Published on October 21, 2009

Tim Weisberg

Sports editor 

All we needed was three outs: Three outs from our big closer Jonathon Broxton.

Watching from my bedroom, I could not help but get worried when the bottom of the ninth came around. The Dodgers were only up 4-3, and Broxton has struggled on the road his entire career. It is sad to say I felt this way, but what can I say? Most Dodger fans probably had the same negative vibe I had, even if they did not want it to become a reality.

A one-run lead in the playoffs, let alone the LCS, is never a secure thing. The Phillies have explosive hitters in Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jayson Werth. Even the bottom of their order features great hitters in third baseman Pedro Feliz, and the catcher tht has been picking the Dodgers apart all season: Carlos Ruiz.

Broxton walked Pedro Feliz and hit Carlos Ruiz to put runners on first and second. With two outs, all he needed to do was shut down Jimmy Rollins. Do this, and we tie the series at two games a piece. Broxton makes 1.875 million to save games, and he failed to do his job in the most crucial point of the season.

When Jimmy Rollins hit the ball in the Right-Center field gap, all I could think of was Matt Stairs’ crushing home run off Broxton last year, which was also in Game 4. The runners rounded the bases, and the Phillies pulled off another comeback, stomping on the heart and souls of Dodger fans everywhere.

I think I felt my stomach hit the floor, and the frustrating part was I had nothing to say. What is there to say? Now we are down 3-1, with the series pretty much over. I have seen crazier things happen, but this to me proves to be another disappointing NLCS exit on account of the Philadelphia Phillies.

You put guys on base, and they will take advantage. Broxton walked Feliz and hit Ruiz; when you do that, you will pay. I felt like most of the Dodgers in play, Furcal, Hudson, and even Loney, just a swollen heart, a stomach dropping to your feet, and having a cat gripping your tongue. They could not say anything. Neither the players nor Dodger fans alike.

Game 5 is this Wednesday, and even if they do win then, I don’t think they will be able to win two back in Los Angeles. This was a crushing blow, a disappointing loss, and a loss that leaves Dodger fans and players a like lost for words.

It simply amazes me how Broxton struggles so much on the road. He is such a dominant force at home, posting an ERA less than one, but posting an ERA over 5 on the road.

Is it time to get a new closer? Maybe. Maybe not. I could simply be rationalizing.

The fact of the matter is that if the Dodgers are not able to pull a rabbit out of the hat and win three straight games, it will be another playoff series with lots of “shoulda” “coulda” “woulda.”