L.A. Times - Baseball News

Division is there for the taking for Dodgers

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

They are below .500, but so is every other team in the National League West.

Asked about the standings in the National League West, Mark Sweeney shook his head and recalled the 2005 season.

Red Sox again stand in the Angels' way

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

For better or worse, weekend series could be an October preview for Angels.

The Boston Red Sox did not win a World Series between 1918 and 2004. But they have won twice in the last four years, and their young closer apparently considers a parade his team's rite of October.

Dodgers' Takashi Saito says surgery is still a possibility

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

The 38-year-old reliever will try to rehabilitate his sprained right elbow over the next six weeks.

Dodgers closer Takashi Saito said that when team physician Dr . Neal ElAttrache diagnosed him with a sprained ligament in his right elbow on Tuesday, the option of undergoing surgery was presented to him.

Juan Rivera is providing offense, but his defense has been spotty

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Angels outfielder is surprised he's not doing a better job with the glove.

Juan Rivera has given the offense a much-needed boost, hitting .367 (11 for 30) with three homers and eight runs batted in since June 29, but his lack of outfield playing time in the first half may have contributed to some spotty defense.

Dodgers to play host to World Baseball Classic

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

The semifinals and finals of the 2009 event are scheduled for March at Dodger Stadium.

The battle for global bragging rights in baseball will be decided at Dodger Stadium next spring.

Former Bruin Chase Utley trying to follow in Jackie Robinson's footsteps

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Text messages from press row ...

Second baseman Chase Utley of the Philadelphia Phillies, a former UCLA and Long Beach Poly High star, is stalking a baseball immortal. ...

Dodgers can be visited at the library

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Archival photos of the team's first 30 years in L.A. are on display.

Taking a detour from the well-traveled road of televised sports, Sound and Vision stops at the Los Angeles Central Library for the photography exhibit "Play Ball! Images of Dodger Blue, 1958-1988."

Mets win on Wright's home run in the ninth

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

He caps a four-run rally after New York blew three leads to win, 10-8, at Cincinnati.

* N.Y. Mets 10, at Cincinnati 8: David Wright's two-run homer in the ninth inning rallied the Mets to their 10th consecutive victory, lifting them into a first-place tie with the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East. On the one-month anniversary of manager Willie Randolph's firing, the Mets blew three leads before scoring four runs in the ninth off Reds closer Francisco Cordero. They were 6 1/2 games out of first place when Randolph was fired.

Phillies get Blanton from A's

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:53:00 -0700

The Oakland Athletics traded away their second starting pitcher this month, sending right-hander Joe Blanton to the Philadelphia Phillies for three minor leaguers Thursday.

Kurt Mertins is a big hit at Wilmington

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Southern California has produced more than its share of major league players. In this space, we'll take a look at how Southland players are faring in the minors. This week: the Class-A Carolina League

When Kurt Mertins of the Wilmington Blue Rocks was named the Carolina League's offensive player of the week on April 21, it served as a harbinger of things to come for the infielder who was the Kansas City Royals' 13th-round draft choice in 2006 from College of the Desert.