September 8, 2009

Today's win against the Dbacks was a huge win.  With two outs in the top of the 8th, the Dodgers had six straight at-bats that resulted in 5 singles and 1 walk, and the top half of the inning ended with the Dodgers ahead 5-4.  This was one of the better come-from-behind-wins on the season, in my opinion.

Add to the exciting manner in which we won the fact that we maintained our 3.5-game lead on the charging Rockies. 

via d.yimg.com

Pretty great night for the Dodgers. 

And while it's always bad news to hear about players going down with injuries, such as Tim Lincecum, it may just work out that the Dodgers will be able to skip facing him when we play them this weekend.

With only 22 games remaining on the Dodgers' schedule and a 3.5-game division lead (and 6.5-game playoff-spot lead), things are looking great right now.

Since the 1998 season, 10 out of the 11 teams that were sitting atop the NL West on September 8 of that year have gone on to end the season as the division leader.  The only team that didn't end as the division leader, which just happened to be the 2006 Dodgers, tied for the division lead and was awarded the Wild Card spot due to getting owned by the Padres in head-to-head that season.

NL West Division leader on September 8:

• 1998: Padres ==> Division leader @ end of the season.
• 1999: Dbacks ==> Division leader @ end of the season.
• 2000: Giants ==> Division leader @ end of the season.
• 2001: Dbacks ==> Division leader @ end of the season.
• 2002: Dbacks ==> Division leader @ end of the season.
• 2003: Giants ==> Division leader @ end of the season.
• 2004: Dodgers ==> Division leader @ end of the season.
• 2005: Padres ==> Division leader @ end of the season.
• 2006: Dodgers ==> Tie for Division lead with Padres, awarded Wild Card.
• 2007: Dbacks ==> Division leader @ end of the season.
• 2008: Dodgers ==> Division leader @ end of the season.

While the overall history of baseball and the NL West would not rule out a total collapse even this late in the season (see the 2007 & 2008 New York Mets), the recent odds are in our favor.