July 8th, 2013 at 1:50 pm 
by Ron Cervenka We all know that the key to success in any baseball season is a team’s ability to win series throughout its 162-game schedule. To put it in simple perspective, if a team were to win every series (considering that most series are 3-game series), they would, of course, finish with an approximate .666 winning percentage. This does not take into account series sweeps or 4-game series.
Now granted, .666 is an extremely high winning percentage and it rarely happens, but it shows how important winning each series really is. (Note: A team would have to win 108 games to hit the .666 mark).
All too often we hear fans say “This is the most important series of the year.” And while we all know that some series are far more important than others, especially those within a team’s own division, the reality is that every series is important.
That being said, there are definitely a few series each season that are extremely crucial – and the Dodgers are about to enter one later today at Chase Field in Arizona.
NL West Standings before play on July 8, 2013
As of today, Monday, July 8, 2013, the Dodgers find themselves in second place in the NL West 4.5 games behind the division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks before today’s action. When the Dodgers return to Dodger Stadium on Thursday, they will be somewhere between 1.5 games back and 7.5 games back of the D-backs and somewhere between second place and last place in the division.
Does this qualify this 3-game series against the D-backs as “…the most important series of the year?” With the difference between second place and last place in the NL West at stake, I would say it does.
GO DODGERS!
It’s no secret that there is no love lost between the Dodgers and the D-backs – especially after the epic brawl on June 12, 2013 at Dodger Stadium. But with so much at stake, it is imperative that cooler heads prevail.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
Posted in 
RT @Think_BlueLA: New post – Just how big is this 3-game series with the D-backs? – http://t.co/9mszXoKRDB #Dodgers #Dodgerfam
RT @Think_BlueLA: New post – Just how big is this 3-game series with the D-backs? – http://t.co/9mszXoKRDB #Dodgers #Dodgerfam
It is a big series – a difference maker. Two of three would just mean a one game gain for the Dodgers. However, it would let the D’Backs know they are not safe even in their own backyard. Each series now becomes the most important as teams are past the half way mark in the schedule. However, this one is against the division leader which is starting to play well again and are very tough at home.
The Dodgers have to win this series to keep pressure on the Dbacks. It seems like it’s been awhile since the Dodgers lost consecutive games, so as long as they continue that trend, they will be in 1st place sooner than later.
Based on recent performances, I think Ricky Nolasco will be the key to this series, and that gives me a pretty good feeling!
A sweep would be great, but 2 out of 3 is all the Dodgers need at this point. Also the Dodgers are starting to win more games against the NL West and on the road and that is a good sign and it has to continue.
I agree that taking 2 out of 3 would be good, but as Bluenose Dodger noted, the Dodgers would pick up only one game in the standings by doing so – but it sure beats the hell out of the alternatives (except for the sweep, of course).