Game 162 Is Here

The regular season finale is finally here.  I expect there to be a lot of regulars resting on both sides today.  Vicente Padilla will face Jason Marquis.

Brad Ausmus is the Dodger manager for today's game.

With a win, the Dodgers would have 50 home wins, their best record at Dodger Stadium since 1991.

Here is a list of all National League West division winners since 1969:

Dodger lineup:

Pierre LF
Hudson 2B
Kemp CF
Ethier RF
Blake 3B
Mientkiewicz 1B
Hu SS
Ellis C
Padilla P

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Here are some notes from Joe Torre's pregame meeting with the media:

• Despite going to the playoffs for 14 straight seasons, Torre still cherishes each one.  "I get emotional because so many people care," he said, "and all the support I've had from friends and people within the game."  Torre received numerous congratulatory or pre-celebratory calls and texts in the last week, but two that stood out were a call from John Wooden this morning, and a text from Spike Lee a few days ago.
  
• The Torre tradition of letting one of his players manage the final game, if inconsequential, started when Torre managed the Mets.  Former catcher John Stearns used to constantly complain about his spot in the lineup, and one year Torre decided to let Stearns have the reigns for the season's final game.  During the game, Stearns asked Torre for advice on something, and Torre replied with a smile, "Don't bother me," reminding Stearns that Torre had the day off, and that managing wasn't as easy as it looked.
  
• One year with the Yankees, Ruben Sierra was the final day manager, and he liked to imitate Torre's walk to the mound.  Torre said he doesn't expect Ausmus to argue any calls today. 
• The Dodgers will hold a closed workout tomorrow, along with numerous meetings with advance scouts in preparation of the Cardinals series.  The club will also workout Tuesday at roughly the same time of their game on Wednesday. 
• The game times for the NLDS haven't yet been announced, and they might not be announced until as late as Tuesday.  If the Tigers and Twins have a one-game playoff for the AL Central, it will be Tuesday, and the Yankees, with the best AL record, get to choose which first round schedule they want (one has game one Wednesday, the other Thursday).  The Yankees don't have to choose until one hour after their opponent has been decided.
• Randy Wolf will start game one against the Cardinals, followed by Clayton Kershaw in game two.
• Chad Billingsley will pitch a simulated game Monday at the team's spring training complex in Glendale, Arizona.  Torre said Billingsley will throw "five, six, or seven innings."  Nothing has been announced yet, but Billingsley is in line to start game three in St. Louis, on four days rest.
  

Game Time:  1:10pm

TV:  Prime Ticket, TBS

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