| Joe Gutierrez. 16th August, 2006 - 10:08 am
 Back on the 24th of July, Tony La Russa and his club had just finished sweeping the Dodgers in Los Angeles, leaving the blue crew with the feeling that looking forward to next season wouldn’t be so bad. But the Cardinal skipper had a few words for everyone to remember before he left.
"I'm glad we're done playing them because they're going to get hot."
Immediately after saying those words, the Dodgers have not been the same. Entering today, they’ve won their last 17 of 18 games and who’s to say their done. Ever since Greg Maddux traded in his Cubbie’ uniform for Dodger blue, the team has been virtually unstoppable. New 3B Wilson Betemit is being given the opportunity of playing everyday, and it is undoubtedly paying off. He is showing the power numbers that Dodger fans will be accustomed to seeing for hopefully seasons’ to come. His quick bat has propelled the team to go 14-0 when he starts.
Julio Lugo has played without any complaints to management about all the position shifting he’s been enduring since he was acquired last month. His ability to play in the infield and outfield makes the club appreciate his style of play and eagerness to be in the starting lineup each game. Jeff Kent and Nomar Garciaparra being back in the lineup gives the Dodgers some home run support, but that number needs to improve when it comes time for big situations. Russell Martin proved that on Sunday when he hit the only Dodger walk-off homer this season, which enabled them to sweep the Giants.
Today’s finale at Dodger Stadium against the Florida Marlins will be a big game that doesn’t have anything to do with the streak. A win today sends Los Angeles in the right direction as they hit the road and play their division rival Giants, then hit San Diego and Arizona right after that, before coming home to host the Reds. Finishing August the way they started it, is a goal the Dodgers desperately need to reach if they want the rest of the league to know their for real. Any team is capable of a winning streak the Dodgers have been producing, but it’s how they maintain that level of winning that puts them above everyone else.
With the exception of the New York Mets, the rest of the National League has been mediocre at best. The NL East is a given of who the winner will be while the others still have something to prove. The Dodgers are fully aware that by continuing their winning ways, they will easily become the second best team in the National League behind New York.
Should LA remain on top the rest of the way until October, their first round opponents will have plenty of work ahead of them. A trio of Brad Penny, Maddux, and Derek Lowe in the NLDS, strikes fear into any ball club who has to face these three come playoff time. The all star Penny was the NL’s first 13 game winner while Lowe has been going deep in ball games and making those sinkers worth while.
Oh, and Maddux has been, well Maddux. He’s been what the Dodgers had hoped he’d be when the club acquired him for Cesar Izturis. This team seems destined for more than a NL Division title, and a World Series appearance may be premature to discuss but it’s something that should be thought about. The bullpen is another reason this team remains on top. Takashi Saito has been spectacular along with his partners Jonathon Broxton and Brett Tomko.
This team is rolling and who knows if they’ll slow down. But if they don’t, watch out because a repeat of 1988 could be seen all over again.
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