Well, I was going to wait until I had my photos uploaded from my digital camera from my trip to Houston before I posted here again, but I got lazy, and lots has happened since Sunday.
Trip to Houston was fun. Saw two of the three games: the 10-2 Dodger win on Monday, and the 2-1 loss on Wednesday. Billingsley pitched a hell of a game on Monday, coming one out shy of a complete game shut-out, instead settling on just the complete game. Kent had a great game at the plate, going 4-for-4. He finished the three games going 7-for-11. Not too shabby. He hit a monstrous home run in Wednesday's game about 415-feet off the window panels in left field just to the left of the Citgo sign in Minute Maid Park. But Carlos Lee topped it with a shot just as big (it was the game winner) off the window panels on the other side of the Citgo sign in left-center field.
Should also add that Minute Maid Park, despite its laughable name, is really one of the nicer ballparks I've been to. It's clean, the food is good, the people are nice, and the atmosphere is great. It's easy to get into and out of, at least the parking lot we parked in. The park is situated in Downtown Houston near the convention center and Toyota Center (where the Rockets play). Very accessible from anywhere in the city. Anyway, nice venue.
I've never really been much of a fan of the DH-rule, but it got me thinking a little this week because of the two scares the Dodgers got this week from D-Lowe and Penny. Can't blame Grady for using Lowe in last Sunday's game for inning since he was schedule to throw that day anyway between starts. The pen had seriously needed a break at that point, and Lowe was willing to help the team for an inning. But apparently, Lowe tweaked something in his hip area, and aggravated it on a laughable play in Houston on Wednesday night. He was already hurting a little every time he planted his foot in his follow-through after each pitch. But I could really see the expression in his face after he got a hit to right field in the sixth inning Wednesday and was promptly thrown out by the right-fielder before he reached base. He seemed to really over-exert himself trying to avoid the embarrassment by trying to leg out the hit. Instead, he made one pitch to start the bottom of the sixth and couldn't go any further. His MRI on Thursday showed some irritation in his hip, so he might miss only one start, if any at all.
As for Penny, his scare on Thursday in Colorado was a simple abdominal cramp. He suffered the injury legging out an infield hit in the sixth inning of that game. He is not expected to miss his next start. But, am I the only noticing a trend here? Fortunately, for the Dodgers, these injuries don't appear to be serious, but they can't really afford any more injuries to their starters, especially during their at-bats when they're reaching the late innings and pitching solid games. Wolf is still not ready to return, and Schmidt is done for the season. You can bet, and hope, that Colletti is looking to bolster the rotation a little bit because this team can not afford to go forward with Hendrickson and Tomko in the rotation.
Speaking of bolstering the rotation, trade deadline is Tuesday at 1pm PDT. As of right now, it would appear the Dodgers are still in the mix for Octavio Dotel from Kansas City. Speculation is they are still dangling James Loney for Mark Teixeira from Texas (Why? I don't know), but they are considered to be a long-shot wild card for him anyway. They have not been tied to any of possible starting pitchers who are rumored to be available, but if Jon Garland, Aaron Harang or Bronson Arroyo are available, they should be talking to the White Sox or Cincinnati. Other pitchers who could be options are Shawn Chacon, Jose Contreras, Kyle Lohse or Kevin Millwood (but he has a huge contract still).
Several trades have already gone down since yesterday: Kenny Lofton was traded from Texas to Cleveland (his third stint there in his career) for a minor league catcher; Tadahito Iguchi was traded from the White Sox to Philadelphia for a minor league pitcher; Padres picked up Scott Hairston from Arizona for a minor league pitcher; Tampa Bay and Milwaukee swapped Seth McClung and Grant Balfour; and Cincinnati has reportedly picked up Jorge Cantu from Tampa Bay for two players.
Last night's game was obviously rained out, and will be made up sometime in September when the Dodgers are back in Denver. Last night's scheduled starters were set to go tonight, but Colorado bumped Josh Fogg, so Jeff Francis will opposed Tomko. No Gonzo tonight, so both Kemp and Ethier are starting. Tonight's line-up has not been posted anywhere yet. More storms forecasted for the Denver area so hopefully they can get the game in without any interruptions. Enjoy the game... game time is 5:05 PT!
Trip to Houston was fun. Saw two of the three games: the 10-2 Dodger win on Monday, and the 2-1 loss on Wednesday. Billingsley pitched a hell of a game on Monday, coming one out shy of a complete game shut-out, instead settling on just the complete game. Kent had a great game at the plate, going 4-for-4. He finished the three games going 7-for-11. Not too shabby. He hit a monstrous home run in Wednesday's game about 415-feet off the window panels in left field just to the left of the Citgo sign in Minute Maid Park. But Carlos Lee topped it with a shot just as big (it was the game winner) off the window panels on the other side of the Citgo sign in left-center field.
Should also add that Minute Maid Park, despite its laughable name, is really one of the nicer ballparks I've been to. It's clean, the food is good, the people are nice, and the atmosphere is great. It's easy to get into and out of, at least the parking lot we parked in. The park is situated in Downtown Houston near the convention center and Toyota Center (where the Rockets play). Very accessible from anywhere in the city. Anyway, nice venue.
I've never really been much of a fan of the DH-rule, but it got me thinking a little this week because of the two scares the Dodgers got this week from D-Lowe and Penny. Can't blame Grady for using Lowe in last Sunday's game for inning since he was schedule to throw that day anyway between starts. The pen had seriously needed a break at that point, and Lowe was willing to help the team for an inning. But apparently, Lowe tweaked something in his hip area, and aggravated it on a laughable play in Houston on Wednesday night. He was already hurting a little every time he planted his foot in his follow-through after each pitch. But I could really see the expression in his face after he got a hit to right field in the sixth inning Wednesday and was promptly thrown out by the right-fielder before he reached base. He seemed to really over-exert himself trying to avoid the embarrassment by trying to leg out the hit. Instead, he made one pitch to start the bottom of the sixth and couldn't go any further. His MRI on Thursday showed some irritation in his hip, so he might miss only one start, if any at all.
As for Penny, his scare on Thursday in Colorado was a simple abdominal cramp. He suffered the injury legging out an infield hit in the sixth inning of that game. He is not expected to miss his next start. But, am I the only noticing a trend here? Fortunately, for the Dodgers, these injuries don't appear to be serious, but they can't really afford any more injuries to their starters, especially during their at-bats when they're reaching the late innings and pitching solid games. Wolf is still not ready to return, and Schmidt is done for the season. You can bet, and hope, that Colletti is looking to bolster the rotation a little bit because this team can not afford to go forward with Hendrickson and Tomko in the rotation.
Speaking of bolstering the rotation, trade deadline is Tuesday at 1pm PDT. As of right now, it would appear the Dodgers are still in the mix for Octavio Dotel from Kansas City. Speculation is they are still dangling James Loney for Mark Teixeira from Texas (Why? I don't know), but they are considered to be a long-shot wild card for him anyway. They have not been tied to any of possible starting pitchers who are rumored to be available, but if Jon Garland, Aaron Harang or Bronson Arroyo are available, they should be talking to the White Sox or Cincinnati. Other pitchers who could be options are Shawn Chacon, Jose Contreras, Kyle Lohse or Kevin Millwood (but he has a huge contract still).
Several trades have already gone down since yesterday: Kenny Lofton was traded from Texas to Cleveland (his third stint there in his career) for a minor league catcher; Tadahito Iguchi was traded from the White Sox to Philadelphia for a minor league pitcher; Padres picked up Scott Hairston from Arizona for a minor league pitcher; Tampa Bay and Milwaukee swapped Seth McClung and Grant Balfour; and Cincinnati has reportedly picked up Jorge Cantu from Tampa Bay for two players.
Last night's game was obviously rained out, and will be made up sometime in September when the Dodgers are back in Denver. Last night's scheduled starters were set to go tonight, but Colorado bumped Josh Fogg, so Jeff Francis will opposed Tomko. No Gonzo tonight, so both Kemp and Ethier are starting. Tonight's line-up has not been posted anywhere yet. More storms forecasted for the Denver area so hopefully they can get the game in without any interruptions. Enjoy the game... game time is 5:05 PT!
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