FROM SAN DIEGO — For three days now I've had this whole argument laid out why the Dodgers should not splash champagne all over each other after clinching a division title.
Never once did I take into account they might never be in the position to do so.
It would be easy to start banging on them, calling them the Choking Dogs again and detailing all the bungles.
But this can't possibly go on.
So optimistic as I am about everything except UCLA, I'm going to proceed today with my argument as if the Dodgers have won the division title -- relying on you to fill in the blanks at the appropriate time.
They had to wait longer than they thought, but the Dodgers won their division title _______ night. Good for them, and so no one misunderstands the tone here, I actually mean it.
It's a fun group, _____ _____ coming up big with the timely hit, an interesting meld of youth and experience overall with a gem for a manager. Has anyone ever had more champagne thrown on him than Joe Torre?
Now as you might imagine, and you will have to wait until _______ night, right now the guys are down in the clubhouse carrying on as if they really did something special getting the best of San Francisco, Colorado, Arizona and San Diego as everyone predicted five months ago.
That's my only problem with the Dodgers right now.
The Angels won a division title the other night, and they actually did it. Good for them. They are boring with the exception of a charismatic Torii Hunter, and have a jolly gem for a manager.
But if that's how they partied after finishing higher than Texas, Oakland and Seattle, how might they react if they beat Boston?
Mike Bresnahan, who covers the Lakers for The Times, said the Lakers didn't pop any corks after clinching the Pacific Division title a year ago and didn't accept the Pacific Division T-shirts the league gives winners.
The Lakers are all about winning championships.
The Dodgers have been just happy to make the playoffs, probably really happy this year after doing so on _______ night. The pitching of _____ _____ finally got them over the hump, or the bump as Eric Collins would say, and now it's about next Wednesday's playoff opener in Dodger Stadium.
Last year, the Dodgers were almost delirious with delight after winning a playoff series for the first time since 1989.
But why not aim higher this year?
