realist

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 23:21:06 -0800

I'm more of a 'magic' guy, myself. Maybe it's because of the Goliath we slew in '88, riding on the right armed whip of the hymn-singin' Hershiser and the left handed swing of a certain import from Detroit. With a line up that that seemed meager and overmatched, those guys never lost faith. Those guys believed. And for a fifteen year old Los Angelino, the sight of the Demper hoisting the Bulldog triumphant has been enough to outshine two decades of disappointments. So while the job of reporting demands objectivity, the pleasure of fandom requires fanaticism. Even, nay, especially, when you're down to your final out. I salute you, Mr. Bramlett, for calling it as you see it. But me, I gotta believe.

Jeremy Oberstein

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 19:33:04 -0800

As I life-long Dodger fan -- watching team after team fail too often at opportune times -- I too am tempted to drift toward fatalism. But I also don't see the point of it. Why the rush to declare the Dodger's dead with one more game against the Dbacks in AZ and three more versus the division leaders in LA? As I write this, the Dodgers, behind impressive defense and offense, are 6 outs away from being 3.5 back of AZ and defeating 14-game winner Dan Haren. A loss tonight would have been crushing but with a win we are one hot streak away from the playoffs. Yes our bullpen is tired, but our tired arms are better than the Diamondbacks healthy relievers and with what could be the return of Proctor and Penny in the pen I like our chances. Plus, phenom Scott Elbert and Corey Wade could deliver big innings. The 2008 Dodgers are different than the 2006 Dodgers, even if the record doesn't always prove it. The lineup is better and the starting pitching can be phenomenal. I'm not optimistic that it will "magically" come together, I'm optimistic that this team will play like they know how if for no other reason than I am a fan and don't see the percentage in quitting at this point.

LAist: Dodgers Life Support Watch

realist

Jeremy Oberstein