Dodgers Web musings: Shot still heard 'round the world

So you’ve heard/read about it a zillion times, there’s a great retelling of the infamous -– at least in Dodgers’ lore -– playoff home run by Bobby Thomson against the Brooklyn Dodgers that sent the New York Giants into the World Series.

Where you should always mention, the Giants fell, 4-2, to the Yankees.

But the historic ninth-inning blast in the final playoff game against the Dodgers is caught in terrific detail by Michael Bohn for the Boston Herald. Saturday was the 60^thanniversary of Thomson’s blast off Ralph Branca.

Also on the Web:

-- Tony Jackson at ESPN/LA is asking you to be the GM and vote on retaining each individual Dodger, plus management. Jackson offers his own thoughts on each.

-- Brandon Lennox at TrueBlueLA offers a preview of this year’s crop of Dodgers who will be participating in the Arizona Fall League. Last year’s cast included Javy Guerra, Jerry Sands and Scott Elbert.

-- The Daily Breeze’s Joe Haakenson offers a postseason report card of the Dodgers at each position.

-- ESPN legal analyst Lester Munson writes it’s looking grim for Frank McCourt’s never-ending battle against MLB.

-- The Dodgers have nominated Matt Kemp for the 2011 Hank Aaron Award that goes to best offensive player in each league. This one he should get.

-- The Times’ Bill Plaschke thinks the Dodgers should pony up big time and sign Kemp to a long-term deal this winter.

-- The Dodgers have made it official and announced a three-year contract with KLAC-AM (570) as their primary radio home starting next season.

-- [Update: TrueBlueLA's Eric Stephen has the contract status of each layer on the Dodgers' 40-man roster.]

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Ralph Branca, left, and Bobby Thomson in 2000. Credit: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times

For Dodgers, the kids were a lot better than all right

There’s youth served and youth force fed.

Sometimes the play of a kid is just so exciting it demands that he be called up. And sometimes, bodies are just falling everywhere and a team has little choice but to reach into its system, give ’em a push and let go of the bicycle.

Outside of the play of their big two –- Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp -– the most encouraging aspect to the Dodgers’ improved performance over the final two months was the play of their kids. Lots and lots of kids, and almost every one responded. And most at a level the team had little right to anticipate.

None were really in their plans for 2011. Position players Jerry Sands and Dee Gordon and right-hander Rubby De La Rosa were scheduled to be September call-ups. The rest were still deep in the development stage.

Then injuries hit the Dodgers unusually hard, though it wasn’t exactly totally unexpected given the age of their roster. Down went Casey Blake, Jon Garland, Jay Gibbons, Dioner Navarro, Vicente Padilla (all before opening day), Hector Jimenez (remember him?), Rafael Furcal, Hong-Chih Kuo, Marcus Thames, Jonathan Broxton, Blake Hawksworth, Kenley Jansen, Rod Barajas, Juan Uribe and Andre Ethier. Some made repeat visits to the disabled list. Some never came back.

All of which created opportunity. At least the Dodgers were willing to give the kids a chance, rather than signing or trading for some tired journeyman. They get points for that. And the Dodgers were delighted with how most responded:

-- Jerry Sands: The lone power prospect, he struggled during his first call up in (.200 average, .622 on-base plus slugging percentage) but was a different hitter in September (.342, .908). He hit in 15 of his last 16 games (.407, 1.063). Could start next season back in triple-A or in the starting lineup.

-- Dee Gordon: There are still real concerns about his defense, but he figures to be their starting shortstop next season. The final month of the season, he hit in 21 of 26 games (.372) and stole 12 bases. There will be growing pains, but an exciting talent.

-- Justin Sellers: Struggled at the plate (.203), but can play three infield positions and is a heady player. If Jamey Carroll doesn’t return, option as a utility infielder.

-- Javy Guerra: The surprise of the season. Guerra only figured to be up a couple weeks while Hawksworth was on the DL, but he was pitching so well he stuck and by early July had become the Dodgers’ unexpected closer. Saved 21 games in 23 opportunities.

-- Kenley Jansen: You’d pay to see him pitch. After he came back from a sore shoulder, he was almost unhittable. In his last 31 games, had a 0.55 ERA. Set an MLB record of 16.1 strikeouts per nine innings.

-- Josh Lindblom: The former second-round draft pick seems to have found himself as a reliever. Had a 2.73 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 27 games.

-- Rubby De La Rosa: The hard-throwing right-hander was looking like a rotation find for years to come, before injuring his elbow and undergoing Tommy John surgery. He could return next summer, though initially as a reliever.

-- Scott Elbert: Not a rookie, but after a frustrating few seasons finally appeared comfortable as the left-handed reliever (2.43 ERA, 1.23 WHIP).

-- Nathan Eovaldi: Another called up largely out of desperation, but in six starts had a 3.09 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Penciled in as a starter.

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Strong finish sparks hope for Dodgers for next season

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Dee Gordon, next year's starting shortstop, has been a pleasant surprise. Credit: Christian Peterson/Getty.

Matt Kemp going out in style, hits 38th homer in 4-2 victory

If one significant opportunity has slipped away for Matt Kemp during the season’s final days, that doesn’t mean he’s given up on another.

Kemp’s spectacular season flirted down the stretch with a triple crown, but the past couple of days the batting title has drifted out of reach.

Yet with two games left in the season, Kemp still has an outside shot at a highly exclusive club -- 40 stolen bases and 40 home runs.

Kemp hit the 40 stolen-base mark over a week ago and on Monday hit his 38th home run to lead the Dodgers to a 4-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix.

Only four players in baseball history –- Jose Canseco (A’s, 1988), Barry Bonds (Giants, ’96), Alex Rodriguez (Mariners, ’98) and Alfonso Soriano (Nationals, ’06) –- are in the 40-40 club.

Kemp’s monster three-run blast in the first inning left him needing two homers in the final two days. Tough duty, but last season he hit home runs in each of his final five games.

The home run broke his tie with Cardinal Albert Pujols for the National League lead, and pushed his No. 1 RBI total to 123 –- fourth highest in Los Angeles Dodgers history. Still ahead: No. 1 Tommy Davis, 153 (1962) Shawn Green, 125 (’01); Mike Piazza 124 (’97).

Kemp went one for four on the night, dropping his batting average to .324. Mets shortstop Jose Reyes went three for four to push his average to .333962, slightly ahead of Brewer Ryan Braun at .333032.

The victory left the Dodgers 81-78, the first time all season they've been three games over .500, and assured them a winning record this season.

The Dodgers got 5 2/3 scoreless innings from left-hander Dana Eveland, who earned the victory to raise his record to 3-2. The journeyman called up in September retired 14 of his first 15 batters. He allowed five hits, did not walk a batter, struck out five and lowered his earned-run average to 3.03.

Eveland left with the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth, but Josh Lindblom came on to strike out Paul Goldschmidt.

The Diamondbacks scored their two runs without a hit in the eighth after rookie Nathan Eovaldi walked the bases loaded. Scott Elbert relieved, but an A.J. Ellis passed ball allowed arun to score. After Elbert walked the bases loaded again, reliever Mike MacDougal came on and walked in another run.

Despite some shaky defense by shortstop Dee Gordon, rookie right-hander Javy Guerra pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 21st save in 22 opportunities.

Jerry Sands singed in the eighth, extending his hitting streak to 14 games.

MORE:

Dodgers-Diamondbacks box score

--Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp is congratulated by teammates Jerry Sands and Dee Gordon after hitting a three-run home run in the first inning Monday night at Arizona. Credit: Jennifer Hilderbrand / US Presswire

Matt Kemp takes his show on the road in Dodgers' 2-0 win

As the bankrupt Dodgers' 2011 season winds to an end, you have to admire its consistency. A regular Swiss watch.

On Friday there was more of what this season has consistently delivered: turmoil with ownership and Matt Kemp starring on the field.

On the same day Major League Baseball asked the Bankruptcy Court to put the Dodgers up for sale, Kemp continued his torrid finish to the season.

Kemp hit his third home run in three games, tying him with Albert Pujols for the National League lead at 37, and led the Dodgers to a 2-0 victory over the Padres in San Diego.

Kemp's hot finish has him within striking distance of winning the triple crown, something that has not been accomplished in the National League since Joe Medwick did it in 1937 for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Not a bad way for Kemp to celebrate his 27th birthday. With his mom in the crowd.

Kemp in the three triple-crown categories: first in runs batted in (119), tied for first in home runs and third in batting average (.326, behind Jose Reyes at .32948 and Ryan Braun at .32903).

Clayton Kershaw earns 20th win; outduels Tim Lincecum again, 2-1

The four pitching duels between Clayton Kershaw and Tim Lincecum have been everything advertised this season – everything, aside from being one-sided.

Kershaw did it again Tuesday, winning his fourth close game in as many starts against Lincecum this season and edging the Giants, 2-1, to end San Francisco’s eight-game winning streak and become the Dodgers’ first 20-game winner in 21 years.

Lincecum, the two-time Cy Young Award winner, once again pitched extremely well against the Dodgers. In his four starts against the Dodgers this season, he has a 1.83 earned-run average. Also, he’s 0-3.

As good as Lincecum was, however, Kershaw was once again just a tad better.

Kershaw pitched 7 1/3 innings, holding the Giants to one run, six hits and two walks. He struck out six to increase his National League-leading total to 242.

Kershaw became the first Dodger to win 20 games since Ramon Martinez did it in 1990.

Surgery for Jonathan Broxton goes well, but now what?

And now what becomes of Jonathan Broxton?

Broxton underwent minor right elbow surgery Monday to remove a bone spur and loose bodies, a procedure that, of course, was deemed successful.

Broxton hasn’t been seen on a pitching mound for the Dodgers since May 3, his 2010 season reduced to slightly longer than a month, or 12 2/3 innings.

He was initially diagnosed with a bruised bone in his elbow, and then when that healed and the pain persisted, the spur was identified as the problem.

The procedure performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache was not considered major surgery and Broxton is expected to begin a rehab program within days and be able to start throwing again in six to eight weeks.

By then, of course, he will no longer be a Dodger. His $7-million contract expires at the season’s end, at which time he’ll become a free agent.

As his own agent, BB Abbott admitted to The Times' Dylan Hernandez, Broxton may no longer be able to simply throw the ball past hitters.

"The days of Jonathan Broxton throwing 99 and 100 [mph] might be over," Abbott said. "But I think he can reinvent himself. He's still going to be 93-97.

There was something intentional to Javy Guerra

 

Tough news this, Javy Guerra being human and all. The nerve.

Guerra, the Dodgers' rookie sensation, is no longer perfect. He now owns his first major-league loss, after walking in the winning run in the 10th inning Tuesday.

Although fans are certainly disappointed with the 5-4 defeat against the Diamondbacks, there is no possible way anyone could truly be disappointed in Guerra, who has saved 18 games in 19 chances.

But he was asked to do two things for the first time Tuesday, and he failed at both, although it's very possible one led to the other.

For the first time this season, Guerra was asked to pitch two complete innings. Manager Don Mattingly's logic was simple enough: In Guerra's first appearance since throwing one inning Saturday, he had breezed through a perfect ninth on just 12 pitches.

"For myself, going back out really wasn't even a question with Javy," Mattingly said. "His pitch count was low, he was throwing the ball good, he'd had a couple of days off. I knew he was rested and able to go.

"But seeing how he reacts ... obviously everything you see now is a learning experience."

The 10th got off to a poor start when the sensitive Gerald Parra hit a soft single to left. He was sacrificed to second, and then Guerra struck out Justin Upton.

All seemed well enough, but then the Dodgers asked Guerra to do something else he had never done in his 41-game career -– issue an intentional walk. Neither had he thrown one this season at double-A Chattanooga. In fact, in his eight seasons in the minors, he had thrown a total of five intentional walks.

It got him all out of whack. After he intentionally walked Miguel Montero, he walked rookie Paul Goldschmidt on four pitches to load the bases. Then he threw four consecutive balls to Chris Young to force in the winning run.

"You have to be better than that," Guerra said. "I have to make the adjustment. I was throwing like an A-ball pitcher."

Counting the intentional walk, Guerra threw 13 consecutive balls. By the time he got the final painful out, he had thrown a career-high 38 pitches.

"It's part of the process for him and us, and it is part of the experiences we're going through," Mattingly said. "I'm sure Javy is going to learn from it and bounce back.

"I don't know if he got tired, or his pitch count got up, or it's just uncharacteristic and he couldn't get the ball where he wanted to."

Guerra is an intense, finely focused pitcher. He seemed to lose that edge after the intentional walk. Of course, a reliever has to be able to issue the occasional intentional walk and still be able to come back and get the ball down.

It's a learning experience when you're a rookie, but, as Mattingly said, it goes both ways.

MORE:

Dodgers-Diamondbacks box score

Dodgers finally find a limit to Javy Guerra

McCourt attorneys back in court Wednesday

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Javy Guerra. Credit: Kirby Lee / U.S. Presswire.

Dodgers finally find a limit to Javy Guerra in 5-4 loss to Diamondbacks

It’s impossible to fault Javy Guerra, who has been a remarkable surprise ever since he first stepped on the mound for the Dodgers on May 15 fresh out of double A.

Guerra had saved 18 games in 19 opportunities, was 2-0 and had a 1.99 ERA. He had done everything they had asked of him. But Tuesday, they asked one more thing, and it proved one too many.

In an extra-inning game, they asked Guerra to pitch two innings for the first time all season. And he buckled, allowing a single and then three consecutive walks to force in the go-ahead run in the Diamondbacks’ 5-4 victory before an announced crowd of 31,404.

In his previous 41 appearances, he had not thrown two innings. His longest outing had been 1 1/3 innings (twice).

But in the 10^thinning he gave up a bloop single to Gerardo Parra. After a sacrifice bunt moved Parra to second, Guerra struck out Justin Upton and then intentionally walked Miguel Montero.

Jonathan Broxton won't pitch again this season; now what?

Jonathan Broxton has run out time.

Now what happens to the big right-hander?

In a shock to absolutely no one, Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly on Monday said Broxton would not pitch again this season.

"It just doesn’t seem like he’s advanced far enough," Mattingly said. "He hasn’t thrown off a mound, and that’s going to take awhile once you get to that."

Broxton hasn’t pitched since May 3, when he finally admitted his right elbow was bothering him. He was diagnosed with a bruised elbow. He was scheduled to go out on a rehab assignment in mid-June but he suffered a setback.

The Dodgers were still hoping Broxton could at least get healthy enough to pitch the final two weeks of the season, but now have given up on that. He threw off a mound for the first time since June on Monday.

Broxton has 84 saves over his six-plus seasons with the Dodgers, but lost his job as closer last season after posting a 7.13 earned-run average in the second half.

Mattingly pledged his loyalty to Broxton in the offseason and re-inserted him as the team closer. Broxton had seven saves, several of the shaky variety, and a 5.68 ERA this season before going on the DL.

The 6-foot-4, 300-pound Broxton is 27 years old, too young to call it a career. He earned $7 million this year and will become a free agent at the end of the season.

His future is what might safely be called cloudy. Certainly, he won’t be able to demand a significant contract coming off his recent performance and uncertain healthy.

"I haven’t thought much about that," Mattingly said. "It’s hard to say. I don’t know what he wants to do."

It’s more like what he can do, which could be simply signing with a team in the offseason as a non-roster invitee. Certainly, some team will take a flier on someone who used to light up the radar gun at 100 mph.

Meanwhile, rookie Javy Guerra has unexpectedly emerged as the team closer. Guerra has 18 saves in 19 opportunities.

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-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Dodgers reliever Jonathan Broxton during a game at Dodger Stadium earlier this season. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

And on the 144th game, the Dodgers reached .500; beat Giants 3-0

Being mediocre never felt so good.

The Dodgers got to a place Saturday they hadn’t visited since the second day of May. Hadn’t really even sniffed it in more than four months.

An even .500.

The Dodgers continued their recent strong play, dropping the Giants, 3-0, behind journeyman left-hander Dana Eveland.

The victory was their 15^th in their last 18 games and it left them 72-72. It’s the first time they’ve been at .500 since May 2 (15-15). And considering everything they’ve been through on the field and with ownership, no minor accomplishment.

The win over the shrinking-so-small-you-can-barely-see-them Giants assures the Dodgers their sixth consecutive series victory. It’s the first time they’ve managed that in three years. Suddenly they're good, if late, these days.

Saturday the Dodgers used a pair of triples and a bunch of balls that never made it out of the infield to make a loser of right-hander Ryan Vogelsong (10-7).

Eveland, who spent all season at triple-A Albuquerque until being called up last week to start against the Pirates, was once again just shy of brilliant.