodgers couldn’t get it done. I thought Ethier could do his MVP thing in the 7th…but apparently his magic only works when the game is truly on the line. The Giants looked strong and they just looked like they wanted it more.

Tonight was funny though because there were two things in the game that I’ve never seen before. Ironically they both had to do with Bengie Molina.

First, he hit in a double play which wouldn’t have been special except that it was the slowest double play I’ve ever seen. The ball went to third, Blake sent it to second where Hudson had to step away to dodge the sliding runner. You figured the Dodgers would just get one. Then, it was like time slowed down. Hudson stepped out of the way, twirled, and then realized Bengie was still way down the line and then “decided” to throw down to first.  There was seriously a 2-3 second delay.  It was like there was a time warp and then he realized he could still get the second out. Ironically he threw it to first and still beat Bengie by at least 3 or 4 steps. Cool play that will soon be forgotten, but was something I’d never seen.

The second play was not very long after. There was a pitch by the Giants and for whatever reason Bengie was having problems with the pad strap on his catching gear. You figured he would fix it, but it seemed to be taking too long. Then all of a sudden, you saw a bat boy bringing a whole second set of equipment out to Bengie. First off, who knew catchers had a whole second set of equipment ready at all times? Second, why not just change the leg protectors, instead of everything? It was pretty random, but again something I’d never seen before.

Well, not quite what I expected and the Giants gained a game since the Rockies lost. Here’s hoping tomorrow shines a little more blue.

The season seems to take so long, but then the end gets here quickly. After a long good year, the Dodgers and Giants play their last scheduled match up against each other. They may see each other in the playoffs, but this is the last regularly scheduled match.

It’s amazing what a week of baseball brought. The Dodgers gained 2 games on the Rockies and the Giants are still 3.5 games behind them. I like where the Dodgers stand.

I was talking to a Giants fan last night who said, “The Dodgers are in real good shape.” They know they did what they had to do against the Pirates and now if they can play well this weekend, they should definitely go to the playoffs.

Here are the pitching matchups and my take on who has the advantage.

Friday: Vicente Padilla, RHP (11-6, 4.42)  vs. Jonathan Sanchez, LHP (6-12, 4.16)

Advantage Dodgers.  He’s just pitching well right now, and the Dodgers seemed to have Sanchez’s number last weekend.

Saturday: Jon Garland, RHP (10-11, 4.19) vs Brad Penny, RHP (10-8, 5.04)

Having seen Penny first hand on Sunday, definitely advantage Giants.  He wants to win against the Dodgers.  Period.

Sunday: Randy Wolf, LHP (10-6, 3.24)  vs. Tim Lincecum, RHP (14-5, 2.30)

Wow.  Wolf is sharp right now, but Lincecum is still Cy Young level.  Advantage Giants.  If the Dodgers can get to him late, they have a chance, but that should be a great game.

Well – hopefully we can take 2 of 3 and keep the lead we have.  We’ll see.  Then again the bats seemed to jump out last weekend, so hopefully it will be the same this weekend.  At least if we lose 2 of 3 we can go back to playing the Pirates.  Go Blue.

Russell Martin - LA Times.com

Wow.  So it wasn’t quite supposed to be this way.  I’m glad for it, but wow.  I honestly do feel for the Giants and their fans because they were trying to make the playoffs for the first time in a long time.  They weren’t really a threat to the Dodgers, so these games didn’t matter as much against them. 

The Dodgers are essentially torpedoing all chances the Giants have of even making the playoffs.  At this point we should cut them some slack so there is the chance to see them in the playoffs rather than the Rockies.  We seem to have the Giants number. 

Ok – now back to the other side of my brain.  Yee Ha!  Go Blue!  That’s the way it should be!  Blow them out!  Show them who is number one in the league!  Show them the offense they have wanted all year!  Yes there is pitching, but you need both pitching and offense!  Ok – that’s better.

Credit Padilla tonight and Russell Martin.  Padilla really may be the missing pitching piece the Dodgers needed.  I was just reading an article about how well American League pitchers do in the National League because it is an easier league.  Whatever the case, he may very well be the dark horse #1 pitcher going into the  playoffs.

I have to tip my hat to Russell Martin tonight.  No matter what can be said against him this year, he really does hit well against the Giants.  Even more, I do have to give him some credit for the pitching staff.  No one expected the Dodgers pitching to be top notch, but here they are with the lowest ERA in the National League.  The pitchers are pitching, but credit the same catcher all year who really is guiding them well.

The amazing stat I heard recently is that the Dodgers have scored well over 100 more runs at this point in the year than the Giants.  There is the difference in the teams.  100 runs is a lot of runs.  The Dodgers seem to have found their offense again and hopefully they can ride this through.  I was glad to see the Rockies lose tonight.  Them Padres seem to be playing good ball these days and we need some more breathing room..

And to end tonight – the Manny Belly Flop.  No matter what is said about him – he hustled and gave one heck of a visual head first diving into 3rd.  Superman Manny in more ways that one.

So I’ll be at the game tomorrow.  For you all you fans in blue, I’ll meet you at the McCovey statue out front hopefully between 12:30 and 1.  I’ll have this hat on (click here) and my blue Dodgers batting practice jersey.  Hopefully they won’t lose tomorrow as the last game in the series, but at least the Dodgers already took 2 of 3.  (I have to have something to say back to Giants fans who taunt me….)

Go Blue.

Brad Penny - Sports Illustrated

It’s amazing what can happen in a week. I thought all the trading was done…but apparently not for the Dodgers and Giants.

The Dodgers get Thome and Garland (who I have wanted all year) and the Giants got Brad Penny.

This whole Brad Penny thing is really interesting. I’m calling it now, Brad Penny will cause a brawl with the Dodgers.

Between Vincente Padilla and Brad Penny, it should be an exciting series between the Dodgers and Giants here in September.

Brad Penny was mad at the Dodgers for not signing him long term last year. The Dodgers weren’t thrilled on his attitude and work ethic and were concerned on the health of his arm.

They seem to have gotten his health strong as he pitched without problems with the Red Sox. Pitched healthily…but not well as they released him. (Score a point for the Dodgers)

Now the Giants have him and he’s a man on a mission to get back to at the Dodgers. He proved he can still pitch last night, so it should be quite the battle down the stretch. I still think the Giants needed more offense than pitching, but he helped them win another game, so the gamble paid off.

So I’m calling it here first. There’s going to be a rumble this year, and now the Dodgers and Giants both have guys who can do it.