This time, Dodgers handle postseason agony with grace

0 Comments | USA TODAY, October, 2008 | by Jorge L. Ortiz

LOS ANGELES -- Last season, the Los Angeles Dodgers splintered along generational lines. This year, the club bonded into a tight unit behind Manny Ramirez's unifying presence.

So after the Dodgers were bounced out of the playoffs by the Philadelphia Phillies, who claimed the National League pennant with Wednesday's 5-1 victory, nobody in the Los Angeles clubhouse was pointing fingers or making excuses.

And no wonder; there was plenty of blame to go around.

From Chad Billingsley's second ugly outing to Rafael Furcal's record-tying three errors in one inning to Blake DeWitt's rally-killing double-play grounders, the Dodgers did more than enough to help a Phillies club that didn't need the extra hand.

"They're a dangerous team. They've got...