[h1]Ned Colletti is on the lookout for pitching[/h1]
General manager says the Dodgers' staff needs significant improvement.
By Bill Shaikin and Dylan Hernandez
May 28, 2009
Reporting from Denver -- Although the Dodgers have the second-best earned-run average in the major leagues, General Manager
Ned Colletti said the pitching staff needs significant improvement.
"We can't go to the bullpen every day as early and as often as we do," Colletti said.
Chad Billingsley has worked at least six innings in all 10 of his starts and
Randy Wolf has done so in eight of his 10 starts. The other starters --
Clayton Kershaw,
Eric Stults,
James McDonald,
Jeff Weaver,
Eric Milton and
Hiroki Kuroda -- have combined for 28 starts and have failed to last six innings in 23 of them.
The Dodgers are carrying eight relievers, but Manager
Joe Torre appears to put most of his trust in closer
Jonathan Broxton,
Ramon Troncoso and rookie
Ronald Belisario.
The Dodgers have the largest lead in any division in baseball, but Colletti said that does not necessarily buy more time for the pitchers on the staff.
"If we could make a move, we'd do it, no matter the lead, no matter the deficit," Colletti said. "The goal is to improve the club."
Colletti said he had talked this season with the San Diego Padres about
Jake Peavy, the ace they agreed to trade to the Chicago White Sox last week. Peavy vetoed the deal, and Colletti said he had not spoken with the Padres since then.
Vote for Ramirez
The Dodgers won't be campaigning to get
Manny Ramirez into the All-Star game, but a fan in New York is taking it upon himself to do so.
Jason Rosenberg, a 39-year-old New York Yankees fan, set up a site to encourage fans to vote for Ramirez, who was fourth among National League outfielders in the first round of balloting even though he is serving a 50-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy.
"I'm not pro-steroids," Rosenberg said, adding that he wants to see Ramirez voted into the game because it would be "a perfect opportunity to poke fun of all the goofy rules in baseball."
Rosenberg set up the site,
voteformanny.blogspot.com, on Tuesday. He said that by Wednesday afternoon, the site had received about 10,000 hits.
"You can use steroids, make the Hall of Fame, make $200 million and get voted into the All-Star game," Rosenberg said. "What's the deterrent? Personal shame?"
Short hops
The Dodgers aren't taking any chances with
Rafael Furcal's surgically repaired back. Furcal was held out for the third straight day because of pain in his left buttock. Furcal is expected back in the lineup today. . . . Kuroda gave up nine hits and seven runs (five earned) in a rehab start for Class-A Inland Empire on Wednesday. "I'm not at a point where I can return to the majors with my chest stuck out, but I hope to get back as soon as possible," he said.
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[h1]Manny an All-Star? OK with Manuel[/h1]
Daily News Wire Services
Even a 50-game drug suspension might not be enough to keep Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez off the National League All-Star squad.
A Yankees fan in suburban New York created a Web site designed to point out that no rule prevents players coming off a drug suspension from being elected as an All-Star - which is just fine with NL manager Charlie Manuel, of the Phillies.
"The All-Star Game is for the fans, and I think if he got voted in, then it would be appropriate for him to play," Manuel said yesterday. "Once he serves his suspension, he's paid his penalty, and he's just like every other player."
Ramirez, who was suspended May 7, was fourth among NL outfielders this week. He is eligible to be reinstated on July 3, with the All-Star Game set for 11 days later in St. Louis.
"It would be too interesting, too funny, too pick-your-adjective to see Manny get elected," said Jason Rosenberg, 39, the creator of voteformanny.blogspot.com. On the site, he has a link to All-Star balloting, with the note: "Remember, vote early and often!" *
