Dodger fans, meet Esteban. Esteban, meet Dodger fans
The big -- only, really -- news before today's game was the announcement that the Blue have claimed former A's (and Nationals, Yankees, White Sox, Blue Jays, Rangers and Pirates) right-hander Esteban Loaiza off waivers. No players changing hands. Oakland is content to let the Dodgers pick up the mil or so owed Loaiza this season and the $6.5 he'll get in '08. Given the paucity of quality pitchers that will be available this winter and the goony-bird economics of modern sports, it's not a bad move for L.A. Pricey, but not bad. Anytime all something costs is money (as opposed to players), there's an upside, and I think the last two seasons have taught everyone that you can't have too many arms.
Loaiza, who will join the team Friday in San Diego and likely start Tuesday in Chicago, is very capable of being very good. He's also equally capable of imploding. Hence the career 4.60 ERA. But his last two starts (Loaiza's only of the season) in O-Town have been very good, and he's likely an upgrade over Eric Stults down the stretch. Hey, it's not my money, right?
"I think it's outstanding," Grady Little said. "He's been riddled with injuries all year long, but he's made his last two starts and they've been good ones, so we're glad to have him on board. We'll probably fit him right into the rotation. He throws strikes and pitches winning baseball when he's healthy." In conjunction with the Wells signing, Little was happy to have added a couple of experienced arms to help stabilize the staff for September. And while he said the Blue didn't really need a reminder that the team was in it to win, it doesn't hurt to add talent down the stretch. "Those guys know what we're trying to get done here, and that we have a month to do it."
LINEUPS: No Ethier, Kemp back in.
Dodgers:
Rafael Furcal - SS
Juan Pierre - CF
Matt Kemp - RF
Jeff Kent - 2B
Luis Gonzalez - LF
Russell Martin - C
James Loney - 1B
Shea Hillenbrand - 3B
Brad Penny - P
Nationals:
Nook Logan - CF
Felipe Lopez - SS
Ryan Zimmerman - 3B
Austin Kearns - RF
Ryan Church - LF
D'Angelo Jimenez - 2B
Robert Fick - 1B
Jesus Flores - C
Shawn Hill - P
-- BK
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By all means, lets reward Gonzo for leaving the bases loaded, and Pierre for going 0-4. And let's punish Ethier for driving in the winning run.
Does Pierre have pictures of Grady and Larry Craig in a men's room?
I don't buy the consecutive games strek explanation. Pierre has played in 780 consecutive games. So? He's not going to break Cal Ripkens' record. He's not going to break Everett Scott. What is the point of this pointless pursuit of perfect attendance? If it's hurting the team (Which all consecutive game streaks do), it's time for that pursuit to go away. Or at the very least, do what the Yankees did with Gehrig: play him for one at-bat and then give him the rest of the day off. Or let him pinch run in the ninth. That counts as a consecutive game played, but doesn't deprive the offense of Ethier or Kemp.
Posted by: SaMo | August 29, 2007 at 12:23 PM
I too like the Loaiza deal (as BK said it's not my money). But, he gives us a veteran starter who usually keeps you in the game and can occasionally shut a team down. To sign a comparable pitcher this offseason would have probably cost us 2 or 3 million a year more. His deal is not long-term, so if he stinks next year, we're not stuck for years to come. Penny, Lowe, Billingsley, Loaiza and then Schmidt, Wolf(if re-signed), Kuo, Stultz, or maybe Kershaw as possible 5th starters is decent. I also like the fact that we won't have to trade anybody to get a pitcher this offseason now.
Posted by: dodgerskip | August 29, 2007 at 01:05 PM
Colletti needs to focus the free-agent signing season on getting us a third baseman with power.
Posted by: Crash24 | August 29, 2007 at 01:28 PM
why does Penny have to break down now? and whats up with our guys patience at the plate? They don't seem to work any counts and let all these guys get away with 7 or 8 pitch innings
Posted by: Jukuren | August 29, 2007 at 01:42 PM
I'm getting the feeling that we won't be sweeping this series.
david
Posted by: David | August 29, 2007 at 01:45 PM
wow great game today. way to stay focused. eyes on the prize for sure. hmph....
Posted by: the WOLF | August 29, 2007 at 01:47 PM
its a million degrees out in the stadium and the dodgers cant even make that green faced rookie work by working long counts. what the hell is mueller doing? mueller? mueller? mueller.....?
Posted by: the WOLF | August 29, 2007 at 01:52 PM
C'mon David. I'm sure they're just trying to lull Washington into a false sense of security.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | August 29, 2007 at 01:52 PM
loney=clutch!
nice to know they are still fighting. for how long?
Posted by: the WOLF | August 29, 2007 at 02:03 PM
The Shea Hey Kid!!!
Back in business.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | August 29, 2007 at 02:07 PM
Wow. The Nats are doing what they can to let the Dodgers back into the game. Bad play by Lopez for an error, terrible play by Fick on the double by Loney (that ball should have at least been stopped for one out), then a terrible 0-2 pitch to Hillenbrand for a homer.
I guess that's how it goes when you're the Nationals.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | August 29, 2007 at 02:08 PM
cant believe it!!!
welcome to the party boys! nice of you guys to finally wake up! SWEEP!!
Posted by: the WOLF | August 29, 2007 at 02:08 PM
why dont they hit furcal right handed when hes +.100 pts better than when he hits left? i dont understand the strategy behind that. probably why he stirke out so much. i cant even remember the last time he hit right. are they protecting his ankle? no wonder why the offense suffers.
Posted by: the WOLF | August 29, 2007 at 02:14 PM
bk, its the big dodger in the sky who is making the nats fubar this game. look toward the mountains. see those big clouds? thats him. tommy called him, and it twas good.
Posted by: the WOLF | August 29, 2007 at 02:18 PM
and the beat(ing) goes on...
Posted by: the WOLF | August 29, 2007 at 02:22 PM
what the hell is up with this game? good form kemp!
Posted by: the WOLF | August 29, 2007 at 02:29 PM
maybe the boys can come through here---man the nationals have really helped us out---Be nice to nail this one down
Posted by: jukuren | August 29, 2007 at 02:53 PM
Wolf-
It must be something (haha). Regarding Furcal's switch hitting, that's something that's buggedme about switch hitters for years. I've never figured out why a guy who has such a big differential from one side to the other wouldn't just take the dominant side. But that has much less to do with the team (any team, not just the Dodgers) and much more to do with the player (any player, not just Furcal). Switch hitters tend to be very stubborn in that regard. They don't often give it up.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | August 29, 2007 at 02:59 PM
Hm! Saito has pitched 4 days straight. I hate Little..
Posted by: Anthony T. | August 29, 2007 at 03:10 PM
stubborness for the sake of the team....how professional.
Posted by: the WOLF | August 29, 2007 at 03:14 PM
is it me, or does it seem like the tomato lost some weight? he doesnt look as plump for some reason....
Posted by: the WOLF | August 29, 2007 at 03:18 PM
Maybe someone will claim Bombko and we (Frank) won't be stuck with the bill.
I like this deal as well. Low risk, relatively cheap compared to the other alternatives. Insurance in case Schmidt does not make it back. Tough call on bringing Wolf back. I guess it will depend on how the rehab is going.
Posted by: Lex | August 29, 2007 at 03:18 PM
we lost. proctor's up. GREAT JOB NED!
Posted by: the WOLF | August 29, 2007 at 03:22 PM
That is really swell that Saenz is the longest on the Dodger roster and all but he is really stinking up the place. Time for him to Go!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Lex | August 29, 2007 at 03:23 PM
I really can not understand why they have not brought Meloan up and released Hernandez. Could be important for todays game. We'll see.
Posted by: Lex | August 29, 2007 at 03:25 PM