Financial Meltdown Strikes Dodgers – now Down 0-2

photo: Ray Stubblebine/Reuters

OK, so the 2008 NLCS isn’t tied to the financial meltdown in any way…except that the Dodgers seem to be in freefall right now, just like the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA).

Financial metaphors aside, Billingsley was the big problem in Game 2 – he gave up four runs in the 2nd inning with two outs already on the board. He then escaped to the third inning where, after securing one out, he gave up four more runs before Torre yanked him from the game.

What happened?

“Up to that point, he was throwing the ball well,” Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt said. “It’s hard to say what happened because it happened pretty quickly.”

By this time, the Dodgers were staring at a 8-2 deficit and couldn’t dig their way out. Perrennial hitter Manny Ramirez did his part with a three-run homer to make it 8-5, but that was all the Dodgers could muster.

I’m not sure where the bailout for this crisis is going to come from – Torre is talking about bringing Lowe back to start in game 4, but what will that accomplish? Manny has certainly been contributing, but where is the rest of the Dodger offense? could Philadelphia just be too solid for the boys in blue?

I sure hope not – but I am one of a select few that is still bullish on L.A. right now.