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Big League Stew

Wed Oct 01, 2008 10:01 pm EDT

And the plot thickens: Dodgers throttle Cubs in Wrigley opener

By 'Duk

Now, I'm not suggesting that it's time for any Wrigleyville residents to start stocking rations, turn on the air sirens and move to the bomb shelter. What I'm saying is that things suddenly just got a lot more interesting in the NL playoffs.

Also, that national Cubs to the World Series parade that was in full force this afternoon?

Might have to hold off on that just a bit.

The Dodgers just completed a 7-2 victory in front of a shocked crowd at Wrigley Field and while the series isn't over by any stretch of the imagination, this probably marks the first time this season that the Cubs haven't been in control. How will they respond in Thursday's Game 2, which features the up-and-down Carlos Zambrano? Who can say? We simply haven't seen them in this situation so far. 

All credit goes to the Dodgers, though, who did a great job of getting to Cubs starter Ryan Dempster. The right-hander had been 14-3 at Wrigley Field this season, but the Dodgers were patient at the plate. They drew seven walks from Dempster, including three that loaded the bases for James Loney, who gave the Dodgers the lead for good with a grand slam to the basket in left center field. Manny Ramirez went deep for Los Angeles as did Russell Martin. On the other side of the field, Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez looked much like they did in last year's sweep at the hands of the D'backs, going a combined 1-for-9. Wrigley Field was mostly silent.

No, it's not the end of the world for the Cubs or the start of a celebration for the Dodgers. But darned if things didn't get just a bit more interesting with this early shakeup by Los Angeles.

Related: 2008 MLB playoffs, NLDS - Cubs vs. Dodgers

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106 Comments

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  1. carlos z
    1. Posted by carlos z Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:19 pm EDT

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    go dodgers!! i hope they make it to the world series this year. it's been a long time. dodgers should take this series in 4.
  2. Richard C
    2. Posted by Richard C Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:31 pm EDT

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    So glad I'm a White Sox fan!
  3. Bobby J
    3. Posted by Bobby J Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

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    Hey Cubbies!! Might as well gird your loins and get ready to wait another 100 years before you can even THINK about winning another World Series.
  4. Muddy
    4. Posted by Muddy Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

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    Nothing is as thrilling as seeing the anguish on the faces of cub fans. I just love it. Get ready for the sweep.
  5. Nestor
    5. Posted by Nestor Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:36 pm EDT

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    Shocking? Not really, the dodger line up is hot right now. Dodgers in 4!
  6. hailfire4
    6. Posted by hailfire4 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:15 pm EDT

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    the better team won. the playoffs are won for many reasons and torre is much better than piniella. failing doesn't mean the cubs choked just lost to a more talented team.
  7. Texas Longhorn Fan
    7. Posted by Texas Longhorn Fan Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:59 pm EDT

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    My My My Where are the Cubs fans?? Maybe the fan reaching into the field of play will appear next game. Then they will have an excuse to post.
  8. cy
    8. Posted by cy Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:33 pm EDT

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    Go Dodgers! I thought the Cubs would take the series in 5 but after tonight it's Dodgers probably in 4. The Cubs look like their pressing. Just look at Pinella's and the coaches faces. The weight of 100 years is on them. Under that kind of pressure they will surely collapse.
    I can't help myself, San Franciso Giants, I hope your enjoying the playoffs. May you second the Cubs in longevitiy of never winning a world series.
  9. tom
    9. Posted by tom Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:08 pm EDT

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    Jim Edmonds lead-off Soriano batting 8th..this is NOT league play guys, this is 5 games thats all..Coach you really played a bad game............
  10. Texas Longhorn Fan
    10. Posted by Texas Longhorn Fan Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:59 pm EDT

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    oh! it's the coach! that's it!!! i've got a fresh box of tissues. the poor cubs fans will need the whole box...
  11. Bball guru
    11. Posted by Bball guru Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:03 pm EDT

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    Hey everyone this is Steve Bartman. I know that even though I've legally changed my name and I live in relative seclusion, I still don't forgive what these retarded chimps that people call Cubs fans did to me. Therefor, I proclaim an additional century long curse on the Cubs, even though I initially wanted only a 50 year curse (however, upon thinking a little further, because cubs fans are so dumb I felt that they deserved an extra 50 years of f*cking up).
    Have a nice evening everybody.
  12. lambeau4ever
    12. Posted by lambeau4ever Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:37 pm EDT

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    Same Shyte, Different Year, eh Cub fans? What's the excuse...oh, that's right, it's October, and you suck.
  13. gary
    13. Posted by gary Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    No worries cubs will win the series in 4
  14. Abruin
    14. Posted by Abruin Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:05 pm EDT

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    Hey everyone, if you want to get sports news on youtube, check out www.youtube.com/prestontv
  15. beebs323
    15. Posted by beebs323 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    as a cub fan, i'm not ready to scream and panic yet, but it definitely put us in a tough spot. now we have to count on the craziest pitcher in baseball tomorrow (zambrano) to remain calm in the biggest game of the season. what i didnt' get about tonight's game though is why kosuke hit second when he hasn't really been there for the last 2 months. the guy has been awful in the since the break. keep theriot hitting second - where he's been pretty much all year - and drop kosuke to eighth (or better yet, on the bench). i'm not ready to give up hope on the series yet (as a lifelong cub fan, hope's pretty much all i got), so i'm confident the offense can get rolling tomorrow. who knows, maybe big z will provide the offensive spark that was absent tonight. go cubs go!!
  16. jjjc
    16. Posted by jjjc Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:29 pm EDT

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    I love it nothing more pleaseing than to see the cubs go done it may be one game but tommorrow unilt the end of that game I will relish every minute of this. For today you suck cubs 100 years 100 years more!!!!!
  17. Mike H
    17. Posted by Mike H Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:22 pm EDT

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    as a Dodger fan I have to honestly say i wasn't worried about the Cubs, i'm worried about the Phils
  18. Z
    18. Posted by Z Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:02 pm EDT

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    DODGERS !
    Ha ... The only shot the Dodgers had to win this series came with this 7-2 drubbing at The Ivy ... Derek Lowe deserves this win and Sweet Fat Lou needs to re-examine his bull **** pen. Dodgers up 1-0 :-)
    woulda coulda shoulda
    www.sportsfantasylounge.com
  19. Abruin
    19. Posted by Abruin Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:05 pm EDT

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    as a dodger fan i am thrilled to see them win
  20. Michael S
    20. Posted by Michael S Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:20 pm EDT

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    derek lowe and manny together again...shades of '04.
  21. wjbrehm
    21. Posted by wjbrehm Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:48 pm EDT

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    Go DODGERS!!!!!!!! I've been waiting for twenty years for another possible World Series Championship. Maybe Manny will provide the spark needed, like Kirk Gibson on the 1988 team. The Dodgers are hot right now, if there pitching holds up and the bats stay hot they will be a tough team to eliminate in this year's postseason.
  22. Jerry
    22. Posted by Jerry Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    Don't despair, I'm sure Jim Edmonds will bring his '06 ring in for inspiration.
  23. Beijing Dodger Fan Scott W
    23. Posted by Beijing Dodger Fan Scott W Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:10 pm EDT

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    Joe Torre taking the Dodgers into the playoffs, this is great! The Yankees not making it to the playoffs, makes JT's success to date even more real and special. Getting Manny Ramirez mid-year is paying off huge dividends. What a great thing for us Dodger fans in Beijing, that were gifted with a major league visit earlier this year, and the great game series in Beijing with the Padres. Hurray for the Dodgers, Go Go Go !!!
  24. EdGRR
    24. Posted by EdGRR Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:34 pm EDT

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    im not really a baseball fan,
    but i live in LA and i heard dodgers suck.
    wtf.
    and they won, cubs are SORRY.
  25. Dave T
    25. Posted by Dave T Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    look, you can't look at this as dodgers supremacy over all--this will take probably all 5 games. on my blog i posted the odds of all the division series, and even with the loss to dodgers at home, the cubs still have a better chance of winning than anybody else who had home field advantage if they lost the first game. go to http://sabermetrati.blogspot.com if you're interested.

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Big League Stew is an MLB blog edited by Kevin Kaduk. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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