Dodgers' turbulent McCourt era ends as sale is completed
Decision time nears for Dodgers on Belisario
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- Mattingly not shocked by Kemps stellar April
- McCourt e-mails farewell to Dodgers employees
- Dodgers go for series win behind hot Kershaw
Decision time nears for Dodgers on BelisarioBy Ken Gurnick / MLB.com DENVER -- It's countdown time for Ronald Belisario, who is eligible to be activated on Friday after serving a 25-game suspension for violating MLB's drug program. Belisario's activation, however, is no sure thing. He's scheduled to pitch one inning for Triple-A Albuquerque Tuesday and Wednesday to show he can go back to back, but even if he's pitching-ready, the Dodgers must decide if they want to tamper with the bullpen chemistry for a player with the baggage of Belisario, who has been in and out of trouble all four seasons he's been a Dodger. "I know there's been conversations about it," manager Don Mattingly said. "With Belly, it all goes back to the fact that his stuff has never been a question. There's never been a question he can pitch in the big leagues, and he's dirty [in a good way] at times." Mattingly's non-answer is a reflection on the decision, because Belisario is out of options. The Dodgers can't send him to the Minor Leagues without first getting him through waivers, so he could be lost to another club. But unless somebody gets hurt in the next two days, there doesn't appear to be a roster spot for Belisario. And even if he rejoins the team, his role will have changed from the setup man he was as an overpowering rookie. "We need a multiple-innings guy," said pitching coach Rick Honeycutt. "He's not walking into the seventh or eighth inning of '09. The other day, when he pitched two innings, the first inning was good and the second inning tailed off, and that concerned me. He likes to let it fly for one inning. When he's on, he can be dominant, but that's 20 pitches or less, and after that, his stuff changes."
A .417 batting average, second-highest in Lose Angeles Dodgers history for April; 12 home runs, most in Dodgers history and fifth-highest in MLB history for April; an .893 slugging percentage, highest in Dodgers history for April; 75 total bases, most in Dodgers history for April. He's already won two National League Player of the Week awards and the NL Player of the Month award should go his way later this week. Manager Don Mattingly said nothing Kemp does surprises him and he rejected a suggestion by a local reporter that Kemp is flying under the radar. "You can't say what's going on is crazy, because he went into the last week of the season last year with a chance to win the Triple Crown," Mattingly said of Kemp. "This is not new stuff. He's not anonymous. In L.A., they know him pretty well. The more he does this, the more he'll be seen everywhere and he's going to keep going. "Matt strikes out just enough that, like [Mark] McGwire, they're dangerous, but if you make the pitch just right, you can get him. But if you miss, that's the problem." Mattingly agreed with Kemp's analysis that his hitting style is much like his childhood hero, Frank Thomas. "An opposite-field power guy, that's what Matt does," Mattingly said. "It's kind of ridiculous power. Other guys don't go out there and Matt's land 10 rows back." McCourt e-mails farewell to Dodgers employeesBy Ken Gurnick / MLB.com | 05/01/12 4:45 PM ET DENVER -- Frank McCourt said goodbye to Dodgers employees in this company-wide e-mail Tuesday morning after the $2 billion sale of the club to Guggenheim Baseball Management closed: "To my colleagues at the Los Angeles Dodgers, "I am pleased to inform you that the Los Angeles Dodgers have emerged successfully from Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. The sale to Guggenheim Baseball Partners has been completed, and the Dodgers move forward as a well capitalized organization, strong both on and off the field. "This is how it should be for the Dodgers -- one of the truly storied and best-known franchises in not just baseball, but all of sports. "I am grateful to have been part of the Dodger organization and to have had the pleasure of working with you. Despite the difficult environment of the last few years, we together can be proud of what we have achieved. We enjoyed tremendous success on the field. In 2004, we won our first playoff game since 1988. We went to the playoffs four times over the next six years, including back-to-back National League Championship Series -- a first for the Los Angeles Dodgers in over 30 years. And we are off to one of the best starts in baseball in 2012. "Off the field, we returned the organization to profitability. We grew the value of the franchise well beyond what anyone thought was possible. We made it a Dodger ongoing practice to give back to the Los Angeles community. Your hard work has been essential to all of this. "I am confident that the new ownership, which will be introduced to you this morning at 10:30 a.m. in the Stadium Club, will carry forward the Dodger tradition, the Dodger commitment to community and the effort to make the team once again World Champions of baseball. I thank you all for working with me and for your dedication to and support of the Dodgers. "With respect and affection, "Frank"
By AJ Cassavell / MLB.com | 5/2/2012 1:20 AM ET Off to their best start in 19 years, there's no one the Dodgers would rather have on the mound looking to continue that than lefty Clayton Kershaw. The National League's reigning Cy Young Award winner gets the call in the rubber match of a three game set between the Dodgers and the Rockies. Kershaw will be opposed by fellow southpaw Drew Pomeranz. The 23-year-old Pomeranz (0-1, 5.40) left his last start with forearm tightness, but Rockies manager Jim Tracy said immediately after the game that he didn't expect him to miss any time. It appears Tracy will be proven right. "It just scared me, because I didn't know what it was," Pomeranz said Saturday. "It could have just been a cramp, or it could have been anything. I just don't like to feel [new] things." It'll be a tall task for Pomeranz in facing Kershaw, who has posted a 2-0 mark with a 1.78 ERA this year. After three straight no-decisions to start the season, Kershaw has won each of his last two starts. He lasted a season-high eight innings his last time out -- a Dodgers victory over the Nationals on Friday. On Tuesday, the Dodgers -- 17-7 for the first time since 1983 -- pounded the Rockies for seven runs and 14 hits, and perhaps most importantly for Los Angeles, the production came from throughout the order. For much of the season, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier have provided the majority -- if not all -- of the offense. They both chipped in Tuesday, but so did the other six bats, as everyone in the starting lineup (minus starting pitcher Ted Lilly) notched a hit. Shortstop Dee Gordon's was his first career home run. Dodgers: Sale of team complete
Just a couple of hours before Wednesday's game, the Dodgers will hold a 10 a.m PT news conference at Dodger Stadium, which will be streamed live at MLB.com. Mark Walter, CEO of Guggenheim Partners, will be the controlling partner; longtime sports executive Stan Kasten will be president and CEO; and former Laker great Magic Johnson will be a part-owner with a public role. Rockies: Defense key for slumping Rosario Catcher Wilin Rosario, who has thrown out five of the 11 runners who have tried to steal against him this season, will likely get the start on Wednesday in place of Ramon Hernandez. Offensively, however, the 23-year-old is hitting just .219 with a .642 OPS in 34 plate appearances. "I got away from my rhythm, my tempo, and that's what I've worked on the last couple of days," said Rosario, who had a pinch-hit single on Tuesday. "I feel better, more comfortable. I'm confident that I'll be good. I'm learning what I can from Ramon, and I'll be ready for my chance." Worth noting • Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis has reached base in 15 consecutive games after his 2-for-4 performance in Tuesday's contest. In his last seven games, he is hitting .435. • Todd Helton's 45 homers against Los Angeles are the most he has hit against any club. • Carlos Gonzalez is hitting .379 against the Dodgers in his career. • Of the six Rockies with 10 or more plate appearances against Kershaw, only Eric Young is hitting above .300. He has posted a .308 average with no extra-base hits. DAILY NEWS Directory: documents documents -> Concept stage documents -> Concept stage documents -> The great global switch-off documents -> Nonprofit grant application documents -> The Truth about the Rwandan Genocide documents -> Annual InStructional unit plan documents -> Chaos equipment included Download 348.9 Kb. Share with your friends:
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