Dodgers’ web musing: Frank McCourt better hope Lakers go to Game 7 in Finals as T.J. Simers and Bill Plaschke are called out

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Power of the press, you’re being called upon.

Or more specifically, The Times’ very own columnists T.J. Simers and Bill Plaschke are curiously being called out by ESPN nationally baseball writer Buster Olney.

Olney argues that the best chance Dodgers fans have of owner Frank McCourt loosening up the purse strings and spending the money necessary to acquire a frontline starter like Roy Oswalt, is if Simers and Plaschke start applying daily pressure.

He argues public groundswell needs to be generated to push McCourt’s hand. As Olney puts it:

‘T.J. Simers and Bill Plaschke, the eyes of Dodger Nation might be turning to you in the Roy Oswalt sweepstakes.’

Simers and Plaschke, of course, have been busy with daily coverage of the Lakers’ playoff run and have had little opportunity to address the Dodgers’ situation.

In other web doings:

--Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal tries to imagine the disappointing conversations Astros General Manager Ed Wade might have as he fields inquiries from other teams on the expensive Oswalt.

The tragic death of former Dodgers pitcher Jose Lima at age 37 on Sunday inspired an outpouring of tributes. A couple of the best include:

--Yahoo! Sports’ Tim Brown writes of running into Lima at the Angels’ last homestand and meeting his 11-year-old son, Jose Lima Jr.

--Lima’s former teammate C.J. Nitkowski at CJbaseball.com writes a personal remembrance.

--ESPN Los Angeles’ Tony Jackson gives credit to shortstop Jamey Carroll for the way he successfully stepped in for the injured Rafael Furcal, expected back Tuesday. Cracked third baseman Casey Blake: ‘Raffy’s got some big shoes to fill.’

--CBS Sports.com’s Scott Miller ties the Dodgers’ turnaround directly to the improvement of their starting pitching.

--ESPN.com’s Elizabeth Merrill gets the first extensive interview with former Dodgers outfielder Milton Bradley since he returned to the Mariners after seeking counseling.

Bradley talks of how the pressure he felt had him even thinking about suicide.

--Steve Dilbeck