![Photo of Henry Schulman](data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="100" height="100"><rect fill-opacity="0"/></svg>)
The Dodgers-Phillies matchup in the National League Championship Series has evoked much talk about the past, probably because they met in the 1977, 1978 and 1983 NLCS, but also because the Dodgers have not won a World Series in 20 years and the Phillies have won just once in their history.
That means little to the players, of course. As Phillies shortstop and Encinal High grad Jimmy Rollins said, "I can't tell you about the history here. I grew up on the West Coast. I can tell you a lot about the A's."
However, there is a funny historical twist involving Dodgers coach Larry Bowa and Phillies coach Davey Lopes. Bowa was a Phillie and Lopes a Dodger in 1977 when they were involved in a critical play in Game 3 of the NLCS at Veterans Stadium.
The series, then best-of-five, was tied one game apiece and the Phillies led 5-4 in the ninth. Lopes hit a grounder that caught a seam on the artificial turf and caromed off third baseman Mike Schmidt's knee. Bowa, playing shortstop, barehanded the ball and threw to first for the apparent final out. Umpire Bruce Froemming called Lopes safe.
The tying run scored on the play and Lopes eventually scored for a 6-5 Dodgers victory. L.A. won Game 4 the next night to take the series.
The outcome still rankles Bowa, who said Wednesday, "I know Davey says, 'Let it go,' but he was out. He knows he was out. One hundred thousand times he was out."
To which Lopes said, "Why should I admit it? To tell you the truth, I've never seen the play. Don't want to see the play. Why Larry keeps dwelling on it, I have no clue. We (had) another game to play, (did) we not? So what's the problem? Did they give up? Or did Tommy John just throw too many sinkers for him and that's why we won?"
Torre again: Although the Yankees missed the postseason, the manager whom they bum-rushed out of New York did not. Joe Torre left New York after he was offered a pay cut and was asked Wednesday if he felt vindicated after leading the Dodgers to the postseason.
"I didn't necessarily feel I needed to vindicate myself," Torre said. "I just wanted to see if I could do it somewhere else. ... Coming out to L.A., I didn't know. I was just curious if this thing could be fun again."
And it was, especially after general manager Ned Colletti traded for Manny Ramirez, Casey Blake and Angel Berroa and the team began to jell.
"I think the word is satisfaction," Torre said, "more so than vindication."
Briefly: The Dodgers will add left-hander Hong-Chih Kuo to their roster to help counter the lefty hitters in Philadelphia's lineup. They have not said whom they will remove by this morning's deadline. The Phillies have not announced any changes yet. ... During the regular season, the Phillies and Dodgers each swept four-game series against the other at their home parks. ... Former Giants third baseman Pedro Feliz and former A's starter Joe Blanton have adjoining lockers in the home clubhouse. Former Giants reliever Scott Eyre, always different, is across the room. ... Game 1 starters Cole Hamels (eight innings, two hits, no runs against Milwaukee) and Derek Lowe (six innings, two runs against Chicago) each won Game 1 of their respective Division Series.
