Dodgers call up Jamie Hoffmann, according to Hoffmann's dad's deputy

Dodger Thoughts commenter Underdog passes along this report from the Mankato Free-Press:

In case anyone is thinking the Brown County sheriff’s trip to Los Angeles is tied to the Hauser case, the flight is tied to a different family matter.

Rich Hoffmann’s son, Jamie, has been called up to the big leagues.

The elder Hoffmann received a phone call about midnight Thursday that his son had been summoned by the Los Angeles Dodgers and will be in uniform for tonight’s interleague game with the Los Angeles Angels.

“The sheriff is excited, as I think any father would be,” Brown County Chief Deputy Jason Seidl said. ...

By the way, if you read further, "the Hauser case" is quite a story.

As for who is going off the roster ... could this be the end of Guillermo Mota?  Or an abrupt finale for Eric Milton?  Or is someone going on the disabled list?  We'll find out ... 

In other news, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports that Dodger minor-league catcher Lucas May has hairline-fractured his wrist and will be sidelined for at least one month. 

Update: Jamie Hoffmann, 24, signed with the Dodgers as an undrafted free agent out of high school nearly six years ago.  He was, however, an eighth-round NHL pick by the Carolina Hurricanes. 

He began the 2009 season with AA Chattanooga and had a .952 OPS before being promoted to AAA Albuquerque, shortly after Xavier Paul replaced Manny Ramirez on the Dodger active roster. With the Isotopes, Hoffmann has a .366 on-base percentage and .457 slugging percentage in 41 plate appearances. 

Comments

[GoBears]

LATd:

Or, maybe they're trading Juan Pierre. Nah - no way Colletti parts with the team's best hitter over the last 2 weeks. Selling high is tough when (1) you need the production and (2) everyone knows that the current high is temporary.

[underdog]

I would think the abrupt finale for Milton would more likely happen when Kuroda comes back? But who knows...

I really do hope it's Mota.

Oh, and I sort of disagree (mildly) with GoBears in prev thread, I think this does make sense because they are short on the bench, the DH uses up on more position player and then, even though Blake can play LF in a pinch I still think it's pretty thin, especially if someone got hurt. They don't need to carry that extra pitcher now, with some off days coming up.

[Humma Kavula]

Double-LAT'd:

1. Of all the 13 losses so far, the only one that really sticks and still hurts is the 5/7 loss vs. the Nationals. It was such a terrible day of baseball news and the Dodgers went out and went nuts in the first, highlighted by a grand slam by my favorite player. I really, really wanted to win that one, and it didn't work out.

There have been other bad games -- the Philly loss was ugly -- but whatever, your team is gonna lose sometimes.

Unless the Dodgers are playing for the playoffs on Game 162 and lose, I can't imagine there will be a game this year that I will want back more than that one against the Nats.

2. Please let this be the end of Mota. I doubt it is, but it would be the right move.

[underdog]

I hope that small newspaper article isn't a false alarm. It probably isn't. But some confirmation from Dodgers would be nice. They may not have officially announced because they aren't sure what the other move is yet.

And I should really get back to work.

[GoBears]

Effectively (if not technically) LATd:

Dodgers could use a DH, of course, but they also have less need of pinch hitters, since pitchers aren't batting. Even if, say, Xavier Paul DHs, I'm not sure I see the need for the extra OFer. If a guy were to get hurt, they could move Blake to the OF and swap in one of the extra IFers. If anything, all the pitchers would allow for more LOOGY and ROOGY matchup switches - and 4 hour games.

Yeah, this doesn't make sense, unless it's Paul who is going back to ABQ (and then it's just a bad idea).

And why Hoffman instead of Lambo? Is he farther along?

[kinbote]

Is this the end of zombie Shakespeare?

[Craig88USC]

Congrats to Jamie Hoffmann - Welcome to the show!

[underdog]

Yes, Hoffmann is considered further along than Lambo. He went from AA to AAA and was already doing pretty well there. Plus (if I recall correctly) he's better defensively so he's a decent guy to have as a late inning sub. No need to rush Lambo... (though it would be nice to see him in September, but he's not on the 40 man roster yet.)

[GoBears]

Waitasec - I've forgotten: do they use the DH in NL-hosted interleague games? This series is at Dodger Stadium - is it NL rules or is the DH a feature of all interleague games? I can't believe I don't remember the rule.

[Xeifrank]

Dodgers are the home team, right? No DH in NL park, isn't that the rule, or am I confused again?? Yahoo sports page is showing the Dodgers as the home team.
vr, Xei

[JJ24]

This is nice news for the weekend. Hoffman had a decent spring and am glad he gets a taste of the big leagues. While Manny's out, I think we might see more players in that 4th OF/PH rotation.

He was also drafted by the LA Kings but chose baseball. I spoke to him in the spring and he still plays some hockey, though he assured me it was not competitive.

BTW, Hoffman spent almost every spring game signing autographs for every kid and adult before and after the game. He seemed to relish his first big league camp and I hope he can enjoy his call-up.

[Kevin]

Wait a sec did they change the format of interleague so there are now DH's at the NL parks and pitchers hitting in the AL parks?

[Alex41592]

Dodgers do not need a DH until June 12th.

[underdog]

Hmm, good point/question -- I too thought the DH was for games in AL parks only.

Unless they changed the rule.

I feel like I read articles about this series that mentioned who would play DH for the Dodgers, so that got in my head. Don't know if that was just bogus or if there's a rules change we're not aware of.

[JJ24]

Hoffman was rated as the best defensive outfielder in the Dodgers' system, if I remember correctly.

[underdog]

Well I guess they felt like their bench was thin anyway, and as I said above, with some more off days coming up than they'd been getting, the extra pitcher is superfluous.

Especially if that extra pitcher is named G Mota.

[Jon Weisman]

You guys are right. I had a brain cramp. No DH this weekend.

[Rafael Zapata]

Please, let it be MOTA. Send him back to AA No pitcher that is given a 10 run lead should be giving up grand slam in the 9th inning , like he did with Florida. When are you going to feel comfortable to put him in a game, when we have a 20 run lead in the 9th?

[dalegribel]

From my post in the other thread: Sorry to admit that I don't know much about Hoffman. Can some provide some info for me?

[underdog]

Oh and Jon also put the DH idea in my head. ;-)

But I blame Gary Bennett.

[Phenomenal Smith]

If anybody calls the kid "Hoffman", they have to answer to me.

[JJ24]

drafted by the Hurricanes, not Kings. My bad :)

[Humma Kavula]

Also: Hoffmann likes to tell stories about dwarves. He fell in love three times -- once with a robot, once with a woman who would die if she sang, and once with a woman who promised the devil she'd steal his soul.

That's why he has devoted his life to art and won't fall in love again.

[jpg]

I expect Milton to go. They can always use Weaver in Colorado and Milton would have to go when Kuroda comes back anyway. I would be shocked if Mota gets released this season even though most of you are calling for his head.

Hoffman was really tearing up the Southern League when he got promoted. His wOBA was 2nd in the league at .428, he real weakness is not much power.
http://firstinning.com/stats/?type=basic&lg=SOU&min=115&season=2009

He's on the 40 man so if they need an outfielder he had to be the guy to get the call with Repko out. I just hope this doesn't mean that Ethier is hurt and has been hiding his injury during this slump. This is a curious callup or simply a false alarm.

[Ken Noe]

This is where I really miss Tony Jackson or Diamond Leung on the beat.

[Phenomenal Smith]

Mota could be the most hated pitcher in DT history since... somebody on the team last year.

How about Loaiza?

[Jon Weisman]

One thought: Could be that Weaver's blister is serious enough to sideline him?

[Jon Weisman]

dalegribel | May 22, 2009 at 10:12 AM

See my update above.

[Humma Kavula]

JPG, I agree that I don't really expect Mota to be gone immediately, but why would you be shocked if he gets released at any point this season?

To me, one of Colletti's best qualities is his willingness to admit a mistake. Starting with Lance Carter and Denys Baez and going right up through Andruw Jones, Colletti has let the on-field performance dictate his next move. So many GMs seem to think, well, because I made this decision, it must have been the right decision. We can blame Colletti all we want for making choices that seemed doomed from the start, but if almost every case, he has shown flexibility and a willingness to do what is best for the team.

The only exception I can think of right now is Pierre, and that guy is knocking the snot out of the ball. I've been as harsh as anybody on the Pierre Affair, but at the moment, even I'm not willing to knock the GM for not cutting bait on the guy.

Point being, if Mota continues to be awful, Mota will be gone.

[Ken Noe]

Mota hate pales in comparison to Tomko trauma. Or Sweeney spite. Or Bennett bashing.

[Phenomenal Smith]

Jamie Hoffmann will be the first Dodgers player with a double N at the end of his name since Chris Gwynn in 1995.

[Hollywood Joe]

Did anyone catch the story over on Shyster about the folks in the most exclusive seats at Yankee Stadium throwing some of their free food over the moat to the folks sitting in the merely exclusive seats

http://tinyurl.com/qg32zn

Made me happy

[Xeifrank]

Bob, who is the major leagues all-time HR leader for players that end with double N. I'm sure there's quite a list.
vr, Xei

[Hollywood Joe]

Billy Goat Gruff sighting

Ken - I won't use the word "hate", but I dread Mota more than the others you mentioned (Phenom with a good Loaiza call though)

A sense of ill-ease washes over me every time I glance Mota warming up and a downright low-grade panic sets him everytime he is on the mound. Shortness of breath, skin crawling, paranoia, irritability, you name it...

He is bad for my health

[Doug Minnick]

Did anyone catch the story over on Shyster about the folks in the most exclusive seats at Yankee Stadium throwing some of their free food over the moat to the folks sitting in the merely exclusive seats
Posted by: Hollywood Joe | May 22, 2009 at 10:33 AM

I would've enjoyed it more had they been throwing food AT them.

[Humma Kavula]

Doug @ 10:42 --

They would have to be some sort of taunt, too.

Hmm. Maybe "MILL-ionaire! MILL-ionaire!"

[Jon Weisman]

Josh Rawitch's Golfing Roundup:

http://insidethedodgers.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/05/a_round_of_golf.html

[Phenomenal Smith]

Fred Lynn leads the "-nn" brigade with 306 home runs.

Early Wynn won 300 games.

[kinbote]

Maybe Stults' finger has not healed.

[Humma Kavula]

And to think: Hank Aaron came up just one N short.

[Jon Weisman]

MetsBlog.com suspends comments, plans to create separate message board.

http://www.metsblog.com/2009/05/21/note-metsblogs-comment-section/

[delias man]

Kuroda pitches tonight?

[Phenomenal Smith]

After Fred Lynn at 306, the next in homers would be Jim Wynn at 291 and then Harry Heilmann at 183.

Tony Gwynn and George McQuinn both hit 135. Randy Winn is presently at 106. Greg Colbrunn hit 98. Harvey Kuenn hit 87. Ed Herrmann hit 80. Brian McCann presently has 73.

That's all the -nns in the top 1000.

[Eric Stephen]

Jamie Arnold no longer stands alone as the only Jamie in Dodger history, assuming Hoffmann plays.

The Martinez brothers (all with a middle name Jaime, even minor leaguer Jesus) don't count.

[Kevin Lewis]

Kershaw is slated for tonight.

[underdog]

Looks like old friend Takashi Saito is doing better for the Red Sox these days. ERA's pretty good, he's settle down pretty well. Though his BAA isn't all that great compared to how it usually has been: .295. WHIP is up, too.

[Kevin Lewis]

Random thought. Who was it that tried to go first to third on Russel's winning RBI on Wednesday? That just seemed like a poor running choice.

[dalegribel]

Jon, Thanks I missed that.

Hoping Mota, guessing Stults will go to the DL though. The way it has been going though, if it is a pitcher that comes off the roster, it doesn't make much sense. Someone floated an Ethier may be hurt rumor -- certainly hope that's not true.

[GoBears]

I just saw that Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN will feature the Twins and Brewers.

When Boston-NYM was available.

I don't disapprove of course, but I'm a little shocked that ESPN made that choice.

[Hollywood Joe]

Kevin - Ethier and it took a great cut and throw to get him. I groaned of course when is happened, but only because of the outcome, not the choice

[delias man]

I should have added for IE 66ers for Kuroda?

[Eric Stephen]

Kevin, it was Ethier. And I thought it was one of those "guarantee the run by drawing the cutoff throw" plays.

[Trolley Dodger]

@Kevin Lewis -- it was Ethier. However, Steve Lyons after the game actually praised the play, as it could cause the throw to the plate to get cut off in an effort to get an out at 3rd, which did happen.

[Doug Minnick]

Random thought. Who was it that tried to go first to third on Russel's winning RBI on Wednesday? That just seemed like a poor running choice.

Posted by: Kevin Lewis | May 22, 2009 at 10:55 AM

Kevin, I had the same thought at the time (I think it was Ethier) but then I wondered if it was to protect the runner who was scoring. It looked like there may have been a play at the plate had the ball not been cut off to get the runner at third. Who knows?

[kinbote]

FWIW, Steve Lyons said it was 100% the correct move to force the cut-off man to intercept the throw to the plate, thereby ensuring the run to score.

[Jon Weisman]

I love this opening:

What can be said about a man who was President for just 16 months? What can be said about a President who never held any other political office in his life? What can be said about a man who likely never voted in his life until he was elected President? What can be said about a man who almost went directly from battlefield success to the White House?

As it turns out, not much. ...

http://allthepresidentsbooks.com/2009/05/22/zachary-taylor/

[Landonkk]

Posted by: Kevin Lewis | May 22, 2009 at 10:55 AM

Ethier. Psycho seemed to think it wasn't that bad a move since it guaranteed the run would score.

[Hollywood Joe]

...and it was a bang bang play. He could have easily been safe

[kinbote]

OK. I think we have that one covered. All of DT-dom must be glued to their screens.

[Landonkk]

HA.. at least we all agree on who it was and why he did it.

[EMDarrow]

That would be Andre Ethier, who walked.

[Trolley Dodger]

@kinbote LOL I love how each reply was slightly different. Sort of the parallax approach to commenting. :)

[Tripon]

Random thought. Who was it that tried to go first to third on Russel's winning RBI on Wednesday? That just seemed like a poor running choice.

Posted by: Kevin Lewis | May 22, 2009 at 10:55 AM

Ethier, and the Mets broadcast claimed that Ethier was safe.

[Rob McMillin]

Regarding the Hauser case, there was an interesting article in Salon this morning about that by an M.D. who has had some experience in these matters:

http://tinyurl.com/p79o7g

Fighting cancer pits a person against potent drugs. But because of their horrid side effects, they take the doctors' credo, "First, do no harm," to its limits. Sophisticated as chemotherapy drugs may be, they're not smart enough to distinguish tumor cells from healthy cells, leaving one's entire body vulnerable to their toxic effects.

Ponnusamy underwent two years of chemotherapy at the University of Chicago Medical Center. For many months, surgeons administered a central line into his chest. "I literally felt possessed," he says. He recalls hours of nausea and vomiting after infusions. When that was over, there would be hours more of dry heaving over the toilet. "I remember asking myself more than once: 'How can this be doing me any good?'"

[Jon Weisman]

"After that, Taylor was able to win the nomination in June of 1848. At the time, parties sent letters to the nominees informing them of the selection. Taylor did not respond for an entire month. However, Taylor was not hesitant to run. Instead, the local postmaster had refused to deliver the letter to Taylor because it had insufficient postage and Taylor had left instructions that he would not pay postage due. "

[delias man]

If I remember - teams are only allowed to be on "X" amount of national broadcasts a year.

[Rob McMillin]

By the way -- and I hate to pile on too much because Jon unfortunately was the victim of the Times' choice in blogging platforms -- I am being slowly driven batty by the posting window suddenly jerking down just as I'm about to post. I'm not sure if this is a Linux problem (I also have it on my Mac) or a Firefox problem or just a general annoyance, but man is this nuts.

[Hollywood Joe]

"Sort of the parallax approach to commenting."

This is a great idea Trolley!!!

We could have a designated question asked at a certain time each day with the intent that as many of us as possible all answer it all at the same time.

That way we can see a collage of un-influenced thoughts on the subject...and then of course fall into our regular pattern of passing around an idea until it loses its lustre.

[Jon Weisman]

You're not the only one, Rob.

I'm starting to root for drastic measures. A couple of people have given me hope they will come.

[Jon Weisman]

Tony Jackson is back in the groove :)

"Another (yawn) Dodgers-Angels series is upon us"

http://tinyurl.com/oxed5w

It ends nicely, though.

[Tripon]

Patrick (Cheyenne, WY): Who would you take Price or Kershaw?

SportsNation Jayson Stark: I'll take David Price. I think Kershaw needs another pitch -- and much more consistent command.

[Deuces are Wild]

"I am being slowly driven batty by the posting window suddenly jerking down just as I'm about to post."

Don't pay attention to it, Rob. Just start typing when it jerks down (no teed to scroll down or anything). When you start typing the window comes back.

[bhsportsguy]

Jayson, since Price is a few years older than Clayton, let's hope when Clayton becomes arbitration eligible he has refined those details.

[Kevin Lewis]

Is anyone going to answer my question? :)

Yea, I can see the argument about drawing the throw, but I also think Hudson had that beat all the way.

It definitely was a bang bang play.

[kinbote]

Stark must've missed Kershaw's last start when his improving changeup was on display. As for the command, he's 21 years old. Give him time.

[Marty Leadman (LAT)]

It doesn't seem to happen on IE. But, then you end up using IE.

[kinbote]

{Commencing Parallax Response System Launch re: Kershaw v. Price}

[jpg]

I now understand Tony's distaste of the Dodger elevators.

Humma - because while Mota is overpaid he is not useless. Sure he has sucked for all of 15 innings this year with most of that suckitude coming in the last two games, one of which was a mop up of a laugher. He's as good as anyone to be the mop up guy, someone has to do the job. He might get traded or put on the DL if something is wrong but I don't see him being released. The other players you mentioned were all traded during season or released after the season ended not during the season.

[Rob McMillin]

Our company recently hired one of the mid-level IT managers out of the Times. The tales he tells ... gah.

[Deuces are Wild]

When I first heard about Jamie Hoffmann, I thought Jamie was a girl, and this was all part of Jamie McCour'ts scheme of having a woman ballplayer as part of the WIN program. Even going to the extreme of having the same first name. I'm glad Jamie Hoffmann is not a girl, and I hope he does well.

Which leads me to thing of another question: We know that Fred Lynn is the HR leader for "nn" names, what about players with first names that are also used by women?

[jason]

Mota shouldn't bother anyone. He isn't good and they don't use him much. Its not like Mota is holding Kemp, Loney, LaRoache, Pee-Wee or Billingsley down.

[Jon Weisman]

Babe Ruth, 714.

[Humma Kavula]

Deuces -- wouldn't that be "Babe" Ruth?

[Humma Kavula]

Gah.

[regfairfield]

Jennifer "Barry" Bonds - 762.

[Trolley Dodger]

Don't forget Hammerin' Henrietta!

[Craig88USC]

Sandy K.

[Hollywood Joe]

I will feel a bit more comfortable judging Price versus Kershaw after Price becomes a regular major leaguer

While I would gladly take either of them, I am not eager to switch Kershaw out for anyone

[Ollie]

LOL reg.

[kinbote]

From www.minorleagueball.com:

"**Shortstop prospect Dee Gordon with the Great Lakes Loons is hitting .319/.370/.440 with 23 steals in 26 attempts. He has just one homer, but has knocked six triples. Plate discipline (11/30 BB/K in 166 at-bats) and defensive reliability (10 errors) are issues he needs to address, but his athletics is excellent and his long-term potential very high. The thing I find interesting about him is his background. When the Dodgers drafted hi m in the fourth round last year, there was a lot of "huh?" among the media and in some war rooms, since Gordon had received almost no pre-draft chatter. He hadn't played due for academic reasons in junior college last spring, but I found it interesting that a player with his kind of athleticism and with his bloodlines (Tom Gordon's son) wasn't on that many radars. Someone will always slip through the cracks."

[dodger tony]

Is it possible that they are bringing Hoffmann up to showcase him and that the Dodgers are actually much closer to signing Jake Peavy than any of us actually suspect?

[Alex41592]

With a nine game lead it's not out of the realm of possibility they could use this time to showcase Hoffmann. While also giving Ethier some time to regroup. Doubtful but would not surprise me.

Can Hoffmann play first base?

[Craig88USC]

‎May 19, 2009‎
"... Jamie Hoffmann drove in four as Tennessee won the first of two games with Chattanooga 8-7."

[Linkmeister]

Jon @ 11:01 quotes Bob's opening for his entry about Zachary Taylor, but what book's first page is Bob using as his source?

I still remember the cover of that ubiquitous novel.

[Jon Weisman]

I thought that was part of the charm, Linkmeister.

[Jack]

I doubt the market is that high for Jaimie Hoffman.

[Craig88USC]

Sorry - I mean for Albuquerque last Tuesday (not for the Lookouts - Jamie's old team.)

[underdog]

Professional Blog Headscratching Sentence of the Day Award goes to
NESN
http://www2.nesn.com/nesn-newswire/2009/05/22/live-blog-mets-at-red-sox/

>>The Mets are coming off being swept at the hands of the Dodgers in LA, *but they have been playing well themselves*, and it isn’t too crazy to think this could be a World Series preview.<<

Huh?

They just lost 4 straight including one infamously disastrous game, but are playing well themselves? Does that mean in intrasquad practice games?

[Kevin Lewis]

I finally caught up on "Kings" only to learn it has been canceled.

[bhsportsguy]

Buster Olney weighs in why the Padres would never deal Peavy to the Dodgers.

The Padres could try to trade Peavy to the Dodgers, who do need starting pitching, and who do have the kind of prospects San Diego would want. But negotiations between the Padres and Dodgers tend to be more acrimonious than your basic Charlie Sheen-Denise Richards divorce proceeding. There would be nothing more galling to the Padres than to have to hand over Peavy in a sweetheart deal to the team that they hate the most … and then have Peavy whip fastballs at them six times a year and talk afterward about how happy he is in his new home. In reality, the Padres would rather extend Peavy's deal for 10 more years and hand him the deed to Petco Park than give him to L.A.