Dodgers Correspondent Report: DODGERS - 8/2/02

DODGERS - 8/2/02

August 02, 2002

2nd place in the NL West
60-48, 5 games behind the D�Backs

PITCHING PROBABLES
8/2	Ashby	at	Phi	Padilla
8/3	Ishii	at	Phi	Roa
8/4	Daal	at	Phi	Myers
8/5	Nomo	at	Phi	Duckworth
8/6	Perez	vs	Pit	Fogg
8/7	Ashby	vs	Pit	Anderson
8/8	Ishii	vs	Pit	Wells

DEADLINE DEAL

After picking up 3B Tyler Houston to help bolster the offense (see last week's report), GM Dan Evans focused on strengthening the team's bullpen for the stretch run. He pulled the trigger on RP Paul Shuey, who is a veteran power set-up man with one of the nastiest splitters in the game. Shuey's acquisition came at the high price of Terry Mulholland and minor league pitchers Ricardo Rodriguez, LA's top pitching prospect, and Francisco Crucetta. Shuey will be the 8th inning bridge to get the ball to Eric Gagne. Shuey, 31, is 3-0 with a 2.41 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and has 39 strikeouts in 37.1 innings. With the acquisition, the Dodgers sent Guillermo Mota down to Triple-A Las Vegas as they didn't see Mota as a long reliever and wanted to get him regular work. To fill Terry Mulholland's roster spot, the Dodgers called up left hander Victor Alvarez.

GAME RECAPS

Thursday 8/1: Cincinnati 6, LA 4 (13 innings)
The Dodgers were up 4-0 heading into the 9th with Eric Gagne on the mound and it looked like a sealed deal (the Dodgers were 55-0 when heading to the 9th with a lead this year). However, Gagne allowed a hit to Todd Walker and then a homer to Aaron Boone to cut the lead in half. Gagne's next pitch hit Adam Dunn on the right arm and home plate umpire Dan Iassogna (called up from the minors) ejected Gagne. It was one of the worst judgement calls that I've seen in my life as Gagne was not trying to hit Dunn and bring the tying run to the plate. Gagne didn't even hit Dunn in the back or in the legs which would make it look intentional. Manager Jim Tracy said, "I don't know what to say, really, except that was the grossest error in judgement in quite possibly the history of the game." The Dodgers went on to lose the game on a Ken Griffey 2-run homer off of Omar Daal.

Odalis Perez was robbed of the victory but had his best start since June after having 9 days off to rest his arm. Perez was very sharp and went 7 innings while allowing only 2 hits, 2 walks and striking out 5. Perez is much better than his 7.59 July ERA.

While the Dodgers cried about the ejection, they still should have won the game. Jesse Orosco struck out Ken Griffey Jr and retired Reggie Taylor on a ground out. However Giovanni Carrarra hung a 2-2 curveball to the light hitting Jason LaRue, who doubled into the corner to bring in two to tie the game.

Wednesday 7/31: LA 11, Cincinnati 5
Despite giving up 2 runs in the first, Hideo Nomo settled in and threw 6 effective innings to pick up the win. It wasn't his best outing but he worked out of trouble and allowed 5 hits, 2 runs, 4 walks and 2 strikeouts. Paul Lo Duca and Shawn Green hit back to back homers; and Adrian Beltre went 3-5 with 2 homers and 5 RBI.

Tuesday 7/29: Cincinnati 12, LA 4
Kaz Ishii had his worst outing of his major league career. Ishii lasted only 2.2 innings. He gave up 8 runs (all earned) on 5 hits (2 homers) and 6 walks. Ishii threw 71 pitches but only 35 strikes. He's allowed a major league leading 84 walks in 123.1 innings. He's walked 3 or more in 20 of 21 starts; and has walked 4 or more in 12 of 21 starts. His WHIP now stands at 1.56 and his ERA has risen to 3.87.

Sunday 7/27: SF 3, LA 1
The Dodgers were dominated by the Giants Jason Schmidt who allowed only 4 hits and struck out 10. Andy Ashby pitched a solid game, allowing only 2 runs on 5 hits in 6 innings of work.

Saturday 7/26: LA 5, SF 1
Omar Daal pitched solidly to pick up his first win in 4 starts. He threw 6 strong innings, allowing only 2 hits and 1 run. Beltre and Lo Duca both had 3 hits on the day

Friday 7/25: LA 11, SF 6
Offense was the story in this game. Tyler Houston made a splash in his Dodger debut going 4-4 with 3 runs and 4 RBI. Adrian Beltre also had a huge game going 4-5 with 4 RBI.
Hideo Nomo pitched effectively enough for the win.

LOCAL PERSPECTIVE
After yesterday's shocking defeat at the hands of the umps and Reds, the Dodgers look to bounce back against the Phillies. The Dodgers will face the aftershock of that game in the next 3-4 games. Omar Daal had to pitch in extra innings but was originally scheduled to start today. Andy Ashby will move up in the rotation to pitch Friday and Kaz Ishii will also move up to pitch Saturday.

Tyler Houston's fast start has caused some unrest in the clubhouse. Eric Karros, who rushed back from the birth of his second child, found himself to be left out of the starting lineup. Karros said, "I would be very shocked if I was in any kind of rotational system unless my play warranted that." I'll be the one to burst Karros's bubble; his 45 RBI rank him 18th in the majors for first basemen; and his .745 OPS ranks him 22nd. Karros is batting .285 with 9 homers and 45 RBI. Nonetheless, Houston will not be a everyday starter on this team, barring injury; but he will find starts at first base and third. However, Adrian Beltre has been the most productive Dodger since the All-Star break. Since the break, Beltre is hitting .306 with 6 homers and 19 RBI with a .973 OPS. The Dodgers will need his production to stay in the wild card lead.

Yes, Dodger fans are celebrating the departure of Terry Mulholland to Cleveland. However, personally I'm a bit disappointed as seeing Terry come into a game was almost guaranteed offense (for the other team of course). He allowed a run in 12 of 21 appearances (that's not including inherited runs to score). Terry was the anti-Cy Young award winner this year with Los Angeles. He allowed 10 homers in 32 innings for a 7.31 ERA and 1.62 WHIP. He's doing better in Cleveland so far: in two appearances, a 1.50 WHIP and 6.75 ERA. There's a golf course waiting for his retirement...

RUMOR MILL
GM Dan Evans made the moves that he wanted. He helped improve the offensive depth of the club with Tyler Houston and gave the bullpen a veteran arm to help close out games in Paul Shuey. I wouldn't expect the Dodgers to make any waiver deals unless a serious injury befalls one of their starters.

INJURIES

Kevin Brown (P) - Status: DL, rehab
Brown is recovering much faster than expected and will make his first minor league rehab start tomorrow for Triple-A Las Vegas. He will make at least 2 rehab starts, but a mid-August return is now possible barring any setbacks. His presence in the rotation would be a huge boost for the team and would also help the bullpen as Omar Daal would move back to a long relief role.

Darren Dreifort (P) - Status: DL
Dreifort underwent exploratory arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last Tuesday. He had cartilage chips removed from his knee. He is likely done for the year. Disappointing news for Dreifort who is trying to come back from his second "Tommy John" surgery.

Jeff Reboulet (IF) - Status: DL (back)
Reboulet seems to be fine but won't likely be activated until rosters expand Septermber 1st. This update is strictly for friends and family of Jeff.

WHO'S HOT (last 7 days)
Adrian Beltre (3B): .428 (12-28) 5R, 2HR, 10 RBI
Tyler Houston (1B/3B): .411 (7-17), 6R, 5RBI
Mark Grudzielanek (2B): .363 (8-22), 4RBI
Paul Lo Duca (C): .347 (8-23), 5R, 1HR, 4RBI
Jesse Orosco (P): 2.2IP, 5K
Odalis Perez (P): 7IP, 2H, 2BB, 5K, 0R

WHO'S NOT (last 7 days)
Cesar Izturis (SS): .136 (3-22), 2RBI
Eric Karros (1B): .166 (2-12), 3K
Kaz Ishii (P): 2.2IP, 5H, 6BB, 8R, 27ERA
Paul Shuey (P): 2.1IP, 5H, 3BB, 2R

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Chris Wang
Dodgers Correspondent

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