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Manny’s perfect night paces Dodgers
MILWAUKEE — If his start in left field on Wednesday turns out to be his last in a Dodgers uniform, Manny Ramirez certainly went out on a high note in a 5-4 win over the Brewers at Miller Park.
Before the club’s second game against the Brewers, the buzz surrounding the Dodgers involved the club having reportedly placed Ramirez on the waiver wire. In his third game back from the disabled list, Ramirez showed why he’s generated so much interest.
With a double into the right-field corner in the third inning, Ramirez snapped an 0-for-7 streak at the plate since returning from the DL.
“Manny had a real good night,” said Dodgers manager Joe Torre. “When he gets his timing, that’s where he starts, hitting the other way. Then he had the big base hit, the RBI base hit. That was huge for us too.
“It’s all about timing with him. I’m not really concerned about home run production. It’s just production period. Hopefully this will make him feel pretty good about himself.”
Ramirez certainly seemed to have figured out his struggles, putting together an impressive night as he alternated walks and doubles. Ramirez finished 2-for-2 with two walks, two doubles, an RBI and a run scored.
Most importantly, Ramirez’s two-out double in the sixth drove in second baseman Ryan Theriot for what proved to be the deciding run.
With a scheduled day off Thursday for Ramirez as the Dodgers play a day game after a night game, Wednesday’s performance may have come in Ramirez’s final start with the Dodgers. If Ramirez was indeed put on waivers Wednesday, and if he is claimed by another club, he could be traded as soon as Friday and no later than Tuesday.
As long as he’s still with the team, the Dodgers hope Ramirez’s bat can help them get back in the National League Wild Card race.
“Any time Manny’s in the lineup, you know the other team’s thinking about that’s one of the guys they don’t want to beat them,” the Dodgers’ James Loney said. “It definitely puts a force in our lineup.”
Ramirez was stranded after a first-inning walk and thrown out at the plate attempting to score from second after his third-inning double, ending the frame. In the fifth, he walked again with one out, and came around to score on a Loney single.
While Ramirez led the offense, right-handed starter Hiroki Kuroda — who also was reported Wednesday as having been placed on waivers — delivered a strong performance for his first win since July 22.
Kuroda, who admitted he didn’t have his best stuff, went seven innings for the fourth straight start, giving up four runs on seven hits while striking out six as he did not walk a batter.
“In these six games, there’s been many games where I’ve pitched really well, but I couldn’t get the win,” Kuroda said. “It’s a bit frustrating at times, but you’ve got to keep pitching tough and the results will come.”
After a giving up a big three-run inning to the Brewers in the fourth, Kuroda and the Dodgers’ bullpen combined to limit Milwaukee to just two baserunners the rest of the way.
While Kuroda went deep into the ballgame, the late innings continued to be an adventure for the Dodgers as Torre used four different relievers for the final two frames.
After Jonathan Broxton shut down the Brewers in order in the eighth, Torre turned to a three-man closer unit for the ninth, matching up Ronald Belisario, George Sherrill and Octavio Dotel for one batter each against Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder and Casey McGehee.
“Last night, the lefty [Hong-Chih Kuo] was a closer. Sherrill is a closer. Broxton is a closer. Dotel is a closer,” said Brewers manager Ken Macha. “Belisario, he probably has the best stuff out of all of them. So, if you don’t have the lead after six innings, you’re in trouble.”
Former Dodgers lefty Randy Wolf was roughed up in his first start against his former team, giving up four runs on seven hits over just five innings of work. Wolf (10-10) also walked three batters and recorded four strikeouts.
Andre Ethier put the Dodgers on the board first in the third inning with a solo home run, his 20th of the season. A three-run fifth — highlighted by Theriot and Casey Blake doubles — and a final run in the fifth gave the Dodgers their second straight win.
With the Giants having lost to the Reds in extra innings Wednesday afternoon, the Dodgers moved to within 5 1/2 games of the Giants and Phillies, who are tied for the lead in the National League Wild Card race. Having won the first two games in Milwaukee, the Dodgers secured at least a series victory over the Brewers and will look for the sweep on Thursday.
The series win is the Dodgers’ first on the road since taking two of three from the D-backs on July 2-4.
“My goal for this team right now is to get ourselves five or six in a row under our belt, so we can know when we go to the ballpark that we expect to win,” Torre said. “We haven’t been able to string it together.
“Hopefully winning two close games here gives us the confidence to win another one tomorrow.”
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Manny reportedly hits waiver wire
MILWAUKEE — He has reportedly hit the waiver wire, but Manny Ramirez does not want to talk about it.
FOXSports.com reported Wednesday that the Dodgers placed Ramirez on waivers, meaning the Dodgers outfielder could have a new home within the week. Does Ramirez have anything to say about a potential trade?
“No,” Ramirez answered. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Teams now have until Friday to claim the 12-time All-Star. If only one team was to claim Ramirez, that club would have until Tuesday to work out a deal with Los Angeles. The Dodgers can also simply award Ramirez to the claiming team, who would then take on his salary, or they can pull him off waivers.
Should more than one team claim him, the team with the worst record in the National League would have precedence. If the claims were only made by clubs from the American League, the one in that bunch with the worst record would get first crack.
What does Dodgers manager Joe Torre think about the potential move?
“I can’t comment,” Torre said. “Waivers are something that’s supposed to be very confidential. I’m certainly not privy to it other than the fact that I know a lot of clubs do something. But it’s something that’s not supposed to be talked about.”
The White Sox have been seen as a potential fit for Ramirez. If he falls in their laps and the White Sox opt not to get him, the Rays, who have a better record, have also been speculated to be a possible suitor.
“Manny’s a great hitter,” outfielder Jay Gibbons said. “He could certainly help any team offensively. It would definitely be tough to lose a guy like that.”
The 38-year-old Ramirez returned from the disabled list on Saturday and is batting .313 with eight homers and 40 RBIs in 64 games this season. He’s making $20 million in the final season of his contract this year, though some of those payments are reportedly deferred. The prorated portion of his 2010 salary is a little more than $4 million.
The Dodgers are 12 games back in the NL West and 5 1/2 back in the NL Wild Card race. In their first two games with Ramirez back in the lineup, the Dodgers were victorious both times, despite his 0-for-7 mark at the plate. He went 2-for-2 with two doubles, two walks and the game-winning RBI in a 5-4 victory over the Brewers on Wednesday.
“He helps our chances to win and he’s a good guy,” third baseman Casey Blake said. “So yeah, I wouldn’t want to see him go.”
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. Alden Gonzalez also contributed to this report. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Dodgers beat 8/25
Source: Five Dodgers hit waiver wire
MILWAUKEE — According to a Major League source, Manny Ramirez is not the only player being shopped by the Dodgers on the waiver wire. The source reports that they have also placed Casey Blake, Hiroki Kuroda, Scott Podsednik and Jay Gibbons on waivers.
As is the case with Ramirez, if the four additional players have been placed on waivers, teams have until Friday to claim any one of them. If only one team were to claim them, that club would have until Tuesday to work out a deal with Los Angeles. The Dodgers can also simply award any player on waivers to the claiming team, or they can pull them off waivers. By rule, clubs are not allowed to discuss or confirm ongoing waiver transactions.
The consensus among those placed on waivers was that they were unaware of the move before being told by reporters.
“It’s fine,” Gibbons said. “I’m just happy to be here. I’d like to stay, but I was playing [in] Albuquerque two weeks ago, so if something happens, it happens.”
Gibbons was recalled from Triple-A on Aug. 8, joining the Dodgers and playing in the Majors for the first time since 2007.
Podsednik was acquired by the Dodgers from the Royals in late July, as the club looked to boost its playoff chances. Now on the edge of falling out of even the National League Wild Card race, the Dodgers may be hoping someone else could use an extra outfielder in September.
How would Podsednik feel about a second trade in less than a month?
“I really don’t have a comment on it,” Podsednik said. “I haven’t really thought about it to be honest with you. But am I surprised? Not really, no.”
Like his teammates, Blake expressed an interest in remaining with the Dodgers, but understood that waiver claims and late season trades are part of the game.
“I don’t really think about it much,” Blake said. “If somebody claims me, I just think that I’m not in control here, so I’m not going to worry about it much.”
Torre, Blake discuss waiver rules
MILWAUKEE — With a handful of Dodgers, including Manny Ramirez and Casey Blake, reportedly being placed on waivers Wednesday, there was plenty of discussion regarding the August trade waivers process.
Among those expressing an opinion on the matter were Blake and his manager, Joe Torre.
“It’s weird that they have a Trade Deadline and then you can put players on waivers and if they clear, you’re able to trade them,” Blake said. “It’s really weird the means by which teams can acquire players down the stretch with a month left to go.”
As Torre talked with reporters about Ramirez being placed on waivers, he made it clear he could say nothing and noted the secrecy that is supposed to go along with trade waivers. By rule, clubs are not allowed to discuss or confirm ongoing waiver transactions.
So why have so many names of players on waivers leaked out this month?
“I have no clue other than even what you’re supposed to do doesn’t necessarily mean that you follow through and do it,” Torre said. “Different clubs may feel that they want to say something.”
Another concern raised during Torre’s pregame session was the lack of knowledge as to how the process works.
More importantly, Torre was asked how that might affect a player who does not realize how many players are placed on waivers compared to the number of waiver trades.
“As I said yesterday, it’s no different distraction-wise — it’s something we have to deal with — than July when names are flying all over the place,” Torre said. “Unfortunately, there are certain things that you have to deal with. That’s pretty well the game of baseball and the game of life here.”
Padilla working his way back from injury
MILWAUKEE — Vicente Padilla took a step forward in his road to recovering from a bulging disk in his neck, throwing at Miller Park before Wednesday’s game.
“He threw out to 120 feet today,” said Dodgers manager Joe Torre. “He had a good workout. I think he said he had about 40 throws. It was good.”
Padilla was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with the neck injury, something that had affected him over his last two starts.
Following the workout, Padilla did not report any discomfort, Torre said. As for Padilla’s next step, Torre said he thought it would be getting the veteran right-hander on the mound for a bullpen session.
“Stan said everything went well,” Torre said, referring to Stan Conte, the Dodgers director of medical services. “He may not be that far away.”
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. Ken Gurnick also contributed to this report. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Hawkins opts for right shoulder surgery
MILWAUKEE — Following the results of another MRI on his right shoulder Friday, veteran reliever LaTroy Hawkins has opted for arthroscopic surgery to repair his rotator cuff and labrum.
Hawkins, 37, will leave the team Sunday to fly home and spend some time with his family before flying Wednesday to Los Angeles, where Dr. Lewis Yocum will perform the scope on his shoulder.
“It’s scope, but he said if he sees anything else, he’s got to fix it,” Hawkins said. “We’re praying and anticipating he won’t have to do anything else but just clean up. When I wake up on Friday, I’ll know exactly what he had to do.”
The recovery process for Hawkins will vary, depending on whether the arthroscopic procedure is sufficient in repairing the “fraying” on his rotator cuff and labrum. If it is just a scope, Hawkins said he could be throwing again before Thanksgiving.
“If he has to put a stitch in there or something, it’ll be a lot longer,” Hawkins said.
Hawkins, 37, has struggled with shoulder issues all season, which has kept him on the disabled list for much of the year. The first indication of injury came in Spring Training, when Hawkins reported tightness in his shoulder after pitching March 11.
That issue seemed to have resolved itself shortly thereafter, as Hawkins was lights out through his first four appearances of the regular season. Hawkins was tagged for seven runs on six hits in his next two outings before giving up just one run in his next six appearances.
Finally, after he gave up a walk-off grand slam to Andre Ethier at Dodger Stadium on May 6, the Brewers sent Hawkins to the disabled list with right shoulder weakness.
Hawkins remained on the DL until pitching again July 30, in Houston. He pitched five times after his return, including an ugly outing in a 15-3 loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field, where he allowed three runs on four hits in one-third of an inning.
“I threw that pitch in Spring Training — I felt tight,” Hawkins said. “Then I recovered again and I threw the ball well, and then [went on the DL]. Just like I recovered this time, it breaks back down again.”
Hawkins said he initially planned to rehab in Dallas, saying the Brewers had a “guy they work with in Dallas that’s going to work with me.” After working in Dallas, he planned to be back in September to spend time with the club and let trainer Roger Caplinger look at the progress on his right shoulder.
Regardless of the length of recovery, Hawkins now has his eyes set on pitching in 2011 the way he was expected to this season after signing with the Brewers.
“If we get it right and I can be back next year and pitch the way I’m accustomed to pitching — being out there and being able to be used once every three days, that’s not what they signed me for,” Hawkins said. “They signed me to pitch the way I’ve been able to pitch, three out of four days, five out of seven. I just haven’t been able to do that.”
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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