Dodgers Dugout: Breaking down the Game 1 loss to the Cubs

Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell, and I have nothing funny to say in this opening sentence after that Game 1 loss.

Breaking down Game 1

—Joe Blanton picked a really bad time to be the Joe Blanton of a couple of seasons ago.

—I really thought the Dodgers were going to win after Adrian Gonzalez got that hit off of Aroldis Chapman.

—Dave Roberts made the right move in the eighth inning. Sometimes the moves work magically, sometimes they blow up in your face.

—If I never see Yasmani Grandal bat again this postseason, I will be a happy guy.

—I was fully expecting the Cubs to rout the Dodgers in Game 1, but not like that.

—The Fox broadcasters seem to think the Cubs walk on water and that the Dodgers are lucky to be breathing the same air as them. I’m pretty sure Joe Buck is on the Cubs’ payroll.

—Let’s face it, the Cubs are a very, very good team. They are better than the Dodgers on paper. Of course, they play the game on grass, not paper.

—Yasiel Puig is hitless in his last 16 postseason at bats.

—Hey, at least Kenley Jansen gets an extra day of rest.

—Left-handed starter or not, I’d rather see Chase Utley starting over Kiké Hernandez.

—Kenta Maeda looks like a very tired pitcher.

—If Joc Pederson’s swing was any longer, it would need an intermission.

—It was just one game. Clayton Kershaw starts today. Win that one and the Dodgers can win the NLCS on their home turf.

—None of my Twitter followers predicted the Game 2 final score. Follow me on twitter (@latimeshouston) and try and predict the Game 2 score to win fabulous prizes! (Note: When I say fabulous prizes, I mean “get your name published in the next newsletter.”)

The NLCS schedule

Game 2: Sunday, Dodgers (Kershaw) at Cubs (Hendricks), 5 p.m. PT. TV: FS1

Game 3: Tuesday, Cubs (Arrieta) at Dodgers (Hill), 5 p.m. PT. TV: FS1

Game 4: Wednesday, Cubs (Lackey) at Dodgers, 5 p.m. PT. TV: FS1

Game 5: Thursday, Cubs at Dodgers, 5 p.m. PT. TV: FS1

Game 6: Saturday, Dodgers at Cubs, TBA. TV: FS1

Game 7: Sun., Oct. 23, Dodgers at Cubs, TBA. TV: FS1

In case you missed it

What our great crew of Los Angeles Times reporters is saying about the Dodgers:

Cubs trump Dodgers’ magic with a little of their own

Cubs’ defense played a big part in Game 1 win

Clayton Kershaw is the Dodgers’ go-to man once again

What others are saying

Why Dodgers aren’t worried about being NLCS underdogs

Kershaw is starting Game 2 with “no restrictions”

Dodgers poised to get right as NLCS continues

And finally

Adrian Gonzalez ties Game 1 with a single off of Aroldis Chapman. Watch it here.

Have a comment or something you’d like to see in a future Dodgers newsletter? Email me and follow me on Twitter: @latimeshouston