September 2007 Archives

Dodgers finish 82-80, but Grady didn't take much consolation from the winning record. ``If you're not going to the playoffs, you lost, and we all realize that,'' he said. ``People talk about being proud of being over .500 for the year, but we aren't going to the postseason, so in my heart, we lost.'' ... I'm going to try to keep this blog going to some degree over the winter, but I won't be posting every day. I'll also be posting some during the playoffs, just my thoughts on some of the games, especially in the National League. I look forward to settling into the couch and taking in tomorrow's tiebreaker between the Padres and the Rockies. Mostly, I just look forward to the coming winter, which will include a Thanksgiving vacation to Maui with my daughter and my mom, a couple of weeks in Arkansas over the Holidays and a few days in Nashville for the winter meetings. Mostly, though, it will include a LOT of down time, when I can hopefully start losing some of the 20 or so pounds I put on during the season. As we come to the end, I want to thank all of you for reading this blog and for some of the great responses I have received from you, both in your comments and in your emails directly to me. ... And, even though I'm glad the 2007 season is over, I'm already looking forward to spring training. Have a great winter, everyone.

Those were the main points of Frank McCourt's mini-press conference this morning. Frank says Ned and Grady are committed to the organization's goals, and so they will remain in place. As for ticket prices, he says they will increase next year in sections of the ballpark where renovations (or, as Frank called them, investments) are expected to take place, and he said this winter's phase of renovations will cost $70 million to $80 million. But he also said at least 10,000 seats will remain affordably priced -- or, in his words, ``accessible to any fan who wants to come to the ballpark and be part of the Dodgers experience.''

What's the only thing worse than a meaningless game in which both teams are simply playing out the string? When one of those games goes into superfluous cantos (that's scribe slang for extra innings). Gonzo came up with what would have been a huge hit in Dodgers history if this game had actually had playoff implications, coming off the bench and shooting one up the left-centerfield gap to drive in LaRoche from second base with the winning run. Saito went two innings and got the win, giving him a 2-1 record, an outstanding 1.40 ERA and 39 saves in his second season with the Dodgers (I'm going to guess he won't be called on tomorrow no matter what the situation). The Dodgers clinched a winning season, going to 82-79, and by winning tomorrow they would have as many wins as St. Louis had on its way to winning the World Series last year. Hey, you look for positives anywhere you can find them, right? ... One more day, folks.

If the Dodgers win either tonight or tomorrow, they will have a winning season for the 38th time in 50 seasons since moving to Los Angeles. During that time, only the New York Yankees have had more winning seasons (40). ... Chin-lung Hu and James McDonald will be presented with the organization's Player and Pitcher of the Year awards, respectively, during a ceremony tonight. ... Pods lost today, so we won't know anything about the N.L. playoff picture until tomorrow afternoon. A.L. is all set: Angels go to Boston, Yankees go to Cleveland.

James Loney continues to have a monster September, just as he did last year. He now has a seven-game hitting streak, and he has nine homers and 32 RBI this month. I'm going to predict right now that this guy is going to be the biggest star of all these young players. And if I'm wrong, well, no one will remember, anyway. ... Dodgers clinch at least a .500 record, improving to 81-79.

A big welcome to Flo Snyder, the very first employee the Dodgers hired when they moved to Los Angeles from Brooklyn almost a half-century ago. Mark Langill was escorting her around the stadium this afternoon and introduced me to her. Flo was hired in October 1957 to work in the team's public relations office, and she stayed for 11 years. She went on to a long career in the public relations field until retiring 10 years ago, and she now lives in Carmel. This was her first trip back to Dodger Stadium since leaving the club almost 40 years ago. ``Any success I have had in life, I owe it all to this ballclub,'' she said.

The Dodgers will begin the season on March 31 against the Giants, the first step in the year-long celebration of both clubs' moves West in 1958. That three-game series will be at Dodger Stadium. Strangely, the Dodgers won't make their first trip to San Francisco until July, but the two clubs will close out the regular season Sept. 26-28 at AT&T Park. The Dodgers have released a tentative version of their schedule, which is available on their web site. Other highlighs includes, as previously reported, interleague road series with the Angels and Tigers and interleague home series with the Angels, Indians and White Sox. There are TWO trips to Cincinnati, including a two-gamer in late April. But it gets especially grueling late. The Dodgers have a San Diego-Colorado-Pittsburgh trip Sept. 8-18, with the Pittsburgh portion a four-game series. ... Those coming out for Fan Appreciation Day on Sunday will get to see Eric Stults start against Barry Zito, although Stults probably will only go four or five innings and then be followed by a host of relievers. As Grady said, there will be a lot of judging going on these next three games, which makes them very similar to spring-training games.

Dodgers catcher Russell Martin will receive this year's Roy Campanella Award, voted on by all Dodgers uniformed personnel, as the club's most inspirational player. Martin will be presented with the award before Sunday's season-ending game with the Giants, and it will be presented by Campanella's daughter, Joni Roan, a Daily News employee. ... Autumn is definitely here. It's 3:45 in the afternoon and already chilly. I brought the leather -- jacket, that is. Nothing like freezing your derriere off while watching fourth- and fifth-place clubs battle it out on the final weekend of the season for ... well, absolutely nothing.

James Loney tonight became just the fifth player in L.A. Dodgers history to drive in 31 runs in a single month. He joins Frank Howard, who had 41 RBI in August 1962; Mike Marshall, who had 37 in September 1985; Tommy Davis, who had 33 in June 1962; and Kal Daniels, who had 31 in September 1990. Strangely, Pete Guerrero only had 26 when he hit 15 home runs in June 1985.

The schedule makers must have envisioned another storied finish between longtime rivals the Dodgers and Giants when they pitted the two clubs against each other in this weekend's season-ending three-game series. The joke is on them -- and all of us who get to sit through it. But neither Barry Bonds nor Jeff Kent is expected to play, so maybe the two of them can hang out in the tunnel between the clubhouses and catch up with each other and reminisce about all the great times they had together during their years with the Giants (sarcasm). There is the whole Fan Appreciation thing, so that might be worth coming out for for Dodgers fans. Apparently there are going to be some good prizes to be had for those lucky enough to win them. ... Beyond that, this figures to be a thrilling final weekend in the rest of the National League. All four playoff spots are still up for grabs (although it is really beginning to look like the Cubs are in and the Brewers are out). This could be one of the best finishes in years, and even those of us who are going to be stuck here at Chavez Ravine will be enjoying it from afar.

Grady said before the game that the Dodgers need to ``stay the course'' with their young players and their plan and not stray from it. He asked, part rhetorically and part earnestly, what the Dodgers had been doing since they last won the World Series in 1988, a clear reference to the fact the team's longstanding method of signing high-priced free agents simply hasn't worked out, and that the current plan of drafting and developing is the right one. Some will applaud what Grady said, while others will dismiss it. But the Rockies are a perfect example of what can happen when you have a lot of young talent, you're patient, and you allow it to develop. They endured years of growing pains, including a good portion of this year, but it's all paying off now.

Tony Abreu (abdominal/groin strain) and Rafael Furcal (lower back) have all been shut down for the season, and understandably so. Why risk further injury when there is so little at stake. Kent, whose hammy has been bothering him all year and who suffered a bruised left leg when he slid into home plate on Tuesday night, will be available only in an emergency. And Penny will NOT make his scheduled start in Sunday's season finale. Nothing wrong with him, but why subject him to any chance of an injury in such a meaningless game? ... Asked Grady about possible coaching changes, and he didn't really bite. ``We'll see,'' is all he said, which to me is a strong indicator that something is going to happen. My guess is Bill Mueller goes back upstairs, so they'll need a hitting coach, but there could be some other changes, as well. ...

These Rockies are an absolutely amazing story that NO ONE could have predicted when the season began. I rode the escalator downstairs after the game with Jay Alves, their media relations director and a longtime friend of mine, and we were just shaking our heads at the absurdity of it all. I was a backup on the beat for one of the Denver papers the last time these guys won nine in a row back in 1997, which until tonight was a franchise record that could be broken tomorrow, but that came after the club was already out of contention and didn't make that much of a stir. This is something else entirely. The scary thing is, clubs that make the playoffs after getting on a roll like this tend to stay hot when they get there (remember the 2003 Marlins?), so these guys are by no means looking at an automatic first-round exit. Of course, they have to get there first, and the Padres rallied to beat the Giants tonight, so the Rockies are still a game back in the wild card. ... As for the boys, well, they fell to 80-77, and tney better get untracked quickly if they're going to salvage a winning season. They once had to go at least 3-11. Now, after losing eight of nine, they have to go at least 2-3. But at least they don't appear to be sleepwalking anymore, like they did last week. Could that have something to do with Grady suddenly playing all the kids? Home runs tonight by Hu, Loney and Delwyn Young, and the other run was driven in on a single by LaRoche. ... By the way, they started a new chant after Hu's homer in the fourth inning: ``Huuuuuuuuuu.'' As in, ``They're not booing, they're chanting `Huuuuuuuuuuu.'''

Not a great deal of news today. Ubaldo Jimenez was sticking it to the boys until just now, when Chin-lung Hu, to which the crowd responded with chants of ``Huuuuuuuuu'' as he rounded the bases. It was his second big-league homer, and it tied the game. By the way, there was a smattering off boos when Grady's name was announced before the game. Not sure it was warranted, but not sure it wasn't, either. ... Rockies 2, Dodgers 2, end 4

By Tony Jackson
Staff Writer
Dodgers backup catcher Mike Lieberthal said on Tuesday that he has changed his mind about retiring if the Dodgers don't pick up his $1.5 million club option for next season. A month ago, Lieberthal said that if he doesn't play for the Dodgers in 2008, he won't play anywhere, but he has since opened himself to the possibility of playing for another club.
``I'm not going to retire,'' Lieberthal said. ``I feel like I can keep playing. I have asked so many people, especially my friends, a few players on this team and my family. They all feel I should keep playing. And I have talked to guys like (former Dodgers catcher) Steve Yeager, who tell me to play until they take (the jersey) off my back. Even if it's for $1 million, $500,000 after taxes is a nice paycheck.''
The Dodgers have until five days after the World Series to decide whether to exercise the option. Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti declined to comment on whether he is leaning one way or the other.
If nothing else, Lieberthal, who will turn 36 in January, should be fresh going into next year. He has started just 17 games this season behind iron man Russell Martin and has entered 14 others defensively. The fact he hasn't complained about such sporadic playing time might be a compelling reason for the Dodgers to keep him, given that the situation doesn't figure to change much next season.
``I would like to play more, but there is a stud playing in front of me,'' Lieberthal said. ``But as hard as he plays, he is probably going to get hurt sometime, even if it's only for a week or two.''

Injury updates: Shortstop Rafael Furcal's stiff lower back still hasn't healed enough to allow him to play. Furcal now has missed seven consecutive games, and each day that passes without him returning to the lineup makes it less likely he will play again this season.
``There would be value is him playing if he is able to play,'' said Dodgers manager Grady Little, shooting down the idea that it might be better to simply shut Furcal down for the year.
Furcal has been playing through pain in his left ankle all season.
Meanwhile, infielder Tony Abreu, who left Sunday's game at Arizona with pain in his hip flexor, hadn't improved much and was as questionable for the rest of the season as Furcal.
``He is hurt,'' Little said. ``I don't know if he will be able to play. He is kind of day to day. We'll check him and see.''

No difference: Little said the club won't approach this three-game series with wildcard-contending Colorado any differently than this weekend's season-ending set with last-place San Francisco, even though there doesn't figure to be anything at stake for either club in that series.
``We're going to try to win as many games as we can,'' Little said. ``What we did last week (a 1-6 trip), there is nothing we can do about that right now. We just have to go forward.''
The Dodgers entered the day trailing the third-place Rockies by four games, leaving them only a remote chance to avoid finishing behind Colorado in the standings for the first time since the Rockies came into existence in 1993. The Dodgers needed to go at least 2-4 to post their seventh winning season in eight years during this decade.

Dodgers finish their road sked with a 39-42 mark. They won six of nine here in the big hangar, which is fairly notable given that the Snakes have gone an incredible 50-31 at home. Today was all about the kids. Juan Pierre was the only guy in the starting lineup that wasn't a first- or second-year big leaguer, and the boys fairly unloaded on Edgar Gonzalez, the same guy who beat them last Sunday to start the seven-game losing streak. Nice effort by Billingsley today, too, even though he threw 95 pitches and only went 5 2/3. I'm telling you, this kid is a potential No. 1 starter who could become one of the league's elite starting pitchers as soon as next season. Loney went 3 for 5 with a home run, and Tony Abreu homered in the first inning. ... Enjoyed watching that whole Milton Bradley thing unfold in San Diego. I feel bad for Buddy Black, one of the classiest guys in the game, and I'm sure he is beside himself over what happened. But this was the whole story of Milton wrapped up in one instance: he lost his temper yet again, and he got injured yet again. It appears his never-ending tendency to do both of those things is ultimately going to overshadow his talent, his ability and, unfortunately, his career. Thank your lucky stars he isn't the Dodgers' problem anymore. ... While standing around the clubhouse this morning (one of my greatest talents, by the way), I saw the door to Grady's office open. Matt Kemp and James Loney were coming out, but Ned, who was having a conversation nearby in the corner of the clubhouse, intercepted them, and the three of them went back in and closed the door again. I guess he wanted to talk to them, too, and I'm sure it was about their comments in response to Kent's comments about the team's young players. Let's hope this thing is finally a dead issue. But mostly, let's hope it doesn't come up again next year, because I can't imagine Kent isn't coming back when he has a $9 million guarantee. ... Dodgers improve to 80-76. They need to go at least 2-4 on the homestand to have a winning season. And while it's true that you either make the playoffs or you don't, I still think your final record is an important stat. It's history, after all. This is my eighth year as a full-time beat guy, and I can still recite the records of every team I have covered ('00 Reds 85-77, '01 Reds 66-96, '02 Reds 78-84, '03 Reds 69-93, '04 Dodgers 93-69, '05 Dodgers 71-91, '06 Dodgers 88-74). I hope the boys feel the same way and play hard to the end -- even though that series with the Jints next weekend figures to be rather dull.

What else is left to say? The tension is so thick in that clubhouse right now that you can hardly breathe. You get the feeling, just being around these guys, that they can't wait to get away from each other for a few months. You wonder if the atmosphere is going to be any better when they all meet up again in Vero Beach next spring. You wonder if Jeff Kent might have talked his way into being traded -- not that there is going to be much of a market for a guy who is going to turn 40 next spring, who has a $9 million salary and who has a famously prickly personality. You wonder if 4 1/2 months of being away from all this is going to fix it, change it, make it any better at all. This isn't the end of 2005. The Dodgers aren't close to being the complete and utter mess they were when Jim Tracy was fired by Paul DePodesta, Paul DePodesta was fired by Frank McCourt a month later and Terry Collins spent 24 hours thinking he was going to be named the team's manager the next day only to have McCourt pull the rug and DePodesta out from under him. This isn't even close to being that, and these Dodgers have a chance to be really good next year. But this much is certain: if everyone (Grady, Ned, the coaches, the players) simply pulls the covers over their eyes and pretends it's all OK, then nothing is ever going get better. This clubhouse has become what MTV only wishes The Real World could be. Twenty-five (actually, right now, 36) people in one room, one dugout, one bus, one hotel, one airplane, and this week, they suddenly stopped being nice and started being real. But when you're trying to win a championship, real can be a little overrated. Good luck, boys. Opening day is only six months away.

These two teams don't look like they belong on the same field, or even in the same league. A lot of that has to do with the fact Brandon Webb is pitching for the Snakes. But a lot of it also has to do with the fact these Dodgers continue to seem somewhat disinterested. To some degree, I guess it makes sense. There is nothing left to play for except a winning record, which I once thought was a lock. Before this soon-to-be seven-game losing streak began, they needed to go just 3-11 to finish 82-80, and that seemed like a slam dunk. Now, they have to go 3-4. Not such a slam dunk. Shoot, they have to go 2-5 just to avoid a LOSING season and finish 81-81. The way this is going, even THAT seems questionable. ... I won't bore you with any game details except to say Wells lasted 4 2/3 innings and gave up five runs on nine hits. ... Diamondbacks 5, Dodgers 0, top 6

But first, the boys appear to have blown another one after they jumped to a 3-1 lead. With two outs and a man on first in the third, Tony Clark hit a high pop fly in foul territory beyond third base. Nomar appeared to have a bead on it, but Tony Abreu then appeared to call him off at the last second, and the ball fell between them. Clark, of course, then hit a two-run, game-tying homer. The Snakes got three more in the fourth, and Loaiza is gone now after yet another disaster. Something clearly isn't right with the guy. ... Diamondbacks 6, Dodgers 3, bottom 5

By Tony Jackson
Staff Writer
PHOENIX -- Dodgers manager Grady Little declined on Friday to directly address comments made by second baseman Jeff Kent the previous day in which Kent implied that several of the team's young players weren't making enough of an effort to learn from their veteran teammates. Little said he wouldn't comment until he had a chance to hear what Kent had said directly from Kent instead of simply reading Kent's quotes in media reports.
Little did imply, however, that the veterans aren't entirely blameless when it comes to the widely reported clubhouse rift between the Dodgers' veterans and youngsters.
``In a lot of ways, I think it's a two-way street,'' Little said. ``It's like a marriage. For those who have successful marriages, that's a two-way street, too.''
Little's message was clear: some of those veterans could stand to reach out to the younger players a little more.
The notoriously prickly Kent has been criticized at times for keeping to himself in the clubhouse. But in Kent's defense, there was a well-publicized incident during a game in Florida two years ago when Kent tried to pull outfielder Milton Bradley aside to offer constructive criticism after Bradley made a costly baserunning mistake, and that conversation eventually led to the volatile Bradley, who is African-American, implying several days later that Kent was a racist.
Bradley has since been traded to Oakland and now is with San Diego, but the memory of that debacle might be making Kent somewhat reticent to offer advice.
Veteran third baseman Nomar Garciaparra also likes to go about his business quietly. And while veteran left fielder Luis Gonzalez has been a legendary clubhouse leader for most of his career, he has lost considerable playing time this season because of the emergence of younger outfielders Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp, a fact that might be making Gonzalez less comfortable asserting a leadership role.
For now, Little is chalking Kent's comments up to simple frustration at a time when the Dodgers appear to be out of the running for a playoff spot at the end of a season that began with so much promise.
``I think he shares that frustration that all of us feel at this point in time,'' Little said. ``There aren't many of us who don't feel it.''

Minor awards: Infielder Chin-lung Hu, presently in the majors as a September callup, and right-hander James McDonald will be named today as the Dodgers' Organizational Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively.
Hu, 23, split the season between Double-A Jacksonville and Triple-A Las Vegas before his Sept. 1 callup, batting a combined .325 with 40 doubles, 14 homers and 62 RBI. McDonald, who will turn 23 next month, split the year between advanced Single-A Inland Empire and Jacksonville, going a combined 13-9 with a 3.07 ERA. He struck out 168 batters in 134 2/3 innings, allowing just 121 hits.

Also: Shortstop Rafael Furcal tried to swing a bat before Friday night's game, but his tight lower back wouldn't allow him to do so. He missed his fourth consecutive game. ...
Infielder Ramon Martinez, who injured his right elbow sometime during the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader at Colorado in which he played in place of Furcal and hasn't played since, left Chase Field about an hour before game time Friday night and went for an MRI. ...
Dodgers player development director DeJon Watson said he hopes to hire a roving minor-league hitting coordinator sometime this weekend. The job has been vacant since Bill Robinson died suddenly on July 29. Several Dodgers prospects began Arizona Instructional League play with a victory over San Diego on Friday at Peoria, Ariz., so there is a sense of urgency to fill the position. Scott Van Slyke homered in the Dodgers' win to kick off a month-long season that will end on Oct. 20.

It came with one out in the seventh, on the first pitch thrown by Rockies reliever Matt Herges after Ethier's three-run shot chased Ubaldo Jimenez. LaRoche's ball landed several rows back in the leftfield bleachers. Not that it will do the Dodgers much good. They're going to suffer their first four-game sweep ever at Coors, although the Rockies did sweep a four-gamer at Chavez Ravine back in 1993, their first year of existence. Gonzo on deck, looking for career high No. 2,500. ... Rockies 9, Dodgers 4, top 8

His seventh-inning double will cost the Dodgers $9M next season, assuming he doesn't retire and isn't traded over the winter. It was his 550th plate appearance.

Another tough one for Broxton, but he was a standup guy afterward. This guy is going to have a long, successful career in the majors and eventually be a closer. For a 23-year-old to be going through what he is going through (five HR in his past nine IP, three of them game-winners) and come back after Hawpe's shot tonight to dominate the next three batters, it says something about his makeup. He is an easy guy to root for. ... Gonzo went 1 for 5 and needs one more hit for 2,500. ... Kent had five PAs tonight. Three more and his option for next season vests. He could still retire, but this guy still really, really wants that ring he came so tantalizingly close to getting with the Giants in 2002, and the potential is there for this team to be pretty good next year. My guess is he's coming back. My other guess is we won't know for sure until sometime over the winter. ... Dodgers fall to 79-73, and they now trail the Rockies by a game. Rockies are confident and playing well, Dodgers are, well, not. Looks like the boys are headed for a fourth-place finish. ... Dodgers went 5 for 22 w/RISP tonight. This on a night when they had 41 total ABs. Twenty-two ABs with runners in scoring position, and they get five hits and five runs. Maybe this one wasn't Broxton's fault, after all.

... but before we get to that, let me say I am seriously considering putting Matt Holliday's name in the No. 1 spot on my National League MVP ballot. It has to have 10 names, ranked 1 through 10, with each vote counting in inverse order, i.e., a first-place vote counts for 10 points, a 10th-place vote for one point. I know the Rockies probably aren't going to the playoffs, but this guy is having an incredible season -- and an incredible series so far (7 for 11, 3 HRs, a double and six RBI). He has 2 HR's already tonight and drove Juan Pierre to the wall in dead center in this third AB. He leads the league in hitting, has 35 HRs, leads the league in RBI, leads the league in hits (204), leads the league in total bases (367), leads the league in doubles (48), leads the league in extra-base hits (86) and is hitting a league-best .384 in day games. Sounds like an MVP to me. ... Dodgers just tied the game on a bases-loaded single by Brad Penny and still have the bases jammed with nobody out. Jeremy Affeldt coming on now for the Rox. ... Ddogers 4, Rockies 4, top 6

By Tony Jackson
Staff Writer
DENVER -- Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal was still unavailable on Wednesday night because of lower back tightness. But club officials said he was feeling better than he was on Tuesday, when the problem knocked him out of the first game of a doubleheader after six innings and prevented him from playing at all in the nightcap.
The issue was still preventing Furcal from swinging a bat, a fact that probably makes it highly unlikely he will play in this afternoon's series finale at Colorado even though no one was willing to say that.
``It doesn't seem to be real serious,'' Dodgers trainer Stan Conte said. ``But he still doesn't have full motion, and he still isn't able to make all the movements he needs to, especially swinging. So we'll hold him out until he is ready to do stuff like that.''
With the Dodgers apparently on the brink of elimination from the playoff hunt -- they went into the evening with a magic number of eight to be knocked out of the wild card -- there is a remote possibility Furcal has played his final game. Furcal suffered a severely sprained ankle in a collision with outfielder Jason Repko during the next-to-last week of spring training that still hasn't fully healed and probably won't until he can rest it for several weeks.
Thus, even if Furcal is able to return from the back injury, the question will have to be asked at that time whether there is a reason for him to do so -- especially if it happens during what figures to be a meaningless, season-ending series with last-place San Francisco.
But Conte seemed to dismiss that idea.
``If we're unfortunate enough to not be playing in meaningful games, then we have about 10 guys who could benefit from (sitting out),'' Conte said.

Still his: The Dodgers have used seven different starting third basemen this season, and not one of them has started more than 40 games at the position. Manager Grady Little said he hopes to leave spring training next year with one primary third baseman, adding that the position still belongs for now to veteran Nomar Garciaparra.
Garciaparra, who is signed through next season, has hit .381 this year with runners in scoring position, but just .246 in all other situations. Tony Abreu, who started at short in place of Furcal on Wednesday, and Andy LaRoche are among the organization's brightest prospects, but until one of them takes it away, Garciaparra is still the guy.
``As of now, Nomar would have to be the incumbent,'' Little said. ``He has had a tough season this year, but hopefully, he can get it turned around.''
Abreu and LaRoche, each of whom is in his first big-league season, also have struggled. Abreu is hitting .267. LaRoche is batting .193 and has struck out 15 times in 57 at-bats.

Not sure: Bill Mueller reluctantly accepted the Dodgers' hitting coach job on an interim basis, stepping down from his spot as a special assistant to general manager Ned Colletti, after Eddie Murray was fired on June 14. Two weeks later, Mueller reluctantly accepted the job for the rest of the season.
Now, as that season winds to a close, Mueller isn't sure whether he wants to keep the job beyond this season.
``I have to talk to Grady and Ned,'' Mueller said. ``It's not my decision, and I don't know what their decision is, and I don't want to get into that during the season. It's a non-issue. All that matters right now is preparing for a game each day.''
Mueller did say he has found a comfort level in the job, but he wouldn't go as far as saying that comfort level has given him renewed interest in keeping the position. It is believed Mueller would simply return to the front office if he didn't remain as hitting coach.
``Having a routine has made it a little easier for me,'' Mueller said. ``I think people function better with routines, but for me, it took a little while to find one.''

I told a colleague as the nightcap headed to the bottom of the ninth that I had a bad feeling about this game. But after Saito retired the first two in the ninth, I figured I was wrong. Nope. I was right. Holliday singled, Helton homered and the Dodgers were left to try to pad their record as win as many games as they can before this once-promising season comes to an inevitable end a week from Sunday. They're not mathematically eliminated yet, but that's a little like me saying I still have a chance to date Jessica Alba before I die because I haven't died yet. But it could be worse. The boys are going to have a winning season. They would have to go 2-9 the rest of the way to not finish above .500, and even that would leave them 81-81, which is a whole lot better than where they finished just two years ago when they went 71-91 and everybody got fired, even though it took Frank and Jamie a good month to get around to canning DePo. It's possible that a few heads could roll after this one, too, but I have serious doubts that those heads will belong to either Grady or Ned -- and I have a strong opinion that says neither of those heads SHOULD belong to either Grady or Ned. And I still think there is a LOT of promise for 2008, when some of these kids who have gotten their rookie growing pains out of the way early over the past couple of years truly become bona fide big leaguers. The guess here is that there will be a lot of magic in this franchise over the next four or five years. And for those of you who shell out your 50 cents every day to read yours truly in the print edition, well, for the 12 days that are left of THIS season, expect most of that coverage to focus largely on NEXT season. ... Good night, all. And sleep well, because there isn't much of a reason to toss and turn anymore.

Furcal has lower back tightness and is day to day, but he'll miss tonight's game. Another big blow to the Dodgers, who are offering fewer and fewer reasons to keep believing. Anyway ...

CF Pierre
2B Abreu
RF Kemp
LF Gonzo
3B Nomar
1B Loney
SS Martinez
C Lieberthal
LH Wells

By Tony Jackson
Staff Writer
DENVER -- The Dodgers got another step closer to the edge of the cliff this afternoon, plodding their way to a 3-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies in the first game of a split doubleheader at Coors Field. But that wasn't where the bad news ended.
Shortstop Rafael Furcal, one of four players manager Grady Little had intended to write into the starting lineup of both games, left after six innings with tightness in his lower back. Furcal has battled a sore left ankle all season, but has no history of back problems.
Little said Furcal, who won't be available for tonight's game, hurt himself sliding into a base over the weekend.
``He is a guy who has played through a lot of aches and pains,'' Little said. ``But this just got too bad for him to take later in the game.''
Furcal is listed as day to day. If he misses significant time, it will be an even bigger dent in the Dodgers' already-fading playoff hopes. They began the day trailing Arizona by four games in the National League West and San Diego by three in the wildcard standings, with both of those clubs scheduled to play later. Philadelphia, just 1 1/2 behind the Padres in the wild card, also plays tonight.
The Dodgers (79-71) now lead the fourth-place Rockies by just a game the division.
Chad Billingsley (11-5) started strong, facing the minimum through the first three innings, but he later said he never felt comfortable. He gave up just four hits and struck out six, but he also walked three batters (one intentionally) and was lifted after throwing 102 pitches in 5 1/3 innings. He lost for the first time since Aug. 13.
``I didn't feel like I had my good fastball,'' Billingsley said. ``I was just trying to make good, quality pitches down in the zone and trying to get ground balls, but it just didn't happen. I just went out there and battled to try to get outs as quickly as possible, but they laid off some good pitches and made me get deep in counts.''
The Dodgers' only run came on a pinch-hit home run by Olmedo Saenz in the seventh inning, his first homer since a walkoff shot on June 8 vs. Toronto. The Rockies got leadoff doubles by Cory Sullivan in both the fourth and sixth innings, with Sullivan scoring each time, and put the game away on Joe Koshansky's RBI double off Scott Proctor in the seventh.
The Dodgers went hitless in seven at-bats with runners in scoring position, and left-hander Jeff Francis (16-8), despite leaving with two outs in the seventh inning, became the first Rockies pitcher in more than four years to post 10 strikeouts in a game.
``His changeup was outstanding,'' Little said. ``That was the difference maker.''
Manuel Corpas pitched a perfect ninth for his 15th save. LaTroy Hawkins, Brian Fuentes and Corpas combined to retire the final seven Dodgers batters in order.

Starting today through Sept. 24, you can now ``register for the opportunity,'' according to today's official game notes, to purchase tickets for any NLDS action at Dodger Stadium. To do so, go to dodgers.com, as THERE WILL BE NO TICKETS FOR SALE ON-SITE AT DODGER STADIUM, THROUGH TICKETMASTER OR VIA TELEPHONE.. Applicants must fill out and submit a registration form on dodgers.com to have the chance to purchase tickets. The rules of this thing are kind of complex and difficult for my feeble mind to comprehend or translate, so you might want to go to dodgers.com and read them for yourself. But you should also know that one in our midst asked Grady in his pregame session a few minutes ago how many more games he thinks the Dodgers will have to win to get into the playoffs, and he guessed 10. That's out of the 13 games the Dodgers have left. So good luck.

It's 10:40 a.m. at Coors Field, a perfect, sunny day in the greatest city on the face of the planet, and in a scene that surely would get Ernie Banks excited, we're going to play two today. Actually, we're going to play ONE today, and another one tonight. To heck with baseball tradition, the Rockies have the almighty dollar to pursue. Not that that makes them unique among the other 29 clubs (although when I was covering the Rockies in the late 1990s, they were the only team that routinely had these split DH's to make up for rainouts, even if they are now commonplace around baseball). But hey, far be it from me to complain.

SS Furcal
CF Pierre
RF Kemp
2B Kent
1B Loney
C Martin
3B LaRoche
LF Ethier
RH Billingsley

This one was over from the moment Loaiza walked the first two batters in the second inning, then gave up a three-run bomb to Chris Snyder. Loaiza wound up walking seven (one intentional) and lasted just 4 2/3 innings despite giving up one hit. Oh, and the Dodgers went 0 for 4 w/RISP. Dodgers had what under any other circumstances would have been a successful homestand, going 4-2. But this loss was devastating on a day when the Padres, Phillies and Rockies all won. The boys fall to 79-70 and are now 4 1/2 out in the division and 2 1/2 out in the wild card, and the schedule doesn't play in their favor much the rest of the way. They have three more with the D-backs at their place, but they might be too far out now for that to matter. They don't play the Padres at all. Other than that, they have seven with the Rockies and three with the Giants. Dodgers could win all 10 of those and still not gain an inch in the standings.

SS Furcal
CF Pierre
1B Loney
2B Kent
LF Gonzo
3B LaRoche
RF Ethier
C Lieberthal
RH Loaiza

Starting pitchers Loaiza and Edgar Gonzalez are both from Mexico, and today is Mexican Independence Day. They are two of 13 current big-league pitchers from Mexico. ... The Dodgers honored Bruce Froemming, today's first-base umpire, before the game. This is Froemming's final regular-season game at Dodger Stadium before he retires after this season after 37 years in the majors. He is the longest-tenured umpire in major-league history.

SS Furcal
CF Pierre
1B Loney
2B Kent
3B Nomar
C Martin
RF Kemp
LF Ethier
RH Penny

By Tony Jackson
Staff Writer
Takashi Saito added another $50,000 to his 2007 salary on Thursday night by blowing away two San Diego batters and getting the third one to ground weakly to second base for Saito's 38th save in his second season as the Dodgers' closer. It also was his 50th game finished, and that statistic gave him another performance bonus and a salary of $1.15 million, with an outside chance still to max out those bonuses and earn $1.3 million.
Even if he does max them out, he remains one of baseball's best bargains.
Barely 18 months after he came to spring training with the Dodgers on a minor-league contract, Saito has become one of the game's most dominant closers. He has converted 38 of his 41 save opportunities this season, allowed only four of 11 inherited runners to score and retired the first batter 47 times in his 58 appearances. And while no closer will ever pitch enough innings to qualify for the ERA title, Saito's mark of 1.24 is the best among all major-league pitchers with at least 50 innings.
``I think Saito is one of the great stories in baseball since the day he showed up in Vero Beach and pitched his way onto the club,'' Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. ``He has pitched really well, and he pitches efficiently. He shows the great value of throwing strikes. Most of the time, he is ahead in the count, and that is a good lesson for all.''
Saito has been especially dominant lately. He hasn't given up a hit in any of his past four outings, during which he has faced just one batter over the minimum.
``His workload during this last month hasn't been steady,'' Dodgers manager Grady Little said. `` He might work four or five days in a row and then be off two or three days, and I think that has helped. A lot of it has to do with him throwing 94-95 mph, but a lot has to do with location, too. And this guy doesn't shy away from anything.''
The best news for the Dodgers might be the fact they know they probably will have Saito for at least one more season. Although he is 37 and spent 14 seasons with the Yokohama BayStars, he is in just his second season in the United States and thus has the same status as any other second-year player. He won't even be eligible for arbitration until after 2008, and the Dodgers hold the rights to him through 2011.

Interleague schedule: Although the Dodgers' 2008 schedule remains highly subject to change and thus is a tightly guarded secret around Chavez Ravine, the Daily News has learned that the club is tentatively scheduled to host nine interleague games against the Angels, Cleveland and the Chicago White Sox and will play six road games at the Angels and Detroit.
Dates of those games were not available.
The Dodgers have played nine interleague road games and six home games for each of the past several seasons, and they went a combined 4-23 in American League parks from 2005-07. Thus, the fact it looks like they will host nine games next year while playing only six on the road is at least somewhat significant.

Defying time: As Dodgers employees prepared for Friday night's pregame ceremony honoring Tommy Lasorda's 80th birthday -- which, by the way, isn't until next Saturday, when the team is on the road -- the Hall of Fame manager said he does not, in any way, feel like an octogenarian.
``People ask me how I feel, and I say I'm like those cars that come out of Earl Scheib,'' Lasorda said. ``They might look good on the outside, but you don't know what is under the hood. But the key is staying active, and I also love what I'm doing. If a man really, truly loves what he is doing, then Old Man Sickness and Death will get tired of chasing him because he has no chance to catch him.''
Lasorda has played an active role in the Dodgers' front office -- including extensive travel and countless trips to Japan -- since retiring as the team's manager in 1996.

James Loney went 3 for 4, his third consecutive three-hit game, and he was 9 for 13 in the series with two home runs, five runs scored and eight RBI. Kent went 2 for 4. Furcal went 1 for 3, but he also was on base three times because he reached on a fielder's choice twice, and that allowed him to steal three bases, go from first to third on a single by Pierre and score three runs. Now that's what a leadoff man is SUPPOSED to do, and what Furcal would have been doing all year if he hadn't suffered that sprained left ankle late in spring training that still hasn't fully healed. David Wells pitched five shutout innings (one hit) before tiring in the sixth and giving up a couple of homers, but the bullpen took care of the rest. Scott Proctor, Jonathan Broxton and Takashi Saito combined to retire the final nine Padres batters in order, with Saito getting his 38th save. Dodgers go to 77-69 and pull within 1 1/2 games of the Pods in the wild card, tied with Philly and a game ahead of Colorado. Dodgers still trail AZ by 5 1/2 in the division, but the two teams play six more times, starting tonight at the stadium. Hold onto your hats, folks, because this ride isn't going to end anytime soon.

SS Furcal
CF Pierre
1B Loney
2B Kent
LF Gonzo
C Martin
RF Kemp
3B Abreu
LH Wells

By Tony Jackson
Staff Writer
Dodgers right-hander Jason Schmidt, meeting with reporters for the first time since undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery on June 20, said on Thursday that he still believes he will be ready for the start of spring training and that he can be as good a pitcher as he ever was and perhaps even better.
``It's a tricky question, because what was I before?'' Schmidt said. ``I'm striving to be better than that. That is my goal.''
The Dodgers signed Schmidt, a 12-year veteran with a proven track record, to a three-year, $47 million contract last winter, snatching him from rival San Francisco at a time when the free-agent market was thin on pitching. But from the start of spring training, it was clear Schmidt's velocity had dropped off, and the result was that he went 1-4 with a 6.31 ERA in six starts sandwiched around a seven-week stint on the disabled list.
When it was clear he wasn't getting any better, he underwent exploratory arthroscopic surgery, whereupon doctors repaired bursa scarring, biceps tendon fraying and a labral tear, knocking him out for the rest of the season.
``To wake up and realize what it was, that was definitely a shock,'' Schmidt said. ``I was disappointed. But at the same time, for anyone who has ever had surgery, it's kind of a relief to know that whatever issues you had are now fixed and you can move forward. ... I'm feeling really good. Obviously, you want to be throwing, but there is a whole time frame that we need to follow for the healing process.''
Schmidt met with doctors on Thursday and will do so again in about six weeks, at which time he could be put on a throwing program.

Lowe ready: Dodgers pitcher Derek Lowe participated in pregame stretching while wearing a bright red jersey, something reliever Jonathan Broxton had prepared for him as a joke. Football quarterbacks often wear odd-colored jerseys in practice to avoid being hit.
Lowe had been scratched from his scheduled start on Wednesday night after an errant throw from Broxton hit Lowe between the thumb and index finger of his pitching hand while the two were playing catch, leaving a severe bruise. But Lowe was able to throw on Thursday and thus will be able to start on Saturday against Arizona with no restrictions.
``All I cared about was whether he was able to grip a baseball and throw it, and he was able to do that,'' Dodgers manager Grady Little said.
Little also said Chad Billingsley and David Wells will be the starters for Tuesday's doubleheader at Colorado and that Wells then will start on Sept. 22 at Arizona on short rest.
``Wells has gone on three days' rest a lot in the past, so he should be fine,'' Little said.

LaRoche better: Third baseman Andy LaRoche, who has been bothered intermittently all season by a protruding disc in his back, said he felt much better on Thursday. LaRoche said the problem should go away after the season, when he can rest, as long as he continues his prescribed exercise program.
``I'm not going to need surgery because it's such a mild protrusion,'' LaRoche said. ``With the exercises, it could actually end up healing itself. I'm doing a lot of bending over to try to strengthen the muscles around it so I don't put so much pressure on the disc.''

Happy birthday: Although he won't actually turn 80 until Sept. 22, when the Dodgers are on the road, the club will celebrate Tommy Lasorda's milestone birthday tonight by giving away Tommy Lasorda bobbleheads to the first 50,000 fans in attendance. There also will be a video montage featuring many of Lasorda's friends and former players.

Derek Lowe is going through pregame stretching wearing a red jersey, the way football quarterbacks to do avoid being hit in practice. What would a long, monotonous baseball season be without funny gags? ... By the way, those big murals of all the players the Dodgers have around the outside of the ballpark? When are they going to take down Brett Tomko?

Suddenly, the Dodgers don't seem so dead anymore. Billingsley stepped up on a night when he wasn't even supposed to pitch and turned in six solid innings. Loney went 3 for 4 with a double and a home run and now has five homers in the past six games (and they said he didn't hit for enough power as a corner infielder). Kent homered, giving him a dozen seasons of 20 or more in his career. And the Dodgers moved into a three-way tie for second place in the wild card, 2 1/2 games behind the Pods. A win tomorrow night, and they're 1 1/2 back. Forget the division, they're still six out there. But this thing is a long way from being over. The boys go to 76-69. It's a Geriatric Special on tap tomorrow night, with Wells facing Maddux. Oh, and the Dodgers WON'T face Brandon Webb in this weekend's Arizona series. Hope springs eternal. Hasta manana.

Dodgers got a run in the second when Loney doubled with one out and took third when the ball skipped away from Brian Giles in the corner for an error, then scored on Russell Martin's grounder to second on a 3-0 pitch. They got another run in the third when Furcal singled with one out, stole second and scored on Pierre's single. What would have been a close play at the plate was foiled when Terrmel Sledge bobbled the ball in left field. Billingsley has been an adventure so far, and seems to be falling into old habits of deep pitch counts, but he hasn't given up a run yet. Khalil Greene on second now with none out. ... Dodgers 2, Padres 0, top 4

SS Furcal
CF Pierre
RF Kemp
2B Kent
1B Loney
C Martin
LF Ethier
3B Abreu
RH Billingsley

By Tony Jackson
Staff Writer
Dodgers right-hander Derek Lowe was scratched from his scheduled start against San Diego on Wednesday night because of continued swelling in his pitching hand after he was struck by a thrown ball during batting practice on Tuesday.
Lowe was playing long toss with reliever Jonathan Broxton when one of Broxton's throws sailed off line and struck Lowe in the fleshy area between the thumb and index finger.
``I missed the ball,'' Lowe said. ``We're trying to make the swelling go down. I had X-rays, and nothing is broken. It's just really, really bruised and sore.''
Chad Billingsley, who had been slated to go tonight, took Lowe's spot. David Wells will now pitch against the Padres tonight. Both Billingsley and Wells had been scheduled to pitch on six days' rest after the Dodgers were off on Monday. Brad Penny, who also would have gone on six days' rest Saturday, now appears likely to pitch on Friday night against Arizona.
Club officials are hoping Lowe can go on Saturday against the Diamondbacks.
``I don't see how it could be any sooner from what I saw in (the trainer's room),'' Dodgers manager Grady Little said. ``But we'll see how it progresses. The X-rays were all negative, but there is so much swelling that he is having trouble gripping a ball right now.''
Lowe is 11-12 with a 3.80 ERA in 29 starts and one relief appearance this season, and he also dealt with a groin problem that knocked him out of action for about 10 days in mid-July.
``This kind of caps off the year for me so far,'' Lowe said. ``It has been thrilling.''

Other injuries: Rookie third baseman Andy LaRoche is limited to pinch hitting because his chronic back problem has become an issue again. LaRoche is unable to bend over to field ground balls and thus hasn't appeared in a game in a week.
``It's not serious,'' Little said. ``He seems to be OK swinging a bat, but fielding ground balls is a little bit of a bother right now, so it will probably be a couple of days before he is available (defensively).''
Meanwhile, shortstop prospect Ivan DeJesus Jr. was at Dodger Stadium for a visit with friend and fellow Puerto Rican Ramon Martinez, but DeJesus had a bandage on his left wrist. He underwent surgery last week to repair torn ligaments he suffered when his hand collided with a sliding baserunner's helmet late in the season at Single-A Inland Empire.
``I was going to go to (the Arizona Fall League), but now I'm just going to rest and let this heal,'' DeJesus said. ``I want to be 100 percent and ready for spring training.''
DeJesus, 20, was the Dodgers' second-round pick in the 2005 amateur draft. He had a solid year with the 66ers, batting .287 with 22 doubles, 52 RBI and a .371 on-base percentage, and could be in line for an invitation to big-league camp next spring.

Happy anniversary: The Dodgers tentatively are scheduled to open the 2008 regular season with a two-game series at home against San Francisco, something the club is believed to have requested of the commissioner's office. The Dodgers and Giants next season will celebrate the 50th anniversary of their respective moves from New York to the West Coast.
Dodgers president Jamie McCourt unveiled plans on Wednesday for the Dodgers' season-long celebration, which will include commemorations of each decade the Dodgers have been in Los Angeles on a monthly basis beginning with a commemoration of the 1950s in April, the '60s in May and so on and so forth through August. There then will be a reunion of ``Dodgers legends'' in September.
The club will be getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the first such honor ever bestowed on a major-league ballclub, and will have a float in the Tournament of Roses Parade for the first time on Jan. 1, 2008. The Dodgers also will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the 1988 World Series championship team.

He got hit in the hand by a throw from Broxton during BP yesterday and has been scratched for tonight. Billingsley is pitching, with Wells going tomorrow. After that, it's anybody's guess. Penny is slated to go Friday, but Lowe could be slotted in there if he is ready. ... Just had a big press conference to announce all the exciting plans for next year's 50th anniversary of the move. The Dodgers are tentatively scheduled to open at home with the Giants (no date so far), which is perfect since the clubs moved West together in 1958. The Dodgers will commemmorate the '50s in April, the '60s in May, the '70s in June, the '80s in July, the '90s (celebrate what, exactly?) in August and in September, they will have a reunion of Dodgers legends. Also, the Dodgers are getting a star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood and will have a float in this year's (or is it next year's? anyway, it's Jan. 1, 2008) Tournament of Roses Parade.

No place that I know of to look this up, but the Dodgers have to lead the league in innings in which they had the bases loaded with nobody out and failed to score. They feigned like they were going to get back into this game, as Kevin Cameron came on to start the eighth inning for the Pods and didn't retire any of the four batters he faced. Jeff Kent chased him with a single to load them up after Loney singled in Furcal, who had snapped his hitless streak at 20 at-bats with a little nubber in front of the plate that no one could get to. Anyway, Joe Thatcher then got Olmedo Saenz to line out, and Heath Bell got Matt Kemp to strike out. Kemp, by the way, is now 0 for 6 for the season with the bases loaded. Andre Ethier then tried to dive into first base on a ball that skipped off the glove of Adrian Gonzalez but that Geoff Blum picked up in time. Mark Carlson called Ethier out at first, and the threat was over. ... Adding insult to injury was the fact Brett Tomko finished it off for the Pods in the ninth -- but not before giving up Chin-lung Hu's first ML homer. ... Dodgers fall to 75-69 and 3 1/2 back in the wild card. Turn out the lights.

... if they aren't going to use them? By the bottom of the second inning, Esteban Loaiza already had given up four runs, and the Dodgers already trailed 4-0 But after Jeff Kent's leadoff single and Gonzo's walk, it looked like the Dodgers might have a crack at Peavy. Well, after Russell Martin grounded out, advancing the runners, and Andre Ethier struck out, the Padres predictably walked Nomar intentionally (he IS hitting .400 w/RISP, after all). So, with Loaiza's spot due up, what does Grady do with all those arms in his bullpen and all those bats on his bench? Why, let Loaiza hit for himself of course. Loaiza predictably struck out, leaving the bases loaded. He then went back to the mound and gave up back-to-back homers to Khalil Greene and Keven Kouzmanoff with one out in the third. When Brian Giles singled with one out in the fourth, Grady FINALLY came to get Loaiza. What is Grady saving his bench and his pen for? Those last two weeks of the season, when the Dodgers are going to be playing out the string? ... Loney went deep in the third, but this one's over, folks. ... Padres 6, Dodgers 1, bottom 4

Gonzo is 18 for 51 with four HR and 12 RBI, not to mention seven walks and eight strikeouts, against Peavy. So he is in there tonight. Of course, Gonzo went 0 for 3 with two K's the last time the Dodgers faced Peavy, on Sept. 1

SS Furcal
CF Pierre
1B Loney
2B Kent
LF Gonzo
C Martin
RF Ethier
3B Nomar
RH Loaiza

The boys blew a golden opportunity to gain ground in the wild card after San Diego lost at Colorado. They also blew this game in the bottom of the eighth inning. Penny gave up a leadoff double to Kevin Frandsen and, in a scene eerily reminiscent of Grady's decision to lift Billingsley possibly too early on Friday night, he came to get Penny at that point after he had thrown just 82 pitches. Although Proctor then struck out Randy Winn (after wild-pitching Frandsen to third), Beimel fell behind Bonds 2-0, then intentionally walked him. Broxton then gave up a three-run dinger to Ray Durham. Broxton has now given up three home runs in the past four days after giving up one in the previous 13 months. ... Dodgers fall to 75-68 and remain 2 1/2 back of the Pods in the wild card (now third behind Philly) and at least 4 1/2 back in the division. Snakes are losing 4-2 right now. ... Dodgers have lost three of their five series with the last-place Giants this year, even though they have still won nine of 15 from them overall.

Believe it or not -- and Josh Rawitch had to do a lot of statistical research to make me believe it -- it was his first mutliple-homer game since he has been with the Dodgers. Last one came in 2004 with the Stros. Both of today's came off Matt Cain, one to left-center and the other over the centerfield wall. Gives him 19 for the year. The second one came on his 515th plate appearance of the season. Thirty-five more, and his option vests for next year. ... Dodgers wasted a one-out triple by Russell Martin later in the inning and now are 0 for 3 w/RISP. ... Boy, these Giants have some quick innings at the plate. Penny has gotten through a couple of different innings on about a half-dozen pitches. Explains a lot. ... Dodgers 2, Giants 1, top 8

He's 0 for 17, so Grady gave him this game off to go with the team's off-day tomorrow, after which Grady said he thinks Furcal will come back fresh on Tuesday night. Coincidentally, that begins what is easily the most critical stretch of the season for the Dodgers, a six-game homestand with the Pods and D-backs that isn't make or break only because it can't make them, but it CAN definitely break them if they go 2-4 or worse. ... Got a very pleasant surprise this morning while waiting for the valet to bring my car up at the hotel. Also waiting for his car was Al Downing, and it was great to see him again. He was in town this weekend for his nephew's wedding and was about to drive home to Valencia. Had a nice chat (which we had time for, because there were a ton of people checking out, and it took a half-hour for them to bring up my car). Al is one of the all-time great guys. Got to know him when he was on the Dodgers' broadcast team in 2005. ... Nice pitchers' duel brewing here between Penny and Cain, although Cain has been more dominating. Giants have five hits off Penny and haven't been able to convert in the red zone (little football reference on the first Sunday of the NFL season). Dodgers, on the other hand, have had just one AB with a runner in scoring position, and that was by Penny in the second inning. He grounded weakly to second. ... Dodgers 1, Giants 1, middle 4

Bad, bad loss, a loss that might have been avoided if one play had been made that wasn't and a couple of decisions had been made differently. The good news is that the wildcard race -- which is looking more and more like the Dodgers' only avenue into the playoffs -- didn't change, although it did tighten up a bit in the Dodgers' rearview mirror. The boys are still a very manageable two games back of the Pods, so no reason to lose hope just yet. Dodgers are 74-67 and now trail the Snakes by 4 1/2 in the NL West, with the Rockies just a half-game behind in fourth place. Early game tomorrow thanks to the good folks at the Fox network.

He jogged yesterday, not without pain, but he was able to do it, so he's back in the lineup tonight, for better or worse.

SS Furcal
CF Pierre
RF Kemp
2B Kent
3B Nomar
C Martin
1B Loney
LF Ethier
RH Billingsley

Saito got the DHL Delivery Man of the Month award for being baseball's best closer in August. He was 10 for 10 in save opps with a 0.68 ERA, striking out 21 batters in 13 1/3 innings. ... The commish office did their annual coin flips for one-game playoffs. If the Dodgers tie for the division title and the wild card team ISN"T from the West, the Dodgers would have to go to Arizona or Colorado but would host San Diego. If the Dodgers tie for the wild card, they would host Chicago or Philadelphia, but would have to go to San Diego, Colorado or MIlwaukee. ... Logan White interviewed today for the Astros GM job in Houston. The Astros are starting their search for Tim Purpura's replacement by interviewing about 10 guys.

By Tony Jackson
Staff Writer
CHICAGO -- There was a big offensive outburst in the opener, a big mound performance by Brad Penny in the second game and a big home run by Andre Ethier in the finale. But in looking back at the Dodgers' just-completed series here, when they took three of four to put themselves back in contention in the National League West and knock the Cubs back into a first-place tie with Milwaukee in the N.L. Central, it is impossible to overlook the contributions of the bullpen.
In the three games the Dodgers' won, their relievers combined to allow just one run over seven innings. It came on Alfonso Soriano's three-run blast off Jonathan Broxton in the sevnth inning on Thursday, after which Joe Beimel came on to record the next five outs and earn the victory after Ethier's homer in the ninth.
Beimel faced six batters in the series, recording six outs. Takashi Saito faced six batters in the series, recording six outs and one save. Scott Proctor faced eight batters, recorded seven outs and didn't allow a hit.
``They definitely came through,'' Dodgers manager Grady Little said. ``Broxton gave up his second home run in (over) a year, but that's a tough lineup over there, especially when you have a guy hitting like Soriano. Our bullpen was outstanding.''
Saito shaved his ERA to a microscopic 1.29, the best in the majors among all pitchers with at least 40 innings. He has a 1.56 ERA since last year's All-Star break, also the best over that span among big-league pitchers with at least 75 innings.

Martin fine: Catcher Russell Martin returned to the lineup, two days after injuring his left knee sliding into home and one day after being sent for a precautionary MRI that showed a mild sprain. Martin tested his knee with some basic activities such as running a few hours before the game, and it was determined that he was ready for action.
Martin went 2 for 4, including a leadoff single against Cubs closer Ryan Dempster in the ninth to start the Dodgers' winning rally.
``He came in looking like he was anxious to play,'' Dodgers manager Grady Little said. ``We brought him out to the field and put him through a few little exercises, and he looked perfectly fine. He won't need to take any precautions, and we always watch him closely.''
Martin has now started behind the plate for 126 of the Dodgers' 140 games this season.

Rookie hazing: ``I'm stepping on my dress,'' Dodgers outfielder Delwyn Young said, as he lifted the hem of his Snow White costume off the clubhouse floor after the game.
Yes, it was time for that annual baseball tradition known as rookie hazing, and this time, because it wasn't done last season, even the second-year guys had to do it. A few had it easy, because they got nothing worse than Disney character outfits to wear on the team charter to San Francisco. Others had it worse. Matt Kemp was given a fat suit resembling the torso of a large woman in a bra and panties and a few other details not fit for a family newspaper.
``It doesn't bother me,'' Kemp shouted to everyone in the room. ``It's San Francisco. I'm going to fit right in.''

Also: Juan Pierre stole second base in the ninth inning, his 56th steal of the season. That is the most by any Dodgers player since Steve Sax stole 56 in 1983, and it ties Pierre with Sax for the 10th highest single-season total in franchise history. ... James Loney, who singled, doubled and homered in the game, is batting .417 (10 for 24) through the first seven games of this 10-game trip. ... Kemp, who homered in the eighth to cut the Cubs' lead to 4-3, has been one of the majors' hottest hitters of late, batting .395 (30 for 76) with four homers and 13 RBI since Aug. 14.

Grady wouldn't admit it, but this was easily the Dodgers' biggest win of the year. Broxton gave up a three-run jack to Soriano, his second of the game, bottom 7 to turn a 2-1 lead into a 4-2 deficit. But Kemp went yard off Howry in the eighth to cut it to one, and Ryan Dempster imploded in the ninth, giving up a windblown, three-run homer into the basket in left-center to Andre Ethier, who was pinch hitting for Andy LaRoche. Dodgers take three of four from the Cubbies, who were flying high before this series. This 10-game trip. which had looked sort of forboding since the schedule was released last winter, well, the Dodgers are now 4-3 on it, with three games this weekend by the Bay. This might end up being not the trip that did in the Dodgers, but the trip that finally got them started. They improve to 74-66 and gain a half-game on everybody because nobody else was playing. Dodgers are now 3 1/2 behind the Snakes, 2 1/2 behind the Pods in the NL West and in second place alone in the wild card, again 2 1/2 behind the Pods.

Through three innings, that is. Cubs got a leadoff homer from Alfonso Soriano, making him the first man in major-league history to have at least three seasons with at least seven leadoff homers, and that is the difference so far. D-Lowe also has walked a couple of batters. Marquis has yet to allow a baserunner. ... Martin is fine, by the way. He did some activities on the field and was deemed ready for action. Grady said no precautions are needed ... Cubs 1, Dodgers 0, top 4

He has a sprained left knee and is day to day. He's going to try some activities on the field in the morning and see how it responds, but he got good news from the MRI. Even if he doesn't play tomorrow, he won't miss significant time. ... Dodgers couldn't do much with Ted Lilly tonight, and that was pretty much the story. They fall to 73-66 and drop four back in the division while remaining three back in the wild card. Tomorrow's game is a good pitching matchup. Taking three of four from a first-place club on the road would be HUGE for this club's outlook and morale. Given that pretty much every game is big from here on out, the argument can be made that this will be the biggest one of the season thus far -- to be surpassed only by the one that follows it, and so on and so forth. ... By the way, scratch what I said earlier about Wrigley being better than Dodger Stadium. They have this silly song that they sing now when the Cubs win. Pretty well wipes out everything about the place that is good.

It's precautionary. ``I just wanted to make sure all the structures were OK,'' Stan Conte said. Russ wasn't going to play tonight anyway with the day game tomorrow. We won't have the results until after the game, but it doesn't sound like anything serious, and he is expected to start tomorrow's game. It's his left knee, by the way. He hurt it when he was tagged out at the plate trying to score on a would-be sac fly by Furcal.

SS Furcal
CF Pierre
RF Kemp
2B Kent
LF Ethier
3B Hillenbrand
1B Loney
C Lieberthal
LH Stults

SS Furcal
CF Pierre
RF Kemp
2B Kent
LF Ethier
3B Hillenbrand
1B Loney
C Lieberthal
LH Stults

SS Furcal
CF Pierre
RF Kemp
2B Kent
LF Ethier
3B Hillenbrand
1B Loney
C Lieberthal
LH Stults

NO loud music. NO commercials read over the PA system between innings. NO animated races on the jumbotron/diamondvision/whateveritis at any point (in fact, there is no jumbotron/diamondvision/whateveritis here). There IS a little bit of organ music, played at a nice, unobtrusive volume level, but other than that, when you come to Wrigley, you buy a ticket to see a baseball game and you get ... a baseball game. Novel concept, I know. But the Dodgers -- and almost every other team around the league -- could learn a lot from it. ... Derek Lowe has been named the Dodgers' nominee for this year's Roberto Clemente Award, so congrats to him.

Pods lost to the D-backs, Phillies and Rockies both won, so the Dodgers, who go to 73-65, are now THREE back in the division, closest they have been there since they were in freefall on Aug. 4, and the Rox are right on their heels at four back. Still tied with the Phillies three back of the D-backs (or is it the Pods, I can never remember how that works, but I know they're three back) in the wild card. The boys have their hands full tomorrow. It's Eric Stults against Ted Lilly, and really, it's tough to sweep a four-game series from a first-place club on the road anyway. But if they can somehow win tomorrow, what it will mean is that they can't possibly gain any ground in the division because the Pods and D-backs, who are now tied for first again, are playing each other. But a win also would ASSURE the Dodgers of picking up a game in the wild card, because the wildcard leader after tomorrow will be the LOSER of that Pods-D-backs game. If the Dodgers LOSE tomorrow, it means they will DEFINITELY lose a game in the division and DEFINITELY remain three out in the wild card, although they still would fall a game behind the Phillies if the Phillies win, because Philly would then pick up a game and be TWO out in the wild card. Confused yet?

The Dodgers made three of them in the first two innings. Proving that at least one of every three baserunning mistakes MUST be made by Matt Kemp, he got picked off first base to end the first. Then, with runners on first and second and none out in the second, Russell Martin hit a bloop single to right field, but Daryle Ward faked like he was going to catch the ball, and Gonzo, running off first, was sufficiently deked that he held up just long enough to allow Ward to throw him out on a force play at second. Then, Martin got doubled off on a liner to short by Loney. ... Penny pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, walking two batters, and has since set down six in a row. ... Dodgers 0, Cubs 0, bottom 3

Kuo was moved to the 60-day to make room for Valdez, but he was on the 15-day longer than 60 days so he still can be activated as soon as he is ready

SS Furcal
CF Pierre
RF Kemp
2B Kent
LF Gonzo
C Martin
1B Loney
3B LaRoche
RH Penny

By Tony Jackson
Staff Writer
CHICAGO -- Doubles might become singles, and infield singles might become groundouts. But for better or worse, the Dodgers activated Nomar Garciaparra from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday, satisfied that his left calf had healed sufficiently to allow him to fill a narrowly defined role off the bench.
``To be honest, it would be a game-saving, pinch-hitting situation, where him getting farther than first base wouldn't be that important,'' Dodgers manager Grady Little said. ``When he hits, it will be because runners are in scoring position, and it could make a difference in the game. That way, it won't be a matter whether he can run at full speed.''
Garciaparra is hitting .404 for the season with runners in scoring position, the primary reason why club officials are willing to take this risk. And it is a risk, especially since instinct tends to take over when a player puts a ball into play.
``I have to be pretty smart and not go out of the box quickly,'' Garciaparra said. ``One little false step or hard step, and I'm back at square one where I was before. We just want to continue moving forward.''
Both Garciaparra and Little said they are confident Garciaparra's calf will heal enough in the less than four weeks remaining in the regular season that he eventually will be able to run at full speed and possibly return to the starting lineup -- although a lot of that might depend on how rookie Andy LaRoche performs at third base in Garciaparra's absence.
``When he is able to run, we'll see,'' Little said. ``We're not sure when that will be.''

Crowded house: The activation of Garciaparra and the callup of five more players -- pitchers Eric Hull and Eric Stults, infielders Tony Abreu and Wilson Valdez and outfielder Delwyn Young, all from Triple-A Las Vegas -- gives the Dodgers 36 players for the rest of the regular season, far more than most clubs carry for the stretch run.
Little said each player will serve some purpose.
``Every one of them is here because we think they can do one thing for us to help us win one game, whether it's defense, pinch running, saving the bullpen,'' Little said. ``Anything can happen. It's a good opportunity for these young guys to come up here and show us what they can do. The opportunities are possibly going to be few and far between, but they will get a lot of work before batting practice each day.
``They will be ready when they get the opportunity.''
Valdez wasn't on the 40-man roster, so in order to clear a spot for him, the Dodgers moved lefty Hong-Chih Kuo from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day. Kuo's scheduled bullpen session was canceled when he experienced discomfort in his surgically repaired elbow, but neither Little nor trainer Stan Conte termed that a setback.
Despite the move, Kuo is eligible to return any time because he was on the 15-day DL longer than 60 days. Still, another 40-man spot would have to be cleared before he could be activated.

Also: Right-hander Brett Tomko, whom the Dodgers designated for assignment on Aug. 24 and released on Monday, signed on Tuesday with San Diego. The Dodgers are still on the hook for about $1.5 million of Tomko's two-year, $8.7 million contract. ... Before returning to the majors, Young hit his 54th double in Las Vegas' season-ending win at Salt Lake on Sunday, tying the modern Pacific Coast League record set by Tulsa's Walt ``No Neck'' Williams in 1966. ... Double-A Jacksonville's season-ending loss to Montgomery left all but one of the Dodgers' minor-league affiliates shut out of their respective leagues' playoffs. The club's Gulf Coast League entry lost to the Yankees two games to one in last week's best-of-three championship series.

Yes, it's true. After he was released by the Dodgers, the Pods picked him up. As I understrand it, he won't even be eligible for the playoffs unless another Pods pitcher gets hurt and has to go on the DL before the playoffs start. Dodgers are still on the hook to him for a lot of money. The Pods get him for the rest of the year for about $70K

The bad news is, the Padres are playing the D-backs, so the Dodgers can't gain any ground in the division. The good news is, the Padres are playing the D-backs, so the Dodgers can't help but gain ground in the wild card. They will be four out in the NL West, three out in the wild card no matter what happens in that other game. Things are looking a whole lot better than they did, say, 48 hours ago. Dodgers go to 72-65.

The boys have been taking GREAT at-bats all afternoon, working Carlos Zambrano for five walks in a span of 10 batters before knockning him out with one out in the fourth. He was booed off the field by the Wrigley faithful, to which he responded by looking into the crowd, nodding and pointing at his left ear, which I think was his way of saying, ``Yeah, I hear you, and I agree.'' By that time, he had thrown 96 pitches. Anyway, five different Dodgers have at least two RBI. To me, the key moment in this one came in the fourth inning, with the Dodgers trailing 2-1 and runners on second and third and two outs. Andy LaRoche, still looking for his first hit since being recalled on Sunday, worked Zambrano for a full count. When Zambrano threw his next pitch well off the plate, LaRoche reached out, put a soft swing on it and lined it just past the lunging Derrek Lee and up the rightfield line for a game-tying double. Esteban Loaiza then drove in LaRoche and Loney with a single to left, making it 4-2. Another key moment came in the fifth, with the Dodgers leading 6-2 and Will Ohman having come on to relieve Zambrano. James Loney, the first batter to face Ohman, worked him for a full count, fouled off a couple of pitches, then drove one to the wall in right-center to score two more. It would have been a triple if Loney hadn't fallen flat on his face just after rounding second. He had to scramble back to the bag. But his hit all but put the game away. ... Speaking of Loaiza, he has fairly cruised after giving up a home run to Alfonso Soriano on the second pitch he threw as a Dodger. Cubs have two runs on seven hits through five. Dodgers 11, Cubs 2, bottom 6

SS Furcal
CF Pierre
RF Ethier
2B Kent
LF Gonzo
C Martin
1B Loney
3B LaRoche
RH Loaiza

There are going to be more callups announced after the game, as the minor-league regular season ends today. We know Eric Stults is coming back because he is pitching on Wednesday. You can bet the house Tony Abreu is coming back, too. Not sure if there will be any others. ... Dodgers 1B coach Mariano Duncan has given up his uniform number for Esteban Loaiza, who will wear No. 25 when he makes his Dodgers debut this afternoon. Duncan took No. 35, which was made available when Brett Tomko was DFA'd 10 days ago. Speaking of Tomko, there should be some resolution today, when the team is expected to formally release him. ... The following Dodgers minor leaguers are headed to the Arizona Fall League beginning later this month: pitchers Zach Hammes, Justin Orenduff, Greg Miller, Wesley Wright and Cory Wade, infielder Blake DeWitt and outfielder Xavier Paul, all of whom will play for the Peoria Saguaros. Ogden manager Garey Ingram will be a coach for that team. Going to the Hawaiian Fall League are pitchers Steven Johnson, Garrett White and Kyle Wilson, catcher Kenley Jansen, infielders Josh Bell and Russell Mitchell and outfielders Jamie Hoffman and Ryan Rogowski. Las Vegas pitching coach Ken Howell also will be saying ``Aloha.'' Speaking of Howell, he will be spending a couple of days with the big club later in this series. Vegas manager Lorenzo Bundy will join the big-league coaching staff for the first half of September, then will give way to the Dodgers' Gulf Coast League manager, Juan Bustabad, who will join the staff for the second half of the month.

Don't take me literally. That's just a nod to Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks, who used to say that all the time. No way, no how do I want to play two today, not after taking a redeye from LAX to Cincy and then a morning flight from Cincy here. But for now, I'm caffeiened up and ready to go, and it is a perfect Wrigley Field day, not a cloud in the sky, and i can even see a sailboat out on the lake from my perch here in the press box. Wind is blowing from right field toward the 3B line. ... By the way, my apologies to Las Vegas trainer Greg Harrel, whose name I misspelled in today's paper in a quote by Ned Colletti in which Ned referred to Greg. Poor guy rarely gets any recognition, and when he does, I go and screw up the spelling of his name. ... Well, I'm heading down to baseball's tiniest visiting clubhouse to see if there is anything going on. I'll check back later. Happy Labor Day everyone.

Big day for the boys, to the extent that they're still alive in either race, because they picked up a game in both and now trail by four in each. If the Dodgers can continue to get performances like this one from Chad Billingsley, well, things look a little less bleak. He probably could have gone longer than he did. As it was, he went seven shutout innings, giving up four hits while striking out a career high-tying nine Furcal went 3 for 4 with a walk and tied his own career high with three stolen bases. Dodgers go to 71-65. Doctor, we have a heartbeat.

They scored four in the seventh, a rally that started with a leadoff walk to Furcal, including what should have been a bunt single by Pierre that was ruled a sacrifice and an error, also included an RBI single by Matt Kemp and ended on a two-run double that rolled to the 400-foot sign in right-center by James Loney. ... Billingsley still in there, getting close to 100 pitches but working on a four-hit shutout. This is one of his better starts in the majors. ... Dodgers 5, Padres 0, end 7. Where are Lance Carter and Danys Baez when you need them?

Andre Ethier lined a single into center field to drive in Matt Kemp from third base, snapping a 14-inning scoreless streak for the Dodgers offense. Billingsley is still missing the strike zone a lot, but his pitch count isn't nearly as inflated as it tends to get sometimes. He has allowed no runs on three hits through five innings, with seven strikeouts and only one walk, a harmless two-out pass to Mike Cameron in the first inning. Dodgers 1, Padres 0, top 6

Sorry it took me so long to get that up. Most of you probably know it by now. Grady wouldn't say that he'll be the primary 3B the rest of the year, or until Nomar returns, but I think it's pretty clear that he will be. The original plan was to call him up after Vegas' season ends on Monday, but last night's game sort of reiterated the need to get better at that position, so here he is. ... Pods are wearing their camouflage jerseys today. Serving them well so far. Although Furcal and Pierre started the game with back-to-back singles off Justin Germano, after Kemp hit into a force at second, Kent GIDP'd to end the inning. Dodgers didn't score. ... Dodgers 0, Padres 0, middle 1

David Wells opted to start serving his seven-game suspension tonight, so he'll miss his Wednesday start at Chicago. Stults is expected to make that start, but he has to get called up from Vegas first. ... As for the team, well, hey, it could be worse. When Brian Myrow stepped into the batter's box to pinch hit for the Pods in the eighth inning, I suddenly remembered what it was like at the end of the '05 season, when the Dodgers had guys like Myrow, Mike Edwards and Mike Rose on the club and were sputtering toward a 71-91 finish that ultimately cost manager Jim Tracy and GM Paul DePodesta their jobs. The Dodgers probably aren't going to make the playoffs, and they have underachieved by almost any measure. But unless they just go in the tank -- something they are too professional a team to do -- they are going to finish with a winning record. If they simply go 12-15 the rest of the way, they'll finish 82-80. Small consolation, I know. But before moving to Los Angeles and the Daily News, I covered the Cincinnati Reds for four years. Seasons like the Dodgers had in '05? They were an annual occurrence in the Queen City. ... Dodgers fall to 70-65 and five games behind the Pods and D-backs, which necessarily means they are five back in the wild card, too. Peavy against the Dodgers for his career now: 8-1, 2.28. ... By the way, if you're scoring at home, the 40-man moves to make room for Meloan, Hu and Moeller were that Wolf, Brazoban and Tsao all got moved to the 60-day DL.

Purcased the contracts of catcher Chad Moeller, infielder Chin-lung Hu and reliever Jonathan Meloan from Vegas and also recalled D.J. Houlton. Don't worry about the language, The difference is just that Houlton was on the 40-man and the other guys weren't. More to come in the next few days, I'm sure.