Finley, Walker reverse fortunes after key swaps

One of them will advance to the NL Championship Series.
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Steve Finley thrust his fists in the air as the ball left his bat. His ninth-inning grand slam on Oct. 2 beat the Giants and assured the Dodgers' first postseason appearance since 1996.
Three days later, the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Dodgers to begin the NL division series behind five home runs -- two by Larry Walker.
Finley and Walker began the season languishing on losing teams -- the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies. Now, the veteran outfielders are in the playoffs because of late-season trades and making major contributions.
"I'm still taking the field with the same intensity as I did for the Rockies," said Walker, traded to the Cardinals on Aug. 6. "There are [wins] at the end of the day, not [losses]. That's a lot more gratifying."
While Walker simply made a very good team better, the Dodgers might not have reached the playoffs if not for Finley, who was acquired July 31.
"He's done amazingly well for an old guy," Walker said with a smile.
Veterans
Finley is 39, Walker two years younger.
"He came [to the Dodgers] and it was lights out the whole time," Walker said. "He's done a lot more than I have."
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa respected Walker for that attitude.
"I think Steve Finley is a quality producer in this league and he came in and gave L.A. a real lift," La Russa said. "I like the fact that Larry would give him that kind of recognition.
"I think Larry's had a tremendous impact on our club. Steve's been outstanding for them. So we're both better because we made those deals."
Walker is batting second for the power-packed Cardinals, ahead of Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds.
"He brings the world to this team," Edmonds said. "Any time you can add a quality player to a quality team, it's got to be a major advantage."
After hitting second for the Dodgers for a while, Finley was dropped to third, ahead of Adrian Beltre and Shawn Green. Finley drove in the winning runs in the ninth inning twice in the season's final week -- two of the Dodgers' franchise-record 53 comeback victories.
"We don't give up," he said. "We know we have a chance to mount a rally, no matter what inning it is and no matter who's on the mound."
He knew there was a chance -- more than a chance -- before he hit his grand slam against the Giants.
"I was dreaming about it, and it happened," Finley said. "I wanted it. I knew I was going to get it done. When I walked to the plate, I knew the game was over. I even had a smile on my face."
Dodgers manager Jim Tracy has become a big admirer.
"I can't sit here and say to you that if Steve Finley had not come to our ballclub, that we would have been able to finish the task that we accomplished during the course of the regular season," Tracy said. "He brought stability to our club."
So far
Finley hit .263 with 13 homers and 46 RBIs for the Dodgers and .271 with 36 homers and 94 RBIs overall.
"It was a big deal when we got him," teammate Robin Ventura said. "The trade, you know, losing [Paul] Lo Duca, [Guillermo] Mota, [Juan] Encarnacion -- we definitely needed somebody with some substance. He's definitely one of those guys. I mean, he's been able to do it with a couple teams, with San Diego and Arizona."
Finley played in the World Series for the Padres and Diamondbacks.
"There are very few guys that can go to a team right away and be thought of as a leader," Ventura said. "He's definitely one of those guys."
Walker, who missed most of the first half of the season, hit .280 with 11 homers and 27 RBIs for the Cardinals and .298 with 17 homers and 47 RBIs overall.
"You've got a cleanup hitter batting second," Cardinals second baseman Tony Womack said. "He's got enough hardware to speak for himself."
Womack played with Finley in Arizona. "He's a great guy, he was a great teammate, he plays hard all the time," Womack said. "He's also a good person."
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