The Dodgers are serious about the World Series this year.
In a series of moves just before the Sept. 1 deadline (after which new acquisitions cannot be on the playoff roster) the Dodgers picked up the big bat of Jim Thome from the White Sox and another solid starting pitcher in Jon Garland from the Diamondbacks. In the case of Thome it was a vitual giveaway for the Dodgers who had to turn over a low-level Class A prospect, although for Garland the player to be named later could be more significant.
The Dodgers were willing to spend to get a better chance at a ring — both men bring quality playoff experience to a team trying to win its first title in 21 years.
Thome digs the long ball — he is 12th on the all time Major League home run list with 564, 24 ahead of Manny Ramirez. Thome and Ramirez also are being reunited, they were teammates together on the Cleveland Indians back when that was one of the most feared lineups in baseball. So far this season Thome has 23 home runs and is crushing the ball against right handed pitching.
There is one problem — he can’t play in the field.
“(Thome) called me about 8:30 tonight and said, ‘I wanted to call you, I know you have interest, and I want you to know that me playing first base is probably not going to be an option, but I’ll come off the bench and do whatever I can to help this team win’” Dodger manager Ned Colletti said in a televised interview after the game.
The Dodgers need power off the bench — they have just one pinch-hit home run this season that did not come from a regular starter who happened to be taking the day off (such as Ramirez). Now Joe Torre has an intimidating bat as option when he looks down the bench, as well as a good designated hitter if the Dodgers reach the World Series.
Sports
Get today's sports news out of Los Angeles. Here's the latest on the Dodgers, Lakers, Angels, Kings, Galaxy, LAFC, USC, UCLA and more LA teams.
Garland is not spectacular but he is solid — and right now the Dodgers could use another solid starter with Hiroki Kuroda still out after a line drive struck him in the head (plus the Dodgers have never really had a reliable fifth starter all season). Garland is 8-11 with a 4.29 ERA this season. He’s averaged 14 wins a season for the last seven years, and he’s been pitching well lately, going 3-1 in August with a 3.89 ERA.
And getting him into the locker room was easy, the Dodgers are hosting the Diamond backs, so Garland just walked down the hall and switch uniforms.
Combine that with Ronnie Belliard, who was traded for yesterday, started tonight and hit a home run in his first at bat for the Dodgers, and you see a Dodgers organization that wants to win it all. Now. And is willing to make the moves that give them a chance, bringing in veterans with playoff and World Series experience to make the push.
Who knows if it will be enough, baseball playoffs are tricky things, but you can’t fault the organization’s effort. There are times this season the Dodgers have felt like a team of destiny, and this could put them back on that track
