today is saturday 27 september 2003.

today is homecoming. what fun. 'nuf said.

dodgers season is over--but i hate when people have to show another bonds homerun off dodger pitching. that's not necessary. first game of sat doubleheader has blue men 5-0 over the hated northern rivals.

what went wrong for the dodgers this season? 1) fred mcgriff who never gets injured, got injured. 2) adrian beltre had a typical second half. unfortunately the second half comes after a typical first half--horrible start to the season. 3) shawn green. when he hits, the whole team thinks they can hit. if he doesn't, nobody else does either. it ain't fair, but that's how the dodger offense works.

basically offense went wrong.

what went right for the dodgers this season? 1) starting pitching--from nomo to perez to brown to ishii to even alvarez, dreifort, ashby--all had flashes of brilliance. 2) the bullpen--from mota to shuey to quantrill to martin . . . the middle innings were not a bunch of pretty good pitchers called up from las vegas. 3) gagne. i'd hate to meet him in some alley in the dark. a hockey player in heart--i'd hate to think he skates, carries a stick, and wants to really hit you.

basically pitching went right.

question marks for next year? for starting pitching, i guess they're talking about the role of od perez--he could be trade bait for opening his mouth one too many times. first base? will the dodgers move green to get more offense in the outfield? outfield--will the dodgers move loduca to the left to get more offense. what about burnitz? and henderson? and ventura? wait and see.

cubbies to the postseason. i think the red sox/cubbies matchup would be pretty cool.