October 13th, 2013 at 6:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka Make no mistake about it, the Dodgers hate the Giants and the Giants hate the Dodgers – been that way since 1889 when the New York Giants of the National League beat the Brooklyn Bridegrooms (one of many names used by the Dodgers) of the American Association six games to three in the best of eleven World’s Championship Series, the predecessor to today’s World Series. The following year the Bridegrooms moved over to the National League and the already-established rivalry officially began. (Trivia Note: The Dodgers are the only team in MLB history to win consecutive championships [pennants] in two different leagues – the American Association [League] in 1889 and the National League in 1890).
The 1890 National League Champion Brooklyn Bridegrooms
Over the years the Dodgers/Giants rivalry grew to the point where it matched that of the Yankees and Red Sox (much worse if you ask any Dodgers or Giants fan) and it is as strong or stronger today than at any other time in its 123-year history. And though there have been several new rivalries that have evolved with the Dodgers in the NL West, most recently with the Arizona Diamondbacks, none will ever trump the Dodgers/Giants rivalry – not ever.
When the Giants won their first-ever World Series title as the San Francisco Giants in 2010 (it only took them 52 years), Dodger fans were livid beyond reason. Not only would they have to put up with the most obnoxious fans in all of baseball, they would now have to put up with the most obnoxious fans in all of baseball with a new sense of entitlement – and believe me, there is nothing worse than this.
Lo and behold, the Giants went and did it again in 2012, winning their second World Series title in three years, after which every Giants fan everywhere on the planet (including their bazillion new bandwagon fans) completely lost their minds and are now incapable of reciting the alphabet correctly.
But something happened during that 2012 post-season, something rather incredible and something that the Dodgers not only need to remember, they need to duplicate.
After losing the first two games of the National League Division Series to the Cincinnati Reds (at AT&T Park, no less) the Giants traveled to The Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati and won three games in a row to capture the series and advance to the 2012 NLCS – and the rest, as they say, is history. (“A-B-C-LMNOP… and sometimes Y and W”).
The 2012 Giants not only overcame a two games to none deficit to win the NLDS, they went on to win the World Series. It can be done, Dodger fans. (AP photo)
What the Giants accomplished in the 2012 NLDS was (as much as we hate to admit it) truly remarkable. But even more so, it is absolute proof that a team down two games to none in a post-season series actually can come back and win the series. And if the Dodgers can pull this off against the Cardinals beginning on Monday evening at Dodger Stadium in front of 56,000 Dodgers fans, just imagine what that would do to Giants fans… and that would be a beautiful thing.
Go Dodgers!
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We were one significant hit away from a win in both games in which a good single would have done it. There is no doubt that losing Hanley especially was a serious body blow (no pun intended). Not having a healthy Andre also is a blow but not to the same degree.
The defining moment may still come even against Adam Wainwright. It just takes one moment, perhaps even a happenstance, to turn a series around. A Puig moment would be such an event, but so also could a moment by the little guys. The Cardinals offered a moment with that error but unfortunately we didn’t capitalize.
I have a very difficult time living in a “what could have been” or “we were only one hit away” world; I’m more of a bottom line, end results kind of guy – and the bottom line bottom line, end results are that the Dodgers are down 0-2 in the series.
That said, they are definitely not out of this thing, not by any means (hence the above article), but someone needs to step up and take charge, because to this point, NO ONE has.
Who’s living in a“what could have been” or “we were only one hit away” world? A reference to the past two games doesn’t put one in a different world where the Dodgers aren’t down 2-0. It simply indicates that the team was not pounded so the mountain to climb isn’t insurmountable.
You said it, not me.
Who cares? It didn’t happen so it doesn’t matter. A fail is a fail.
Clayton Kershaw said it best and it’s impossible to disagree with him:
You said it, not me.
“We were one significant hit away from a win in both games…”
So you are saying because I said we were a significant hit away from a victory I am living in that world. Give me a break Ron. That’s just a statement of fact – we were. Following that logic it would would mean those constantly banging on Mattingly are living in that world and not in today’s when Game 3 is on the line. I see no comment in the forum directed at those who were speaking of the first two games, particularly about Mattingly. Continuing to bang on Mattingly is in fact living in ,”what could have been”. You are in more than knee deep on that one my friend.
That Giants team from last season did something pretty remarkable once they made it into the NLCS as well. They were down 3-1 and won 4 straight to reach the WS. Who they beat in the NLCS? The very same Cardinal team the Dodgers are facing now. So, why is the prospect of coming back from a 2-0 hole so unlikely when basically the same roster blew a 3-1 lead just last year.
If there’s one thing this Dodger team knows it’s coming back from a pretty deep hole. Just ask the NLCS West.
There’s one. A 4 hit shutout against their ace, no less.
And so it begins.
@Think_BlueLA I know you are anxious for game 3, but it is Monday, not Sunday
I think they’ll have to wait until Mpnday night to start the winning streak, as there’s no game tonight. Regardless and maybe it’s good to start it off against Wainwright because I think from there it will be all downhill (I mean easier).
I’d hate to see the Cruds win their 19 pennant like the Gnats did last year.
I am more frustrated with the wasting of two perfect pitching performances tossed in the trash by poor pitch selection at the plate. I have to say, if you are a team that depends on hitting the ball outside of the zone, you will live and die by it. We died by it in two games. It has a snowball effect when batters swing at pitches outside of the zone and things go bad – hitters start to press and then swing at even poorer pitches because smart pitchers (and catchers) take advantage. Then toss in a few poor management decisions to add fuel to the fire and you have two losses. Here’s hoping a change of scenery will reset the vibe. My hat is off to the Cardinals. They have walked out batting something like .143 in two games and they have two wins. This game is really not that complicated. Everything always goes back to basics and a team that is schooled on the details of the game will beat you every time with less talent.
The Cardinals are built to compete consistently. They have a home grown young pitching staff, 5th lowest age ave. in MLB as a team ,position players who are grinders but can play the game and a couple of good free agents – Holliday and Beltran. They didn’t miss Pujols for a minute. They are constructed from the foundation up prepared for the long haul of several years. They are more able to sustain injuries (Craig). The Dodgers are more of a pre-fab put together with modules.
That does not mean the Dodgers can’t win but it does mean one or more of the big name players has to perform as such. Thus far they haven’t and as BBB says are swinging wildly, almost looking ill prepared for the AB, even Adrian.
Today has to be the day. Even in chess the little guys can beat you – right Will?