Dodgers Notes From Sunday's Game 6/20/2010

Boston 2, Dodgers 0

Box Score.

• Hiroki Kuroda went 7 excellent innings (2 ER, 6 Hits, 9 K, 1 IBB, 1 Hit Batter, 2 WP, 117 pitches - 73 for strikes).
• Bullpen: 1 IP, 0 Runs, 1 Hit, 2 K, 1 IBB.
• Manny Ramirez (2 Singles, BB) reached base 3 times and Blake DeWitt (Single, HBP) reached base twice, the only Dodgers to reach base more than once.
• The offense struck out 6 times, drew 3 walks, and had 1 extra-base hit.
• Rafael Furcal's father passed away today.
• Carlos Monasterios hit the DL. He disagrees with the decision. This just gets better and better every day.

"It doesn't really affect me," he said. "It doesn't bother me to throw."

"I just have to respect the decision of the manager," he said. "Once I come off the DL, I hope to pitch as normal as I was. They want me to take care of it and make sure everything is healed."

Dodgers Notes From Friday's Game 6/18/2010

Boston 10, Dodgers 6

Ronnie Belliard appears to be having a conniption.

Box Score.

• Carlos Monasterios went 4 innings (6 ER, 8 Hits, 2 K, 2 BB, 2 HR Allowed, 72 pitches - 45 for strikes).
• Bullpen: 4 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 K, 2 BB [1 IBB], 1 HR Allowed, 1 WP, 1 Hit Batter.
• Garret Anderson hit his 2nd HR of the season. I would still cut him. NOW.
• Matt Kemp (Triple, Single), Russell Martin (Single, BB), and Ronnie Belliard (Double, BB) each reached base twice.
• The offense struck out 9 times, drew just 2 walks, and had 4 extra-base hits.
• In his return to Boston, Manny Ramirez singled in 5 plate appearances as the DH.
• Former Dodgers Adrian Beltre and J.D. Drew hit HRs.
• Nick Green signed with the Blue Jays.

Manny learned this next move from Clayton Kershaw:

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Hall Of Famer Roger Clemens shares his thoughts:

[Photos via AP and Getty Images]

Dodgers Notes From Sunday's Game 6/13/2010

Anaheim 6, Dodgers 5

Box Score.

• Carlos Monasterios went 2.2 innings (4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 K, 3 BB, 1 HR Allowed, 1 WP, 70 pitches - 38 for strikes).
• Bullpen: 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 5 K, 2 BB, 1 HR Allowed. 5 Relievers.
• Rafael Furcal hit his 2nd HR of the season.
• James Loney stole his 9th base of the season.
• Manny Ramirez (2 Doubles, Single) and Loney (2 Doubles, Single) each reached base 3 times, while Russell Martin (2 BB) reached base twice.
• The offense struck out 10 times, walked just 3 times, and had 5 extra-base hits.
• Matt Kemp was finally given a day off, something I mentioned yesterday should have already happened long ago.

[AP Photos]

Dodgers News Round-Up

Russell Martin sat for two consecutive games earlier this week, finally getting the rest a catcher should be getting on the regular, as A.J. Ellis actually got a somewhat extended amount of playing time. He only received rest, however, because he's a bit banged up, to be expected for a catcher, but especially one that plays as much as Russell does. Joe Torre is a habitual over-user of certain players and positions (see: Ramon Troncoso's corpsy arm), so any rest for Russ is good rest in my book.

"Just getting another day and getting fully rested," Martin said. "It's just something that maybe one day can make me feel a lot better. I don't want to tell you what it is."

"Just watching him, his swing was getting bigger, longer," manager Joe Torre said. "You'd have to be in the dugout to experience the frustration sometimes when he comes in. It was just time I think to take a step back."

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Charlie Haeger was sent back to the DL, this time around with a sprained toe. Jon Link was recalled for the third time this season.

"I just don't think that I'm healthy yet," Haeger said. "I don't want to use it as an excuse."

"We'll just see if we can get this better," manager Joe Torre said.

Link was then sent right back to make room for the re-activated and still-goateed George Sherrill.

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Carlos Monasterios starts on Sunday.

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Kyle Russell has finally been promoted to AA. It's about time. Though of course this means I won't get to see him Sunday when I head to another Inland Empire 66ers game. And he's the guy I really was hoping to meet this weekend. Oh well.

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LSU head football coach Les Miles doesn't believe Dodgers first-round pick Zachary Lee will sign. I agree with Miles.

Dodgers Notes From Monday's Game 6/7/2010

Dodgers 12, St. Louis 4

Box Score.

• Carlos Monasterios went 6 innings (3 ER, 4 Hits, 0 K, 3 BB, 2 HR Allowed, 86 pitches - 52 for strikes).
• Bullpen: 3 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 K, 0 BB.
• Blake DeWitt hit his 1st HR of the season.
• Rafael Furcal stole his 9th base of the season, while Ronnie Belliard stole his 1st base.
• Matt Kemp (2 Singles, BB), James Loney (3 BB), and Belliard (2 Singles, BB) each reached base 3 times, while Andre Ethier (Single, BB), Furcal (Double, Single), DeWitt (HR, Single), and Reed Johnson (2 Singles) each reached base twice.
  
• The offense struck out 6 times, drew 6 walks, and had 4 extra-base hits.

[Photo: Getty Images, via True Blue LA]

Dodgers Notes From Wednesday's Game 6/2/2010

Dodgers 1, Arizona 0

Box Score.

• Carlos Monasterios went 5 innings (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 3 K, 0 BB, 81 pitches - 52 for strikes). He appeared to have an injured finger after coming out of the game, holding a bandage on his right (?) hand. Blister perhaps? Maybe a cut? He looked to be in some discomfort.
• Bullpen: 9 IP, 0 Runs, 6 Hits, 3 K, 1 BB, 2 Hit Batters. 5 Relievers.
• Jamey Carroll stole his 3rd base of the season.
• Carroll (3 Singles, BB) reached base 4 times, while Matt Kemp (Single, BB) and Ronnie Belliard (2 BB) each reached base twice.
• Travis Schlichting made his season debut, hurling 4 scoreless innings of relief (O runs, 3 Hits, 1 K, 1 BB).
  
• The offense struck out 11 times, drew 5 walks, and had 1 extra-base hits.

Andre Ethier, Vicente Padilla, George Sherrill, & Dodger Rotation News

Andre Ethier has been rehabbing his broken pinkie, and is on track to return Monday.

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Carlos Monasterios will start Wednesday.

Charlie Haeger is rehabbing and though he was scheduled to return this week and start Tuesday, his foot problem has not subsided, and when he returns is unknown. From the above article:

"Haeger's foot problem hasn't gone away. We saw him limping on the video [from a Saturday appearance]," said manager Joe Torre. "We're going to just put him off."

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George Sherrill appears to be nearing a return from his "back injury", and once he's made a reported 4 rehab appearances, he'll be back once his 15-day purgatory has ended.

"I felt my timing was a lot better," Sherrill said. "I still feel a little something in the back, but it doesn't grab at all. If they want me to go somewhere, I'll go. I know they want me to be with [Triple-A Albuquerque pitching coach Jim] Slaton, but they're on the road."

Vicente Padilla is on track to return in the middle of June.

"He didn't like his command, the sinker wasn't real good, but he threw breaking balls and splits," pitching coach Rick Honeycutt said. "He'll take two days off, throw a bullpen at home and we'll look at a rehab start at San Bernardino Thursday. He'll probably need three of those."

Padilla also found himself in some hot water in Colorado, but it appears that nothing will come of that. Vin Scully Is My Homeboy has all of your Padilla news, as always.

Dodgers Notes From Friday's Game 5/28/2010

Dodgers 5, Colorado 4

Box Score.

• Carols Carlos (someone wasn't paying attention, eh?) Monasterios, the temporary 5th starter, went 5 solid innings (4 Runs [2 ER], 5 Hits, 1 K, 1 BB, 1 HR Allowed, 1 Hit Batter, 1 WP, 68 pitches - 42 for strikes).
• Bullpen: 4 IP, 0 Runs, 1 Hit, 8 K, 2 BB [1 IBB], 1 Hit Batter.
• Matt Kemp hit his 10th HR, a bomb to just right of dead center, and Manny Ramirez added his 3rd HR.
• Reed Johnson was the only Dodger to reach base more than once, with a single and HBP.
• Rafael Furcal, aside from Monasterios, was the only starter to not reach base safely.
  
• The offense, with no extra-base hits in 3 of its last 4 games, had 4 extra-base hits tonight. The offense struck out just 3 times while drawing just 2 walks.
• Scott Elbert was recalled from AAA. Nick Green was designated for assignment. The useless veterans are falling quickly now. I'm sure it pains Torre and Colletti to their very cores. But for the rest of us: HOOOOOOORAYYYYYYY!!! Better watch out Garret Anderson: you should be next.
  

Dodgers Notes From Saturday's Game 5/1/2010

Dodgers 5, Pittsburgh 1

Box Score.

• Carlos Monasterios went 4 solid innings in his first big league start (1 ER, 3 Hits, 2 K, 2 BB, 2 Hit Batters, 1 HR Allowed, 73 pitches - 39 for strikes). He was definitely wild, but looked pretty good when he did find the strike zone. Still best suited to be a reliever, but a good spot start when the Dodgers needed one.
  
• Bullpen: 5 IP, 0 Runs, 3 Hits, 6 K, 0 BB.
  
• Andre Ethier hit his 7th HR of the season.
• Ethier (HR, 2 Doubles) reached base 3 times, while Matt Kemp (Single, BB), James Loney (2 Doubles), and Reed Johnson (Double, Single) each reached base twice.
• The offense drew just 2 walks and struck out 7 times.
• Somehow Ramon Ortiz threw 3 scoreless innings of relief and struck out 5 while allowing just 2 baserunners, including striking out the side swinging in the 6th. Hew should still immediately be designated for assignment and never pitch in a Dodger uniform again.
  

Rafael Furcal & Carlos Monasterios Updates

Rafael Furcal will most likely not land on the DL with his hamstring injury. Which is excellent, because he had been playing and running well, and he's not Jamey Carroll. That last part can't be stressed enough.

An MRI on Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal's left hamstring revealed a "little strain," according to manager Joe Torre, who added that "it doesn't look like a DL thing."

Furcal suffered the injury trying to beat out a double-play grounder in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader.

Torre said Furcal would be examined by team Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Thursday, when it will be decided if he should receive a platelet-rich plasma injection to promote healing.

Furcal did receive the injection.

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Carlos Monasterios will make his first big league start Saturday against the Pirates. I had not anticipated Monasterios would get real consideration, but I'm glad he's getting the spot start, though his long-term future is strictly as a reliever.

Manager Joe Torre, said he hoped Monasterios could throw 70 to 75 pitches. If Monasterios struggles, Ramon Ortiz (0-1, 6.39), who was also a candidate to start the game, could work in long relief.

"I just told him, the last couple times you were out there you were free and easy, just go as hard as you can and then we'll come get you depending on pitch count," Torre said. "A lot of it's going to depend on how he starts out. If he runs counts up in the first couple innings, we may have to go get him earlier than anticipated."

Torre said he has not made a decision on who the team's fifth starter will be going forward -- Charlie Haeger, Monasterios or otherwise. The Dodgers can reset their rotation with an off-day Monday after a four-game series with Pittsburgh.

"I'll let you know when the time comes," Torre said.

Who Should Replace Vicente Padilla?

With the news that Vicente Padilla has been sidelined with a strained forearm and will hit the 15-day DL, the question becomes who will replace him in the Dodgers rotation? Who will Joe Torre and Rick Honeycutt deem worthy enough to replace our venerable Number 4 1/2 starter?

First, confirmation from the Dodgers that Padilla is Padidown (/wah wah), and a fairly troubling quote from Vicente:

"I can't even throw right now," Padilla said, declining to speculate on the severity of the injury.

The choices at their disposal, currently up in the bigs:

• Ramon Ortiz
• Jon Link, recalled to replace Padilla
• Carlos Monasterios

A few more choices, currently at AAA:

• James McDonald
• Scott Elbert
• Josh Lindblom
• Josh Towers
  

Eric Stults, where for art thou, Eric Stults? Oh yeah, you're turning Japanese. And Jeff Weaver, who would have undoubtedly gotten the spot-start, is DL'd with a bad back.

Two excellent rundowns of the options come from Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness, who fears we'll see Josh Towers (who I had thankfully forgotten about), and Eric Stephen at True Blue L.A., who prognosticates Elbert could get the call. One thing that's for sure: we're all just hoping it's not Ramon Ortiz.

If I were to guess, and that's all it really is, a guess, I would rank these gentlemen, in likelihood of getting the start:

1. Ramon Ortiz
2. Josh Towers
3. Scott Elbert
4. Josh Lindblom
5. James McDonald
6. Link/Monasterios
   

Whoever it is (and there is the possibility of rain in New York or Torre deciding to run a 4-man rotation for a short amount of time) the chosen one only needs to realistically go 5 innings or into the 6th, and not get completely shellacked.

I'm fairly positive they all can do it once or twice, but I'll admit it, I'm terrified of a Ramon Ortiz start. Josh Towers doesn't make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside either, but they're both veterans, so it will more than likely be one of them getting the ball handed to them in New York next week.

Still, my vote, if I had one, would go to James McDonald. Then Scott Elbert. Somehow, I think Josh Towers would get the bronze from me. I guess it's because he kind of reminds me of Dave Bush. And that is........well, it's something alright.

Dodgers Notes From Saturday's Game 4/24/2010

Dodgers 4, Washington 3

Box Score.

• Clayton Kershaw went 6 innings (2 ER, 8 Hits, 6 K, 3 BB, 1 WP, 1 Balk, 111 pitches - 69 for strikes). A fielding miscue added on at least a dozen pitches, but another good outing from Clayton.
  
• Bullpen: 7 IP, 1 Run [0 ER], 6 Hits, 5 K, 0 BB, 1 Hit Batter.
• Carlos Monasterios pitched very well over the final 2.2 innings allotted to him, and in doing so saved us from Ramon Ortiz trying to close out a game.
  
• Casey Blake knocked out his 2nd and 3rd HRs of the season.
• Rafael Furcal stole his 8th base, while Russell Martin stole his 1st base of the season.
  
• Blake (2 HRs, Single) and Furcal (Triple, Single, BB) reached base 3 times, while Matt Kemp (2 Singles), Andre Ethier (Single, IBB), and James Loney (2 Singles) each reached base twice.
  
• Martin and Furcal made bad errors, as the Dodger defense continues to struggle mightily.
  
• Xavier Paul got the start in left for the injured Manny Ramirez, seeing his first action of the young season. I had hoped for this to happen, and hopefully it will continue to happen over the extent of Manny's DL stint. Xavier should really be in RF though, with Ethier in LF. A nice relay from XP to cut down a runner at third and save a run.
• I'm not a fan of EVER double-switching out your best player.
• The offense struck out 8 times while drawing just 2 walks, one of them intentional.
  

Notes From Wednesday's Game 4/14/2010

Arizona 9, Dodgers 7.

Box Score.

• Chad Billingsley went 5.2 innings (6 ER, 8 Hits, 5 K, 3 BB [1 IBB], 1 HR Allowed, 116 pitches - 66 for strikes).

His first 3 innings looked like this: O Runs, 1 Hit, 3 K, 0 BB. The next 2.2 IP: 6 ER, 7 Hits, 2 K, 3 BB [1 IBB], 1 HR Allowed. I'm not worried though, as one hit was an infield single, two others just missed being caught, and I thought a couple of pitches that were called balls were strikes (perhaps that would have changed the outcome of an at-bat here and there). Oh, and it's one start, and it's April, and Chad is healthy and exceptionally talented.

No matter which pitcher you happen to consider the best starter in the game - Lincecum, Halladay, etc. -, know this: they all have poor starts during a season.

• Bullpen: 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 4 K, 6 BB [1 IBB], 1 WP, 1 HR Allowed.
• Matt Kemp clubbed his 3rd HR of the season, and has HRs in consecutive games, both to right-center.
• Kemp stole his second base of the season, and Rafael Furcal stole his 4th. Furcal did not swipe his 4th base in 2009 until June 9th.
• Manny (Double, 2 Singles, BB) and Russell Martin (Double, 2 Singles, BB) each reached base 4 times, Kemp (HR, Single, BB), Andre Ethier (3 Singles), and Furcal (3 Singles) each reached 3 times, and James Loney (2 Singles) reached base twice.
  
• Carlos Monasterios was not effective in the third of an inning he pitched (HR, BB, long flyout, BB), but his arm is electric, and he's absolutely worth keeping in the pen all year, as is required for a Rule 5 Selection.
• Charlie Haeger, slated to start on Saturday, entered in relief in the 9th inning, and immediately struck out Justin Upton on a nasty, dancing knuckleball. He threw a scoreless inning, giving up a walk (looked like a 3rd strike to me) and a single.
• Jonathan Broxton was finally used in a close game, pitching a scoreless 10th inning and striking out 2 D-Backs swinging.
• Russ Ortiz: STILL. NOT. GOOD. DFA! DFA!
  
• Joel McHale, star of the extremely funny show Community, threw out the first pitch.
  

Notes From Monday's Game, 4/5/2010

Opening Day, the most glorious of glorious days.

Pittsburgh 11, Dodgers 5

Box Score.

• Vicente Padilla was his usual mediocre, at best, bad self, going 4.1 putrid innings (7 ER, 6 Hits, 2 K, 3 BB [1 IBB], 2 HR Allowed, 2 HBP, 93 pitches - 55 for strikes). Again, this is not a surprise. Padilla's never been great, and never even been that good. He's much more likely to pitch like this than to pitch like he did for a few starts at the end of last season.
• Bullpen: 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 1 K, 1 BB, 1 WP, 1 HR Allowed. 5 Relievers.
  
• Ramon Ortiz appeared in his first game since 2007. He went 2/3rds of an inning, allowing 2 Hits and giving up 1 ER. He also allowed 3 inherited runners to score.
  
• Garrett Jones's 1st inning mammoth HR is still traveling. Not only has it left Pittsburgh, but it's also left the state of Pennsylvania, heading towards points unknown. It wishes Vicente well. Jones also had a second HR and a couple of nice catches out in right field.
• Matt Kemp drove in the first runs of the season for the Dodgers with a 2-run single in the 1st inning.
  
• Russell Martin (Double, BB, HBP) reached base 3 times, while Kemp (Single, Double), Manny (Single, Double), Blake DeWitt (2 Singles), Rafael Furcal (Single, BB), and Casey Blake (2 Singles) each reached base twice.
  
• Martin had himself an interesting first game after missing much of Spring Training due to injury. He committed an error and a base running mistake, taking himself out of scoring position, but also lined a nice opposite-field double in the 5th inning.
• Carlos Monasterios made his Major League and Dodger debut, throwing a scoreless 6th inning (O Hits, O K, O BB, 8 pitches- 6 for strikes). Congrats on the nice debut.
• Russ Ortiz appeared in a Dodgers uniform and pitched. I took a picture with my cell phone camera, and the phone then proceeded to die.
• The offense drew just 2 walks while striking out 5 times.
• Blake also made an error on a routine grounder.
  
• Steve Lyons, just shut up already. Stop talking about wins and losses, about stats, and generally, about anything and everything.
  
• Nice 3rd inning interview with Clayton Kershaw, very interesting.
  

Carlos Monasterios Locks Down Spot

Carlos Monasterios has made the club, according to Joe Torre, and via True Blue LA.

Monasterios, who turned 24 this past March, was a Rule 5 Pick this past offseason, and Torre will use him in the role he used Ramon Troncoso in last season.

Dodgers' 5th Rotation Spot

Ned Colletti is looking for a "bona fide No. 5 starter", according to an interview he gave to Buster Olney. Colletti is of course overlooking the fact that a number 5 starter really just needs to be able to eat innings and not crap himself every time he steps on the mound. Any upside from that number 5 starter is a bonus, as the spot is usually just a revolving door of mediocrity and washed-up old veterans.

Especially, when it comes to the Dodgers, of the "washed-up old veterans" variety.

Ned, if you can't feel comfortable letting James McDonald, Charlie Haeger, Scott Elbert, Eric Stults, or some truly crappy veteran you, for some strange reason, decided to pick up off of the scrap heap, hold down the number 5 spot, then you really need to give up your job.

It's not like we can go out and acquire a Johan Santana or even an Oliver Perez, someone who has been more than a number 5. We have the classic set-up of number 5 starter candidates: young guys, rookies, and old messes like Russ Ortiz, Ramon Ortiz, and Josh Towers.

Oh, and I'd be down to see you not be GM regardless of who is the number five starter. Who's with me?

Winter Meetings News

Jon Weisman passes along multiple Dodger moves:

• Jamie Hoffmann was taken with the first selection in the Rule 5 Draft by the Yankees.
• The Dodgers are going to offer arbitration to Jason Repko. Color me fucking stunned. He must have pictures of someone in the organization.
• The Dodgers acquired Carlos Monasterios from the Mets, who selected him in the Rule 5 Draft. The price: CASH. Wasn't a lack of cash the problem? The reason why we couldn't offer arbitration to Wolf and Hudson? Oh wait, it was a "baseball decision". Fuck.
• The Dodgers acquired Armando Zerpa from the Rays, who selected him in the aforementioned Rule 5 Draft.