Dodgers' Web musings: Imagining how Frank and Jamie McCourt's settlement conferences might go

So would you be a tad curious as to how those settlement conferences will go Friday for Frank and Jamie McCourt?

How’d you like to have Judge Peter Lichtman’s job as mediator, trying to bring these two together? If he pulls this baby off, he’s on the next flight to the Middle East. A Nobel Peace Prize would be a lock.

Lichtman is scheduled to have separate closed sessions with each party and their respective legal teams.

What would be right and fair at this point? Couldn’t tell you. If possible, it’s more baffling than People magazine’s stunning failure to once again name me sexiest man of the year.

Still, if they don’t figure out some way to come to an agreement, they’re leaving it in the court’s hands and looking forward to years of challenges. Not good for either of them, though for their army of lawyers, El Dorado delivered.

Maybe Lichtman sits down with Frank first and says:

Look, the Marital Post Agreement is such a labyrinth, it’s in your best interest to settle. So how about we split the difference and you take 75% of the team and figure out how to buy her out on the other 25%?

Also, you get the box seats with the mayor, the $150,000 a year hairdresser to your home, the private jet you can’t afford to fly, the go-fer you paid a quarter of your club charity’s budget to, and one of the seven mansions. Just not the one with the lap pool.

To Jamie, maybe he says:

Come on, 25% of the team is better than zero. He has to pay you a nice sum, which should be a great boon to your race for the presidency. Also, you still keep all but one of the 362 châteaus, the limo driver of your choice and you get first dibs on any future use of Vladimir Shpunt. And when Frank rents Dodger Stadium back to himself for $14 mill, you get a fourth of that too!

Meanwhile, elsewhere on the Web:

-- MLB.com reports that catcher Brad Ausmus, who retired after finishing last season with the Dodgers, has been hired by the Padres as a special assistant to baseball operations. Also a former Padre, Ausmus still resides in San Diego.

-- ESPNLA.com’s Tony Jackson writes that Ivan De Jesus Jr. is regaining his hot-prospect form in the Arizona Fall League.

-- TrueBlueLA.com’s Eric Stephen reports two Dodgers relievers have signed with other clubs, Cory Wade with Tampa Bay and Justin Miller (the tattooed one) with Seattle.

-- Get excited: JamieEnterprises.net is up and running again.

-- The Riverside Press-Enterprise reports that the 1988 World Series ring of Jimmy Campanis was stolen at a recent golf tournament in Chino Hills.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Dodgers call up Kenley Jansen; designate Justin Miller for assignment

Only a season removed from becoming a pitcher, Kenley Jansen has been called up to the major leagues.

The 6-foot-6 right-hander, who started last season as a catcher, was 5-1 with a 1.60 earned-run average in a combined 33 appearances for Class-A Inland Empire and Double-A Chattanooga.

To clear room on the active roster for Jansen, the Dodgers designated Justin Miller for assignment.

For more on Jansen, read Steve Dilbeck's story on him from spring training.

-- Dylan Hernandez

There's a lack of trust, and good reason for it, in the Dodgers bullpen

OK, boys and girls, today we momentarily take pause from the grieving for the lost St. Louis weekend to offer this brief quiz:

Joe Torre currently has seven relievers in his bullpen -- how many does he actually trust?

His bullpen boys are Jonathan Broxton, Hong-Chih Kuo, Jeff Weaver, Carlos Monasterios, Justin Miller, George Sherrill and Travis Schlichting.

Come on, how many?

OK, despite blowing Sunday’s game, Broxton is an obvious choice. Kuo has yet to allow a hit to a left-handed hitter, so he’s in. Weaver has been more reliable than not.

And that about ends that.

That’s right, we’re going with the correct answer: three.

Oh, the pain. A year ago, the best bullpen in baseball. Now, tilting toward disaster.
 
How could this be? Let us count the reasons, again sticking with three:

1) Ronald Belisario had visa problems because of a DUI arrest, showed up the last week of spring training, joined the team late and then posted a 7.20 ERA in his first 16 appearances.

Then he got it together and had a 1.31 ERA over his next 19 appearances, only to disappear and be placed on the restricted list. Turns out, he’s in a rehab facility, and I don’t mean the kind that helps sore shoulders.

2) Ramon Troncoso, a workhorse middle reliever last season who owned a 2.72 ERA in 73 games, started the season decently and then went into a serious downward spiral.

Unable to get him untracked, the Dodgers finally sent him and his 5.15 ERA to triple-A Albuquerque to work on his mechanics. In his first five games for the Isotopes, he is 0-2 with a 2.84 ERA.

3) And then there is the unexplained mystery of George Sherrill, who was nothing short of sensational last season for the Dodgers (0.65 ERA) and nothing even close to that this season (7.17 ERA).

Finally at a loss as to how to get Sherrill to rediscover his form, the Dodgers placed him on outright waivers. He could clear Monday and then be asked to take a trip to Albuquerque. He could refuse and become a free agent, but he has the rest of that $4.5-million contract to consider.

This is a trio of key, reliable relievers for the Dodgers last season. Now, they’re out of the equation.

In their stead are rookies Monasterios and Schlichting and the journeyman Miller. And the Dodgers don’t want to use Kuo, because of four elbow surgeries, on consecutive days.

It makes for a lot of unpredictable nights in the bullpen. And days like Sunday, when Kuo and Weaver had already pitched the day before and Torre did not want to go back to them.

So he pushes Broxton, and it blows up. The depth just isn’t there, and unless most of the disappointing trio return to form or outside help is brought in, there could be a lot more games like Sunday's.

Who would you trust in that bullpen?

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Jonathan Broxton walks off the field after giving up a walk-off single to St. Louis Cardinals' Matt Holliday on Sunday. Credit: Jeff Roberson / Associated Press.

Hey, Ted Lilly, that was the wrong kind of sales pitch; Dodgers hang on for 9-7 victory over Cubbies

The Dodgers couldn’t land Cliff Lee. Roy Oswalt looks pricey. Dan Haren, too.

The Dodgers have to think about turning their attention to the next tier of available starting pitchers. And there on cue Friday was Chicago’s Ted Lilly.

Lilly is 34, in the last year of his contract and available. He’s hardly off to his best start at 3-7, but he entered Friday’s game against the Dodgers with a respectable 3.76 ERA. And he has won at least 10 games in the Last seven consecutive years.

But on Friday, he did nothing to further his cause as a potential Dodger, though he was found much to the Dodgers’ liking.

Lilly lasted a season-low 3 2/3 innings, giving up seven runs (five earned) on seven hits and two walks. Some guys just don’t know how to do a good sales job.

The Dodgers rode their early output against Lilly for a 9-7 victory over the Cubs, with Chad Billingsley pitching mostly well enough.

The Cubs actually took the early lead off Billingsley in the second inning on two walks, a single and a run-scoring groundout.

But the Dodgers took back the lead for good in the bottom of the inning when Russell Martin hit his first home run in almost two months, a three-run shot off Lilly.

Lilly, originally drafted by the Dodgers in 1996, got into even deeper trouble in a messy third. Rafael Furcal continued his hot hitting with a double and Jamey Carroll reached on a Lilly throwing error.

Andre Ethier singled to score one, Matt Kemp doubled in another and a Casey Blake sacrifice fly made it another three-run inning.

When the Dodgers added yet another run in the fourth on an Ethier hit, Lilly was done.

And not exactly looking like someone who could particularly help the Dodgers.

This was his second consecutive rough start. He gave up nine runs on 11 hits in his previous outing against the Reds. If the Dodgers did trade for him, they would likely have to pick up the rest of his $13-million contract for this season.

Billingsley (7-4), meanwhile, went the workmanlike routine.

He was far from sharp, but made enough good pitches to hold the Cubs to four runs on seven hits. He went seven-plus innings, walking four but striking out nine.

The Cubs scored twice in the ninth off Justin Miller and Jonathan Broxton to make it interesting.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Ted Lilly pitches against the Dodgers on Friday night. Credit: Kirby Lee / Image of Sport / US Presswire

Dodgers place Manny Ramirez on disabled list, option Ramon Troncoso to Albuquerque

Life without Manny Ramirez, Part II … in a continuing series?

The Dodgers gave in and placed Manny and his sore hamstring on the disabled list prior to Saturday’s game.

With the All-Star break looming, he’ll only have to miss nine more games. And since he doesn’t normally play in day games, he’ll likely miss only  seven.

Manager Joe Torre to reporters in Phoenix: "In talking to the doctors, there seemed a remote chance he'd be ready by Tuesday or Wednesday, [but] there's no reason to gamble with this. He's eligible for the first day after the break. He might go on rehab somewhere during the break."

Ramirez previously went on the 15-day disabled list April 23 with a sore calf. During his absence, the Dodgers went 6-8.

That time, as they did Saturday, they called up outfielder Xavier Paul from triple-A Albuquerque. Paul was in the lineup in left Saturday, batting sixth. He’s hit .281 in 57 at-bats with the Dodgers.

Ramirez,  however, was not the only move made by the Dodgers Saturday, and not the most surprising.

The Dodgers also optioned right-hander Ramon Troncoso to Albuquerque and called back up Travis Schlichting.

The surprising part of the Troncoso move was simply its timing. He’s been something of a mess for two months now (6.46 ERA) and has been death with inherited runners.

Friday against the Diamondbacks, however, he threw two shut-out innings without allowing a hit or walk.

Torre to reporters: "We all know that he's capable of pitching well. We just want him to work on his mechanics where his release point is consistent."

George Sherrill is also a mess, of course, and Justin Miller isn’t exactly wowing anyone. They, unlike Troncoso, are out of options.

Troncoso figures to be back shortly, after getting a tad of rest and, hopefully, performing well at Albuquerque.

This is Schlichting's second stint with the Dodgers. He is unscored upon in 7 2/3 innings.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Manny Ramirez. Credit: Christian Petersen / Getty Images

Dodgers beat Matt Cain with 4-2 victory over Giants

Some day there might actually be an explanation. Possibly, anyway.

Whether logic actually enters into it is an entirely other matter.

What the Dodgers know for certain right now is: They absolutely own Matt Cain. All 6-feet-3 and 235 pounds of him. Own his wide screen, his dog, the dirt in his shoes, and mostly, his right arm.

After the Dodgers beat the Giants 4-2 Tuesday, Cain was left 0-8 lifetime against the Dodgers.

One of the game’s most admired right-handers, and he hasn’t beaten the Dodgers a single time in 14 career starts.

More good news for the Dodgers: The Giants have him signed for another two years.

The Dodgers don’t necessarily destroy him -- he has a career 4.32 ERA against L.A. -- they just find ways to beat him.

They managed it Tuesday despite losing Manny Ramirez to a hamstring injury in the first inning, thanks to a three-RBI night by James Loney and a much-needed strong start by John Ely.

Loney singled in one run in the first, but the Giants got it back in the bottom of the inning on an Aubrey Huff sacrifice fly.

It was still a 1-1 game in the fifth when singles by Rafael Furcal and Russell Martin left runners on the corners with no outs. It looked like it was going to be a frustrating inning for the Dodgers when Andre Ethier flied out softly to second and Matt Kemp -- benched for the third consecutive game but came on to replace Ramirez -- struck out.

But that brought up Loney. After Martin smartly stole second, the Giants could have intentionally walk the left-handed hitting Loney. Instead, Cain pitched to him and Loney singled sharply to center to score two.

Loney took second on the throw home and then scored on a Casey Blake base hit.

The Dodgers had their 4-1 lead, and Cain his deepening mystery. He entered Sunday 6-6 on the season, but with a 2.72 ERA.

The Dodgers needed a long outing from Ely, who had lost three consecutive starts, because their bullpen was used up. It was without the service of their most dependable relievers -- Jonathan Broxton and Hong-Chih Kuo, and they didn't want to use Ronald Belisario.

But Ely went seven innings, holding the Giants to the one run on five hits. He walked three and struck out five.

Ramon Troncoso and George Sherrill kept the Giants scoreless in the eighth. Ex-Giant Justin Miller gave up a solo home run to Pat Burrell and couldn't finish the ninth to earn the first save of his six-year career. Instead, Belisario got the final out to earn his first career save.

The Dodgers are now 20-5 against teams from the National League West.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Matt Cain toils against the Dodgers on Tuesday. Credit: John Green / Contra Costa Times / MCT.

Dodgers call up reliever Justin Miller

The Dodgers called up Justin Miller from triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday and made space on the 40-man roster for the heavily tattooed reliever by designating Ramon Ortiz for assignment.

Miller has pitched 24 1/3 innings in 18 games for Albuquerque, posting a 2.22 earned-run average. He will take the spot in the bullpen that belongs to Carlos Monasterios, who is scheduled to start in Colorado on Friday. A source had earlier indicated that the announcement of Miller's promotion would come on Friday. 

A 32-year-old journeyman who grew up in Torrance, Miller was 3-3 with a 3.18 ERA in 44 appearances for San Francisco last season. He had a 1.83 ERA in 39 appearances through Aug. 20.

Miller, who has also pitched for Toronto and Florida, is 24-14 in his career with a 4.84 ERA.

The Dodgers signed him to a minor-league contract over the winter.

Miller is perhaps best known as the inspiration for the “Justin Miller rule”: Because opposing hitters found the ink-work on his non-throwing arm so distracting, baseball officials ordered him to wear long-sleeved shirts when pitching.

Ortiz, 37, was 1-2 with a 6.30 ERA in 16 games, including two starts. Manager Joe Torre said that General Manager Ned Colletti has asked Ortiz to consider a minor-league assignment.

Torre said the Dodgers are expecting to make another move in the next day or so, and that Andre Ethier would play for Albuquerque in Memphis on Friday and Saturday as part of a minor-league rehabilitation assignment.

-- Dylan Hernandez

Dodgers expected to promote reliever Justin Miller on Friday

The Dodgers are planning to call up right-hander Justin Miller from triple-A Albuquerque on Friday, according to a baseball source who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the move hasn’t been officially announced.

Miller has pitched 24 1/3 innings in 18 appearances for Albuquerque, posting a 2.22 earned-run average. He will take the spot in the bullpen that belongs to Carlos Monasterios, who is scheduled to start in Colorado on Friday.

A 32-year-old journeyman who grew up in Torrance, Miller was 3-3 with a 3.18 ERA in 44 appearances for San Francisco last season. He had a 1.83 ERA in 39 appearances through Aug. 20.

Miller, who has also pitched for Toronto and Florida, is 24-14 in his career with a 4.84 ERA.

The Dodgers signed him to a minor-league contract over the winter.

The heavily tattooed Miller is perhaps best known as the inspiration for the “Justin Miller Rule.” Because opposing hitters found the ink-work on his non-throwing arm so distracting, baseball officials ordered him to wear long-sleeved shirts.

-- Dylan Hernandez