LOS ANGELES DODGERS CLIPS
TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012
Dodgers.com
Dodgers reward new owners with home win
By Quinn Roberts / MLB.com | 5/8/2012 3:01 AM ET
LOS ANGELES -- On a night full of buzz as the Dodgers played their first home game under Guggenheim Baseball
Management, the new owners got to see just how well the team is playing this season.
Behind six strong innings from starter Ted Lilly and an offense that plated nine runs, tying a season high, the Dodgers got
a 9-1 win over the rival Giants on Monday at Dodger Stadium.
"The fans were excited," Matt Kemp said. "We talked in the clubhouse about how crowded it was for a Monday night
game. It really was great to see."
Los Angeles won its fourth consecutive game at Chavez Ravine and improved its Major League-best home record to 112.
"You felt it. The energy was big, especially when you hear Magic Johnson's name announced," Lilly said. "A lot of happy
people in L.A. right now."
With the score tied at 1 in the sixth, a single by Bobby Abreu and a walk by Juan Uribe put runners on first and second
with one out. A.J. Ellis then doubled down the right-field line, scoring Abreu.
Still not done, a safety squeeze by pinch-hitter Tony Gwynn scored Uribe after a throw to first by Giants third baseman
Conor Gillaspie pulled Buster Posey off first base, giving the Dodgers a 3-1 lead.
Getting an insurance run in the seventh, Kemp doubled before a fielder's choice by Juan Rivera and an error by Giants
reliever Steve Edlefsen on a throw to third plated Kemp.
Kemp reached base in all four of his plate appearances, going 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Raising his batting
average up to .406, Kemp also continued his domination against Giants starter Barry Zito, picking up a pair of hits to
raise his career batting average to .449 vs. the lefty.
The Dodgers scored five more in the eighth, highlighted by Andre Ethier's two-run single to hike his league-leading RBI
total to 30.
The eight-run win was the team's largest margin of victory since beating Pittsburgh 15-1 on Sept. 18 of last season.
"It was all different guys tonight," manager Don Mattingly said. "It seemed like a game where we got breaks and instead
of getting one run, we got a bunch. Up and down the lineup, everyone hit well."
Yet before the five-run eighth, birthday boy James Loney made a diving grab at first base in the top half of the inning
with runners on second and third to stop the possibility of a Giants rally in a tight three-run ballgame at the time.
"He made a great play there," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "If that ball gets away, it's two runs in and the tying run
on second. It turned the whole game around. Our wheels just came off. It's happened a few times."
Removed in his last start due to stiffness in his right side, Lilly showed no signs of the injury, surrendering just one run on
four hits for the win. He improved to 4-0 with a 1.41 ERA.
Lilly also tied his career-long winning streak at seven games and has gone 7-0 with a 1.03 ERA in his last eight starts.
"Lilly just seemed sharper coming into spring and it has really shown so far this season," Mattingly said. "His ball was
down and had finish tonight. His breaking stuff was also better."
Cruising through the first two innings, Lilly got out of a jam in the third with runners on the corners, when Melky Cabrera
grounded out to second base to end the threat.
"I was able to get the changeup over for strikes when I needed to, and that really was the difference tonight," said Lilly.
The Dodgers put a run on the board in the bottom half of the inning, when Rivera hit a fielder's choice to second base,
scoring Mark Ellis from third after he doubled earlier in the inning.
The Giants got a runner into scoring position against Lilly in the fifth when Dee Gordon misplayed a grounder to
shortstop and had an errant throw to the left of first base that put Angel Pagan on second with two outs. But the lefthander got Ryan Theriot to fly out to right field.
Another error by Kemp on a soft fly ball hit by Cabrera to begin the sixth put him on second with no outs. After a wild
pitch by Lilly moved Cabrera up to third, a single by Joaquin Arias tied the score at 1.
Kemp, who is continuing to deal with a tight left hamstring, was replaced in center field by Gwynn to begin the eighth
inning. After the game, Mattingly said Kemp was feeling fine and that he took him out as a precaution.
"It's a win, but it's early. It's a great rivalry with the Giants," Mattingly said. "We had a trip that we should have done
better, and coming home, we got on the right foot forward coming out of the gate."
Kershaw out to keep dominating Giants
By AJ Cassavell / Special to MLB.com | 5/8/2012 1:58 AM ET
In the last year, Clayton Kershaw has been just as dominant against the division-rival Giants as he has been at home in
Dodger Stadium.
The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner gets the best of both worlds when the Dodgers and Giants square
off in the second of three at Chavez Ravine on Tuesday night.
Opposed by Giants righty Ryan Vogelsong, Kershaw is looking to extend his home unbeaten streak of 12 straight
decisions, which already spans more than a year. His last loss there came April 16, 2011, against the Cardinals.
"It is a good place to pitch, probably the best. I don't take that for granted," Kershaw said after his last home start.
Kershaw is 6-1 with a 1.25 ERA in 11 career starts against the Giants. Last season alone, he went 5-0 with a 1.07 ERA.
But he's coming off a shaky outing against the Rockies in Colorado in which he surrendered three home runs for the first
time in his career. He allowed five runs, something Vogelsong has yet to do this season.
But Vogelsong has run into a bit of tough luck so far. He has pitched at least six innings in all four of his starts, three of
them quality, but he only has a pair of losses to show for it.
Vogelsong has made four appearances -- only one a start -- at Dodger Stadium, where he sports a 6.52 ERA.
He'll have to deal with early MVP candidate Matt Kemp, who has been as good at the plate against the Giants as
Kershaw has been on the mound. Last season he batted .469 with 12 runs, four homers and nine RBIs in nine games
against the Giants at Dodger Stadium. He went 3-for-3 in Monday's 9-1 Dodgers victory.
Giants: Mota suspended
Giants reliever Guillermo Mota tested positive for clenbuterol, a performance-enhancing substance, and was suspended
for 100 games. He was in violation of MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. According to various reports,
Mota plans on appealing the suspension.
In a statement, the Giants announced: "The Giants are disappointed to learn of Guillermo Mota's suspension. We
support Major League Baseball's Drug Prevention and Treatment Program."
For now, the club will carry 11 pitchers.
• Aubrey Huff was activated from the 15-day disabled list Monday. Huff, who was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder,
said visits to a mental therapist helped him regain a sense of well-being.
• An 0-for-5 night Monday snapped Angel Pagan's 20-game hitting streak. During that stretch, he hit .315 with four
homers.
Dodgers: Jansen replaces Guerra as closer
Manager Don Mattingly announced Monday that Javy Guerra is no longer the Dodgers' closer following his third blown
save of the season Sunday in Chicago. Guerra is 1-3 with a 5.84 ERA so far this season, converting saves in eight of his 11
opportunities.
"I had a conversation with Javy today and I think he realized it was coming. He was very understanding," Mattingly said.
"I said all along that I didn't want to do this and it is one of those things where I don't want to be hardheaded either. It is
the games making the decision for me."
Righty Kenley Jansen, who is 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA, takes over for Guerra. He didn't get the chance for a save Monday, as
the Dodgers added five insurance runs in the eighth.
• Tuesday marks the second game at Dodger Stadium since the Guggenheim Baseball Management group took control
of the team from Frank McCourt.
• The newest Dodger, outfielder Bobby Abreu, wore No. 23 Monday instead of the No. 33 that he wore in his first three
games with the club. He'll continue to wear No. 23 going forward.
Worth noting
• Both Buster Posey and Melky Cabrera are hitting above .400 against lefties this season. When facing the southpaw
Kershaw, however, Posey has just two singles in 18 at-bats and Cabrera is hitless in two.
• The Dodgers' 11-2 mark at home is the best in baseball.
Guerra out as Dodgers' closer
By Quinn Roberts / MLB.com | 05/08/12 1:18 AM ET
LOS ANGELES -- Getting to the ballpark early before Monday's series opener against the Giants, Javy Guerra almost knew
the decision was coming.
So when manager Don Mattingly came to him before the game, Guerra wasn't surprised when Mattingly told him that at
this point in the season he'd no longer be the Dodgers' closer.
"I had a conversation with Javy today and I think he realized it was coming. He was very understanding," Mattingly said.
"I said all along that I didn't want to do this and it is one of those things where I don't want to be hardheaded either. It is
the games making the decision for me."
The deal breaker came Sunday against the Cubs when Guerra blew his third save of the season. He couldn't protect a
one-run lead in the ninth, walking David DeJesus before allowing a game-tying double to Tony Campana in a game the
Dodgers lost, 4-3, in 11 innings.
Guerra has three losses to go with three blown saves on the season. Overall, he's 1-3 with a 5.84 ERA and has converted
eight of 11 saves this year.
"I was hoping his save in Colorado would build that confidence, but it has been too much and the uncertainty tells me I
have to make that move," said Mattingly.
Guerra will now work out of the bullpen with no defined role, while Kenley Jansen will assume the position of closer.
Jansen is 2-0 on the season with two saves and a 2.70 ERA. He's also tied for first in the Majors with 16 appearances.
"It is different being in during the ninth inning, but I just have to attack the hitters and not give the other team any
chances," said Jansen.
It is Mattingly's hope that Guerra's new role will allow him to get back into form and return him to the pitcher that
rattled off five straight saves to begin the season.
"More than anything, these guys want to win," Mattingly said. "Javy isn't wanting to not get guys out. In the end, I think
he just wants to do what is best for the team, understanding he hasn't been getting guys out at the end of the games."
Kemp, Uribe back in Dodgers' starting lineup
LOS ANGELES -- While the Dodgers left Chicago uncertain about the health of a trio of players, the team received good
news when it returned home Monday to open a three-game set against the Giants.
Jerry Hairston, who strained his left hamstring while running out an infield single in the second inning of Sunday's game
against the Cubs, felt much better a day later.
"He is a lot better then we thought he would be," manager Don Mattingly said. "So we are kind of going to bite the
bullet for a day or so and see where we are at."
What eases Mattingly's mind about Hairston is knowing that Juan Uribe can make starts as Hairston sits out a few days.
Uribe, who sat out the Dodgers' last five games with a sore left wrist, was penciled in at third base for Monday's game.
He's still expected to get a precautionary MRI in the coming days.
"He got a shot in Colorado that really helped," Mattingly said. "He is getting relief and feeling much better. He's ready to
roll."
Matt Kemp was also back in the starting lineup to extend his consecutive-games-played streak to 394. Scratched from
Sunday's starting lineup with a tight left hamstring, Kemp completed a battery of tests before the game and didn't feel
any tightness.
"He is 100 percent and ready to play," said Mattingly.
Dodgers' new owners celebrate first home game
LOS ANGELES -- A noticeable buzz could be felt throughout Dodger Stadium on Monday night as the Dodgers played
their first home game under Guggenheim Baseball Management, defeating the Giants, 9-1.
Television cameras lined the third-base foul line before the game, photographers snapped shots of the day's events and
fans cheered as they filtered in to watch the Dodgers take on the Giants in the series opener.
To mark the special occasion, Magic Johnson, one of the team's new owners, escorted Rachel Robinson and Don
Newcombe to the mound to throw out the celebratory first pitch.
Robinson, the widow of Dodgers Hall of Famer and civil-rights pioneer Jackie Robinson, and Newcombe, the Dodgers
legend, signified a fresh start for a Dodgers franchise previously under the ownership of Frank McCourt from 2004-2012.
"It is a special day and the pregame ceremony is pretty cool," manager Don Mattingly said. "Guys are excited. It is an
exciting time for us."
Honorary Bat Girl to be recognized Sunday
LOS ANGELES -- Major League Baseball announced the 30 winners of the Honorary Bat Girl program Monday, with the
Dodgers' recipient being Lisa Nevolo-Lewis.
The program recognizes baseball fans who have been affected by breast cancer and demonstrate a commitment of
"Going to Bat" in the fight against the disease.
Nevolo-Lewis will be recognized on Mother's Day before the start of the Dodgers' game against the Rockies.
During MLB's annual Mother's Day national day of recognition, the Honorary Bat Girl will take part in pregame activities,
be honored during an on-field ceremony and receive pink MLB merchandise, along with two tickets to the game.
Nine-time Grammy award winner Bonnie Raitt, who lost her brother and close friends to cancer, recorded a special
video at the MLB Fan Cave to lend her support to the Honorary Bat Girl initiative and the ongoing fight to eradicate the
disease.
Also on Mother's Day, hundreds of MLB players will use pink bats by Louisville Slugger, stamped with the MLB breast
cancer awareness logo. Players and on-field personnel will also wear the symbolic pink ribbon on their uniforms along
with pink wristbands. Commemorative dugout lineup cards also will be pink.
Dodgers' CFO Wilhelm steps down
By Ken Gurnick
LOS ANGELES -- Peter Wilhelm, chief financial officer of the Dodgers during much of Frank McCourt's tenure as owner,
submitted his resignation Monday to the new ownership group of Guggenheim Baseball Management.
Wilhelm, in an email to employees, said the new ownership will usher in another great era of Dodgers baseball.
"I hope for each of you, the community, and the worldwide fan base that 2012 is a year when everyone again comes to
know the true organization, not the media depiction, with a championship both on and off the field," Wilhelm wrote.
Wilhelm was in his sixth season as CFO and previously worked for the McCourt Group.
L.A. Times
There's a lot of Magic in Dodgers' 9-1 victory over Giants
The crowd chants Magic Johnson's name on a night when the new ownership group is out in force.
By Dylan Hernandez
May 7, 2012, 11:22 p.m.
When Magic Johnson's face appeared on Dodger Stadium's video scoreboard before the eighth inning of the Dodgers' 91 victory over the San Francisco Giants, the announced crowd of 43,713 stood and cheered.
Johnson rose from his seat in the owner's box, turned around and saluted the fans.
The crowd cheered: “Ma-gic! Ma-gic!”
With the Dodgers playing their first home game under new ownership, Monday felt like a scaled-down version of
opening day.
“We definitely felt it,” starter Ted Lilly said. “I definitely thought the stadium had quite a lot of energy.”
Matt Kemp returned from a tight hamstring that kept him out of the lineup the previous day, played seven innings and
reached base four times.
Lilly held the Giants to a run and four hits over six innings to improve to 4-0. Andre Ethier and Juan Rivera each drove in
two runs.
The Dodgers improved to 11-2 at Dodger Stadium, the best home record in the major leagues. They ran their overall
record to 19-10, tops in the National League.
The Giants fell to 14-15, five games back of the Dodgers in the NL West.
What started as a pitchers' duel between Lilly and Barry Zito (1-1) turned into a blowout as the Dodgers scored eighth
runs from the sixth inning to the eighth.
The Dodgers struck the death blow in a five-run eighth inning, which was highlighted by a two-run single by Ethier.
The runs batted in were the 29th and 30th for Ethier, who leads the majors in that category.
The Dodgers took their first lead in the third inning, when Zito elected to intentionally walk Kemp with Mark Ellis on
second base and first base open. Zito followed that walk with another, this one unintentional to Ethier.
Ellis scored on a groundout by Rivera.
Kemp appeared to be hindered by his hamstring in the sixth inning, when he misplayed a single by Melky Cabrera.
Three batters later, Joaquin Arias singled to drive in Cabrera and tie the score, 1-1.
The Dodgers broke the stalemate in the bottom half of the inning. A.J. Ellis drove in newcomer Bobby Abreu from
second base on a double.
Pinch-hitter Tony Gwynn Jr.'s bunt single pushed home Juan Uribe and the Dodgers were up, 3-1.
The inning was the last pitched by Zito, who was charged with three runs and eight hits in six innings. Zito fell to 1-1.
Kemp led off the seventh inning with his third hit of the game, a double to right field. Rivera hit a grounder at reliever
Steve Edlefsen, who tried to throw out Kemp at third base but threw the ball away.
Kemp scored. When he was removed for precautionary reasons in the eighth inning as part of a defensive double switch,
he was batting .406.
For Lilly, his 4-0 start is the first of his career. The left-hander's 1.41 earned-run average ranks fourth in the NL.
The video of this game probably won't end up in the Guggenheim Museum because the Dodgers and Giants each made
three errors.
Stan Kasten walks the walk and talks the talk at Dodger Stadium
The energetic new team president meets with fans and chats with employees at Dodgers' first home game under new
owners. Nothing is too minor: he hears about bathrooms and checks on concession lines.
By Steve Dilbeck
May 7, 2012, 10:10 p.m.
This is how all new beginnings should be. All energy and smiles and positive vibes.
Stan Kasten is on the move and taking it all in. He's greeting season-ticket holders as they enter the stadium. He's
meeting with ushers, security personnel and ticket takers.
He's walking the loge, the reserved and the field levels. He's talking to fans and ushers and complete strangers, and
welcoming them all to Dodger Stadium.
An attractive woman walks up and hugs the new team president.
"I love you Stan," she says.
Later he jokes, "It gets old."
Back in the owner's box next to the Dodgers dugout Monday sit the other five new owners, all taking in their first home
game as the latest leaders of the franchise. Not Kasten. He struggles to keep still for long. And not because he's trying to
channel his inner Jerry West.
"I just like moving around," he says. "I don't like sitting. It's not nervous energy. It's exuberance."
The Guggenheim Baseball Management group has owned the team for a week, and already many recognize him. They
stop him on the concourse. They call out his name as he passes by. Some stare, some yell "thanks."
"Teenagers even know who I am," he says. "Why is that? They must read The Times' Dodgers blog."
Kasten said this walking and moving and greeting is not some new thing, not something he's only doing Monday, but the
way he's been his entire professional life. One that's seen him as president of the Atlanta Braves, NBA's Atlanta Hawks
and NHL's Atlanta Thrashers, and the Washington Nationals.
"My wife has been sitting next to an empty seat for 27 years," Kasten says.
Before the game, he stops to greet fans as they enter the stadium. He doesn't like that there are TV cameras there
because it looks like a photo op.
He shakes hands, receives hugs, signs baseballs, poses for photos and meets Deuce, the young fan once prominent
dancing on the video board during the eighth-inning playing of "Don't Stop Believing."
Kasten meets a Marine in uniform and thanks him for his service. He seeks out an elderly woman in a wheelchair to
shake her hand. He signs a baseball for a middle-aged man and tells him, "You should wait awhile and get an autograph
from a real player."
And the fan replies: "I'm getting one from a real owner."
Kasten smiles. He's done a lot of things during his career leading sports teams, but this is the first time he's ever been an
owner.
"You got me there," he tells the fan.
Later in separate meetings, he talks to ushers, security and ticketing personnel.
"I need to talk to all of them," he says. "I just want them to know I care."
Kasten tells the ushers if they have a fan or a family with a question or wants to meet him, just stop him when they see
him walking by. Sure enough, while he walks the concourse of the reserved level, two do.
He meets Vern and Leanna Chesterston, who tell him they were at the first Dodgers' game at the Coliseum. He shakes
their hands and tells them how happy he is to meet them. Sherri Hoffman and Bill Whipple tell him they're the only
couple to be married at home plate.
"You have to do something about the bathrooms," Hoffman says.
"You're absolutely right," Kasten says.
Kasten is a bald, 60-year-old with the energy of a child. He talks fast, moves fast, maybe somehow listens fast.
He looks at the concession lines, only about eight deep with room to walk the concourse, and is happy.
"Much better," he says. "That's acceptable."
He says normally he might spend an inning with General Manager Ned Colletti, an inning with his wife in the stadium
club, stop by the press box, maybe spend the last three innings in the clubhouse.
"I don't have a route," he says. "I look for different things."
Then he excuses himself. Kasten is back on the move.
Jackie Robinson's widow 'thrilled' Dodgers' McCourt era is over
Rachel Robinson is on hand for the first home game under new ownership. Kasten says he regrets new owners left wrong
'impression' last week about McCourt's sharing in portion of property revenue.
By Bill Shaikin and Steve Dilbeck
May 7, 2012, 9:25 p.m.
As the Dodgers celebrated their first home game under new ownership Monday, the widow of perhaps the most
memorable player in franchise history said she was "thrilled" the Frank McCourt era had ended.
Rachel Robinson, the widow of Jackie Robinson, joined Hall of Famer Don Newcombe and new Dodgers part owner
Magic Johnson for the ceremonial first pitch. Johnson later yelled to the crowd, "It's time for Dodger baseball!"
Rachel Robinson turns 90 in July. She lives in New York and oversees the Jackie Robinson Foundation, which is expected
to form a partnership with the new Dodgers ownership.
"First of all, I'm thrilled with the fact we have new ownership and we have a chance to revitalize the franchise in terms
of the organization, the team, the fans," she said. "I'm just thrilled about that. I've been very unhappy with the fact that
we were in so much trouble."
She said the unhappiness extended beyond the Dodgers' bankruptcy filing last year.
"The McCourt era," she said, "I could tell things were declining and not in the tradition of the Dodgers."
Before the game, Dodgers President Stan Kasten, General Manager Ned Colletti and part owner Peter Guber met with
reporters and editors from The Times.
Neither Johnson nor Mark Walter, the Dodgers' chairman, attended the meeting as promised. That left Kasten to answer
for the comments Johnson and Walter made at last week's news conference, when they pointedly said McCourt would
make no money from the Dodgers beyond any future development of the stadium property.
"I regret we left that impression," Kasten said.
In fact, as documents obtained by The Times on Friday show, McCourt remains half-owner of the property, which the
Dodgers pay $14 million per year to lease. Walter acknowledged Friday that McCourt would share in some portion of
that revenue. Kasten conceded that point should not have been obscured in the effort of the new owners to distance
themselves from McCourt.
"In retrospect, I can't disagree," Kasten said.
Walter met briefly before Monday's game with Nez Balelo, the agent for outfielder Andre Ethier.
Ethier can file for free agency this fall, but Colletti said he has had several conversations with Kasten about the possibility
of signing the outfielder to a contract extension.
Colletti also said he does not plan to approach pitcher Clayton Kershaw about a long-term contract before the winter.
"Nothing will happen with us and Clayton this season," Colletti said.
The Dodgers are in first place. However, Kasten said the concept that the new owners could make a statement by
boosting the player payroll to trade for veteran reinforcements was simplistic.
"We don't have the warehouse of prospects we wish we had," Kasten said. "In the middle of the year, that's the
currency that is most important."
The guaranteed portion of Colletti's contract expires at the end of this season. Kasten, asked whether Colletti's inclusion
in the media meeting indicated the Dodgers would keep him beyond this season, said he never would discuss the length
of a general manager's contract.
"I think you should regard Ned as permanent," Kasten said. "That would be the case whether he's here for 20 years or a
much shorter period."
Kenley Jansen replaces Javy Guerra as Dodgers closer
Manager Don Mattingly removes Guerra from ninth-inning role after a stretch of five appearances in which he went 0-2
with two blown saves. He promotes Jansen, who has 27 strikeouts in 162/3 innings.
By Dylan Hernandez
May 7, 2012, 9:32 p.m.
On the day the Dodgers played their first home game under new ownership, there were changes beyond the owner's
box.
Kenley Jansen was the team's new closer, replacing the slumping Javy Guerra.
Manager Don Mattingly informed Guerra of his decision Monday.
"I said all along I didn't want to do this," Mattingly said. "It's the games making the decision. I don't really have to make
it. It's making it for me."
Guerra started this season the way he finished the last, converting seven of his first eight save opportunities and posting
a 2.16 earned-run average. But his command deserted him in his last five appearances leading into Monday, as he was
0-2 with two blown saves and a 13.50 ERA in that span.
His most recent blown save came Sunday in the ninth inning of a 4-3, 11-inning loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Asked if he hesitated making the switch, Mattingly said, "Not really. Not after yesterday."
Jansen, who was previously in a setup role, went into Monday 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA and two saves in 16 appearances. He
had 27 strikeouts in 162/3 innings, an average of 14.6 per nine innings. Last season, he averaged a major league-record
16.1 strikeouts per nine innings.
"I think I've known all along what everybody else knows. Kenley, with the strikeouts, profiles more as that guy,"
Mattingly said.
Guerra was understanding of the decision.
"Right now, we need to win ballgames," he said. "That's the key."
Guerra said he accepted blame for "five or six" of the Dodgers' losses.
"We really could have been running away with the division," he said. "I can't blame anyone. I'll own up to it."
Still, Guerra admitted he was annoyed when he logged into his Twitter account Sunday and read disparaging remarks
from fans. He posted a message on the social networking site that started, "Haters will always hate," and went on to say
he still believed in himself.
"It might have been silly for me to say, but, at the same time, I'm still human," Guerra said.
Guerra said he will not change his entrance song at Dodger Stadium, "La Negra" by Mariachi Vargas of Mexico.
"I'm not superstitious," he said. "I'm not getting hit because of my song."
Guerra acknowledged this was one of the more trying times of his career, comparing it to when he returned from
reconstructive elbow surgery as a minor leaguer.
"It seems every time I make a bad pitch, it's getting hit," he said. "That's part of the game. The game is very humbling.
Last year, I got away with more mistakes maybe."
Jansen downplayed his promotion.
"Whatever's best for the team," he said.
Waiting on Hairston
The Dodgers' medical staff was encouraged enough by Jerry Hairston Jr.'s progress that they didn't place the veteran
utilityman on the disabled list Monday. Hairston strained his left hamstring the previous day in Chicago.
"He's a lot better than we thought he would be," Mattingly said. "We're going to bite the bullet with Jerry for a day and
see where we're at."
Mattingly said the Dodgers were able to delay a decision on Hairston because Juan Uribe was healthy enough to start at
third base. Uribe has had a sore wrist.
Of Hairston, Mattingly said, "We really don't want to DL him if we don't have to."
Dodgers should not take a chance with Matt Kemp's sore hamstring
By Steve Dilbeck
May 8, 2012, 7:09 a.m.
Caution can be a good thing, a smart thing. It certainly is called for at times during the course of a 162-game season.
The Dodgers have the best player in baseball in Matt Kemp. He still leads the majors in batting average (.406) and home
runs (12), and is third in RBI (27). He’s so good, the Dodgers cannot afford to lose him for any length of time.
So why risk more serious injury by continuing to play him with a clearly sore hamstring? Why not sit him for the next two
days – the Dodgers are off Thursday – to give his hamstring three solid days to heal?
Does anyone think Kemp’s hamstring is all that healthy?
“It scares me,” said manager Don Mattingly.
He should be scared. If Kemp really goes down, the Dodgers are toast. Should be scared enough to sit him, really sit him.
Yet Kemp plays on. He sat out Sunday’s game in the cold weather in Chicago, yet later pinch hit. A completely
meaningless pinch hit that the Register’s Howard Cole rightly said was putting Kemp’s consecutive-games streak ahead
of the greater team good.
Why? Kemp’s streak is at 394 games and in the larger picture means relatively little. Apparently, however, it matters to
Kemp, who said Sunday: “It kind of does mean something for me to play every day, but I don't want to do anything
dumb to put my team in a situation where they lose me for a week or two weeks.”
Kemp is all but walking with a limp. In the second inning Monday he ran hard into the gap to chase down a Joaquin Arias
drive, but otherwise seemed to play gingerly.
“I was just being careful,” Kemp said.
Careful would be sitting down and giving the hamstring a real chance to heal.
“He’s a guy who knows his body really well, but I can tell he’s not running like he usually does,” Mattingly said. “I keep
talking to the medical people and they keep telling me he’s OK.”
Kemp went 3-for-3 Monday with a double, so it’s not like he still can’t be productive. But there is definite risk involved,
and Kemp is the one player the Dodgers should not be rolling the dice with. It's neither smart nor cautious.
Reviews in on Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis: `This guy is a winner'
By Steve Dilbeck
May 7, 2012, 1:47 p.m.
It was supposed to be the Dodgers’ great weakness. A humongous hole in their lineup. In the off-season, their limited
resources went to the rotation and role players.
Catching would be left to a 31-year-old career minor leaguer. It almost appeared as if they waved a white flag
offensively from the position, catching close to an off-season afterthought.
OnlyA.J. Ellishas been the great find of the Dodgers’ first month.
Ellis, who toiled for most of the last nine years in the minor leagues, is the classic guy who made hard work and
determination pay off.
He has proved even better than expected behind the plate, in control and growing by the game as a team leader. At the
plate, his .442 on-base percentage is tied for the fifth best in all of baseball. He’s batting .284, fifth best among majorleague catchers.
“He just keeps getting better and better,” said Manager Don Mattingly. “Guys like that, you can’t limit them. This guy is a
winner. He’s just kind of relentless.”
Ellis has reached base in 18 consecutive games and in 21 of his last 22 games.
He has always been a hard worker but knowing he would come to camp for the first time as a starting major-league
catcher, Ellis put in even more time into off-season conditioning. He reshaped his body, dropping he said, about 19
pounds.
If he was finally going to get his opportunity, he would be prepared.
“He’s had to fight all the way through,” Mattingly said. “I saw it right away. I’d be at camp and he’s there at 6 in the
morning, blocking balls, blocking balls, blocking balls. Doing his drills every morning, 45 minutes of it. Then he’d be in the
cage.
“When he got called up and wasn’t playing, he’d hit for like an hour and 20 minutes. He’s worked and worked. Even his
body. Four years ago, he looked a little pudgy, looked a little soft. Now he’s kind of leaned down, he’s strong. He
couldn’t hit the ball out of the ballpark in BP two years ago.”
Ellis has two home runs and 10 RBI while hitting in the eighth spot. Meanwhile, behind the plate he looks comfortable
and in control, like someone who’s been doing this in the majors for a long time.
Ellis credits former Dodger Brad Ausmus for teaching him how to prepare as a catcher and pitching coach Rick Honeycutt
for teaching him how to analyze hitters. Now 28 games into the season, everything seems to be coming together for the
former 18th-round draft pick.
“It’s a good feeling,” Ellis said.
Now some mention him as an All-Star candidate. That’s a longshot, but it still tells you how far he’s come.
“You know what he’s doing for me? He’s grown in that leadership role,” Mattingly said. “All those intangible things we
talk about with him as far as running the game, studying, taking charge of that pitching – he’s getting better and better
at it.
“He’s got a great feel for the game. Whenever anything is going on with me during the game, I know he is right there
with me. He’s thinking right along with me. He knows exactly where he’s at in the game, where he’s at with the hitter.
He’s just prepared. He puts a finger down, he’s not guessing. I know he’s not guessing.”
ESPN.com
Ted Lilly, Dodgers dominate Giants in new regime's home opener
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES -- New Dodgers co-owner Magic Johnson stepped up to a microphone set behind home plate and shouted:
"It's time for Dodger baseball!"
The Dodgers didn't disappoint.
Ted Lilly outpitched Barry Zito through six innings, and Los Angeles beat the error-prone San Francisco Giants 9-1 on
Monday night in the Dodgers' first home game since changing ownership last week.
"It felt great. I think the fans were pretty excited to see Magic and all those guys sit in the owners' seats," said center
fielder Matt Kemp, who caught the ceremonial first pitch from Brooklyn Dodgers great Don Newcombe.
"It was definitely a different atmosphere," Kemp said. "Magic's right by the on-deck circle, so I could probably give him a
high-five whenever I want to."
Lilly (4-0) allowed a run and four hits, walked two, and struck out six. It's the first time the 36-year-old two-time All-Star
has won his first four decisions of a season in a big league career that began in 1999 with the Montreal Expos.
"That's very surprising, because I know he's had some great years in some different places," Kemp said. "He's pitching
really well right now. He's doing a real good job of keeping hitters off balance and making his pitches when he needs to,
so we're just trying to get him as many runs as we can."
First baseman James Loney, 2-for-28 with seven strikeouts against Zito, wasn't in the starting lineup on his 28th
birthday. But he came in for defense in the eighth, replacing Juan Rivera with the Dodgers ahead 4-1, and made a
brilliant diving stop of Hector Sanchez's grounder up the line before tossing to Josh Lindblom at the bag to strand
runners at the corners.
"We had the tying run up there and a pretty good hitter, and he made a great play there," Giants manager Bruce Bochy
said. "If that ball gets by him, two runs are in and the tying run is at second. That turned the whole game around. The
wheels just came off after that."
The Dodgers tacked on five runs in the eighth against an injury-depleted Giants bullpen that was further undermined
Monday by the announcement of Guillermo Mota's 100-game suspension for a second violation of baseball's drug
policy. The rally included a two-run single by Andre Ethier, who leads the NL with 30 RBIs.
Zito (1-1) gave up three runs and eight hits in six innings. The hard-luck left-hander has a 2.21 ERA in six starts, but the
Giants have totaled only five runs over his past three outings.
"I felt pretty good tonight. My fastball command wasn't too great, but everything else was all right," Zito said. "There
was just a lot of weird stuff going on out there tonight -- infield hits, bunts -- and it continued when I came out.
"We're pretty beat up as a team," Zito added. "Obviously, we're sustaining blow after blow right now, and losing Mota
obviously was the latest blow. And it keeps on coming. But it's a good test for us. We just need to have the momentum
start to turn."
Giants leadoff hitter Angel Pagan was 0-for-5 and didn't hit a ball out of the infield, ending his hitting streak at 20 games
and leaving him tied with injured teammate Pablo Sandoval for the longest streak in the majors this season.
Kemp, who won his second Gold Glove last year, committed his first error of the season when he tried to short-hop
Melky Cabrera's leadoff single in the sixth and it got past him. Cabrera advanced on a wild pitch and scored the tying run
on a single by Joaquin Arias, his fifth RBI in 10 games since getting recalled from Triple-A Fresno.
Kemp, who leads the majors with 12 home runs, was not in the starting lineup Sunday because of tight left hamstring -although he pinch-hit to extend his consecutive game streak, which is currently at 394. He had two singles and a walk
against Zito.
"I was just kind of taking it easy in certain situations and not trying to go too hard. I know it sounds bad, but I'm just
trying to be there for my team and help us win some games," said Kemp, who went all out to track down Arias' drive to
the warning track in right-center in the second inning after a long run. "I was just a little scared [to push the hamstring]
because I don't want to feel that thing grab."
Kemp greeted Steve Edlefsen with a double leading off the seventh, and scored when the right-hander knocked down
Rivera's hard comebacker and threw the ball past third base trying to get Kemp. The Giants committed three errors
overall, matching the Dodgers' total. San Francisco has a major league-worst 33 errors.
Game notes
Jackie Robinson's widow, Rachel Robinson, participated in the ceremonial first pitch. ... This was Ned Colletti's 1,000th
regular-season game as Dodgers general manager since taking the job in November 2005. He spent 11 seasons with the
Giants, the last nine as assistant GM. ... Cy Young winners Clayton Kershaw and Tim Lincecum will miss facing each other
by one day because of the way the rotations are lined up. Kershaw pitches Tuesday night against Ryan Vogelsong, and
Lincecum goes Wednesday night against Chad Billingsley. ... Before the game, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly
announced that Kenley Jansen would replace Javy Guerra as his closer.
Dodgers, fans welcome a new era
By Tony Jackson | ESPNLosAngeles.com
There was Mark Walter, the money man. There was Peter Guber, the part-owner of an NBA franchise now dipping his
toes into another sport. There was Stan Kasten, giving interviews and glad-handing and renewing longtime
acquaintances. And there was Magic Johnson, not on the field with most of the other members of Guggenheim Baseball
Management during batting practice but still perfectly visible if you knew where to look, up in the suite-level seats down
the left-field line in front of the Dodgers' offices.
And then, a few minutes before the Los Angeles Dodgers would celebrate their first home game in front of their new
owners with a resounding, 9-1 victory over the archrival San Francisco Giants before 43,713 on Monday night at Dodger
Stadium, there was Magic again, flanked by Rachel Robinson, whom he had personally invited for the occasion, and
Dodgers legend Don Newcombe. The three of them walked together to the mound so Magic could deliver a most
symbolic of ceremonial first pitches, followed by a most symbolic and most enthusiastic announcement over the publicaddress system that it was, indeed, "time for Dodger baseball."
Compare and contrast all of this, if you will, to the past year or so, when the guy who used to own the Dodgers stayed as
hidden from view as he possibly could on his inexorable march out the door. Frank McCourt has passed through that
door now, and he can stay hidden from view forever as far as anyone around here is concerned.
Perhaps the most poignant moment of the evening came in the sixth inning, or maybe it was the seventh or the eighth.
At the end of one of those silly something-cam gags that they show on the video board in left field, which was
accompanied by The Lovin' Spoonful's 1965 hit "Do You Believe in Magic," the camera panned to Johnson himself,
seated in the front row of an owner's box McCourt hadn't really sat in in years, and the old yard immediately went
bonkers.
And Magic, who at 6-feet-8 is hard to miss, stood up, turned around and waved to the entire ballpark. It was a wave that
said hello, but also one that said goodbye, once and for all, to the McCourt era.
After the game, someone asked Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp if he was tempted to walk over and give Magic a
high-five at some point during the game.
"No, but he was right by the on-deck circle," Kemp said. "I could probably give him a high-five whenever I want to."
True. But how many times did we see Kemp, or any other Dodgers player, giving a high-five or so much as
acknowledging McCourt over the years, even back in the days when McCourt would actually sit down there?
"It was nice to hear," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said of the noticeably rejuvenated atmosphere in the ballpark. "It
was definitely positive. It has been positive, really, since the announcement [last Tuesday]. I think the fact Magic was
here tonight, and Mark and all the guys, and seeing Mrs. Robinson, that was a really nice thing.
"It is just a good feeling to kind of know that you're moving forward."
As Mattingly spoke, Kasten, the guy with the baseball background who will run the day-to-day operations of the
franchise, stood in the back of his office, behind the thick flank of reporters and cameras and microphones, and listened.
How many times did McCourt eavesdrop on his manager's postgame news conference in his eight-plus years as the
owner? Honestly, it's tough to recall a single instance.
The game itself wasn't particularly pretty, the two teams combining to commit six errors, throw four wild pitches and
commit a passed ball. But a win is a win, and even before this feel-good storyline took hold, the Dodgers (19-10) were
amassing a surprising number of those this year, to the point they now lead the National League West by a full five
games.
And besides, this one was tight most of the way, right up until the Dodgers blew it open with a five-run eighth, negating
the need to use their newly appointed closer, Kenley Jansen, in the ninth inning. In the end, it was their newly
appointed, eighth-inning setup man, right-hander Josh Lindblom, who summed up the evening perfectly, posting on his
Twitter account about 45 minutes after the end of a game in which he had pitched a scoreless top of the eighth, thanks
to a spectacular defensive play by first baseman James Loney that saved two runs.
That Lindblom tweet read as follows:
"#Dodger Stadium was pure electricity tonight! I had chills when @MagicJohnson said 'It's time for Dodger baseball!'
@Dodgers"
Dodgers fans have been seeking a brighter future for just about as long as anyone around here can remember. That
future has arrived, for better or worse. And the past has once and for all departed, for better or, well, just for better.
Javy Guerra out as Dodgers closer
By Tony Jackson | ESPNLosAngeles.com
LOS ANGELES -- Kenley Jansen will replace Javy Guerra as the Los Angeles Dodgers closer immediately, manager Don
Mattingly announced before Monday night's game with the San Francisco Giants.
The decision by Mattingly comes on the heels of Guerra's third blown save of the season on Sunday against the Chicago
Cubs.
Mattingly informed Guerra of the decision several hours before the game. He later hinted to reporters that Guerra won't
necessarily take over the eighth-inning setup role that Jansen is vacating because he wants to ease Guerra back into
situations in which he can hopefully regain his flagging confidence.
"I have said all along I didn't want to have to do this," Mattingly said. "But really, it's one of those things where I don't
want to be hard-headed, either. ... The game will tell you when to do it. With Javy, the game made the decision. I didn't
have to make it. The game made it for me."
Although Mattingly didn't identify a primary setup man, the most likely candidate for the eighth-inning role probably is
right-hander Josh Lindblom, who arguably has been the Dodgers' best reliever this season, posting a 2.35 ERA in 13
appearances -- his ERA would be even more impressive if not for a lone bad outing in which the Colorado Rockies tagged
him for three runs in two-thirds of an inning.
Jansen has a 2.70 ERA and is averaging 14.6 strikeouts per nine innings after setting a major league record with 16.2 per
nine innings last year, but he also has been inconsistent -- he has two saves and one blown save, and his career ninthinning ERA is 5.59 compared to 0.70 in the eighth -- and he is getting the job on a trial basis.
He is going to get the first shot at it,'' Mattingly said. "Kenley, with all the strikeouts, really profiles more as that guy, but
the ninth inning is a different animal.''
Mattingly also declined to assign a specific role to Guerra, who took over the closer's role midway through last season
and saved 21 games as a rookie.
"I will use Javy all over," Mattingly said. "We're going to try to get (his confidence) back as much as anything else
because he is going to be a valuable guy. We are going to need big outs from all our guys no matter how you define their
roles."
3 up, 3 down: Dodgers 9, Giants 1
By Tony Jackson | ESPNLosAngeles.com
LOS ANGELES -- One day after being limited to pinch-hitting duty by a tight left hamstring, All-Star center fielder Matt
Kemp returned to the starting lineup for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night and played a key role in a 9-1 victory
over the San Francisco Giants before 43,713 at Dodger Stadium.
Kemp went 3-for-3 with an intentional walk, raising his average to a Ted Williams-like .406 before being double-switched
out of the game to begin the eighth inning. Kemp's biggest hit of the evening was a leadoff double in the seventh that
ignited a two-run, tiebreaking rally for the Dodgers, who improved to 19-10 for the season and their lead in the National
League West to five games over the second-place Giants.
The good
Highlight reel. In the game defensively for the first time after pinch hitting in the bottom of the seventh, James Loney
celebrated his 28th birthday by making a truly spectacular and possibly game-saving (we'll never know) play at first base
to end the top of the eighth. Loney went airborne to his left to take a sure double away from Hector Sanchez, then
flipped the ball to Josh Lindblom covering. The play came with the Dodgers leading by three runs, but it also came with
two Giants runners in scoring position, both of whom would have scored easily if the ball had gotten past Loney.
Rachel Robinson. No, Jackie's widow didn't throw out the first pitch, saying that with her 90th birthday looming in a
couple of months, she doesn't do stuff like that anymore. But she did make a symbolic appearance, wearing a Dodgers
jersey with her husband's familiar No. 42, during a pregame ceremony with Magic Johnson. And in a media session
before that, she didn't mince words in expressing her less-than-flattering opinion about the Frank McCourt era.
Hands-off approach. With the game tied, runners on first and second, one out and Tony Gwynn on deck to pinch hit for
Ted Lilly in the sixth, it had to be tempting for manager Don Mattingly to order light-hitting catcher A.J. Ellis to sacrifice
the runners into scoring position. But, wisely as it turned out, Mattingly didn't put the bunt on, and Ellis responded by
nailing the first pitch for a tiebreaking double into the rightfield corner, the key blow in a two-run inning for the Dodgers.
The bad
Loose webbing. Ellis, normally a defensive specialist, committed a passed ball for the third time in his past five starts,
allowing Angel Pagan to advance into scoring position with two outs in the third. Fortunately for Ellis, Pagan was
stranded at third, and none of those three passed balls has led to an unearned run against the Dodgers.
Double loose webbing. With two outs in the fifth, Dee Gordon committed two errors on the same play, bobbling a
ground ball by Pagan and then making an ill-advised throw, way too late to get Pagan at first, that sailed 30 feet to the
outfield side of the bag, allowing Pagan to take second. The Dodgers came close to a third error on the play, first
baseman Juan Rivera running down the ball and then bouncing a throw past Gordon as Pagan slid into second, but
Gordon ran it down quickly enough that Pagan didn't try for third.
Clutchless. The Dodgers went hitless in six at-bats with runners in scoring position through the first three innings, their
lone run coming on a bases-loaded groundout by Rivera that would have been an inning-ending double play if he had hit
it just a little harder. The Dodgers stranded five baserunners through three, four of them in scoring position.
Rachel Robinson criticizes McCourt
By Tony Jackson | ESPNLosAngeles.com
LOS ANGELES -- Rachel Robinson, the widow of arguably the most iconic player in the franchise's history, openly
criticized former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt on Monday night. Robinson, wearing a Dodgers jersey with
Jackie Robinson's universally retired No. 42 and still using the pronoun "we'' when referring to the Dodgers, was at the
ballpark as a guest of new owner Magic Johnson on the occasion of the team's first home game since an investment
group headed by Johnson finalized its purchase of the team from McCourt last week.
"First of all, I'm thrilled with the fact we have new ownership and we have a chance to revitalizing the franchise in terms
of the organization, the team and the fans,'' said Robinson, who will turn 90 this summer. "I am just thrilled about that,
because I was very unhappy with the fact we have had so much trouble.''
Asked if she was referring strictly to the fact the team spent much of the past year in bankruptcy, Robinson said she was
referring to "the McCourt era.''
"It's just what I read,'' she said. "I don't have any inside information. From the way I saw things developing, it wasn't in
the tradition of the Dodgers.''
Robinson then was asked specifically about the fact Johnson becomes Major League Baseball's first African-American
owner.
"It is significant,'' she said. "But what overrides it, or I should say complements it, is the fact it's new ownership. But I'm
thrilled he is a part of that because he is a good man and a good businessman.''
Robinson said she has known Johnson for "a long time,'' although she couldn't put a specific number of years to it. She
also said it was fair to compare Johnson's groundbreaking new role to her husband famously breaking baseball's color
barrier on April 15, 1947.
"If you're asking if it's like when Jack broke it, you might make that comparison in some ways,'' she said. "(This is) 68
years later, and there still is room for improvement.''
Kemp, Uribe return, Hairston improving
By Tony Jackson | ESPNLosAngeles.com
LOS ANGELES -- There was good news, more good news and semi-good news for the Los Angeles Dodgers on the injury
front Monday. First, All-Star center fielder Matt Kemp returned to the lineup after sitting out Sunday's game in Chicago - he did pinch hit -- with a tight left hamstring. Also, third baseman Juan Uribe, who has been battling a sore left wrist,
returned to the starting lineup for the first time in a week.
Meanwhile, much-utilized utility infielder Jerry Hairston's left hamstring, which he pulled running out an infield single on
Sunday, doesn't appear to be as severe as originally thought. Team officials are cautiously optimistic that Hairston can
return in the next couple of days, so they are hoping to avoid putting him on the disabled list.
That, of course, means the Dodgers will be playing short for at least one game, maybe two.
"We're going to bite the bullet with Jerry for a day here and see where we're at,'' Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said.
"Really, what makes that possible is Juan Uribe feeling like he is ready to go.''
Here is tonight's lineup against the San Francisco Giants:
Dee Gordon, SS
Mark Ellis, 2B
Matt Kemp, CF
Andre Ethier, RF
Juan Rivera, 1B
Bobby Abreu, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Ted Lilly, LH
Daily News
DODGERS 9, SAN FRANCISCO 1: L.A. ushers in a new era with victoyr over rival
By J.P. Hoornstra Staff Writer
Posted: 05/07/2012 11:42:14 PM PDT
Updated: 05/07/2012 11:58:51 PM PDT
MLB: L.A. gets victory over rivals on day new owners get introduced; Jansen takes over closer role.
LOS ANGELES - Talk of raising expectations, in the sports world, is about as cliche as taking one game at a time, putting
the team ahead of the individual and other useful strategies that don't make for good quotes anymore.
The Dodgers couldn't add much to a 9-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants that the final score did not already say. It
was their most lopsided win of the season.
All talk aside, Monday did more to raise expectations than perhaps any day this season. Even an announced crowd of
43,713 raised at least one eyebrow in the Dodger dugout and certainly raised the bar for the fresh faces sitting in the
owner's box.
"Definitely a different atmosphere," Matt Kemp said.
"Forty-thousand-plus people on a Monday, it's been a while since I've seen that."
Magic Johnson and his wife occupied the seats closest to the Dodgers dugout, surrounded by co-owners Mark Walter,
Peter Guber and Bobby Patton, along with Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and agent Scott Boras. Co-owner Stan
Kasten was in attendance too, but he spent much of the day interacting with fans inside and outside Dodger Stadium.
Since a five-run eighth inning sapped the game of its drama, the most climactic moment came long before the first pitch,
when Dodgers manager Don Mattingly stripped Javy Guerra of the closer's job and gave it to Kenley Jansen.
The message: A 5.84 earned-run average and three blown saves in 11 chances won't cut it.
"He said, `You don't even have to explain it. I understand,' " Mattingly said.
The Dodgers (19-10) led all of Major League Baseball with 16 save opportunities in their first 28 games, but didn't need a
closer against the Giants.
Their five-run eighth inning against Giants relievers Steve Edlefsen and Travis Blackley broke open a 4-1 game. The
Dodgers batted around in the inning and scored all five runs before the Giants recorded their first out. The rally included
four singles, a bases-loaded walk toy Mark Ellis and a critical error by Giants first baseman Buster Posey.
Left-handed starters Ted Lilly (4-0) and Barry Zito (1-1) dueled each other to a 1-1 tie until the Dodgers got a pair of runs
in the bottom of the sixth inning off Zito. Lilly, who allowed just the one run, moved to 4-0 for the first time in his career.
A.J. Ellis doubled in Bobby Abreu for the game-winning hit, and Tony Gwynn's bunt later in the sixth brought Juan Uribe
in from third base to give the Dodgers a 3-1 lead.
Juan Rivera's bases-loaded groundout in the third inning got the Dodgers on the board.
The resurgent Zito entered the game with the 10th-lowest ERA in the National League (1.76), but saw it rise to 2.21 after
he allowed three runs (all earned) in six innings.
Kemp started in center field for the first time since injuring his hamstring two days earlier. He went 3 for 3 with a double
and a run scored, raising his league-leading batting average to .406, before leaving in the top of the eighth inning.
He appeared to have trouble during a long run toward the infield tracking down Melky Cabrera's sixth-inning single. The
ball fell just in front of his glove and skipped past Kemp, allowing Cabrera to reach second base. Kemp was assessed his
first error of the season.
After the game, however, Kemp said he did not aggravate his hamstring.
"I was just kind of taking it easy," he said. "Resting without resting."
James Loney had the best defensive play of the game. With the score still 4-1 and San Francisco runners on first and
second, the first baseman dove toward the foul line to snag Hector Sanchez's screaming grounder, then tossed to
pitcher Josh Lindblom covering first for the third out of the inning.
, who celebrated his 28th birthday Monday.
DODGERS NOTEBOOK: It's a relief to see Belisario
By J.P. Hoornstra Staff Writer
Posted: 05/07/2012 10:27:14 PM PDT
Updated: 05/08/2012 12:02:54 AM PDT
In serious need of right-handed bullpen help, the Dodgers made a significant acquisition last week and without making a
trade or signing a free agent.
Ronald Belisario was at Dodger Stadium on Monday for the first time this season, four days after being reinstated from
the inactive list. The 29-year-old pitched a scoreless inning Friday in his first major-league appearance since October
2010.
"I felt like I've always been here," he said.
For the Dodgers, Belisario's 25-game suspension for a positive drug test could not have ended at a better time.
Javy Guerra was removed as closer Monday. A day earlier, Jamey Wright walked home the winning run with the bases
loaded in Chicago. Matt Guerrier is on the disabled list. Todd Coffey has a 13.50 earned-run average and Mike
MacDougal's ERA was at 7.94 when he was designated for assignment last Thursday to make room for Belisario.
That's left plenty to be desired, but there was a time not long ago when Belisario seemed close to being squeezed out in
a numbers game among a bevy of right-handed relievers.
"I kept my mind positive working hard to come back here," he said.
The 29-year-old made two appearances for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and two more for Triple-A Albuquerque.
Now that Belisario is here, finding opportunities to pitch shouldn't be an issue as long as the others struggle.
His goal? "Sixty, seventy (games). Maybe more," he said.
Robinson returns
Rachel Robinson can't remember the last time she was at Dodger Stadium before Monday, when the 89-year-old widow
of Jackie Robinson was escorted to the mound by Dodgers co-owner Magic Johnson in a special pregame ceremony.
Robinson is the founder of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, a national non-profit organization whose website describes
its mission "to perpetuate the memory of Jackie Robinson through the advancement of higher education among
underserved populations."
She spoke fondly of the "new era" that began when the Guggenheim Baseball Management team was officially handed
ownership of the Dodgers last week.
As for the old era, Robinson said she's been invited to Dodger Stadium by Frank McCourt, but prior commitments including her work with the foundation - the got in the way.
"I live in New York and I follow (the Dodgers) in the paper and on TV," she said. "That satisfies me."
Robinson found time to join Johnson on the mound.
"There's no comparison now," she said. "I wouldn't miss this for anything."
Mota suspended
Former Dodgers pitcher Guillermo Mota, now with the Giants, was suspended 100 games by Major League Baseball for
testing positive for the banned substance clenbuterol.
According to a statement released by Mota's agent, Adam Katz, the right-handed reliever ingested trace amounts of
clenbuterol in "a children's cough medicine." Katz said they will appeal the suspension.
Mota was suspended 50 games in 2006 when he pitched for the New York Mets. He pitched 171 games for the Dodgers
from 2002-04 and returned to pitch 61 games in 2009.
Also ...
Mattingly said he will wait a day to determine whether utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr. will go on the disabled list. Hairston
strained his left hamstring Sunday in Chicago and the manager said the injury was "a lot better than we thought it was
going to be." - Bobby Abreu switched uniform numbers again. The outfielder wore No. 53 for four teams from 1997 until
last week, when he was released by the Angels and signed by the Dodgers. Don Drysdale had his No. 53 retired by the
Dodgers, so Abreu wore No. 33 for his first three games in blue last week. On Monday, he switched to 23. "I like it
more," he said. - Monday's game was the 1,000 th since Ned Colletti became the Dodgers' general manager.
BASEBALL: Dodgers get jump on Giants
By J.P. Hoornstra, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/07/2012 10:51:07 PM PDT
Updated: 05/07/2012 10:51:08 PM PDT
LOS ANGELES - Two new eras began at Dodger Stadium on Monday.
The first saw Magic Johnson sitting in the box seat closest to the Dodgers dugout, surrounded by co-owners Mark
Walter, Peter Guber and Bobby Patton, along with Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and agent Scott Boras, among
others.
The other saw Kenley Jansen occupying a new throne too, one he was expected to inherit once Javy Guerra vacated the
closer's role. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly made the change official before the Dodgers went out and defeated the
San Francisco Giants 9-1.
There was no swearing-in ceremony for Jansen and no paperwork. Apparently there didn't even have to be a meeting,
although Mattingly met with Guerra anyway to inform the right-hander of his decision.
"He said, `You don't even have to explain it. I understand,' " Mattingly said.
The manager, who had stuck with Guerra all season, sounded genuinely disappointed as he announced the news. But he
didn't call the decision a hard one, either. Guerra had a team-leading eight saves in 14 games, but saw his earned-run
average rise to 5.84 after blowing his third save Sunday in Chicago.
"The game's making the decision. I don't really have to make it," Mattingly said.
"It's just been too much."
Jansen began the year standing too upright on the mound and it was reflected in his results; his ERA stood at 6.00 after
his sixth appearance.
He corrected the issue and has allowed only one run in 11 games since.
Guerra picked up where he left off in 2010. He did not allow a run until his seventh appearance of the season, but
converted only three of his next six save opportunities from that point on.
The ninth inning is nothing new to Jansen, who has two saves this season and finished a game in his second-major
league appearance two years ago.
"Whatever's the best for the team, I say I'll do it," Jansen said. "I try to back (Guerra) up. I know he backed me up a lot.
"It's teamwork."
An announced crowd of 43,713 turned out at Dodger Stadium to watch the first meeting of the season between the
Giants and Dodgers. Left-handed pitchers Barry Zito and Ted Lilly allowed only one run apiece until the Dodgers scored a
pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning off Zito.
Fox Sports West
De Jesus activated, optioned
May 7, 2012
LOS ANGELES – Following yesterday’s game at Chicago, the Los Angeles Dodgers reinstated infielder Ivan De Jesus from
the 15-day disabled list and optioned him to Triple-A Albuquerque.
De Jesus had been on the disabled list since March 26 after straining his left oblique during a Spring Training game
against the Giants on March 17 at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. The 24-year-old appeared in four rehab games with
Triple-A Albuquerque and batted .261 (6-for-23) with a triple and three RBI in 11 Spring Training games with the Dodgers
prior to his injury.
True Blue LA
Dodgers 5/7/12 Minor League Report - Zach Lee and BCG Make it Look Easy
by Brandon Lennox on May 8, 2012 8:00 AM PDT in Los Angeles Dodgers Minor League Report
Minor League Player of the Day – Brian Cavazos-Galvez - 3 for 5, 1 HR, 2 RBI's, 2 Runs, 2 SB's. It was a toss up between
Zach Lee and BCG for this award, but I'm giving to Brian because of his all around effort at the plate and on the base
paths. Cavazos-Galvez has a hit in every game since joining Rancho, and his OPS is exactly 1.000.
AAA – The Isotopes were able to overcome an unplanned bullpen game on Monday as Albuquerque silenced the
Sounds (Brewers) 8 to 3. Starter Mike Parisi had to leave the game after just two innings due to shoulder tightness, but
luckily reliever Cole St. Clair stepped up big time with 4 solid frames. The big lefty allowed just 1 run on 4 hits, then
passed the ball to the trio of Wil Ledezma, Shane Lindsay, and Scott Rice who closed out the game with 3 shutout
innings. Luis Cruz had the big night at the plate as he slugged a RBI double and connected on a 3 run homer. Elian
Herrera continued his hot hitting with 2 doubles to extend his hitting streak to 12 games, while Scott Van Slyke* and
Tim Federowicz* both went 1 for 3 with a RBI. Jerry Sands* had just one official at bat on the day as he walked once and
had two run scoring fly balls, while Trent Oeltjen* had a single and a stolen base in 4 at bats.
AA – Chris Withrow* had trouble finding the plate, but he still managed to record the win on Monday as the Lookouts
defeated the Biscuits (Rays) 5 to 3. Withrow walked 6 batters over 5 laborious innings and also allowed 5 hits, but only 3
runs scored against him thanks to some timely defense and his ability to get out of a few jams. Blake Johnson continued
his solid relief work with 2 more shutout innings, and Shawn Tolleson picked up his 5th save of the year despite allowing
a couple of base runners. The top 3 batters in the Lookouts' lineup had all but 1 of the Chattanooga hits, starting with
leadoff man Anthony Jackson who went 3 for 3 with a triple and scored 3 runs. Jake Lemmerman continued his
incredible hot streak with 2 more hits including 2 run homer, and over his last 10 games he is hitting .500 with an OPS of
1.500. J.T. Wise drove in the other 3 runs of the game with a sac fly and a two run double.
HiA – Zach Lee rebounded nicely on Monday as he led the Quakes to a 6 - 2 win over the 66ers (Angels). Lee limited the
opposing hitters to just 3 singles over 5 frames, with all 3 of the hits coming in the same inning which resulted in a run.
In the other 4 frames he was flawless and struck out 5 without issuing a walk. Steve Smith was great in relief, and Logan
Bawcom got the final out of the game to escape a bases loaded jam and record the save. On offense the big hitter of the
night was Brian Cavazos-Galvez who went 3 for 5 with a homer, 2 RBI's, and 2 stolen bases. The other 10 hits by the
Quakes were all singles and were scattered among 7 different hitters. Leon Landry, Chris O'Brien, and C.J. Retherford all
had 2 base knocks and drove in a run each.
LoA – The Loons were extremely quite at the plate on Monday, yet still managed to hang on until the very end in a 2 - 1
loss to the Silver Hawks (Dbacks). Great Lakes had just 4 hits, although all 4 went for extra bases including a triple and a
home run by center fielder Noel Cuevas. The other two-baggers were by O'Koyea Dickson and Joe Winker. On the
mound starter Jarret Martin threw a very good game as he allowed just 1 run on 3 hits over 7 innings. Matt Shelton
wasn't as sharp in relief, however, as he gave up 4 straight hits to start the 9th which drove home winning run.
Coming up – Jose Dominguez will make his first start of the season for the Loons, but he'll be up against a tough
opponent in top prospect Archie Bradley. Nathan Eovaldi will toe the rubber for the Lookouts, while Jon Michael
Redding will replace Chris Reed in the Quakes rotation. Finally, Will Savage will start the game for the Isotopes.
Minor League Transactions – AAA: Lance Zawadzki and Brent Leach were released, while Joe Becker was removed from
the roster. HiA: There were a flurry of moves as Andres Santiago and Jordan Roberts were placed on the DL, while Chris
Stem (RHP) and Brandon Martinez were added to the roster.
* Denotes player is on the 40 man roster
Dodgers Feed Off Electric Atmosphere In Win Over Giants
by Eric Stephen on May 7, 2012 11:41 PM PDT in Dodgers Postgame Reaction
Monday night, there was an electric atmosphere at Dodger Stadium, evident before and throughout the Dodgers' 9-1
win over their rivals, the San Francisco Giants. The crowd looked every bit as large as the announced total of 43,713, and
they came ready to cheer at every opportunity.
The biggest cheers came for legendary Los Angeles icon Magic Johnson, who escorted Rachel Robinson and Don
Newcombe to the mound for the ceremonial first pitch. Johnson also announced "It's time for Dodgers baseball" before
the game, and was featured on the left field scoreboard to a loud roar in the seventh inning.
In the first game under the new ownership group, the Dodgers fed off the crowd.
"We definitely felt it," said Ted Lilly, who improved to 4-0 with his six strong innings. "I think the atmosphere had a lot of
energy, especially when you hear Magic's named announced there were a lot of happy people."
"It was great energy tonight. Fans were excited. You like to see that. It's great for everybody," said first baseman James
Loney. "That's why they call it home field advantage. You feed off the positive energy from the fans and the electric
atmosphere."
Manager Don Mattingly thinks the goodwill has been building for the last month, when the Guggenheim Baseball
Partners were announced as the pending new owners of the iconic franchise.
"It's definitely a positive. It's been positive since the announcement," Mattingly said. "The fact that Magic's here tonight,
with Mark and all his group. With the ceremony with Mrs. Robinson, it's just a good feeling to kind of know you're
moving forward."
Kemp's Hamstring
Matt Kemp was 3-for-3 with a walk on Monday, but was running the bases gingerly with a tight left hamstring. He was
removed from the game in the top of the seventh inning, with Tony Gwynn Jr. coming in to play center field on a double
switch.
"I'm just trying to be cautious. He scares me," Mattingly said of Kemp. "He's a guy that knows his body really well. The
balls he was hitting down the line, I could tell he was taking care and not running like he usually does, knowing it was a
double and not a triple. He was just really being cautious I think. I don't know. I keep talking to the medical people and
they keep telling me he's okay."
I didn't get a chance to join the group of reporters interviewing Kemp after the game, but the center fielder said he was
"just taking it easy, resting without resting," per J.P. Hoornstra of the LA Daily News.
Lilly's Strong Start
Lilly pitched six innings, allowing just one run, improving to 4-0 on the season with a 1.41 ERA.
"After the tough loss yesterday in Chicago. It's important for us to get back on track, and hopefully we'll have a good
homestand," said Lilly, who struck out six batters in the win. "More than anything I was able to get my changeup over
for a strike."
Mattingly told Lilly during the offseason that he wanted him to get off to a better start this season, and the left-hander
has not disappointed, beginning with an offseason workout program that had him throw often.
"To me it started with spring training with Teddy. He was sharp in spring training. This is the first spring I have seen him
that he was healthy in the winter," Mattingly said. "His ball was down early, it had finish. His breaking stuff is better.
Throwing in the winter has helped him."
Loney's Diving Stab
The game was 4-1 in the top of the eighth inning, looking to be yet another close game for the Dodgers. The Giants got
runners and second and third with two outs off Josh Lindblom, and Hector Sanchez hit a sharp grounder down the first
base line. The would-be two-run single was grabbed on a diving stop by James Loney, who threw to Lindblom to end the
inning.
Loney, who didn't start the game, entered the game in the seventh and saw his batting average drop to .198 on the
season. But he was happy to find a way to help the team on defense.
"Over a long season, it's anything, a big play, a big hit, a big baserunning play," said Loney. "Those things can help win or
lose a game."
Loney also turned 28 years old on Monday, prompting Mattingly to say after the quip of that diving stop, "A guy on his
birthday gives me a present."
Hairston Reevaluated Tuesday
Jerry Hairston Jr. was given a complete day off by the Dodgers meidcal staff on Monday, to rest his strained left
hamstring. The Dodgers training staff will have Hairston complete drills on Tuesday to determine his status going
forward.
Up Next
After seeing the other two lefties in the starting rotation improve to 4-0, Clayton Kershaw takes the mound Tuesday
night looking to improve to 3-0. Ryan Vogelsong gets the start for the Giants. Kershaw is 6-1 with a 1.25 ERA against the
Giants in his career, with 87 strikeouts in 79 innings.
Dodgers Energized In Return Home
by Eric Stephen on May 7, 2012 10:15 PM PDT in Dodgers Game Recaps
After a 2-4 road trip, the Dodgers returned home and were recharged by their battery. After Magic Johnson got the
crowd sufficiently pumped up during the pregame ceremonies, Ted Lilly pitched six strong innings, and A.J. Ellis doubled
home the go-ahead run in the sixth inning as the Dodgers beat their rival San Francisco Giants 9-1 Monday night at
Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers got on the board first in the bottom of the third inning. Mark Ellis doubled with one out, which was
followed by an intentional walk to Matt Kemp. Andre Ethier followed with a walk off the southpaw Zito, and Juan Rivera
hit a slow grounder to second base with the bases loaded for a 1-0 lead.
The Giants tied the game in the sixth inning thanks to a pair of hits, a fielding error by Kemp, and a passed ball by Ellis,
his second of the night.
That was the only run surrendered by Lilly, who has allowed three total runs in 20 innings in three home starts this
season. Lilly joins fellow lefty Chris Capuano in the 4-0 club, and sports a sparkling 1.41 ERA through five starts this
season.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Dodgers broke the tie with a one-out single by Bobby Abreu, who was 2-for-3
Monday in his home debut at Dodger Stadium. Juan Uribe followed with a walk, and A.J. Ellis doubled home Abreu for a
2-1 lead. Tony Gwynn Jr., pinch hitting for Lilly, followed with a bunt single that allowed Uribe to score on a throwing
error by third baseman Conor Gillaspie.
The Dodgers were gifted an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh when Kemp, who doubled, was going to be
thrown out at third base on a grounder but pitcher Steve Edlefsen threw wild, allowing Kemp to score.
Each team committed three errors on the night.
With Javy Guerra demoted from closer and having thrown 23 pitches on Sunday, the Dodgers used Ronald Belisario and
Josh Lindblom in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively. With a three-run lead, Kenley Jansen was warming up for
the ninth inning but the Dodgers scored five in the bottom of the eighth to break the game open.
Notes
 Kemp went 3-for-3 with a walk, raising his batting average to .406 after briefly falling under .400 over the
weekend. Kemp's batting average has been at .400 or higher after 26 of 29 games this season.
 A.J. Ellis, who was 2-for-4 tonight, has reached base in a career-high 19 straight games.
 Ethier went 2-for-4 with two RBI, and has a major league leading 30 RBI on the season.
 Dee Gordon extended his hitting streak to seven games with an eighth inning bunt single.
 Abreu this season, including his time with the Angels, has five doubles and three singles.
 The Dodgers are 11-2 at home this season.
Tonight's Particulars
Home Runs: none
WP - Ted Lilly (4-0): 6 IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts
LP - Barry Zito (1-1): 6 IP, 8 hits, 3 runs, 4 walks, 3 strikeouts
Exciting Night At Dodger Stadium
by Eric Stephen on May 7, 2012 7:45 PM PDT in News
Tonight is the first game at Dodger Stadium under the new ownership group, and there is a palpable buzz around
Dodger Stadium.
The pregame festivities began with R&B singer Jeffrey Osborne, longtime veteran of the Fabulous Forum and Staples
Center before Lakers games, signing what has been the best version of the national anthem at Dodger Stadium this
season.
Then in taped introductions, Vin Scully introduced Rachel Robinson, Don Newcombe, and new ownership partner Magic
Johnson. Magic got the loudest cheers of the evening, then escorted the group to the mound, where Newcombe threw
the ceremonial first pitch to Matt Kemp.
Usually a child or two get the honors of announcing "It's time for Dodger baseball," but tonight those duties fell to
Magic, who couldn't help but smile as he delivered the words.
Top that all off with the Dodgers wearing Brooklyn caps tonight in honor of Jackie Robinson, and the Beastie Boys' "No
Sleep Till Brooklyn" playing right before the game, you have yourself quite an exciting night at Chavez Ravine.
Javy Guerra Out As Dodgers Closer, Kenley Jansen New Ninth Inning Man
by Eric Stephen on May 7, 2012 5:25 PM PDT in Dodgers Pregame Notes
In a move that was expected by everyone, including Javy Guerra himself, the Dodgers have a new closer, starting with
Monday's game against the San Francisco Giants. Guerra is out as Dodgers closer, with Kenley Jansen assuming the ninth
inning role for now.
Dodgers manager Don Mattingly met with Guerra earlier Monday, a meeting that Guerra knew was coming.
"He came in early and told me he figured it was coming," Mattingly said of his meeting with Guerra. "He said, 'You don't
even have to explain it, I understand.' He's not wanting to not get guys out. It says something about the unselfishness of
Javy that he wants what's best for the team. He understands that he hasn't been getting outs at the end of the game."
In his last five outings, Guerra has blown two saves, suffered one loss in a non-save situation, and allowed two runs in
the ninth inning in another outing, a game he entered with a tie score.
"I said all along that I didn't want to have to do this, but I didn't want to be hardheaded either," Mattingly said. "It's kind
of like guys that I think can hit lefties, but if they don't the game tells me they're not doing it. With Javy, the game's
really making the decision for me."
Jansen, meanwhile, has a 2.70 ERA, and is tied for the major league lead with 16 games pitched. Jansen's 27 strikeouts,
in 16 2/3 innings, are the most by a reliever in baseball.
"He's going to get the first shot at it," Mattingly said of Jansen. "I've known all along that Kenley with his strikeouts
profiles as that kind of guy."
Mattingly said Guerra will be used in various situations, and that he expects Guerra to remain a valuable part of his
bullpen.
"I want to try to get this guy back," Mattingly said. "He's going to be a valuable guy. We're going to need big outs from
guys."
No Disabled List For Infielders
Jerry Hairston Jr. strained his left hamstring on Sunday, an injury that was expected to land the infielder on the disabled
list. But that is not the case, for now.
"Hairston is a lot better than we thought he was going to be. We're going to bit the bullet with Jerry for a day and see
where we're at," Mattingly said. "What makes that possible is that Juan Uribe feels like he can go."
Uribe is making his first start in a week, after being limited to a single pinch hitting appearance in the last five games
after re-injuring his left wrist during batting practice. Uribe did not see a specialist but will have an MRI on his wrist, a
move Mattingly described as precautionary.
"They're going to get an MRI, more for the future than anything, to compare to past results," Mattingly said. "The
[cortisone] shot he got in Colorado achieved what they thought it would, as far as getting him relief and feeling better to
where he's ready to roll again"
Starting Lineups
Matt Kemp was cleared by the training staff and deemed 100%, so he returns to the starting lineup after a tight left
hamstring kept him out of Sunday's lineup. It's a good thing too, as Kemp is 20-for-47 with two home runs and seven
walks against Barry Zito, starting tonight for the Giants. Kemp has hit .426/.500/.617 against the southpaw, with both
home runs coming last season.
Giants
Dodgers
CF Pagan
SS
2B Theriot
2B Ellis
LF
CF
Kemp
1B Posey
RF
Ethier
LF
1B Rivera
Cabrera
Pill
SS Arias
LF
Gordon
Abreu
C
Sanchez
3B Uribe
3B Gillaspie
C
Ellis
P
P
Lilly
Zito
Game Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV: Prime Ticket
MLB Gameday
Pitching With Two Strikes
by Eric Stephen on May 7, 2012 12:19 PM PDT in Dodgers Game Previews
This is not earth shattering news, but hitting with two strikes is very, very difficult. In the National League this season,
batters with two strikes are hitting .175/.244/.261, meaning pitchers have batters at their mercy once they get strike
two. National League batters without two strikes are hitting a robust .322/.386/.511 this season.
The Dodgers have fared pretty well as a staff with two strikes. Only the Braves and Padres have gotten two strikes on
more batters, and the Dodgers have held batters to a .163/.248/.225 once they get strike two, the fifth best opponent's
OPS in the league.
A few notes about pitchers with two strikes:
 National League batters have struck out in 40.1% of the plate appearances in which they have two strikes.
Dodgers pitchers have struck out 43.3% of the hitters with two strikes.
 Kenley Jansen has struck out 27 of the 43 hitters (55.1%) on which he has gotten two strikes
 Chad Billingsley has struck out 29 of the 72 hitters (40.2%) on which he has gotten two strikes
 Clayton Kershaw has struck out 34 of his 65 hitters (52.3%) with two strikes, but also allowed the Dodgers'
only 0-2 home run, to Adam LaRoche.
 Batters against Scott Elbert with two strikes are 8-for-18 with a double and five strikeouts (22.7%),
including 5-for-9 with an 0-2 count.
 Javy Guerra has struck out 16 of the 31 hitters (51.6%) he has faced with two strikes, but has also allowed
three walks and nine hits, including a double and a triple, for a killer .750 batting average on balls in play (9for-12).
Tonight's Game
For the first time in six days the Dodgers are playing a night game, as they are back in Los Angeles to host the San
Francisco Giants for three games. Ted Lilly has allowed four earned runs in four starts so far this season, and since the
beginning of last August is 8-4 with a 1.79 ERA in 15 starts, with 29 unintentional walks and 79 strikeouts in 95 innings.
Barry Zito began his season with the rarest of rare feats, a complete game shutout at Coors Field, and has allowed just
eight runs (six earned runs) in his last four starts. Zito has 13 walks and 15 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings, but has still
managed a 1.76 ERA so far.
Zito made two appearances against the Dodgers last season, both at Dodger Stadium. He allowed three runs in six
innings on April 3, then allowed two runs in a one-inning relief appearance on September 22. In both games, he allowed
a two-run home run to Matt Kemp.
Kemp was held out of Sunday's starting lineup with a tight left hamstring, and from the tone of the postgame reports
yesterday it isn't a given that Kemp will return to the lineup tonight.
"He doesn't want to miss 15 days and then take 10 days to get back in the swing of it," manager Don Mattingly said, per
Jim Peltz of the Los Angeles Times. "He won't be back out there until he's basically able to say, 'I'm running pain-free, I
don't feel anything.'"
"I'm going to be honest with them if it doesn't feel good," Kemp said. "Probably about two years ago I would have said, 'I
can play and it doesn't hurt,' and maybe have injured myself more."
Roster Move
Ivan DeJesus Jr. has been reinstated from the disabled list and simultaneously optioned to Triple A Albuquerque.
DeJesus was already with the Isotopes four four games, going 2-for-13 during that span while playing second base and
third base, but that was technically a rehab assignment, during which time DeJesus earned both major league service
time and his major league salary.
Both DeJesus and Justin Sellers are infielders on the 40-man roster, and neither were in the starting lineup today for
Albuquerque. We will know more later today about the status of Jerry Hairston Jr., who strained his left hamstring
Sunday, and Juan Uribe, who was scheduled to see a specialist regarding his left wrist in Los Angeles this morning.
Starting Lineups
Game Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV: Prime Ticket
MLB Gameday
Giants
Dodgers
CF Pagan
SS
2B Theriot
2B Ellis
LF
CF
Kemp
1B Posey
RF
Ethier
LF
1B Rivera
Cabrera
Pill
Gordon
SS Arias
LF
C
3B Uribe
Sanchez
Abreu
3B Gillaspie
C
Ellis
P
P
Lilly
Zito
NBC Sports
The Dodgers won’t discuss an extension with Clayton Kershaw this season
Craig Calcaterra
May 8, 2012, 11:02 AM EDT
Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said yesterday that he won’t discuss a long-term deal with Clayton Kershaw until the offseason,
saying ”Nothing will happen with us and Clayton this season.” Two observations:
1) Given that Kershaw signed a two-year deal before this season for $19 million, why would there be any expectation
that they’d do a deal this year? That’s a next year thing, right?; and
2) It’s kind of cute that Colletti implies that he’ll be the general manager when it’s time to sign Kershaw to an
extension. Just adorable.
NBC Los Angeles
Dodgers Trump Giants During First Home Game Under New Owners
Guggenheim Baseball Management rang in new era at Dodger Stadium versus rival San Francisco Giants
By Jonathan Gonzalez
| Monday, May 7, 2012 | Updated 10:23 PM PDT
The Los Angeles Dodgers brought home a win for their new owners Monday night, trumping rival San Francisco Giants 91.
For the Los Angeles Dodgers and their fans, a season's first series against the San Francisco Giants is routine: intense
games based on a rivalry dating back to 1890.
But it's 2012, and for the Dodgers, the season's first game versus the Giants was anything but routine, as the team's new
owners embarked on their first home game, marking the end of one era and the beginning of something new.
Guggenheim Baseball Management's first order of business: dropping the price of parking from $15 to $10.
As part of the purchase, the new owners will pay former owner Frank McCourt $14 million each year to lease half of the
parking lots surrounding the stadium. Face of the ownership group, Magic Johnson, said at a news conference on last
Wednesday that the new owners are focused on winning.
The Changeup: The Frank McCourt Era, Timeline of Events
"Frank's not here anymore. We should be clapping for just that," Johnson said at the news conference introducing the
new owners. "We're going to pour money into the team and the fan experience. We're here to win."
And winning is exactly what the Dodgers have been doing.
The Boys in Blue enter the three-game series atop their division with an 18-10 record, four games ahead of the Giants.
That's partly because of the bat of early MVP-favorite Matt Kemp, who is hitting .388 with 12 home runs, and the arm of
Chris Capuano, who is 4-0 in with a 2.21 ERA in six starts.
In addition to winning, Guggenheim Management has announced that it is looking at every way to make the fan
experience at Chavez Ravine better, and has even released a new website dedicated to the "Next 50 Years" at Dodger
Stadium.
The group announced a new resource -- fanbox@ladodgers.com -- for fans to share what they consider replaceable or
irreplaceable about Dodger Stadium, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
"The Dodgers have been here, what, 54 years? The Bank of England is 300 years old. That's tradition. The monarchy?
That's tradition," said one new owner, Peter Guber. "The tradition we have to have is to entertain and engage fans in a
meaningful, purposeful way in the 21st century."
Ted Lilly (3-0) is scheduled to make the start for the Dodgers versus former USC Trojan Barry Zito (1-0).
The game was scheduled to start at 7:10 p.m.
CBS Los Angeles
Dodgers Usher In New Era With First Home Game Under New Ownership
May 8, 2012 12:38 AM
Juan Fernandez
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The Dodgers played at home Monday night for the first time since the new owners took over
marking a new era for the team and their fans.
Fans lined up early to watch the Dodgers take on the Giants.
“She loves it, I love it. We love the pavilion. It’s just our family tradition,” said fan Tony Hernandez.
Fans first noticed the changes when they paid for parking. The price went from $15 down to $10.
New team president, Stan Kasten, said that he plans on walking the concourse during games to talk with fans, to see
what they like and don’t like.
Kasten said that fans will also notice a big price drop in the team store.
“It is the cheapest any place in town, because of the prices we have here. So you’ll want to wait until you get to the
ballpark to buy your Dodgers stuff,” he said.
The price break was as much as 50 percent on store merchandise.
“The reception we have gotten has been super, just super. And this is all part of it. So we need all the fans we can get,”
Kasten added.
Another noticeable improvement was shorter lines at the concessions.
“You can already feel that it’s like a breath of fresh air around here. You know, obviously they lowered the ticket prices.
You know, coming out greeting and talking to us. That’s a good faith gesture that goes a long way with myself. And now
we’ll just see what happens,” said fan Tony Iovino.
Affordability for fans seemed to be a priority to the new management. They said that they were also lowering some food
prices and introducing some new menu items.
LAist
Dodgers Are 1-0 At Home Under New Ownership
By Jimmy Bramlett
Monday was a day of change and optimism for the Dodgers. While the game wasn't pretty by any stretch of the
imagination, the Dodgers celebrated the winds of change with a 9-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
Just imagine: Rachel Robinson, Jackie Robinson's widow, and new co-owner Magic Johnson accompanying Don
Newcombe for the ceremonial first pitch before the game. Johnson ushering in the new Guggenheim era screaming the
ceremonial "It's time for Dodger baseball," before the game.
"I think the fans were pretty excited to see Magic and all of those guys sitting in the owner's seats," Matt Kemp, who
caught Newcombe's fastball strike, said. "It was really good."
As exciting as all of that was, it was the boring old small ball routine that gave the Dodgers the first lead, a mere
grounder to second by Juan Rivera with the bases loaded in the third inning.
As monotonous as a pitching duel between Ted Lilly (W, 4-0) and Barry Zito (L, 1-1) might have been, the defense surely
livened up the festivities. The teams combined for six errors, three apiece. The difference though: the Dodgers made the
Giants pay for their sins.
Kemp's fielding error in the sixth inning on Melky Cabrera's leadoff single led indirectly to the Giant's tying run. While
Kemp sat out Sunday's game with hamstring issues, Mattingly really took notice when Kemp didn't run out a double in
the seventh inning.
"It scares me because he's a guy that knows his body real well," Mattingly said. "The ball he hits down the line, I can tell
he's taking care, he's not running like he usually does. Knowing that it's a double and not a triple. He's just really being
cautious I think."
Kemp acknowledges that all this talk of his hamstring is a bit scary.
"I know it sounds bad, but I'm trying to be here for my team," Kemp said. "If I ever feel anything, I'm going to have to
shut it down because I'd rather this thing only be one or two days and not 15 days. I don't want to make it into a big
thing."
But the Giants errors in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings allowed the Dodgers to open the game including five runs
in the eighth inning when Buster Posey playing at first base couldn't handle a Tony Gwynn, Jr. sacrifice bunt.
With the Benny Hill soundtrack playing the background, there was one defensive stop to highlight amongst the morass:
birthday boy James Loney, coming off the bench, made a spectacular diving play on Hector Sanchez's grounder down the
first base line to rob the Giants of two runs in the eighth inning with the score still 4-1.
"Those things stand out, especially with a score like that when it's closer," Loney said. To Loney it didn't matter that he
had just come off the bench. "I get myself ready to play, so it's not any harder."
Speaking of changes, with the score being what it was, the Dodgers didn't have to test their new closer Kenley Jansen.
"I didn't want to have to do this, but I didn't want to be hard-headed," Manager Don Mattingly told reporters before the
game. Incumbent closer Javy Guerra since the last homestand had pitched four innings giving up six runs on 12 hits, two
blown saves and losses with a 13.50 earned run average.
"It's the games making the decision," Mattingly added.
The Dodgers even got some better than expected news about Jerry Hairston, Jr.'s strained hamstring. Pulling up lame on
an infield base hit in the second inning of Sunday's rain-delayed affair in his hometown of Chicago, Dodgers' manager
Don Mattingly seemed heartened by the prognosis. Not putting him on the disabled list yet, the team will test his
hamstring out on Tuesday before proceeding any further.
Once the game ended, the crowd of 43,713 heading to the exits, the new ownership group filed through the clubhouse
hallway looking satisfied with the first home win of their stewardship. The team at 19-10 has the best record in the
National League and tied with the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays for the best record in the Major
Leagues.
ESPN Deportes
Lilly da a Dodgers su primer triunfo en casa desde que cambió de propietario
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES -- Ted Lilly superó en el duelo de lanzadores a Barry Zito durante seis entradas para que Los Angeles
venciera al propenso equipo de los Gigantes de San Francisco por 9-1 el lunes, en el primer partido en casa de los
Dodgers desde que cambiara de propietario el equipo.
Lilly (4-0) permitió una carrera y cuatro imparables, otorgó dos pasaportes y ponchó a seis bateadores. Es la primera vez
que el dos veces convocado al Juego de Estrellas de 36 años de edad gana sus primeras cuatro decisiones en una
campaña en su carrera en las Grandes Ligas que empezó en 1999 con los Expos de Montreal.
El primera base de los Dodgers James Loney, 2 de 28 con siete ponches frente a Zito, no estaba en él orden al bate en su
cumpleaños 28. Sin embargo, entró a la defensiva en el octavo episodio reemplazando al venezolano Juan Rivera con los
Dodgers al frente 4-1 e hizo una atrapada brillante de un roletazo de su compatriota Héctor Sánchez para contener a los
corredores en las esquinas.
Por los Gigantes, el puertorriqueño Angel Pagán de 5-0. Los dominicanos Melky Cabrera de 4-2 con una carrera anotada;
y Joaquín Arias de 4-3 con una impulsada. Los venezolanos Héctor Sánchez de 4-0; y Gregor Blanco de 1-1.
Por los Dodgers, los venezolanos Juan Rivera de 5-0 con dos carreras impulsadas; Bobby Abreu de 3-2 con una anotada.
El dominicano Juan Uribe de 4-0 con una anotada.
San Francisco 000 001 000_1 8 3
Los Angeles 001 002 15x_9 13 3
Zito, Edlefsen (7), Blackley (8) y H.Sánchez; Lilly, Belisario (7), Lindblom (8), Elbert (9) y A.Ellis. G_Lilly 4-0. P_Zito 1-1.
-- AP
Capuano ha sido más que un llena huecos
por Christina Kahrl / ESPNLosAngeles.com
CHICAGO -- Para alguien que pudo ser firmado para redondear una rotación, Chris Capuano está lanzando mejor que eso
para los Dodgers. En su sexta apertura de la campaña, Capuano tuvo su mejor partido, continuando su labor luego de
cuatro aperturas de calidad mientras extendía una racha personal de entradas sin anotación a 18 2/3 durante tres
salidas.
Comprensiblemente, Capuano está disfrutando como resultado de esto. "Fue muy divertido para mí allá afuera. Matt (el
receptor Matt Treanor) y yo teníamos un buen plan de juego, y en la mayor parte, estábamos haciendo nuestros
lanzamientos. Con el clima húmedo al comienzo, tenía algo de problemas deslizándome algo del montículo, pero
eventualmente lo descubrí y pude hacer los lanzamientos".
El punto de Treanor luego de ver la otra mitad de la batería amansar los Cachorros fue igual de entusiasta. "Me encanta
ser su receptor, hombre, de verdad que sí. Obviamente, es más fácil decirlo luego de una victoria, pero es muy divertido
cuando alguien sale allá afuera y hace eso. Es sólo colocar algunos dedos hacia abajo y mover la cabeza para saber cual
quiere, y entonces todo el mundo mirando, tengo la mejor butaca de la casa".
Su dirigente fue igualmente generoso en su elogio, con un ojo hacia cómo la racha caliente de Capuano está haciendo su
trabajo más fácil. Don Mattingly dijo, "Ha estado sólido cada vez que sale. Ha estado muy bien, pero las últimas dos
ocasiones nos ha llevado más profundo, lo que ha sido enorme para nosotros, te lleva a tu parte final (del bullpen)".
El aprecio de Mattingly por el tercer zurdo de calidad de su rotación se realza por sus antiguas responsabilidades como
entrenador de bateo. "Cappy nos ha gustado por par de años, en realidad. Es un individuo fuerte, y también fue fuerte
para mi cuando estaba como escucha de bateo, porque tiene tantas armas, tiene tantas cosas que hace con la bola, te
da tantas miradas diferentes, que es realmente difícil prepararse", observó Mattingly
Como resultado, traerlo como agente libre fue algo que Mattingly estuvo totalmente de acuerdo: "Realmente nos gustó
alguien que sabe lo que hace -- es inteligente, atlético, tiene muchas armas diferentes".
Reflexionando en su primer mes como Dodger y su racha, Capuano siente que refleja los beneficios de aumentar su
arsenal en esta primavera. "Añadí un lanzamiento rompiente en el entrenamiento primaveral con el cual me siento bien,
una recta cortante, trabajo en un (lanzamiento de) dos costuras, tengo opciones a donde recurrir".
Al evaluar lo que Capuano ha estado haciendo, Treanor dijo, "más o menos él mantiene a la gente fuera de balance
mentalmente. No es como sentarse ahí y pasar recta tras recta o cambio sobre cambio. Está mezclando lanzamientos,
está usando lanzamientos diferentes en conteos en donde puede utilizar otro lanzamiento. Si está enviando cambios en
ciertos conteos, es capaz de meter su recta cortada o su recta a un lugar diferente del plato".
Pero el doble que Capuano conectó para edificar una ventaja de 3-0 en el segundo episodio también hizo una gran
impresión en su dirigente. "Él como que hace todo bien. Lo demostró (el sábado) con su bateo, aguanta bien los
corredores, todo lo que hace, para un lanzador, lo hace bien", dijo Mattingly.
Capuano fue sincero sobre cómo el doble fue la cosa más memorable de ese día. "Esa es la cosa que más nos excita
como lanzador. Lo primero que hice cuando regresé aquí fue checar el video del imparable... fue sólo una recta en el
primer lanzamiento, y regularmente así es como nosotros los lanzadores conseguimos hits. Tratamos de buscar un lugar
en donde podamos recibir una recta, la tratamos de emboscar, y afortunadamente conseguí un buen lanzamiento".
The Bakersfield Californian
Bakersfield Marine to be recognized at Dodgers game
By THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN
A home-grown Marine will be honored with star treatment at a Los Angeles Dodgers game Monday.
Cpl. Joshua Vaughan doesn't know what all his memorable game will entail but said that he will get to meet players from
the Dodgers and their opponents, the San Francisco Giants, and be on the field for the opening ceremony. His military
biography will also be read at the game.
"It's kind of nerve-wracking," admitted Vaughan, who has served two tours of duty in Afghanistan.
Vaughan's brother submitted his name for the "Veteran of the Game" honor about a year ago. Vaughan was shocked to
learn he was chosen but thinks "it's really cool" that the Dodgers do this for servicemen. Ironically, he's more of a Giants
fan than a Dodgers follower.
Frank Vaughan said he and Vaughan's mother, Susan, are "very proud" of their son's service.
"We're looking forward to Monday and whatever it brings," Frank Vaughan said.
Vaughan is stationed at Camp Pendleton with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines.