Dioner Is Served

As was mentioned in yesterday's GT, Dioner Navarro (and his .193 average) has been DFAd:

ST. LOUIS -- Dodgers manager Don Mattingly cited "philosophical differences" for the club's decision Tuesday to designate for assignment catcher Dioner Navarro and recall A.J. Ellis from Triple-A Albuquerque.

Of course, Navarro's .193 batting average was reason enough. But the Dodgers had grown increasingly frustrated with the former All-Star's reluctance to do extra work to improve his play. A number of pitches that got past him in Milwaukee and Colorado during this trip hastened the move.

"I didn't think he was the right guy for this team right now and what we're trying to do," said Mattingly. "He didn't fit in to that. Obviously, the performance under .200, but he didn't fit into my beliefs, the way you go about it and that means he didn't fit into Ned's beliefs also. Philosophical differences."

AJ Ellis, this is perhaps your best chance to impress. Though it does sound like Navarro left the bar rather low, from a work ethic perspective...