Loaiza goes to 15-day DL
He has tightness and spasms in his shoulder blade. Corresponding move won't be made until Friday. The move is retroactive to Sunday, the day after he couldn't hold a six-run lead in Colorado and was lifted in the third inning of a game the Dodgers eventually won. This virtually guarantees that Chan Ho Park, who pitched three perfect innings today to save the bullpen, will be the fifth starter the next time the Dodgers need one a week from Saturday at Anaheim.
Tony - Any chance Kershaw gets the call? They can't seriously consider Park as a starter can they?
Also, any news on Scott Elbert?
Given that the Dodgers are off on Thursday and Monday, and won't need a 5th starter until May 17, is it possible that they will consider keeping only 11 pitchers for the time being, and bring up a position player?
Kershaw pitched an inning out of the bullpen the other day. Given that the Dodgers want to limit his innings so he's fresh in the second half, I suspect they would prefer not to bring him up until at least June. Ken Gurnick mentioned Brazoban as a possibility, and I would think that Meloan might also be in the mix.
I read today that James McDonald (who pitched 7 scoreless innings the other day, with 9 K's and 0 BB) was slowed in spring training by a tired arm. Any word on whether he's suffered any lingering effects?
I would love for someone to come up, pitch effectively, and give the Dodgers an excuse to eat the remainder of Loaiza's contract. I think it's lunacy to keep him around. It really wouldn't cost the Dodgers much more if he was replaced by a player at minimum salary. Whether Loaiza is on the team or not, he will have to be paid the remainder of this years salary. Barring a miracle that would enable the Dodgers to dump his salary onto another team, it makes more sense to release him in favor of a more effective pitcher. His ineffectiveness could cost the Dodgers a post-season berth, thereby denying them post-season revenue. Keeping Loaiza is penny wise and pound foolish.
Can you tell me why Gary Bennett bloops the ball back to the pitchers it has to drive the pitchers nuts and play havoc with their rhythm.
Bennett is trying to deke opponents into thinking that he can't throw worth a darn. Roy Campanella used to do the same thing, with considerable success.
And I have never heard or read any comment attributed to any Dodger pitcher that Bennett's technique has any effect whatsoever on their rhythm.
Between Schmidt, Garciaparra and Loaiza, that's $30 million on the DL... add our illustrious CF who is out of shape and almost refuses to make adjustments to his swing and that's another $18 million. Can anyone tell me if there's a more wasteful General Manager in baseball than Ned Colletti?
I have read this blog for a short time and your comments are right on. Collett is terrible. He was able to put the blame on Grady Little last year, but not now. You forgot to mention that he paid way too much for Juan Pierre. He needs to go.