The Dodgers slip started showing some time ago. Can they come back? They were a much better club with Juan Pierre in left field. Did I really say that? Yes. They were a much better club with Juan Pierre in left field. Pierre got on base regularly. Pierre stole bases regularly. Pierre scored regularly. Those are qualities they do not have with Manny in the lineup. Where have all his homers gone? Long time ago.

In an earlier blog this season, I mentioned that Andre Ethier would probably be the Most Valuable Player if one Albert Pujols didn't exist. But Pujols does exist, so Ethier will have to settle for having had a fantastic season and helping to lead his team to the Playoffs. The tandem of Ethier and Matt Kemp has been a lethal combination in the Dodgers lineup. I was confused at the inconsistency of the Dodgers batting order game to game. Sometimes Kemp was at the bottom of the order. Why? I have no idea. He can hit for average, hit for power and run. He?s a top of the order hitter. He and Ethier back to back in the middle of the order makes much more sense. The hitting got the team as far as it has come to date. The hitting must continue for them to have success in the Playoffs.

First baseman James Loney has produced close to his norm. He's a hitter for high average. He hits line drives and not home runs. But he hasn't become the year in and year out .300 hitter many had expected. Falling some 20 points below that is major in a lineup that needs his potent bat. Loney is a very good defensive first baseman-among the best in the league. What's going on with Orlando Hudson and Ronnie Belliard at second? It's been noted that Hudson was getting paid per at-bat late in the season. But he also tanked at the plate in the last month. Belliard took some of his playing time until he, Hudson, got hurt. Both are good players. Hudson is gold glove caliber in the field and very dangerous at the plate. I?m sure the Diamondbacks wouldn't mind if he were still with them.

Rafael Furcal has disappointed at shortstop. He hasn't hit for the average he did last year and he hasn't run as much. Lately, he has seen his playing time diminish a bit. He's better than the .250 hitter he showed this year. Casey Blake has always been a clutch hitter as a third baseman. The Dodgers gave up catcher Carlos Santana to obtain Blake. They really like the energy and drive he brings to the club. He's a guy to count upon with men on base. The infield of the Dodgers has under-achieved. They are capable of better batting averages, more stolen bases and more power. It hasn't come.

As noted, Ethier and Kemp have been very, very good for the Dodgers this year. They are generally in the middle of the winning rallies. They hit with men on base. They are driven to win. Left fielder Manny Ramirez has been a major disappointment since his time off for bad behavior. If he can return to his 2008 form, the Dodgers have a chance to win. If not, they are going to struggle. Juan Pierre is a much better option against teams that have overpowering pitching. Nobody works as hard at his craft as Manny Ramirez. He has to regain his form.

To me, the pitching is where the Dodgers fall off the Playoff map. They couldn't close the deal during the last month of the season, having struggled to win the Division. The late season regression has cost them dearly. Their first-half "ace," Chad Billingsley isn't one. He's struggling and the Dodgers are struggling to figure out why he's struggling. Is it his mechanics? Is it a lack of velocity? Is he hurt? Is he a big game pitcher? We'll find out. Soon. Clayton Kershaw has the stuff to be the ace. He will be just that next year. He hasn't pitched as many innings in his career as he did this season, and much is being asked of the young lefty. He has an electric fastball and lethal secondary pitches. He's scheduled to wind up second in the Dodgers starting Playoff rotation. The time- tested Randy Wolf should end up starting the Playoffs for the Dodgers. Imagine that. That's the same Randy Wolf the Astros refused to pay during his free agency at the end of last season. As a consequence, Wolf was on the market longer than he should have been in an off market. Wolf is a skilled starting pitcher. But number one in the rotation? You be the judge.

Wolf has been around. He's a smart pitcher. He could survive against tough lineups. But the saviors of the staff have been Vicente Padilla and Jon Garland. They aren't great starting pitchers. They grind and find a way to paint the corners. One or both could end up starting a Playoff game. Both may be in the bullpen.

The bullpen is probably the best of all the Playoff teams- even the Yankees. They have Jonathan Broxton closing and Ramon Troncoso as a set-up guy along with the much- traveled Guillermo Mota. George Sherrill provides a very steady left arm against left-handed hitters. The team gave up top prospect Joshua Bell to acquire a lights out lefty in Sherrill. He's that good. The pen is solid.

The Dodgers have the weakest pitching rotation of any of the Playoff teams. Other than the young Kershaw, they don't have an established force at the top of the starting staff. They have a blend of some youngish arms and some experience. And they struggled to close the deal in the National League West. To me, great pitching and timely hitting win Playoff games. For the Dodgers to advance, their pitching has to exceed their own accomplishments of the past month or two. Kershaw has to win his game. Especially if Wolf falters in the opener. Lots of pressure on the young lefty. But he can handle pressure.

I see the Dodgers losing the Division Series to the Cards.