Night Owl Cards

The Dodgers' win in Game 2 of the NLDS easily ranks in the top five of Dodger playoff wins in my lifetime -- in terms of epic nature, anyway. It could rank in the top 3 because all I can think of that tops it right now is Gibson's home run and the Vic Davalillo/Bill Russell NLCS rally in 1977. I happened to time it just right. While the Dodgers were struggling to score and frittering away a fine outing by Clayton Kershaw , I was slaving away at work. Then I finished up just in time to turn my attention to the TV in the office and watch the last out of the game -- what turned into Matt Holliday's muff of James Loney's sinking liner. I had a front row seat for the rest of the way -- Casey Blake working a walk out of a nine-pitch at-bat, Ronnie Belliard's game-tying single up the middle, the wild pitch moving the runners up, the walk to Russell Martin, and Mark Loretta's final flair into left center for the game-winner. I let out a subdued cheer, but it'...

While Dodger fans fret and fume about who is going to start on the mound this year and whether L.A. will have a legitimate big bat in the lineup, GM extraordinnaire Ned Colletti is easing rooters' minds by focusing on, um, the infield. Actually, the Dodgers do need some help in the infield. Put it this way: Colletti is getting the easy stuff out of the way first. The Dodgers have re-signed Casey Blake (thanks for the card, John A!) to return to his post at third base. I'm happy with that. Blake isn't a star, but he will get himself dirty, and he came through for L.A. late in the season last year. Indians fans loved the guy, and I'm looking forward to what Blake can do for the Dodgers in a full season. The deal is for three years. I don't know if Blake, who is 35, is worth that long of a contract. Meanwhile, the Dodgers agreed to terms with infielder Mark Loretta, which I think is nice pick-up. He can play three infield positions (he once pitched , too!). He is a ...