Extra! Extra! (8.30)
Hold on. Quick check to see if last night's game is actually over.... OK, here we go!
Ramon Martinez just can't catch a break these days. The guy barely ever gets to play, doesn't get much attention from the media (despite bearing a resemblance to legendary skateboarder Bob Burnquist and having affinity for playing Sudoku puzzles before games), and when he gets his shining moment, a 16th inning walk off bomb — the first game-ending homer of his career — that gave the Dodgers a huge 6-5 win over Cincinnati, it comes four hours and 54 minutes after the game had started, long after most people had left the Ravine and viewers at home had fallen asleep. You can make a case for this dinger being more dramatic than Russell Martin's blast to end "Maddux vs. Schmidt" back on the 13th (16 innings trumps 10, right?), but that game took about an hour and was on national TV. To end with a moment of glory for a rookie! Just another case of a vet not getting his due.
One vet who may very well be getting his due is Mark Hendrickson. The big lefty hasn't been given much run support since arriving in L.A., but on Wednesday the Dodgers gift-wrapped four runs for him heading into the fifth. Talk about kicking a gift horse in the mouth. Unable to get out of the fifth, Hendrickson lost the lead, touched off a run of relievers so long it included a starter, and at the very least probably lost a finger or two off his grasp of a starting gig. For a guy who arrived with a rep as an innings eater, Hendrickson hasn't exactly matched the profile. Although to be fair, the torching of the Blue bullpen has been a group effort lately.
With Jonathan Broxton and Brett Tomko unavailable (something about not wanting to have their arms fall off, only with more technical medical jargon), Derek Lowe entered the game in the 14th (his first relief stint since '01), and threw three innings to pick up his 12th win of the year. Good thing, too, because Greg Maddux was on deck if the Dodgers needed another hurler. That would have ticked off a lot of ticket holders for tonight's game.
The Dodgers, hoping to add help before the Sept. 1 deadline to pick up players and have them eligible for the postseason, are eyeing David Wells. Unfortunately, the Sox are apparently eyeing Matt Kemp, which likely means Wells won't be ramping up the average age of the Dodgers roster anytime soon (though that doesn't mean he won't end up back on the West Coast). Colletti said yesterday that the chances of acquiring an arm are remote, but put the odds of picking up another bat, perhaps veteran lefty John Mabry, at "50/50." If Wells doesn't end up in Blue, one lefty who might see a September start is Hong-Chih Kuo, who has been lighting up Vegas as an opening act.
Nomar Garciaparra and J.D. Drew visit a hospital, and T.J. Simers is there. Not as a patient, mind you.
The box score shows 10 scoreless innings from Hamulack, Saito, Beimel, Dessens and Lowe. It also shows another killer game for Cincinnati's Brandon Phillips, who is having a redemptive season after initially failing as a can't-miss prospect.
With the win, the Dodgers remained three games ahead of San Diego, who passed Cincinnati for first place in the wild card standings. Florida (yes, Florida) is only 1.5 games out. Just as we predicted in April.
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David Wells for....MATT KEMP?!?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
Oh, my stomach hurts. But I'm OK now. Anyways, as I was saying...
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Seriously, I didn't know they sold the good s*** in Boston. Something about sniffing tea leaves, or such. Whatever it is, take the pipe away from Epstein and Larry Lou because they are definately F'ing up the rotation. As the saying goes..."puff, puff, give"!! HAHAHA!!
Posted by: LoLo | August 30, 2006 at 09:30 AM
Don't trade for Wells. We're fine the way we are. A Dessens/Kuo tandem should fill in nicely. They can't do worse that Hendrickson, right? Anyways, no sense in trading away the future for a suspect 43-year-old.
Besides, the last thing we need on this team is Wells' attitude.
And finally..
For Christ's sake, cut Hendrickson already!!
Posted by: LoLo | August 30, 2006 at 09:34 AM
Lolo-
I'm with you. I wouldn't give up anything of value, be it prospect or family heirloom, for Wells. Although he is a good quote...
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | August 30, 2006 at 09:50 AM
See, Ned should have waited for the perfect "ZERO VALUE TRADE".......Wells for Odalis, straight up !!! jajajajajaja.............What, the Sox want Kemp?? Ok then, we'll take Pappi Ortiz, Wells, and Papelbon for Matt. Its a Ludicrous proposal huh!!!!! We'll even throw Hendrickson, there's someone that could help NEXT year, not today though..........GO BLUE !!!!
Posted by: JC Blue | August 30, 2006 at 10:13 AM
ramon martinez is the best, russell martin is second, vernon wells is third best, david wells is
fourth best, mcdonalds is fifth best, carls jr
is sixth best and lolo is seventh best.
Posted by: iknow | August 30, 2006 at 10:25 AM
wouldn't trade matt kemp for five wells, whatever their first names might be.
everyone seems kind of hungover today, tough night???
Posted by: iknow | August 30, 2006 at 10:27 AM
david wells is about to recieve his first social
security check- come on , forget about it.
Posted by: iknow | August 30, 2006 at 10:29 AM
we give ramon some quick switch hitting lessons-
problem solved.
Posted by: iknow | August 30, 2006 at 10:30 AM
matt kemp is going to hit 40 homers in big leagues,
it better be for the dodgers.remeber a guy named
konerko.
Posted by: iknow | August 30, 2006 at 10:33 AM
What will be interesting is if Wells does move, will his new team have to give up someone like Matt Kemp? Or will it be like with Bobby Abreu, who was basically given to the Yankees?
Why do LA teams always seem to have to give up a lot to get someone, yet other teams don't? Or is it my imagination?
The best we've done is dumping Odalis for serviceable Elmer Dessens. Guess we were fortunate with Milton Bradley, who we would have given up for some souvenirs.
As far as I'm concerned, the Tampa Trio could be packaged. By the way, John Mabry just made the top 10 list of "How Did This Guy Have Such a Long Career"? Don't think he's much of an answer.
Posted by: Dodgerdog | August 30, 2006 at 10:38 AM
kevin kennedy is still touting penny for cy young?
i was a eye witness. he's the fourth best starter
on dodgers right now. strong finish for lowe,
say 4-1 , would give him 16-8 , would be a stronger
candidate.
Posted by: iknow | August 30, 2006 at 10:38 AM
The sleeper Dodger call-up in September will be LaRoche. 3B with good power, good eye, and good average. Not sure, but if he is a right handed batter, platoon with Betemit.
Posted by: Tom | August 30, 2006 at 10:38 AM
strong finish by billz .either and billz will
finish 1-2 in "roy" voting. matt kemp will be next
years "roy".
Posted by: iknow | August 30, 2006 at 10:41 AM
i will say that the red sox said there is a an 80 percent chance that they'll trade him, so they still might get desperate and drop the offer. frankly i'd welcome wells, just as long as we don't have to give up much for a month's pitching.
Posted by: bmurph | August 30, 2006 at 10:43 AM
if the bloggers are all worn out, what kind of shape are the dodgers in? at least zinci is just as worn out. and we're off on thursday. and reinforcements
on friday?
Posted by: iknow | August 30, 2006 at 10:43 AM
only one chore left- need to get out that broom.
Posted by: iknow | August 30, 2006 at 10:45 AM
we play madres at dodger stadium sept 15-18.
payback time. big time.take no prisoners.
Posted by: iknow | August 30, 2006 at 10:50 AM
br- yes on loney. better than anything out there on the market. question is what will they do next year?
loney is ready to be regular 1st baseman. will they
resign nomahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh? or go with loney?
Posted by: iknow | August 30, 2006 at 10:54 AM
no more future "hofs" for worn out vets. come on,
FORGET ABOUT IT!!!!!!!don't make me go to "ALL CAPS"
everyone will suffer.
Posted by: iknow | August 30, 2006 at 11:00 AM
Somewhat lost in all of the innings, heroics last night was how sharp Derek Lowe was, and continues to be. He's found his focus for now.
Remember, this was the guy who was questionable for his scheduled start on Friday. Provided three excellent innings, with a really moving sinker. With the off day Thursday, the rotation only needs to be tweeked slightly to stay in order.
Penny for Cy Young? Please! Unless he turns it around, one of the surprising stories of the 2nd half will be how did the Dodgers do so well without their supposed #1 providing much. And, when he does provide something it is 6 innings, max. Hardly a Cy performance in the tradition of Koufax, Drysdale, Hershiser--pitchers you could ride to the end, not have to rescue or replace.
Posted by: Dodgerdog | August 30, 2006 at 11:14 AM
Interesting to study pre all star and post all star hitting statistics. Furcal and Lofton have really stepped it up, Ethier, Martin, Kent have been pretty consistent, while Princess (slight drop off) and Nomar (huge...358 vs.218)have slowed the most.
Just think of how much more comfortable we'd be if we had won just 2 of those 7 against the Cardinals.
Posted by: Dodgerdog | August 30, 2006 at 11:26 AM
LoLo:
I wonder if we could get a good bundt or carrot cake for Hendrickson? I like the Kuo/Dessens idea much better then DWells...heck, start Hall and see what his arm has instead...
Posted by: grumpy3b | August 30, 2006 at 11:31 AM
Checked the pitching stats, pre/post. Saito, Broxton, Billingsley big contributors. Lowe, about the same. Penny, no surprise, huge drop off-ERA twice as high.
Sad stat. Penny has thrown 160 innings for the season. Timberrrr has 150. The ace has only 10 more innings than a guy we joke about? And no DL stints to scew the totals.
Posted by: Dodgerdog | August 30, 2006 at 11:39 AM
Grumpy,
We might get fruit cake for Hinder-ickson, but I doubt we can get carrot cake.
I think we should start super-utility man Lugo.
I remember when Mickey Hatcher pitched a few games for us. Then there was that other guy who did the Mike Fetters inpersonation on the mound (can't remember who it was). We need that kind of player around. A prankster, a joker, or someone who doesn't take himself too seriously.
Posted by: LoLo | August 30, 2006 at 11:56 AM
Sure enough Lowe's 3 innings were huge last night, but how about that guy Sele? The fact that he was able to come into the game in a no out, bases loaded situation and escape with only one run scored saved the game for the Dodgers. If he had been any less effective, everyone would have been home by 10:30 last night, and the Reds would still be in control of the Wildcard.
Posted by: Makoto Ueno | August 30, 2006 at 12:05 PM