Breaking records in a playoff game, that sounds pretty cool.  In this instance though this is probably a record both teams wished they hadn’t set.  In six innings the teams combined for a total of 23 men left-on-base for a new division series record.  In a nutshell the starting pitching was shaky allowing too many hits and giving up too many free passes.  With runners on both teams failed to capitalize in any big fashion, and the game tonight could have easily ended in double digits for both teams.  If you’re wondering what teams held the record prior to tonight, check out this great article by Tom Singer over at MLB.com.

All in all the game tonight didn’t have that intense post-season feel.  Don’t get me wrong, as a Dodger fan I’m very pleased that we took game one from the Card’s and that I was able to win a bet with a friend, but the excitement wasn’t quite there.  From a coaching perspective the game was fun to watch.  Two managers with a great deal of post season experience and baseball knowledge squaring off with great teams to back them up.  Part of me wants the Card’s to continue to roll over and the Dodgers to take it in three, but the evil side lusting for the excitement of the post season is wanting a series with the Card’s that goes all the way to game 5 at Dodger Stadium for the final show down.  Dodger fan, think I’m crazy?Tomorrow’s game between Kershaw and Wainwright should be another gem.  In fact, for the Dodgers it’s hard to say if Kershaw isn’t really their ace on the staff this year and Torre just decided to go with Wolf for game one because of the experience.  As for Wainwright, 19 wins in one season is damn good and you can bet he’ll be tough on that mound tomorrow.  Just a prediction, but I don’t think we’ll see the two teams combine to strand enough men on base tomorrow to even come close to the record they set tonight.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see a pitchers duel at least through six.

One last thing, can a Dodger fan out there please explain to me why O-Dog was on the bench tonight.  I know Belliard is a good bat in the lineup but at the expense of defense.  Two plays tonight made me cringe; first the fly ball to deep center that he tried to go out and catch that dropped in between him and Kemp, second the ball hit to the hole between first and second.  On the first play you can make an argument that Kemp should have called him off, but I still say O-Dog would have caught that.  On the second play I know for sure O-Dog would have had that for the final out of the inning, I have seen him make that play several times this season.