Dodgers Notes From Friday's Game 6/11/2010

Anaheim 10, Dodgers 1

Box Score.

• Chad Billingsley went 5.2 innings (7 ER, 9 Hits, 3 K, 3 BB, 1 Hit Batter, 1 WP, 110 pitches - 67 for strikes).
• Bullpen: 3.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 4 K, 1 BB, 1 HR Allowed. 3 Relievers.
• James Loney hit his 5th HR of the season.
• Russell Martin (2 Singles) was the only Dodger to reach base more than once.
• The offense struck out 7 times, walked just once, and had 2 extra-base hits.
• Scott Elbert has been given a leave of absence from AAA to deal with personal matters.
• The Dodgers signed reliever Kiko Calero, he of the 3.29 career FIP, to go along with 9.63 K/9 IP and 3.75 BB/9 IP.

Dodgers Notes From Sunday's Game 5/30/2010

Dodgers 4, Colorado 3


Box Score.

• Clayton Kershaw went 5 innings (2 ER, 4 Hits, 9 K, 4 BB, 1 Hit Batter, 1 WP, 98 pitches - 60 for strikes).
• Bullpen: 4 IP, 1 Unearned Run, 1 Hit, 4 K, 1 BB. 4 Relievers.
• Matt Kemp (Double, BB), Rafael Furcal (2 Singles), and Xavier Paul (Single, BB) each reached base twice.
• The defense was charged with another 3 errors, and also lost a ball in the sun. There were a couple of nice defensive plays made though, one by Kemp and one by Paul.
• The offense struck out 9 times, walked twice, and had 3 extra-base hits.
• Scott Elbert was returned to AAA after his messy season debut on Saturday, and Travis Schlichting was called up to take his place.

[AP Photo Credit]

Dodgers Notes From Saturday's Game 5/29/2010

Colorado 11, Dodgers 3

Box Score.

• Hiroki Kuroda went an uncharacteristically short and putrid 4 innings (7 Runs [5 ER], 10 Hits, 1 K, 1 BB, 1 HR Allowed, 1 Hit Batter, 81 pitches - 47 for strikes). Kuroda did draw a walk, but was also picked off of second base. A poor night all around for Hiroki.
  
• Bullpen: 4 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 1 K, 4 BB.
• Scott Elbert (0.2 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hit, 3 BB) and Justin Miller(1.1 IP, 1 K, 0 BB) made their season debuts.
• Rafael Furcal, with 3 singles, was the only Dodger to reach base more than once.
  
• Matt Kemp made a nice catch racing into left-center, and had to basically cover the entire outfield tonight with a stiff to his left and a stiff to his right. He also tripled.
  
• The offense struck out 3 times, walked twice, and had 2 extra-base hits.

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 Links On A Sunday Night

Andre Ethier had a splint placed on his fractured right pinkie. He'll try to swing a bat, but if I were a guessing man, I think a DL stint is still more likely than not. [Ethier Has Splint Placed On Broken Finger]

"We're hoping he's able to function, but we'll see," Torre said before the exam. "It's sore today. The trainers have been in touch."

"Over the next couple days, we'll see if there's a comfort level for him. We'll give him a day or two to let the soreness out and see what he can do with it and decide if it's enough. The last thing we want is to have him go out and do something and get into bad habits and wind up with a bad situation."

Torre related how difficult it is for a hitter to swing a bat with a broken finger, even a pinkie like the right one Ethier broke Saturday night in batting practice. Ethier explained that the finger "contorted" under the knob of the bat during a swing and the pressure of the bat cracked the first knuckle.

Ramon Ortiz will get another start. He'll take the mound on Wednesday. OY. VEY. The moral of this story, again, is that being a veteran means your leash is ridiculously long with the Dodgers. Struggle n the majors as a veteran and you get shot after shot, but prove things in the bigs, as James McDonald and Scott Elbert have done in varying sample sizes, then struggle a bit in the minors, and you're doomed to minor league servitude. [Dodgers To Give Ortiz Second Start]

"Really, there's nobody other than him," said Torre. "Carlos Monasterios [who also made a spot start May 1] was under consideration. Probably because Ortiz is the most experienced guy. We started Monasterios one time and had Ortiz behind him. When [Ortiz] gave us 80-plus pitches [last Saturday], we had a better feel for what we'd get out of him."

Charlie Haeger made a rehab start for Class A Inland Empire on Saturday, going five solid innings. [Haeger Goes 5 Innings In Rehab Start]

He will need several bullpen sessions and at least three Minor League rehab starts before he returns, which manager Joe Torre said remains some time in July.

A great story about Dodger farmhands lending a helping hand to a downed motorcyclist. The minor leaguers included Rafael Ynoa and Elisaul Pimental. [Dodgers Farmhands Assist Motorcyclist]

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.

Scott Elbert Pain-Free

Elbert threw a pain-free bullpen session this past Thursday, after having experienced shoulder soreness a couple of weeks ago. The injury, labeled as tendinitis by the team, forced him to be shut down for 10 days, but the progress Elbert has seen is encouraging. He's scheduled to throw another bullpen session Monday.

While Elbert has an outside shot at making the starting rotation as the 5th starter, he's almost guaranteed to be in the pen or at AAA to start the season.

While I'd love to see him in the pen at the outset of 2010, I'd put money on him starting the year at AAA.

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?

Vicente Padilla Returns To The Dodgers

On a 1-year deal worth $5.025 million.

$4.025 million is the base salary, with Padilla also receiving $1 million as a signing bonus.

Dylan Hernandez Tweets some contract details.

Last we saw of Padilla, he was shooting himself (or was shot) in the leg while in Nicaragua.

I would much rather go with some combination of Charlie Haeger/James McDonald/Scott Elbert/Josh Lindblom to fill out the 4th and 5th rotation spots, or attempt to sign Ben Sheets, then bring back the mediocre at best Padilla, who, at 33 years of age, sports a career FIP of 4.45 and has only struck out 6.20/9 IP while walking 3.22/9 IP over his 11-year career.

There really is nothing that Padilla can do that one of the young arms in the organization can't do, and adding in the significantly higher upside of the aforementioned young arms makes this deal even more unnecessary in my eyes.

On second thought, they probably can't shoot themselves in the leg in Nicaragua. So at least Vicente has that going for him.

Dodgers Pursuing Joel Pineiro?

According to Buster Olney, they are. ESPN Insider is needed to read the full article, including the portion about the Dodgers' interest in the righty.

Pineiro, 31, has pitched for Seattle, Boston, and most recently St. Louis over 10 major league seasons.

Pineiro has a career FIP of 4.23 and has K'd 5.59/9 IP. Other warning signs regarding Pineiro:

• His best seasons have been his last few, meaning regression is much more likely than progress
• Even in those last few seasons, his xFIP has been near 4, with the exception of one season (3.76 xFIP in 2009).
• Pineiro relies heavily on the defense behind him, and defense is tough to predict from year-to-year. I'm always weary of a pitcher who has to rely on others around him in order to have any success.
  

Eric Stephen over at True Blue L.A. discusses the merits of Pineiro. As Eric points out, what Pineiro does well is limit walks and HRs.

Considering pitching is THE organizational strength, I really don't see the point in this. And we have cheap, divorce-riddled owners. So yeah, color me not only uninterested in the slightest, but skeptical the club could even afford this considering the financial constraints currently imposed upon it by the philandering, cheapskate McCourts.

Names like McDonald, Elbert, Haeger, Lindblom, and Ely should become household names (in Dodger households) when talking about the 4th and 5th rotation spots.

And you know what?

That's more than fine with me.

Ned Colletti Returns To His Normal, Awful G.M.ing Ways

Dylan Hernandez is reporting that the Dodgers have begun to explore "a possible trade with the Cincinnati Reds for pitcher Aaron Harang".

The price, according to Hernandez: one or two players off of the MAJOR LEAGUE ROSTER, plus a good chunk of money.

Yeah, how about no.

Harang, 31, has a career FIP of 4.10, WHIP of 1.33, and has K'd 7.54/9 IP for his 8 year career, but he's nothing more than a back of the rotation starter at this point in his career, even accounting for the bump in numbers he would likely see after moving from the little league field in Cincinnati to a more pitcher-friendly ballpark in sunny Southern California.

Again, wasn't money a problem, why arbitration wasn't offered when it clearly should have been? Oh, and we have plenty of options for the 4 and 5 spots in the rotation: James McDonald, Scott Elbert, Charlie Haeger, Josh Lindblom, and perhaps even John Ely.

Color me uninterested in Harang.

This comment form Hernandez's article, from a reader who I'm pretty sure would do whatever it took to get Harang on the Dodgers, sums up Frank McCourt's business philosophy:

It would probably take prospects, the better the prospects the more cash the Reds would pay.

Yeah, cause that has worked out so well in the past, hasn't it?

Links On A Monday Night

Ned Colletti's extension is for 5 years, reports Jon Heyman. I don't know whether or not to believe this, because I hate Jon Heyman, and he's an idiot. But of course McCourt is stupid enough to have done this. Shit. 2014 can't come soon enough. If 2012 ends up as the Mayans "predicted", let the only causalities be Colletti and McCourt. [Jon Heyman via Twitter]

Mitch Jones wins the 2009 Joe Bauman Award as the minor league HR king. [Minors Journeyman Wins HR Title]

Dodgers President Dennis Mannion gets more responsibility, as Frank McCourt makes him responsible for baseball operations. [Mannion To Oversee Baseball Operations]

Joe Torre apparently wants to return for 2011, then receive a front-office role when he finishes managing. I would really prefer him just leave now, and not have a front-office role. [Torre, LA Talk Extension, Front-Office Gig]

Ned Colletti denies that George Sherrill is on the market. The article also mentions the team intends for Josh Lindblom and Scott Elbert to begin 2010 as starters, with James McDonald's role up in the air. I assume the club wants Lindblom and Elbert starting in the majors. [Dodgers' Colletti Disputes Trade Reports]

Top 10 Dodgers' Prospects, According To Baseball America

-Los Angeles Dodgers Top 10 Prospects-

1. Dee Gordon, SS
2. Chris Withrow, RHP
3. Aaron Miller, LHP
4. Ethan Martin, RHP
5. Josh Lindblom, RHP
6. Scott Elbert, LHP
7. Andrew Lambo, 1B/0F
8. Ivan DeJesus, Jr., 2B
9. Trayvon Robinson, OF
10. Allen Webster, RHP


I'm also partial to Kyle Russell and Garrett Gould.





Previously on Plaschke, Thy Sweater Is Argyle: Dodgers Farm System Ranked Poorly, According To Baseball America

Scott Elbert Added To NLCS Roster

Jeff Weaver has been dropped.

Good move. You can't have to many lefties when facing the Phillies.

Previous NLCS Roster moves here.

Bye Bye Jamie

Jamie Hoffmann has been designated for assignment. This allows Jim Thome to be added to the 40-man roster and be available for tonight's game. One more move will need to be made to allow Jon Garland to be added to the 40-man.


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And yet it won't be Jason Repko.

Joining Repko as September call-ups are Scott Elbert and A.J. Ellis.

Repko should have received the DFA tag, as Hoffmann is younger and has more upside than the perennially-injured Repko. Great job Ned.

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The Dodgers will pay $1 million of Thome's remaining 2009 salary.

Ned Colletti = Two-Face

God I wish I knew how to use photoshop.
Might have come in handy.

First the good Colletti.

• Thome only cost Justin Fuller.
• Cash comes with Thome to pay the rest of his salary
• He gives us a power bat off of the bench, and though he has only played 28 innings of defense in the last 4 years, I imagine he could nab a start or two down the stretch, and if he somehow looks passable, could play there in the postseason if Loney continues to be below average offensively.
• Thome hits for power and walks. Excellent.
• Maybe he can help James regain some power.
• GRADE: A+, even if Thome falls flat on his face.
  

Now, the bad Colletti.

• Garland is not needed. We have plenty of options to fill the spot he'll be given.
• Garland has been slightly above average for his career. We have guys with higher ceilings and similar floors.
  
• Considering all of Garland's contract will be paid off by the D-Backs, including his buy-out after this season, the player to be named later will almost certainly be more than Garland is actually worth. Especially considering Neddy is in charge.
• GRADE: F, an unnecessary move that only serves to limit the growth of young Dodger arms. I'll change the grade to a D if we give up someone of no consequence.
  

Links On A Monday Morning

Tim Brown article. What a douche. [Manny's At Ease As Dodgers Slip]

The latest drivel, I mean article, from the Argyled One. It's about Broxton recently pitching the 8th. I'll let you guess the rest, shouldn't be that hard. Plaschke is actually correct in that it was the right move. Damn when we agree. No worries though, the rest of the article is his typical 300-word slop in 100 one-line paragraphs. [Bullpen Sees A Role Reversal]

Vicente Padilla's first rehab start at AAA Albuquerque. Not sure if I should be happy about this or not. My feelings in the link under this one. [Padilla's 1st Rehab Start]

Free Scott Elbert. [A Movement Begins]

Kissing Suzy Kolber's Fantasy Football/Sex Advice Mailbag Archives. Many great reads when you have time, and by "many great reads" I mean all of them. Go. Now. [KSK Mailbag Archives]

Notes From Thursday's Game

1. So Russell Martin can't hit for power anymore? Just because he hasn't been doesn't mean he can't in the future. Yes, his power has been mostly non-existent this year (110 Games, 19 XBH [4 HR, 15 Doubles], .062 ISO, .323 SLG, 3.4% HR/FB), but I've often heard the saying that once you display a skill/trait, you own it and can duplicate it. Is Russ the 19 HR guy of 2007? Probably not, but it's just as likely that he's NOT the 4 HR guy through mid-August of 2009. Perhaps it's the ridiculous over-usage that Russ has endured in his Dodgers career, or simply just a really bad year power-wise, but I fully expect him to be a consistent 10-15 HR, 45+ XBH guy for the next half-dozen or so years barring injury.
2. It's clear Joe Torre won't let Jeff Weaver (5.1 IP, 5 Hits, 2 ER, 4 K, 2 BB [both IBB], 1 HBP, 1 HR Allowed, 84 pitches - 50 for strikes) pitch deep, or at least fairly deep, into his starts. With that being the case, why not let Scott Elbert or James McDonald get a start or two? Both have higher ceilings and, if given the chance, are more likely to pitch deeper into games while still performing at a high level. Of course with the way Torre utilizes young guys, they may not get that chance.
3. I haven't been a huge Weaver supporter, but he could have finished off the 6th inning tonight.
4. Matt Kemp (2 singles), Rafael Furcal (2 singles), and Casey Blake (2 singles), and Martin (HR, BB) each reached base twice.
5. Manny went 3-4 with his 20th double.
6. Bullpen : 3.2 IP, O Runs, 3 Hits, 1 BB, 3 K.
   

Notes From Wednesday's Game

1. Why was Jonathan Broxton brought in for the 3rd straight day and 4th day out of 5? Even if you believe his toe injury in 100% better (which I don't) that's a ridiculous overuse of a reliever. If this was the playoffs or World Series, sure, I could live with that decision, but as important as these game are, it's not worth overusing Broxton and putting him at a higher risk of injury.
2. I blame the loss on Torre for bringing in Broxton (who pitched well enough to get out of that inning without the run scoring) and Russell Martin for making the poor decision to throw to second; he should have just held onto the ball.
3. 3 errors, and the hit Hudson muffed could have been scored an error as well. Sheesh.
   
4. Perhaps the flu-like symptoms he had been suffering from affected Kershaw, and maybe they didn't. 3 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 5 K, 4 BB, 1 WP, 97 pitches - 60 for strikes.
5. Andre Ethier (25) and Casey Blake (14) both hit solo shots to account for the Dodgers' only runs.
6. Ethier (single, HBP) and Orlando Hudson (single, BB) were the only Dodgers to reach base more than once.
7. Tony Abreu was recalled and struck out pinch-hitting.
8. Hiroki Kuroda was officially placed on the 15-Day DL.
9. Vicente Padilla was signed. Why exactly? Start Scott Elbert.
   

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Matt Kemp Bobblehead Night was fun even with the loss, and I almost snagged a second one. So close.

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Dodgers + Vicente Padilla = FUCK NO (UPDATE)

ESPN's Jayson Stark is reporting the Dodgers are considering signing former Ranger Vicente Padilla. I'll make this short and simple: I don't care that the Dodgers would have to pay Padilla so little that even Frank McCourt wouldn't hesitate, and I don't care that Padilla threw 5 scoreless innings against us earlier this season. Padilla is an awful pitcher. Period.

Kershaw just has the flu, and it looks like Kuroda will return at some point. So that's Kershaw, Billingsley, Wolf, Kuroda, and Haeger. Even taking Kuroda out, that's just the 5th spot in the rotation the team needs to fill. We have better in-house options (Scott Elbert, James McDonald) and as it stands filling the 5th spot in any rotation isn't really that important, especially once the postseason roles around. Hell, I'd rather have Jeff Weaver.

Padilla would just be making 5-8 starts the rest of the year, then pitch out of the bullpen in the playoffs. You're telling me Elbert or McDonald, or both, can't do that?


UPDATE: Fuck.