Loney's postseason resume impresses

LOS ANGELES -- Following a 2-1 win over the Phillies in Friday's Game 2 of the National League Championship Series, James Loney had 59 postseason plate appearances, not an insignificant sample size.

His postseason batting average is .358, with an on-base percentage of .424 and a slugging percentage of .528 for an OPS of .952 which is over 150 points higher than his career regular-season totals.

Nothing insignificant about that, either.

"Well, you know the players nickname for him -- 'Big Game,'" said manager Joe Torre.

Dodgers at a glance 2009 record: 95-67 2008 record: 84-78 NL West champs NL best record NLCS matchup: Phillies at Dodgers Postseason tix: Buy now WHO ARE THESE GUYS? • Loney: Taking good swings • Kuo: Long road back • Thome: Back in Philly • Loney: Building resume • Bullpen: Led by Broxton • Torre: Rep precedes him • Blake: Chemistry guy • Kershaw: Game 1 nod? • Dodgers: Eyes on prize • Kemp: Path of the pros • Furcal: Back healthy • Kershaw: Like Koufax • Hudson: Keeping head up • Billingsley: Unknown role • Ethier: Slump over • Torre: Tough decisions • Kershaw: Elite comparisons • Kemp: Nearly elite • Kershaw: Path to the pros • Billingsley: Fate in balance • Ethier: Aims to improve • Torre: Back to playoffs • Kershaw: Ready to rock • Rotation: Plenty of options • Kemp: Chasing LA history • Bullpen: Dominant pair • Honeycutt: Pitching guru • Kemp: Tools to match talent • Ethier: Walk-off wonder • Billingsley: Vying for spot • Ethier/Kemp: Dynamic duo • Torre: Another pennant race • Pierre: Receives high praise • Kershaw: Beyond his years More Dodgers coverage • Dodgers, Broxton stung by Phils in ninth Game 4 remains unkind to Broxton Phillies have Dodgers in tight spot Dodgers attempt to shake off heartbreaker With season on line, LA turns to Padilla Dodgers overwhelmed in Game 3 Wolf to put fond memories aside Kuroda makes no excuses for performance Runs hard to come by for Dodgers Beyond Game 4, rotation a question Dodgers ready to weather chill in Philly Kuroda gets ball for Game 3 Temperatures will be a challenge Rally revives Dodgers, evens NLCS Dodgers can't recover from Phils' homers Sherrill's rough inning costly Kershaw unravels quickly in Gm. 1 For starters, Dodgers have options October continues to be Torre's time After sweep, Dodgers reload rotation Sweep deal: Dodgers return to NLCS Dodgers hope party isn't last of 2009 Manny's big game a great sign Sweep leaves LA waiting on Rox, Phils Padilla silences critics with gem Dodgers excited, but keep eye on prize Affable Padilla on top of his game Torre, the person, leads way Dodgers stun Cardinals in ninth From walk to walk-off, Blake set stage Kershaw comes of age in Game 2 start Holliday takes place in long line of 'goats' Padilla grateful for 'second life' in LA Cards focused, but history against them Kemp, bullpen pull through in Game 1 Kershaw ready to grow up on big stage Short turnaround awaits NLDS foes Dodgers, Cardinals break left-on-base mark Middle of defense turns tables fast Billingsley gets call for Game 4 No surprises as Dodgers set roster Call to Wolf is easy decision One win nets Dodgers division, home-field Dodgers end drama, wrap up NL West Dodgers' division lead whittled to one Dodgers leave SD without division title LA drops chance to clinch NL West Ohman undergoes shoulder surgery Bucs keep Dodgers' celebration on ice Dodgers stunned; West party on hold Dodgers clinch postseason berth Playoffs await after win over Bucs Dodgers denied in playoff clinch attempt Wolf rolling as postseason beckons Blake playing it careful with hamstring Dodgers trim playoff magic number to one Billingsley sharp, LA not in loss to Nats Postseason magic number down to two Dodgers beat Giants' ace to stay on track Kershaw says he's ready to go Ethier blossoms into prime-time player Billingsley confident turnaround is coming Kershaw pitching beyond his years Ethier helps Dodgers pad West lead Dodgers shut down by former ace Penny Dodgers leave Giants reeling in NL West Dodgers protect lead with Kuroda's help Bauman: Pitching will carry Dodgers Messy ninth inning costs Dodgers

"Reggie, Jeter, Loney -- I don't know when he was born, but it should have been in October," teammate Juan Pierre shouted as he left the dugout for batting practice before Game 2.

Some players just seem to rise to the occasion, although the flip side of that explanation is that some players don't handle the pressure well. Loney has the rare ability of appearing as if there's nothing special about the occasion. He plays in October as if it's May or August, as if there's nothing different.

"It is a regular game," explains Loney. "It just happens in October. I'm just here trying to get to the end, the World Series, and that's when I'll celebrate."

Torre often compares Loney to his high-achieving former center fielder with the Yankees, Bernie Williams, because of their carefree, sometimes spacey approach to baseball and life. Loney's teammates say he sometimes doesn't know what day it is or what time it is, but he seems to know when it's time to play.

Torre said the personality trait that makes Williams and Loney different also makes them well-suited to handle the pressure that often claims others on the game's biggest stage in October.

"Calmness," said Torre. "They don't know what's supposed to make them nervous. The most upset I've seen James was when he was fighting for his swing. He has a calmness and that's good to have. It helps them perform when the game speed ups for others, because they don't let it speed up for them. Even though it's more than a game with all that goes on around it, you still play it like it's just a game.

"Last year was a perfect example. With everything building up around him, he's sort of 'what's going on?'"

Loney set the tone for last year's sweep of the Cubs in the NL Division Series with a grand slam off Ryan Dempster in a Game 1 win at Wrigley Field and drove in six runs in the series. Against the Phillies in the NL Championship Series, he hit .438. In a one-game appearance during the 2006 playoffs against the Mets, Loney went 3-for-4 with three RBIs. He went 3-for-12 against the Cardinals in last week's NL Division Series and was 3-for-7 through the first two games of the NLCS.

"He's unusual by some standards, but he knows what he's doing," said Pierre. "He's the kind of guy, you just roll with it. He'll make you laugh when he doesn't mean to. He'll have a goofy approach. It's not really goofy, it just seems goofy. He might have three different swings on one given night, but he has a plan and it works for him. I think that's why if he makes an out in one of these games, he doesn't get scared all of a sudden or let it get into his head."