VSR: Game 4 Heartbreak (Deja Vu All Over Again)

Ill to my stomach barely describes it. That deep cavernous Citizens Bank Park is a house of horrors in the postseason. And now we have another year of Game 4 heartbreak.

That pic says it all. Jonathan Broxton walking off the mound and Carlos Ruiz scoring the winning run before Philly mobs him. Different city, same sinking feeling after Game 4....

Last year, I watched at the office when Cory Wade gave up his first runs in the season to Shane Victorino a two-run home run, followed by Broxton giving up a pinch-hit two run bomb to Matt Stairs. I was pissed that night in the office and pretty much wrote a story of optimism saying this Dodgers team was young and the loss didn't overshadow the talent they had.

Well I was right and wrong. They rebounded to have the best record in the National League even with Manny Ramirez missing 50 games. Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp rose up to carry the team, Clayton Kershaw showed he's an ace in training and Chad Billingsley had a great first half.

And yet, here we are again. Game 4. A late lead gone in one pitch. Broxton's once again the goat and I'm figuring out what I'm gonna write this year. One out away from tying the series and Jimmy Rollins has killed it in one swing. *takes another swig of this Aquafina bottle*

Last year was youth. This year was about being out-managed and outplayed. The Young Prince in Game 1? Backfire. Starting Hiroki Kuroda in Game 3? MAJOR MISTAKE. Leaving Jon Garland and Jeff Weaver off the NLCS roster? TERRIBLE!

*and I didn't know Philly's park was so huge. Victorino got a long triple down the foul line and J-Roll's game winner went deeeeeep as Ruiz scored from first.*

Last year was about Manny carrying this team. This year was about Ethier and Kemp and only one of them doing it consistently in the postseason. I'm not sure what to think about the team next year except they will get better. But as I get ready for Game 5 on Wednesday, all we can do is hope Vicente Padilla brings the series back home.

Bad loss indeed. Two years in a row? Too much.