...the work that went into getting the Dodgers to this point came from every nook and cranny of the organization, from owner Frank McCourt to the clubhouse attendants, from general manager Ned Colletti to the publicity staff, from manager Joe Torre to the grounds crew.

And even from a couple of sources you wouldn't normally think of.

"There are two unsung heroes in all this, and they are (special assistants) Toney Howell and Vance Lovelace," Colletti said in the clubhouse as champagne sprayed in all directions around him. "They were (advance scouting) those guys (the Cubs), and they did a wonderful job learning them and finding out everything about them. Toney was on them for a couple of weeks, and Vance was there for eight or nine days. They brought that information to the coaching staff and the manager, and they executed it to a T. Toney and Vance have a love and a passion for it, and they apply that day in and day out.

"I hated to say goodbye to Toney and Vance, but they have moved on to watch a couple of other clubs now."