Los Angeles Dodgers are Eliminated from Playoff Contention; St. Louis Cardinals Win Second Wild Card

A St. Louis Cardinals loss to the Cincinnati Reds kept the Los Angeles Dodgers' playoff hopes alive.  But to pull within one game, the Dodgers had to defeat the San Francisco Giants.  They were unsuccessful in their quest as the San Francisco Giants defeated the Dodgers 4-3.

The new Dodgers ownership opened up their checkbooks to add a number of pricy players.  First came Hanley Ramirez from the Miami Marlins.  Then came Shane Victorino from the Phillies, and Brandon League from the Seattle Mariners on July 31.  The Dodgers dealt with the Phillies again for Joe Blanton on August 3.  Then the biggest of the trades came on August 24: Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett, Nick Punto, and Adrian Gonzalez from the Boston Red Sox.  All in all the Dodgers added more than $400 million worth of contracts during this season.  It was not enough.

This is quite the disappointing end for the Dodgers who seemed determined to make it happen.  The payroll will remain bloated next year with most of the same players.  They will have to try again.