Well, the good news is that the Dodgers seem to be off their binge of signing ex-Giants to questionable contracts. In the tradition of Mark Loretta and Andy Ashby, it's ex-Padres we crave now.
Still, can we fault the Dodger brain trust for wanting to capture some of that San Diego mojo? They've had some magical years down there.
Photos: Denis Poroy / AP ; Paul Bereswill / Getty ; MLB.com
Veteran Loretta to announce retirement (Dodgers.com)
As far as many Dodger fans are concerned, Mark Loretta has exactly one highlight in his career — but it was a doozy. Way to go out on a high note, Mark. We loved your greatest hit.
UPDATE: Loretta retires to Padres' front office (Padres.com)
photo: Mark J. Terrill/AP
And now a word from Mrs. Orel....
If it be now, 'tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come: the readiness is all.
Hamlet Act V, Scene IIWhat happened Thursday was not luck.
Mark Loretta, 38, waited on the bench, prepared and hungry like a professional understudy. Called upon to pinch-hit and face a pitcher against whom he was 0-for-15 lifetime, Loretta had to have come to grips with the facts.
At his age, retirement is around the corner. In a fifteen-year career, he'd only played in one post-season series, which his team lost. Because Joe Torre wasn't starting him, he was rested. No one expected anything from Loretta when he was called upon Thursday. The Cardinals were not afraid of Loretta; so certain they could get him out, they pitched around Russell Martin to get to him.
Mark Loretta, with nothing to lose and no pressure from upstairs, walked to home plate, quietly electric. In a swirling confluence of facts, Loretta boldly stared down Ryan Franklin and did his job.
"This is the best moment of my career," Loretta said after his game-winning hit.
"What did Vin Scully say about it? I'll have to ask him."
A lot of people are talking about you, Mark Loretta. Remember that as you return to the bench. A lot of us could learn a lesson from you, sir. You have redefined "stepping up to the plate."
You have taught us: Be hungry, be ready, be quiet and play ball.
top photo by Jon SooHoo/Dodgers; bottom photo by Jill Weisleder/Dodgers
From ESPN News tonight, the walkoff hit hero of the 2009 NLDS Game 2:
Come on, a former Red Sock and a former Yankee manager. Surely even ESPN, The Worldwide Leader in Northeastern Sports, could get this right.
At first the Dodgers were supposedly in the market for a starting pitcher. They haven't had a regular fifth starter all season, and critics complained that Chad Billingsley wasn't a real ace, or that Clayton Kershaw was too young to be counted on. But the Blue Jays were asking for the deed to Dodger Stadium in return for Roy Halladay, and Cleveland chose to raid the Phillies' prospect pantry instead of the Dodgers'.
Then we heard the Dodgers were in the market for a reliever. After Ronald Belisario went on the disabled list, it seems every reliever in the bullpen hit a rough stretch or two. While the return of Hong-Chih Kuo is helpful, he can't be relied upon to stay healthy.
Now, after yet another game in which the Dodgers lose while outhitting the opposition, it wouldn't be surprising to hear that the team was shopping for a bat. (Note: The speculation is entirely mine. I'm not basing it on any rumors.) Victor Martinez is supposedly available, as are a host of less desirable names (Nick Johnson, Marco Scutaro).
These shifting priorities show there's no single acquisition Ned Colletti can make that will solve all the team's problems — unless Albert Pujols learns how to pitch and demands a trade to the NL West. The breadth of the Dodgers' talent, which served them so well during the first half, is now being cited as the reason they need to make a trade.
To an extent, it's easy to see why: The starters have mostly been good for only five or six innings, and the staff lacks an experienced stopper with complete-game potential. As a result, the bullpen, while effective, has been overworked. And situational hitting has been killing the team lately, with LOBs and GIDPs piling up like bad alphabet soup.
With the team's first slump of the season coinciding with the trade deadline, Dodger fans are holding their breath. Outside help would be welcomed — if the price isn't too high. But fans and management should realize that, unlike last year's deadline acquisition of Manny Ramirez, there's no magic bullet (or snipe, if you will) that will put the team over the top. Expectations, and costs, are much higher this time around.
Loretta photo by Jon SooHoo/Dodgers
In what can only be ranked as the MOST anticipated part of tonight's game, the Delino has assumed his mild-mannered reporter alias and taken to the press booth.
And for those who care, this guy's also here tonight:
BREAKING NEWS - THE DANICA PATRICK "NO TEXT MESSAGING INFOMERICAL" JUST HAD A GLITCH
Well, that passed. Sorry - thought it was going to be a major scoop. Anyhoo, here's what's going on in the re-christened Man-E-Wood:Joe Torre Pre-Game Pow Wow (Official Name): Looking more tan than three days in St Louis would dictate, Joe Torre showed why only Pauly from GoodFellas had the moxie to portray him. In what can only be the quote of the year, Joe Torre assured the press that he's not taking the Dodgers' lofty record for granted. "I've done the ultimate blowing [against the Red Sox]! And that was only in one week." Torre went on to discuss the All-Star Game, where Shane Victorino broke the ice with President Obama by giving him macadamia nuts and sneakers. The questions eventually turned to a surprising topic: Manny. When asked if Manny might be a repeat offender, Torre explained, "I'm a trusting fellow." He defended Manny, explaining that even when your kids do something wrong, you still love them. I hope Joe Torre can take the time to talk with my (Dodger-hating) Mom, who still holds a grudge against me for "sabotaging" my Hebrew School Graduation.
BTW, I'm not sure who the Cossack-looking gentleman is in the picture, but he had the most fascinating insights into The Last Samurai. Apparently, he's still miffed that Edward Zwick did not contact him as a consultant, but found the Tom Cruise kimono dressing scene incredibly sexy.
Batting Practice: Manny was a monster out there. I swear that if it was night, he would have hit the moon. Casey Blake was batting for average, blooping and hitting the holes like a vet. And from the looks of it, Loretta was "hitting" for bench time.
I had planned to grab a couple of players for interviews, but didn't want to come off like this guy...
Ooo... they got free cookies. More to come from the booth and what has easily been one of my best experiences at a baseball game since ending my season-long slump in Little League (with one game left). Stay tuned.
photos by Delino DeShields/SoSG
Earlier post-game celebration techniques at SoSG:
the finger tap
the hip bump
With the Dodgers signing Mark Loretta and now re-signing Chuck Tiffany, I thought it would be a good time to revisit a post from SoSG's rookie year:
Blake's deal is worth approximately $17.1 million. It's believed the Minnesota Twins had offered him a two-year contract in the neighborhood of $14 million. "We are excited to bring back a player whose performance on the field and leadership off the field contributed so much to our division championship this year," general manager Neil Colletti said. "Our club changed when Casey arrived, and we are thrilled that he wants to continue his career with the Dodgers."
This of course heralds the way for Blake DeWitt to start at second base next season, filling the hole formerly occupied by Jeff Kent. Given DeWitt doesn't use a walker to take the field each inning, this is a defensive upgrade. But we'll see about DeWitt's bat, which was mercurial in the 2008 season.
The same article goes on to say that the Dodgers picked up Mark Loretta with a one-year, $1.25M deal. Loretta will play utility backup in the infield, sort of like Wilson Valdez except Loretta once had a bat. No official announcement has been posted yet by the Dodgers, pending Loretta's physical.
