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Around SBN: Don't Blame Wes Welker

Relief Is The Dodger Theme Of The Day

The overriding theme of the day for the Dodgers on Thursday was relief.  The day concluded with a 5-3 win -- finally -- over the Cardinals, a relief for the club, who had lost 17 of their previous 20 games in Mound City.  But before that result, the day was so filled with relief that it should have been sponsored by Rolaids®.

Earlier in the day, the Dodgers picked up talented lefty reliever George Sherrill, for third baseman Josh Bell and pitcher Steve Johnson, providing the Dodger bullpen with some extra depth in the back end.  Sherrill will join the club Friday in Atlanta.

Hiroki Kuroda had his second good outing in a row, allowing only two runs in his six innings of work.  It seemed like Kuroda could have pitched much longer, having thrown only 72 pitches, but the struggling Dodger offense needed all the help it could get, so Joe Torre sent Juan Pierre to pinch-hit in the seventh inning.  The move paid off, as Pierre singled and later scored on Rafael Furcal's two-run double.

In a tie game in the eighth inning, Dodger fans breathed a sigh of relief at the return of Hong-Chih Kuo.  Kuo entered the game after a Nick Stavinoha's leadoff double.  After a sacrifice to advance the runner, Kuo blew away pinch-hitter Ryan Ludwick, setting up a potential showdown with Albert Pujols with two outs.  However, rather than summon a righthander to face Pujols, Kuo had his Rick Vaughn "I want Parkman" moment, intentionally walking both Pujols and Matt Holliday to face lefty Rick Ankiel, who had homered in his last at-bat, with the bases loaded.  Three electrifying fastballs later, and Kuo got out of the jam with a clutch strikeout.  Since his return this week, Kuo has faced ten batters.  Outside of the two intentional walks, Kuo has retired all eight batters, three by strikeout.

Matt Kemp had three hits and three RBI, including both a run-scoring single in the second inning and an eventual game-winning two-run single in the 10th, giving the Dodgers some much-needed success with runners in scoring position.

Casey Blake had four hits, giving him seven hits over the last two games.

The four game losing streak is over, and the Dodgers are leaving St. Louis.  For that, we breathe a sigh of relief.

Jason Schmidt faces Tommy Hanson Friday in Atlanta.

WP - James McDonald (3-2):  1 perfect IP

LP - Dennys Reyes (0-2):  0.1 IP, 1 hit, 2 runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout

Sv - Jonathan Broxton (24):  1 IP, 1 walk

Box Score

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breaking news!!

chuck norris canceled tomorrows game!!

by shaqfor3 on Jul 30, 2009 10:22 PM PDT reply actions  

I saw the end of the game late on tape and

am thrilled they won. I was so nervous about the sweep, and given the matchup tomorrow even more so. Bless you Kemp, and Kuo and Jimmy Mac and bless you Tiny Tim.

Great move walking Pujols and Holliday, loved it.

Now only 14 hours to go before you know what is over and we can all breathe a little easier…

by underdog on Jul 30, 2009 10:59 PM PDT reply actions  

joe torre should never use hong chi kuo on back to back days

save this man for the playoffs. When he is healthy, he is nearly unhittable. We should do whatever we can do just save his innings for the playoffs. Besides Broxton, there is no pitcher on the dodgers roster better then hong chi and you dont want to waste his arm by pitching him too much in the regular season.

by matthewmafa on Jul 30, 2009 11:06 PM PDT reply actions  

I'm very sad now.

From Rosenthal.

A rival GM who recently saw Bell at Class AA said, "He’s got physical skills and talent, but he plays very lethargic. He’s not a high-energy guy at all. He’s very nonchalant in how he plays.

The profile says that Bell earned the nickname “Baby Kemp” for his resemblance to the Dodgers’ Matt Kemp.

Dude? ‘Baby Kemp’? We traded a guy whose nickname was “baby Kemp”? HOW COULD WE? :(

by Tripon on Jul 30, 2009 11:09 PM PDT reply actions  

bell screams out James loney

matt kemp is anything but lethargic and nonchalant. Loney fits that description a little better.

by matthewmafa on Jul 30, 2009 11:28 PM PDT up reply actions  

Resting Broxton?

I saw Broxton’s meltdown in SD in the flesh. I really wonder if we shouldn’t rest him for at least a few weeks, if not until the Giants series in mid-September. He really seems like the kind of guy who would play through pain despite mediocre results.

As for the Cards, the pecota computer thinks they’re 70% likely to be in the playoffs (that might be a hair lower tomorrow). I think that’s optimistic, but hope that we don’t face them. Ideally, we face the Cubs then the Rockies.

by stillnotah8er on Jul 30, 2009 11:18 PM PDT reply actions  

About the money George Sherrill will make in arbitration.

What makes people think he’s going to be a Dodger though 2011?

This whole thing screams to me a trade in the off season for a usual piece in the offseason.

by Tripon on Jul 30, 2009 11:18 PM PDT reply actions  

Maybe…might depend on the health of Kuo, a possible non-tender candidate

by Eric Stephen on Jul 30, 2009 11:25 PM PDT up reply actions  

if he asks for $5 million, he will lose.

He’s likely to make about $1 million to $1.5m next year via arbitration, but if there are any health concerns, it is likely the Dodgers will simply non-tender him.

by Eric Stephen on Jul 30, 2009 11:37 PM PDT up reply actions  

Also, for everyone claiming that the Blue Jays treated the Dodgers shabbily.

They asked the Rangers for Holland, Smoak, and two more top prospects.

by Tripon on Jul 30, 2009 11:29 PM PDT reply actions  

it looks like matt kemp has found a new best friend

him and sherril wear their hat bream in the same way… its straight not bent

by matthewmafa on Jul 30, 2009 11:33 PM PDT reply actions  

Hah. Bedtime reading

The Viva El Birdos extra innings thread tonight is priceless. It’s mostly about Wellemeyer, and not in a good way. But genuinely funny. If repetitive.

by underdog on Jul 30, 2009 11:40 PM PDT reply actions  

Even the beat writers on Twitter wanted him DFA’d…it was sad/funny

by Eric Stephen on Jul 30, 2009 11:41 PM PDT up reply actions  

Wellemeyer is apparently the Colonel

and they’re not fans of Joey Thurston either. Pretty funny.

They have little to complain about after this series though.

by underdog on Jul 30, 2009 11:43 PM PDT up reply actions  

They also want to trade for Kershaw and Kemp.

They claim that Torre must hate Kemp or something, and they’ll give up their entire Triple-A team for Kershaw.

by Tripon on Jul 30, 2009 11:49 PM PDT up reply actions  

What are the odds we get Halladay by the deadline?

We picked up a guy (Sherrill) who excels against left-handed hitters (a Philly specialty – not unlike cheesesteak and a genetic disposition towards Santa). Now we need something positively Manny-like in that it would scare the s&^%t out of everyone in the NL. NED…GO GET’EM!!!

by Wile E. on Jul 31, 2009 12:07 AM PDT reply actions  

i think we need an upgrade offensivly in the infield...

the outfield is pretty much set this year and next so its infield that needs a change

o dog and furcal got to stay…. so i think we need to trade either blake, loney or martin and get a offensive upgrade at that position. It’ll make our lineup as terrifying as the phillies lineup.

anyone got any suggestions of who we can maybe acquire… cause im way too tired to think of one

by matthewmafa on Jul 31, 2009 12:17 AM PDT up reply actions  

Yeah get Gonzo

Gonzo for Sexton, Robinson, DeWitt, Garate, Russell, Redding, Van Slyke ans Guerra…

by Johnxon on Jul 31, 2009 4:32 AM PDT reply actions  

Kuo is back

That appearance last night was flat out awesome. Just felt like I needed to say that :)

by Michael White on Jul 31, 2009 7:35 AM PDT reply actions  

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2012 Dodgers Payroll

Italics denote estimates
Pos No Player 2012 Salary
C 17 Ellis $500,000 team control
1B 7 Loney $6,375,000
2B 14 Ellis $2,500,000
3B 5 Uribe $8,000,000
SS 9 Gordon $485,000 team control
LF 21 Rivera $4,000,000
CF 27 Kemp $10,000,000
RF 16 Ethier $10,950,000

IF/OF 6 Hairston $2,250,000
OF 10 Gwynn $850,000
2B/3B 3 Kennedy $800,000
C 18 Treanor $850,000
IF 12 Sellers $485,000 team control

SP 22 Kershaw $8,500,000 arb
SP 58 Billingsley $9,000,000
SP 29 Lilly $12,000,000
SP 37 Capuano $3,000,000
SP 44
Harang $3,000,000

CL 54 Guerra $485,000 team control
RHP 74
Jansen $500,000 team control
RHP 55 Guerrier $4,750,000
RHP Coffey $1,000,000
RHP 66 MacDougal $650,000
LHP 57 Elbert $485,000 team control
RHP 36
Hawksworth $500,000 team control

TJ 41 De La Rosa $485,000 team control



Manny $8,087,432 deferred


Andruw $3,375,000 deferred


Pierre $3,050,000 deferred
Furcal $3,000,000 deferred
Kuroda $2,000,000 deferred
Garland $1,500,000 option buyout
Blake $1,250,000 option buyout

Totals
$114,662,432

For more detailed information, click here.

Players on 40-man roster used as roster
fillers until moves are made.

Current 40-man roster count: 40
(not including Belisario)

2012 Non-Roster Invitees

No Player Age*
63 Jose Ascanio rhp
27
61 Alberto Castillo lhp
36
60 Matt Chico lhp
29
35 John Grabow lhp
33
59 Angel Guzman rhp
30
47 Wil Ledezma lhp
31
72 Shane Lindsay rhp
27
62 Fernando Nieve rhp 29
73 Scott Rice lhp 30
70 Will Savage rhp
27
71 Ryan Tucker rhp
25

30 Josh Bard c 34
82 Griff Erickson c 24
81 Matt Wallachc 26
67 Jeff Baisley 3b/1b 29
62 Luis Cruz ss/2b 28
33 Josh Fields 3b 29
64 Lance Zawadzki if 27
56 Cory Sullivan of 32

*Age on June 30, 2012

NRI count: 19

For more info, click here.


Manager

Eric___ned___reporters_2011_trade_deadline_small Eric Stephen

Editors

100_1427_small Phil Gurnee

Dgy_small David Young

Hanauma_bay_small Chad Moriyama

2501_small Michael White

Raptors_small Brandon Lennox