Well, That Was Lovely...

Talk about a butt-kicking... the Blue were never in tonight's Game 3. Cliff Lee stymied them all night, pitching eight shutout innings while striking out 10. Hiroki Kuroda was slammed for five runs in a little over an inning plus, and the Phillies offense never looked back. The Dodger offense never found its groove against Lee. There's really no reason to even mention the final score, but for the record: Phils 11, Dodgers 0.

Moving on to Game 4 tomorrow night, Randy Wolf opposes Joe Blanton. The Dodger offense has got to get it going early. If Randy Wolf can neutralize the Phillies left-handed hitters, Dodgers should be in good shape to even the series back up at two games apiece.

Rumors Before Camp

UPDATE (3:03pm CT): Well, that was quick! ESPN's Jerry Crasnick is reporting the Dodgers are now close to re-signing Mark Sweeney to a one-year deal.

**********
It looks like Tony Clark is headed to San Diego. The San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting only "details" remain on what appears to be a one-year deal, and that an announcement could come in a day or two. Clark would be the primary power lefty (even though he is a switch hitter) off the bench for the Padres and would also spell Adrian Gonzalez at first from time to time. Looks like the Dodgers will have to turn their focus back to Mark Sweeney (which is fine with me).

And here's an interesting one involving the Dodgers. According to the Denver Post, the Dodgers and Oakland have discussed Joe Blanton again (remember the two teams made a last ditch effort before last season's July 31st trade deadline to make a deal for Blanton). However, Billy Beane reportedly wants Andre Ethier (whom Beane traded to the Dodgers two years ago for Milton Bradley), Andy LaRoche and a high level prospect. First, I can't imagine the Dodgers making this deal now as Ethier should be the everyday left fielder over Juan Pierre and LaRoche should be the Dodgers third baseman over Nomar, and second, who knows how accurate this report might be considering it came from Denver rather than Oakland or L.A.

Betemit Traded to Yanks

UPDATE (6:51 pm CDT): Now official. Winner here? Pick 'em. Dodgers needed to upgrade their pitching somehow and hopefully this will persuade Grady to stop using Roberto Hernandez, or use him less. Proctor's had a decent season (2-5, ERA around 3.80, ERA+ at 113) and it should only improve slightly in the N.L. Proctor should help the Dodgers at least for 2007. He's arbitration eligible for the first time after this season, so barring any health concerns due to work overload, he should be a nice addition for the long haul. Betemit was being seldomly used, and the Dodgers are obviously looking to Andy LaRoche to eventually take over at third for Nomar.

The talks between the Dodgers and A's for Joe Blanton broke down at some point last night but were rekindled this afternoon prior to the deadline. The Dodgers apparently made an offer of LaRoche, minor league shortstop Hu, and Jon Meloan for Blanton, but Oakland GM Billy Beane apparently felt Meloan wasn't close enough to Major League ready, or he felt he wasn't getting enough for Blanton. Or there just simply wasn't enough time to try to mix and match and get the right players for Oakland.

Personally I would have loved to had seen the Dodgers make a statement that they were serious about improving the rotation and serious about winning not only this year, but for years to come, as Blanton is in the same boat as Proctor contract-wise, but they apparently figured it was either Garland, Blanton or nothing. I just hope Penny and D-Lowe are healthy enough to continue their solid seasons without further aggravating their injuries, because after Billingsley, the rotation is very beatable. Who knows when Wolf will be back, too.

**********
ESPNEWS is reporting the rumored deal to send Wilson Betemit to the Yankees for Scott Proctor has been agreed to in principle. More to come...

Deadline Drama

Late report from ESPN.com tonight says the Dodgers and A's are in serious discussions tonight that could bring starting pitcher Joe Blanton to L.A. Problem is he could come costly. Oakland wants three front line prospects for him and two of the names being tossed around are Andy LaRoche and Jonathan Meloan. Blanton could really help bolster the rotation, though, and not just for the rest of this season, but for years to come. Blanton is just 26, is making just $380,000 and will be arbitration eligible for the first time this winter. That said, he'd be under the team's control for the next three seasons. As it says in the ESPN.com report, it's very rare for teams to give up on very good, young and cheap starting pitching, which might explain why Billy Beane might be asking for a lot in return. But I say, if you can get it done without giving up some of the obvious players (Kemp, Loney, Broxton, Martin, Billingsley, etc), then get it done. I'd really hate to see LaRoche go in a deal like this but this one has the potential to have a bigger positive impact on the team and it could be better one than the Brad Penny trade two years ago.

The other rumor involving the Dodgers flying around was Wilson Betemit to the Yankees for reliever Scott Proctor, whom the Dodgers traded to the Yankees in the Robin Ventura deadline deal a couple of years ago.

Was going to breakdown some of the trade rumors going around but several trades took place today already with less than 17 hours until tomorrow's trade deadline. The big one is Mark Teixeira and a pitcher going to Atlanta for Jarrod Saltalamacchia and three others. The trade, which will likely be announced tomorrow, is pending the players passing physicals. Kyle Lohse was traded to Philadelphia for a relief pitcher, and the Twins traded 2B Luis Castillo to the Mets for two minor leaguers. Nice deal for Omar Minaya and the Mets.

One possible trade was supposedly being held up by another. Octavio Dotel was all set to go from Kansas City to Atlanta for Kyle Davies, but the Braves are waiting for the Teixeira trade to finalize. Dotel may still end up somewhere else other than Atlanta by the deadline.

More to come. Stay tuned...