LA BASEBALL HAS COME DOWN TO ONE GAME, THE NEXT ONE.

No one would have believed that both the Dodgers and the Angels would be down three games to one in the ALCS and the NLCS. This season both the Dodgers and Angels were leading their respective divisions practically all year. For a time, the Dodgers had the best record in baseball but then, here come the mighty Yankees. The Bronx Bombers did not start out on fire but their flame is burning bright in the playoffs. As Joe Torre has told us many times, it's not over till someone wins four games. I think Mike Socia would agree and no one is giving up. Are the east coast Yankees and the Philly's stronger than the west coast boys? Maybe, or maybe they have just been hot so far.

In baseball it's all about getting hot, being in the zone. Seeing the ball well. And it can happen at any time. If the Dodgers and Angels intend to move on to the big dance, they will have to get hot and get in the zone in the next game. If they can do that, it may just carry them on to the next game and the next. Don't worry about looking up how many teams have some back from a three to one deficit. The Red Sox did it to beat the Yankees and Manny Ramirez and Doug Mientkiewicz were apart of that team. Both players will tell you it all comes down to not giving up, no matter what.

Sometimes baseball is so infuriating from the players perspective. They are always confident, never up and never down. (They do seem to be excited after a win when they all pile on top of each other but that is about it.) For the fans, they are standing in the ninth inning, clutching their team shirts and praying their team comes out on top. Hoping beyond hope, this will be the magical year that their guys will win it all. Crying, screaming and yelling for that last out. And while the players appear to be cool, trust me inside, they are praying for the same dream.

DRINKING THE BLUE KOOL AID

The Dodgers have stuck together this season, which has not always been easy. When Manny Ramirez was suspended, Juan Pierre stepped up. Even Jamie McCourt stood behind Manny.

Heroki Kuroda who was arguably one of the best starting pitchers the Dodgers had, got hit in the head and had an injury that prevented him from being able to play in the first round of the playoffs. In comes Ned Colletti on his white horse with Vincente Padilla.

Chad Billingsly slipped down the stretch, so much so that Ned Colletti got back on the horse to find Jon Garland who was literally traded during a game at Dodgers stadium while he was sitting in the D'Backs dugout. Thankfully for Ned, the horse did not have to travel too far.

Most of the season, everyone held their breathe. Now after a sweep of the St.Louis Cardinals in the first round of the playoffs, we can breathe a little easier. There is still the nagging question for Joe Torre, you swept the Cubs last season and then lost to the Philly's in 5 games, so how do you get through the next round and on to the World Series?

I will tell you this, the kids are growing up. The Veterans are stepping up. And the chemistry in the clubhouse is making even the saltiest reporters smile. Why? Because this team believes they can win. And it's contagious.

Adversity can lead to victory, just ask anyone wearing Dodger blue. After a very tough 5 game slump at the end of the season, most people started to write them off, but they stayed positive. That is what Veteran leadership does for the younger crowd. "Been there, know that." Even when Manny wasn't hitting, he was lifting everyone up in the clubhouse.

It matters.

Now after all the adversity, the Dodgers move on and everyone is drinking the
Blue Kool-Aid.