Programming adjustment

We interrupt your regularly schedule dose of Manny Mania (sort of) to highlight the performance of some of his teammates.  Specifically, Clayton Kershaw, who threw seven innings of one-run, seven K ball as LA salvaged the final edition of their three game set in St. Louis with a 4-1 win Thursday afternoon.  After a wild first inning in which he threw 25 pitches and walked two, Kershaw settled down and basically mowed through the Cards, giving the bullpen a rest on a day they needed it.  Don't look now, but that makes three really good outings on a row.  Of course, it's not like Manny took the day off.  His two run homer in the third gave the Dodgers a 3-1 lead.  Yes, they lost two of three in St. Louis, but it's fair to say this is a bunch that believes they're headed in the right direction.  Even Jeff Kent is all giddy!  (Editor's Note: It's all relative, people.)

Things should, at least in theory, improve even more with the re-introduction of a healthy Brad Penny- as opposed to the ineffective, banged up version the Dodgers saw earlier in the year- into the starting rotation tonight in San Francisco.  He'll face Barry Zito for the Giants.

And speaking of free agent acquisitions that don't seem to be working out, Jason Schmidt isn't likely to pitch again this season.  Too many starts and stops (he's currently stopped) in the rehab process.