Just like Joyce DeWitt...
Blake of the same last name is not on the Dodgers' current roster. 
The rookie third baseman was sent back to Vegas today in favor of righty Cory Wade, who'll be in uni for tonight's game. The move had nothing to do with DeWitt's play and everything to do with Joe Torre feeling hamstrung by a pitching staff of only 11, especially after last night's game that required four relievers after Derek Lowe's quality outing was shortened by elbow tightness. "With the need for a pitcher here, we felt we needed to do that," explained the skip. In discussing the Blue's new hurler, Torre recalled his quality spring training. More specifically, "how often he throws strikes." Plus, the guy can eat some innings in relief, a commodity not in abundance right now for the Dodgers.
But unlike the actress' attitude towards her time on "Three's Company," Dewitt has no bitterness about his unexpected experience with the Dodgers, one Torre felt was all positive and productive. "He was fine," said Torre of his talk with the youngster. "That's a special young man. Respect seems to be a big part of his game. He said he's learned a lot. He knows what he needs to learn on. All the things you'd like people to say when you send them down to the Minor League." As for Lowe, Torre figured he'd wouldn't work out for Sunday's as of yet undecided starter spot. Told the sinker ball specialist is claiming to feel fine, Torre just nodded. "I'm sure he is. But I'm not sure I'd bring him back on short rest." The scheduled start on Tuesday, however, appears safe to pencil in.
In the meantime, Torre feels comfortable (enough, at any rate) with Nomar Garciaparra as his everyday hot corner man, with spot work coming from now-back up Chin-ling Hu and a hopefully rapid rehab on the part of Andy LaRoche. But Dewitt's trip to Sin City was a tough decision for Torre, in part because of infielder Tony Abreu's continued unavailability for action. Torre said the groin-addled player will remain with the big club until he's "ready to play baseball somewhere." That ETA becomes tricky because Abreu's been fairly skittish about his body's ducks being in a perfect row before declaring himself ready for rehab. And to a large degree, the issue has become mental. "I think the green light will come maybe when he realizes that what he does feel is not going to happen in any way. The only thing that we want to get across to him, and hopefully he understand, is that we're going to do whatever we can to take care of him. We're not going to send him out there if he's in any kind of danger." Torre sympathized with Abreu's trepidation, mentioning Andy Petite's anxieties while coming back from injury. "I think he's just a little afraid and I think it's understandable." I asked if there was any concern that Abreu is getting too caught up picturing worst case scenarios and basically psyching himself out. Torre thought that might be the case, comparing it to how you'll go to a dentist, have a cavity filled, but still feel like your choppers are hurting.
For now, everyone's just hoping Abreu will be back before he's actually sporting dentures.
Joe Torre, Part I: Download joe_torre_pregame_042408.mp3
Joe Torre, Part II (the surprised "Las Vegas!" was Torre being handed a piece of paper settling for sure where DeWitt headed): Download joe_torre_042408_pregame_2.mp3
Tonight's Lineups
D-Backs
Chris Young - CF
Stephen Drew - SS
Orlando Hudson - 2B
Conor Jackson - 1B
Mark Reynolds - 3B
Justin Upton - RF
Miguel Montero - C
Jeff Salazar - LF
Edgar Gonzalez - P
Dodgers
Furcal - SS
Jones - CF
Nomar - 3B
Kent - 2B
Loney - 1B
Martin - C
Ethier - LF
Kemp - RF
Bills - P
AK
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kemp and Ethier bat 7 and eight. nomar and Jones 2 and 3. Sounds like Grady's hunches.
Posted by: david | April 24, 2008 at 07:15 PM
Hmmm... Ned Colletti does remind me of Mr. Furley, and McCourt always struck me as a dead ringer for Larry.
Jeff Kent is pretty close to Mr. Roper in age.
Matt Kemp is always tripping. You may be on to the secret of this season.
I'd be sad about DeWitt, but Nomar is hitting the Chrissy Snow out of the ball.
Posted by: benzo jones | April 24, 2008 at 07:31 PM
When is Bills going for that shoulder MRI?
David
Posted by: david | April 24, 2008 at 07:43 PM
Benzo,
I realize it's only April, but I'm ready to crown that as my favorite comment of the season. Kudos.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | April 24, 2008 at 08:13 PM
It's Chad Schmidtingsly!
Jones did it again... went back-to-back with the Verticle HR to the Catcher! Celebrity fit club anyone?
Posted by: benzo jones | April 24, 2008 at 08:15 PM
I hope McCourt's renovation plans for Dodger Stadium left room for a faithful recreation of the famous Regal Beagle Bar!!!!
http://www.whiskeyriver.us/images/2007%2008%2026%20MOD/MOD%2010%20Regal%20Beagle%20sign.jpg
Posted by: DodgerBlueBalls | April 24, 2008 at 08:42 PM
DBB,
Dare to dream, friend! Dare to dream!
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | April 24, 2008 at 08:45 PM
Vin said something about Scott Proctor putting a statue of a deer in the Dodger bullpen. Anyone know the deal with that?
Posted by: AKtheFan | April 24, 2008 at 09:04 PM
AKTheFan,
No, but I'll try to ask Proctor about it. That's certainly the kinda kooky stuff I love knowing about.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | April 24, 2008 at 09:06 PM
AK -
Wait till Schmidt starts pitching... I got a whole bunch ready.
One of my lifes proudest moment was when I bought Norman Fell a Beer at the Yankee Doodles on the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica.
Why bat Sweeny when the dude hasn't given up a hit to a lefty ALL YEAR! Who is feeding Joe his info. I'm all for "instinctual" managing, but Joe is really putting the "stink" in instinct. Oh well... at least they scored more than 1 run.
Posted by: benzo jones | April 24, 2008 at 09:25 PM
Benzo,
Holy crap!!! You bought Norman Fell a beer???!!! My level of admiration for you just rose about 1000%. That's awesome, sir! When you bought him the beer, did he bust out that same grin he'd give to the camera whenever he made fun of Helen?
I met John Ritter on two occasions (one a small but funny interview) and he was every bit as nice as his reputation. Really good guy. And a fellow USC Theatre School alum to boot, which we talked a little about.
One other 70's sitcom tidbit: I used to wait tables 12-13 years ago at the Chin Chin in Brentwood and Robert Hegyes and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs (aka "Espstein" and "Washington") from "Welcome Back Kotter" sat together in my section for lunch. To say the least, that blew my mind to smithereens. It took real restraint on my part not to ask Heyges if he had a note from his mother giving him permission order those potstickers. haha
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | April 24, 2008 at 09:55 PM
On the D-Backs broadcast tonight, Mark Grace pointed out something interesting about Jones' mechanics at the plate. When he swings, his back foot heads toward the home dugout, instead of pivoting and driving his weight forward. The only time he can drive the ball at all is when it's right in his wheelhouse.
Maybe this is well-known in SoCal, and certainly the Dodgers must know it. It gave me a new respect for his hitting ability. How you can hit even .160 when you're doing something so fundamentally flawed as that?
Posted by: Tom in AZ | April 24, 2008 at 10:48 PM
This one really pissed me off. It sums up the 2008 Dodgers so far.
After the D'backs got the lead the AZ announcers had a great ol' time, relaxed, joking, like they knew the game was over.
The Dodger deserved this loss. Extra credit for Bills. His guys kept trying to come back, but he refused to put the lid on it. Too bad he seems to have regressed this year.
Most of the credit goes to Kemp. No way Either doesn't catch that ball if he is in right field. Maybe if you actually see the ball leave the bat you can fight off the lights better. And now he is 1 for 17 with the bases loaded. What a choke! Now I'm not saying Kemp can't be a great player someday, but when you can't even put the ball in play in the clutch...
He catches that ball and just hits the ball with 1 out and a man on third and maybe you have a tie game. I know, and maybe monkeys will fly outta my butt. Pinch hit Matt next time and maybe he'll have something to prove when the opportunity come again.
Time to take a long look in the mirror guys...
Posted by: Andy B | April 24, 2008 at 11:14 PM
great to see dodger mgt kept useless sweeney and sent promising dewitt to minors......proctor ought to be next sent packing, era now north of 8....over-rated billingsley struck out 12 yet still gets hammered. and 2 old coots got the ump's boot, "grandpa" kent & senile torre....the beat goes on as team keeps unearthing innovative ways to "amuse/entertain"
Posted by: bigunit | April 24, 2008 at 11:20 PM
LOL my friend pointed the deer out to me tonight! No gnome though ...
Posted by: Linda | April 24, 2008 at 11:58 PM
AK -
He winked and said thank you. Frankly, the wink creeped me out a little.
I've got Charo stories too!
Posted by: benzojones | April 25, 2008 at 06:01 AM
AK:
What's the matter, Ron Palillo couldn't make the outing? It's not like he was working, was it?
Posted by: SaMo | April 25, 2008 at 08:25 AM
SaMo,
Ron Pallilo was actually waiting tables in the next section over. haha
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | April 25, 2008 at 09:14 AM
Again as iI said to my co-workers I am starting to give up on this team. It's really not the owners and the team looks like it should be good but why can't they all get on the same page. I mean I played baseball, basketball,football,tennis, and the one thing I always found out it is not talent that wins, it is hunger the hunger to be the best and with that mindset winning takes care of itself.
Posted by: pk-in-the-mesa | April 25, 2008 at 10:24 AM