NewsDodgers bid farewell to Interleague
Los Angeles (48-28) vs. Colorado (40-35), 7:10 p.m. PT
By Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com
06/28/09 7:15 PM ET
LOS ANGELES -- With the Dodgers' loss against the Mariners on Sunday, the club wrapped up Interleague Play, and it's something manager Joe Torre won't miss. "I'm not a big fan," Torre said of Interleague Play. "I think it's a novelty for the fans, which is fine. But only in certain cities it works." Torre pointed out that it's impossible for the system to be fair because his team plays different American League teams every year and some team's natural rivals are better than others such as the Angels, whom the Dodgers play six times a year annually. "It's unfair at times," Torre said. "We play the Angels six times and other teams in our division play them just three times and the Angels are one of the elite teams." Torre also said he doesn't see an advantage to seeing a team in Interleague Play and then in the postseason because it's too small of a sample size and it all comes before the July 31 Trade Deadline. "Seeing a team for three games [isn't enough]." Torre said. "Between now and October things change so drastically." Torre also doesn't like the unfamiliarity that comes with playing teams for a few games every few years. "It's very difficult managing against them, getting a feel for who you want to pitch to and you don't," Torre said. "You have scouting reports, but you like seeing them and making your own mind up." The Dodgers finished 9-9 in Interleague Play this year and are 99-110 in Interleague Play since it began in 1997. The Dodgers haven't had a winning record against the American League since 2004, when they were 10-8. They'll return to their National League schedule on Monday against the Rockies, whom they have faced nine times this season.The Dodgers are 8-1 against Colorado this season, but the Rockies have been on a roll recently under former Dodgers manager Jim Tracy, winning 20 of their last 23 games.
"They're the hottest team in baseball," Torre said. "We played them early and we had good luck with them, so we'll have to start from scratch and try and right our ship."
Pitching matchupLAD: LHP Randy Wolf (3-3, 3.64 ERA)
Wolf got roughed up by the White Sox last time out. In only 3 1/3 innings, he allowed five runs and three homers, along with two walks, two wild pitches and a hit batter. The Dodgers had won seven of Wolf's eight previous starts and he came into the game having allowed only one run the previous 11 innings. It was his first start of the year lasting less than five innings. COL: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (6-7, 3.83 ERA)
Jimenez pitched a solid seven innings against the Angels on Tuesday, giving up seven hits and four earned runs, yet he got the loss thanks to a timely two-run single by Bobby Abreu in the top of the eighth inning. It was the first loss of June for Jimenez, who had won three straight. Jimenez is 4-3 with a 6.84 ERA in 10 career games against the Dodgers. Tidbits
Right-hander Jason Schmidt threw a bullpen session on Sunday and Torre said he could pitch with the club in the "not-too-distant future" but that he is only cautiously optimistic because Schmidt has suffered several setbacks over the years and hasn't appeared in a game since 2007. ... The Dodgers saw their season-long errorless streak end at 50 2/3 innings after Hiroki Kuroda made a throwing error in the third inning against the Mariners on Sunday. ... Lakers forward Trevor Ariza threw out the first pitch Sunday. Tickets
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• Tuesday: Dodgers (Chad Billingsley, 9-3, 3.10) vs. Rockies (Jason Marquis, 9-5, 4.22), 7:10 p.m. PT
• Wednesday: Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw, 5-5, 3.70) vs. Rockies (Jason Hammel, 5-3, 4.21), 12:10 p.m. PT
• Thursday: Off-day
Rhett Bollinger is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
