Mitch Jones designated for assignment to make room for Manny Ramirez

From Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

• Mitch Jones was designated for assignment to make room for Manny Ramirez. Jones was 4 for 13 with a .785 OPS for the Dodgers. 
• A.J. Ellis was optioned to Albuquerque, with Claudio Vargas expected to be activated. 
• Eric Stults was activated from the disabled list and optioned to Albuquerque, where he will continue to pitch himself into major-league shape. 

* * *

Jason Schmidt is scheduled to take the mound for Albuquerque at 6:05 p.m. tonight. Tony Abreu is batting leadoff for the Isotopes.

* * *

Update: Schmidt threw 85 pitches tonight for Albuquerque, allowing four runs on five singles, two doubles, no walks and five strikeouts in six innings. (Luis Maza hit a pinch-hit grand slam on behalf of Schmidt.)

• San Francisco lost to St. Louis tonight, 2-1, on a 10th-inning homer by Colby Rasmus.
• Just because you give up runs from time to time doesn't mean you're not an ace, and just because you're an ace doesn't mean you don't give up runs from time to time. Phillies Nation labeled Cole Hamels' performance today "horrendous" after he allowed seven runs on 11 baserunners to the Braves in four innings while striking out one. Hamels' ERA for the season is 4.98.
• Speaking of aces, Sons of Steve Garvey is 100 percent right: Jon Soo Hoo is an ace photographer.

Photo: Dodgers' Mitch Jones at the batting cage prior to playing the Oakland Athletics in a Major League baseball game Thursday, June 18, 2009 at Dodger Stadium. Photo credit: Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times.

Comments

[Eric Stephen]

So Kuo to the 60-day DL seems the likely move to create space on the 40-man for Vargas.

[Bob Hendley]

If Jason does well tonight, how much longer can we keep him down on the farm? What more will he have to prove at that level?

[Bob Hendley]

BTW, last year for the Rox series (and others) we had a great guy posting here, who was a fan of their's. He must be pretty happy this year, but I miss him as he always had insightful comments as regards his team and the Bums.

[Jon Weisman]

I think it could come down to whom the Dodgers have more confidence in after the All-Star Break: Schmidt or Milton.

[Bob Hendley]

One would think that the money we have invested in him and the time he has invested in coming back would tip the scales. If only for a look-see.

[Michael]

Pujols was intentionally walked with a runner on 2nd and one out.

[Craig88USC]

Ok - No protection tonight for Pujols so they just I-Walk him in the 1st...

Let's Go Cardinals!

[Craig88USC]

1-0 Cards

[Michael]

Base hit for Ludwick. Cards strike first. 1-0.

[Alex41592]

The Giants/Cardinals game is on ESPN for those who want to watch the game.

[underdog]

Nothing too surprising here, though I do hope the Dodgers can re-sign Mitch Jones (or for his sake another ML team wants him). Now I'm even more glad AJ Ellis got a start last night; they probably knew he was going to be sent down soon after.

The only move that still worries me is Vargas; I just don't think he's going to be any good at all. But I'll happily be proven wrong, and if he isn't good he's easily replaced.

Most important move is the big, expected one. Manny's back.

[underdog]

Well, I guess I'm jumping the gun about Vargas anyway. Gurnick's just mentioning it as a possible move. It does seem they might need another position player even with Manny back. That bench looks mighty thin.

[underdog]

No ESPN here; blacked out locally so I can have the pleasure of Kruk and Kuip.

Or I could choose not to watch it at all which is what I'm going to do.

[dodger tony]

What are they planning to use Vargas for? Middle relief? Spot start? Strange and peculiar stuff. Saving arms?

Somehow, someway, this team continues to find amazing ways to win ballgames. I'm not sure if it was the Rockie pitching per se, or the Dodger's lack of hitting, but even with the team "slumping" offensively they still win.

What a first half!

[Alex41592]

If it is Vargas the Dodgers will be carrying three long relievers. J-Mac, Weaver and Vargas. Not to mention Milton who will be in the pen until the Milwaukee series.

[Craig88USC]

Tope fans will be happy they're getting back The Mitch as well as their starting catcher.

Eric Stults though, they may NOT keep. He's a Dodger.

[underdog]

Yeah that's why Vargas makes little sense to me, other than the Dodgers not wanting to lose him. Which also doesn't seem like a big deal to me either.

[Jon Weisman]

I think they might bump McDonald up to short relief status - if they're not planning on using him in the rotation for a while.

[Craig88USC]

Atlanta pouring it on against Philly now,,,that is a good thing for the Dodgers too tonight.

[berkowit28]

They want to give Vargas a window to show his worth, before deciding who stays, who is traded, who gets optioned or DFA'd. He may only be here until they want to bring Stults back up or decide to forget about Milton, etc. Show time. I don't think Vargas can be sent to ABQ once his DL is up: he either stays on the 25-man roster or becomes a free agent. It's natural to want to give him a bit of time to see what he can do first.

[Alex41592]

Braves rip apart Cole Hamels tonight for seven earned runs in four plus innings.

[Craig88USC]

The Philly ace having an off night...

4 inns...9 hits...2 walks...1 k...7 runs

[Jon Weisman]

Just another reminder that being an ace doesn't make you invulnerable.

[Craig88USC]

Yep

[Alex41592]

Ned gave Vargas a major league contract otherwise this really wouldn't be an issue. However, they probably won't hesitate to cut him should he not do well.

[Jon Weisman]

Mark Heisler says Clippers are trading Zach Randolph for Quentin Richardson, for salary cap reasons.

http://tinyurl.com/l72led

[miketink]

Jon: In your previous post up top, the August 23, 1989 game was against Montreal; somehow you had Houston on your mind.

I was begging for Furcal to be the PH in the bottom of the 8th then I saw Martin come out. When I quickly saw Martin was coming in to run I had to give Torre a lot of credit for a very clever move.

[Eric Stephen]

It will be kind of weird to have essentially a 9-man bullpen for almost all of the 9-game road trip, if that is indeed what will happen.

I wonder if Ned is spending this day and a half trying to convince Vargas to accept a trip to the minors, much like he did with Eric Milton at the end of spring training.

[Alex41592]

And by convince it could be accept minors role or snip snip.

[regfairfield]

I like Claudio Vargas for reasons I don't understand, so I'm okay with this.

[Craig88USC]

What makes me think that Manny is chomping at the bit right now

and will come out blazing starting this weekend.?

I think he wants to make amends to ALL his fans and employer right out of the gate. I will not be surprised if he starts raking from the get go just like he did in '08 for us.

[Alex41592]

JAIBBFAP

[Alex41592]

Now you would look at a game like Phillies/Braves, see the score as 9-1 and think that's an uninteresting game.

But, you would be incorrect...

[Alex41592]

Paul Bako ends the no hit try.

[Jon Weisman]

Ha, miketink - you're so right. The funny thing is, I even looked at the boxscore and thought to myself, I don't remember Dennis Martinez pitching for Houston.

The Dodgers, of course, played a 22-inning game against Houston on a different date.

[Jon Weisman]

And by convince it could be accept minors role or snip snip.

Posted by: Alex41592 | July 01, 2009 at 05:50 PM

He's going to threaten Vargas with a vasectomy?

[bhsportsguy]

Why was Travis Ishikawa trying to steal second with Cain batting, did Cain miss the bunt attempt?

[fanerman]

Godspeed, Mitch Jones.

[bhsportsguy]

Dodger Record Against Teams During Manny's Suspension

Nationals: 0-1
Giants: 1-2
Phillies: 4-3
Marlins: 2-1
Mets: 3-0
Angels: 3-3
Rockies: 5-1
Cubs: 2-2
D-Backs: 2-1
Padres: 1-1
Rangers: 2-1
Athletics: 2-1
White Sox: 1-2
Mariners: 1-2

[underdog]

Cain was going to bunt but then pulled back and tried to swing at a tough pitch to hit. Sending the runner with the pitcher up there seems a recipe for -- well, for what happened. I said I wasn't gonna watch this dumb game but I had to take another look.

Also: You think Mitch Jones had a tough day. Paul Phillips played for the Rockies today, and *then* was DFA'd.

[Alex41592]

Better than Ned saying Mazel Tov!

[berkowit28]

I believe it's much more likely that Torre knows what he is talking about and it will take until the end of July, after the road trip and the All-Star break - and then maybe a bit longer - for Manny to hit his stride. He hadn't even done so - not like his performance last year - after a few late weeks of spring training and another 5 weeks at the beginning of the season. It will take him a while to get going again, during which time we'll see a few wonderful moments but not at every second AB.

I was at Camelback Ranch when Manny made his first appearances. Firest game - nothing, like during his recent minor league outings. Second game - second pitch, a fabulous home run. Then there was nothing much else aside from a few singles until after the end of spring training. I think it will be something like that for a while.

[bhsportsguy]

@berkowitz - the only thing I wonder about is that how much did this situation affect Manny during those few weeks he knew about it prior to the suspension?

Maybe it did, maybe it didn't.

Also, you wonder if pitchers will now think he is vulnerable and pitch to him like they did last year when he first came over.

[Jon Weisman]

I have done some comment moderation.

[Jon Weisman]

Schmidt gave up an RBI double in the third. Through three innnings: three hits, one run, no walks. two strikeouts, 41 pitches.

[Craig88USC]

Thankyou.

[berkowit28]

"Also, you wonder if pitchers will now think he is vulnerable and pitch to him like they did last year when he first came over."

Now that's a possibility. They may pester him to see if they can get away with it. That may raise his ire, and look out.

[nsxtasy]

I hate the idea of risking losing Mitch Jones to another team - not just because he finally got a shot at the bigs, but also because he's been doing well at the limited chance he's had with the Dodgers.

I realize they are about to get a fourth outfielder for the bench - Juan Pierre - but still...

[Craig88USC]

Big time pitching, Adam!

[Alex41592]

Wainwright got out of that jam cheaply enough. Bases loaded and nobody out. They only get one.

Tied at one with Pujols due up second in the bottom of the eighth.

[regfairfield]

The odds of losing Mitch Jones to another team are somewhere around the odds of me being named Worlds Greatest Sex Machine.

[Alex41592]

Adrian Gonzalez is back in the Padres lineup tonight after straining his right knee. Newsworthy since the Dodgers will be in San Diego this weekend.

[Craig88USC]

The 3rd Molina loads the bases.

Here we go, Cards!

[Alex41592]

Wow, Renteria has a Molina running to first and he goes to second which was not in time.

[Craig88USC]

C'mon Joe Thurston -

Help us out, my old friend.

[Craig88USC]

He's hanging around...

[Jon Weisman]

Schmidt through five:

Seven hits, four runs, no walks, three strikeouts, 69 pitches.

[Jon Weisman]

Schmidt through five:

Seven hits, four runs, no walks, three strikeouts, 69 pitches.

[Craig88USC]

Swung and a miss...at ball 3 in the dirt.

1-1 on to the 9th. Good game.

[oshea2002]

Wow the Cardinals are bad offensively. As my buddy (die hard Cards fan) said - they really need to shift their focus to guys who play one position well and away from guys who can play 4 positions really poorly.

[Remember Gil Hodges]

Thanks for nothing, Thurston!

[Craig88USC]

lol

[Alex41592]

Joe Thurston is the Cardinals starting third baseman. He's started 41 games for the Cardinals this season at the hot corner. His numbers are not pretty plus he has seven errors.

[Alex41592]

That's where the Mark DeRosa trade makes a lot of sense for the Cardinals but he strained his wrist and will be out a few days.

[nsxtasy]

> Schmidt through five:
>
> Seven hits, four runs, no walks, three strikeouts, 69 pitches.

Doesn't exactly inspire confidence in the prospect of bringing him up. Especially with so many other possible options for the fifth starter - Milton, Stults, McDonald, Weaver, Vargas.

Funny, I could swear the same possibilities were being discussed before the start of the season...

[Alex41592]

What a performance by Wainwright.

[Craig88USC]

Adam Wainwright - Competed 9 innings with 12 K's (Curve City)

Now get him a run, a win & a Giant step backwards. : )

[Craig88USC]

Did that make sense?

[oshea2002]

Colin Cowherd is a real blowhard, but I agree with his sentiment that StL could be dangerous in October with Carpenter and Wainwright. But they'll never get there with this offense.

[Craig88USC]

Rooting for the Cards sans Albert at bat is kinda rough.

[Craig88USC]

Makes one appreciate this year's Dodger team all the more.

[Alex41592]

It would be in the Giants best interest to not give Pujols anything to hit.

[Dave60]

Schmidt's night is done, with Maza pinch-hitting for him with a chance to tie the game with a single. 6IP, 7H, 4ER, 0BB, 5K. I like the 0BB.

[Craig88USC]

Kung Fu Panda lines out...

on to Albert Pujols for the win in the 10th. (unless they walk him with no one on ala Barry)

[louisinsf]

I like some here wanted to see Mitch Jones stay on the Dodger bench since he did offer some real power potential off the bench. Unfortunately it is a numbers game and hopefully he makes it through waivers and is willing to go back to Albq.

As far as the pitching goes I was hoping to see Milton, Vargas, Schmidt, and Stultz work in some rotating 5th starter spot in the month of July and whoever did the best would get the start for the remainder of the season and the second best would be in the bullpen and the third would be released to clear a spot or traded for future prospects.

I do think it is critical that whoever the 5th starter is they are the pitcher who is best suited to give us the most innings.

[Dave60]

Or perhaps Maza can do better than a single. His grandslam gives Albuquerque a 7-4 lead, with Schmidt in line for the win.

[Alex41592]

The Pandaman can't.

[underdog]

As much as I like and root for Mitch Jones I still didn't see anything that makes me think he can now hit a major league breaking pitch. But he had some good at bats and seems to deserve another chance. It does seem like they'll need another position player for the bench at least.

Schmidt's line seems fairly decent -- not as incredible as the last one but solid for PCL. 6 ip, the Ks vs no walks, not too bad. I really wonder what his velocity is and how close he might be to returning.

[Craig88USC]

YES HOME RUN

CARDS WIN

[Blue Gal]

Rasmus is my hero! Gnats Fall!

[Alex41592]

Giants LOSE!!!!!!!

Sandoval's error gives Rasmus another chance and he sends everybody home.

7 game lead.

[Michael]

Rasmus walks off. Giants 7 back.

[underdog]

Hee hee. Bless that Rasmus. And thank you Howry.

Giants fail.

Indian take-out food arrived right at that moment, too. Just a good minute all around!

[Craig88USC]

NL Standings (after SF loses to Cards 2-1 in a walk off!)

LA 50-29 (Can Manny improve on that right away? Some say no. We shall see, won't we?)

SanFrisco 42-35 . 7
Milwaukee. 42-36 .7 1/2
Colorado..... 41-37. 8 1/2
Saint Louis . 42-38 . 8 1/2
Philadelphia .39-36 . 9 GB

[El Lay Dave]

I will assume Vargas is activated, and I can understand the need to see him at the major-league level before deciding to fish or cut bait with him and his major-league contract. Presumably Colletti's scouts saw enough from Vargas at AAA that they think he could be useful on the big club. (Of course, some scout[s] thought that about Esteban Loaiza also.)

What I don't understand is why the Dodgers would go with a 13-man pitching staff at this moment. They have the day off tomorrow and another off day that keeps them from needing a fifth starter until July 11, which is the penultimate game prior to the All-Star break. Some one is likely to get pretty rusty in that crowded bullpen.

The problem is there is no pitcher that is an obvious candidate to move off the 25-man. Given that, I'd strongly consider optioning McDonald to AAA for regular and regulated work to keep him sharp and keep another position player on the bench. Either keep Ellis (already optioned), or recall Hoffmann or DeWitt. Neither is exactly lighting up AAA at the moment, but they can field and DeWitt is some sort of LH alternative on the bench. Too bad XPaul isn't healthy.

Or maybe I'm making too much of what is only a nine-game period before the AS break, when there might be more roster moves.

[Bob Hendley]

Mitch's first PA was one of the special moments this season. Wish him well and glad he was a part of this.

[Daniel Zappala]

Well, Mitch Jones got his cup of coffee. I'm really happy for him. Next goal: a fourth- our fifth-outfielder spot on a roster.

[Michael Tinkler]

In the 50 year ago (to the day) newspaper sports page Jon posted earlier a woman tennis player is referred to as "pretty" followed by her name and Sad Sam Jones the then SF pitcher is referred to as "Negro" followed by his name.

Yorvit Torrealba's son was kidnapped in Venezuela about a month ago. The child was recovered, Torrealba is ready to play, the Rockies had to cut a catcher. Phillips, out of options was DFAed. He, unlike Jones might be claimed by another team since he played well for the Rockies.

Hammel won 5 decisions in a row before today and had a 3.41 ERA in June in 5 starts thus his pitching well against the Dodgers is not so surprising as some comments today implied

`

[Craig88USC]

Torre (talking in Tracy speak form) on ESPN after Giants/Cards game -

"What will we see from Manny this friday? I don't know but Manny can hit. I know that he'll be formidable and scare the pitchers." (or pitcher? I couldn't tell which Joe said)

-Good enough for me because I think that if you "scare" - as Torre put it- the pitcher you will win many many battles at the plate. Watch and as my friend Berkowit28 said above - "...and look out"

[gagne55]

Were any of the hits Schmidt allowed homeruns?

[gagne55]

Cause if not, then that start is actually pretty encouraging even with 4ER. The control and the K's are there.

[Craig88USC]

Hammel did a fine job today (as well as all last month) and I for one feel fortunate that the Dodgers got that 1 run to beat him. The Rockies are for real. They're the w.c. in my mind.

Thanks for the GREAT NEWS about Yorvit's son. : )

[EMDarrow]

Tony Abreu just homered in the topes game, now 9-5 Albuquerque.

[miketink]

Schmidt gave up 5 singles and 2 doubles in 6 innings but of the 3 singles and 1 of the doubles were in the 5th inning. The 6th was 1-2-3.

I had no idea Ryan Franklin was having such a great season for STL.
Tony Abreu just hit his 1st Isotope HR.

[EMDarrow]

>> Were any of the hits Schmidt allowed homeruns? <<

Nope.

[underdog]

Tony... Abreu... The name rings a bell...

;-)

Man, if he could prove he could actually stay healthy for awhile he'd be worth a bench spot. He'd impressed me as a hitter but seems jinxed when it comes to health.

[Craig88USC]

'09 NL LEADERS

Run Diff's -

LA +84 !!!

Col ... +31
SF ..... +25
Phil .... +12
Milw ...... +9
St. Louis +8

Is this good enough ??? : )

[Neuroboy]

The AL East is really impressive when looking at run differential.

[TheRealPaul]

Jon, Hamels is not "ace" this year. Even before today Hamels was found on the waiver-wire/free-agent-pool in various and sundry Yahoo fantasy leagues. Coming into today Hamels was at 4.44 with a 1.41 WHIP. To that add 81 IP in 14 GS [that's less than 6 IP per game]. Hardly the line of the "ace". So his failing again today doesn't prove what you might desire his failing to prove. And he might never be "ace" again, as he might be going the Kazmir route, as in, his elbow can't handle the normal routine and so he adjusts routine and becomes just another pitcher.

[Bob Hendley]

Mitch can tell his grandkids, "Yep, when I finally made it to the Bigs, the only reason I was send down was to make room for one of the greatest hitters in baseball history" Meanwhile, AJ's grandkids will have to figure out just who the heck is Claudio Vargas.