Chicago Cubs Cursed Again – Dodgers Move to NLCS
The Chicago Cubs suffered their second consecutive sweep in the playoffs falling at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 Saturday night. The Cubs were one of the favorites to win it all this year after an impressive 97-64 record during the regular season, running away with the division by 7-1/2 games over the Milwaukee Brewers.
The sweep was the Cub’s first since June 27-29 when they lost three straight games to their cross town rivals Chicago White Sox in Interleague play.
Ironically the Dodgers avenged an earlier sweep at the hands of the Cubs at the Friendly Confines back in May. The only difference is that the Dodgers are advancing to the National League Championship Series and the Cubs are looking to 2009 where they will hopefully find a way past the first round.
The Dodgers face the Phillies for the right to be called NL champs, with game one set for Thursday. The Dodger Blue return to the NL Championship round after a 20-year absence since the fatal blow by Kurt Gibson propelled them to the World Series in 1988.
The Fighting Phills return to the playoffs after 15 years of futility since the Phillies took centre stage in 1993 boasting a 97-65 mark. It was the only time in the 1990’s that the Phillies enjoyed a winning record making the best of it.
Since the Cub’s sweep of the Dodgers this season, first year manager Joe Torre has added slugger Manny Ramirez to the fold which has more than revamped a struggling lineup before the trade. The difference has been Night and Day for the struggling Dodgers.
Despite being one game out of the NL West race and one game below .500 and struggling for power due to injuries the Dodger Blue signed Ramirez just hours before the July 31st deadline.
“If we didn’t have him, I don’t know what our chances would have been,” said third baseman Casey Blake, acquired five days earlier.
With Ramirez, the Dodgers went on an 18-5 tear to clinch the NL West and put Ramirez in the postseason for the 10th time in his illustrious career.
[tags]chicago cubs, los angeles dodgers, mlb, mlb playoffs, baseball, manny ramirez[/tags]
Tags: baseball, chicago cubs, los angeles dodgers, manny ramirez, MLB, mlb playoffs
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