ST. LOUIS -- All those walk-off homers in the regular season earned Andre Ethier a nice reputation as a clutch producer, but so far in the postseason he is earning a new, even more important one."He's the new Mr. October," Dodgers catcher Russell Martin said of Ethier. "He's been clutch for us all season, down the stretch. I don't know how many big hits he's gotten for us. But he's right in his element."
Ethier, the Dodgers' 27-year-old outfielder, had his breakout year last season, when he hit .305 with 20 homers and 77 RBI. This season, he broke out even more, hitting 31 homers and driving in 106.
"I think him and Matty (Kemp) have both taken it another step," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. "It's not just the numbers he put up, but when he put them up."
Ethier had four walk-off homers this season. Only three other major leaguers had as many as two. He had six walk-off hits, also most in the majors. Overall he hit .317 in the ninth inning and after.
So it should have been no surprise that a player who enjoys hitting in the clutch would do so well in the playoffs. Ethier was 6-for-12 with two homers, a double and a triple in the three-game sweep over the Cardinals in the National League Division Series. In the clincher on Saturday, he had three hits, including a third-inning two-run homer that gave the Dodgers a 3-0 lead."To extend the lead today was huge," Colletti said. "I have been part of teams that had short little leads in games and couldn't extend them and it ended up going in a different direction when the night was over. When you have a chance to extend the lead, you'd better keep it going."
Ethier explained that he does try to concentrate more in clutch situations, but he does not try to feel like he has to produce. Finding that balance is the key to success.
"Just stay in the moment and have fun," he said. "You have to have more concentration and focus for the magnitude of each pitch, each at-bat, just go up and have fun. Enjoy this. This is your time."
Are the playoffs like whole games worth of ninth innings?
"I guess you could say that," he said, "but if you do that, you are going to have a long gray-hairing process. Guys have done it all year. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. You know someone else will step up if you don't, but you want to be the man in that situation."
Cardinals vs. Dodgers
ST. LOUIS, MO - OCTOBER 10: Jeff Weaver #36 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is doused with beer and champagne in celebration of his teams 5-1 victory of Game Three to win the NLDS by sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals 3-0 during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Busch Stadium on October 10, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jeff Weaver
Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - OCTOBER 10: Manny Ramirez #99 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and teammates celebrate their 5-1 victory of Game Three to win the NLDS after sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Busch Stadium on October 10, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Manny Ramirez
Getty Images
Los Angeles Dodgers' Matt Kemp, front, is doused by teammates in the clubhouse after the Dodgers defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3 of the National League division baseball series Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in St. Louis. The Dodgers won the game 5-1 to sweep the Cardinals and advance to the National League Championship Series. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
AP
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Jonathan Broxton, left, is congratulated by teammates after striking out St. Louis Cardinals' Rick Ankiel for the final out in Game 3 of the National League division baseball series Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in St. Louis. The Dodgers won the game 5-1 to sweep the Cardinals and advance to the National League Championship Series. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Vicente Padilla sprays teammates as they celebrate after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3 of the National League division baseball series Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in St. Louis. The Dodgers won the game 5-1 to sweep the Cardinals and advance to the National League Championship Series. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
AP
Los Angeles Dodgers' Ronnie Belliard, left, celebrates with teammate Vicente Padilla after the Dodgers defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3 of the National League division baseball series Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in St. Louis. The Dodgers won the game 5-1 to sweep the Cardinals and advance to the National League Championship Series. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
AP
St. Louis Cardinals Ryan Ludwick, left, and Brendan Ryan sit dejected in the dugout after the Cardinals were swept by the Dodgers 0-3 in the National League Divisional Series (NLDS), Saturday, October 10, 2009, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. (Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/MCT)
MCT
St. Louis Cardinals Matt Holliday follows his pop-up fly ball that's caught by Los Angeles Dodger pitcher Russell Martin in the sixth inning during Game 3 of the National League Divisional Series (NLDS), Saturday, October 10, 2009, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. The Dodgers won 5-1. (Huy Mach/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/MCT)
MCT
St. Louis Cardinals Colby Rasmus can't track down a fly ball from the Los Angeles Dodgers that bounces over the wall during Game 3 of the National League Divisional Series (NLDS), Saturday, October 10, 2009, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. The Dodgers won 5-1. (Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/MCT)
MCT
St. Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols argues with home plate umpire Mike Everitt after being called out on strikes against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game 3 of the National League Divisional Series (NLDS), Saturday, October 10, 2009, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. The Dodgers won 5-1. (Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/MCT)
MCT
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-11-2009 @ 9:16PM
The Elkester said...
Hey Jeff what happined to the MLB live chat for the playoffs??
Reply