News: Los Angeles Dodgers are in a late-season tailspin we haven't seen the likes of since 1996.
Muse: That was not a vintage year, and right now the '09 season is looking a lot like it did an unlucky 13 years ago.
Then, the Dodgers held a lead in the N.L. West for most of the season, not as big as it was this September but similar in that they knew they were looking at the postseason. With four games left, they had virtually clinched a playoff spot and had a 2 1/2 game lead on the San Diego Padres for the division title.
They played with little interest in those four games. They lost game 159 to the Giants, 6-1, then were swept by the Padres, 5-2, 5-4 and 2-0 in 11 innings, and wound up with the wild card. And then promptly were swept by Cincinnati in the National League Division series.
They lost home field advantage in the process. In the season's final game, manager Bill Russell started ace Ramon Martinez but lifted him after an inning because he wanted him to start Game 1 of the NLDS. Chris Gwynn, the former Poly star, had a two run double in the 11th to win the game, and older brother and fellow Polyite Tony said beating the Dodgers to win the division, at Dodger Stadium, and on a hit by his brother, was one of the highlights of his Hall of Fame career.
The Reds scored four runs off Martinez in Game 1 of the NLDS and won 7-2, broke a 2-2 tie in the eighth in a 5-4 Game 2 win, and then sent the Dodgers home with a 10-1 win in Game 3.
The Dodgers haven't seemed interested in baseball for awhile. Manny Ramirez is still Manny being Manny---but only if his last name was Mota, and not vintage Manny Mota, but 61-year-old Manny Mota.
Hate to see the season end in Dodger Blew.
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