Dodgers Down Brew Crew

The Dodger offense came alive for the second game in a row, as the boys in blue beat the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday night.  The Dodgers were led by Manny Ramirez, who went 2 for 2 with two walks, two doubles, one run scored and one RBI. That RBI gave the Dodgers a 5-4 lead, and they didn't give it back, going on to win by the same score. It was reported earlier in the day that Manny had been placed on waivers by the Dodgers.

Hiroki Kuroda, who was also reported as being placed on waivers, had a nice night on the mound. Hiro went seven innings, giving up four runs on seven hits while striking out six. He did not walk any Brewers.

Andre Ethier got the Dodger offense started, hitting a solo homerun in the third inning, his 2oth on the year.

Jonathan Broxton shut down the Brewers in the eighth inning. Joe Torre then used Ronald Belisario, George Sherrill and Octavio Dotel for one batter each in the ninth inning, with Dotel earning his 22nd save on the year.

Manny Ramirez and Hiroki Kuroda weren't the only Dodgers placed on waivers. It's being reported that Casey Blake, Scott Podsednik and Jay Gibbons were also placed on waivers as well.

Dodgers Acquire Octavio Dotel

The Dodgers made another trade today, acquiring pitcher Octavio Dotel from the Pittsburgh Pirates for pitcher James McDonald and outfield prospect James Lambo. Dotel,36, has a 4.28 ERA in 41 appearances with 21 saves for the Pirates this season.

From ESPNLA.com's Tony Jackson:

Dotel was in his first season with the Pirates after signing a one-year, $3.5 million free-agent deal last winter that pays him a base salary this season of $3.25 million and carries a $4.5 million club option for next season with a $250,000 buyout. The Pirates also sent the Dodgers $500,000 in cash to cover most of the remainder of Dotel's contract.

There was a clause in Dotel's deal that automatically converted the club option to a mutual option in the event of a trade, meaning Dotel could simply opt for free agency in the fall even if the Dodgers want to exercise the option.

McDonald, 25, had long been considered one of the Dodgers' top pitching prospects but hadn't been able to gain a foothold in the major leagues despite being on the postseason roster each of the past two years. He had made one start this season after being called up from Triple-A Albuquerque on July 19, giving up four runs in five innings that night in a loss to the San Francisco Giants. After that lone start, McDonald was moved to the bullpen, where he had a 10.11 ERA in three appearances.

Lambo, who will turn 22 next week, has long been considered one of the Dodgers' top outfield prospects. But he fell out of favor somewhat when he was suspended for 50 games earlier this season under baseball's Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program after testing positive for a drug of abuse, which multiple sources have identified as marijuana.

Lambo was hitting .271 with four homers and 25 RBIs in 47 games for Double-A Chattanooga.

I think the Dodgers gave up too much for a 36 year old reliever. Yes, JMac is having a bad year. Yes, Lambo was suspended earlier in the season for drug violation, but that was for marijuana. And yes, Dotel will help the ailing Dodger bullpen. But both McDoanld and Lambo have been considered top Dodger prospects over the last couple of years. I think Ned could have gotten much more for these two.

With all the young talent the Dodgers have traded away this week, they could have done a lot better than Podsednik, Lilly, Theriot and Dotel. As usual Ned overpayed for veteran players. The Dodger farm system has been depleted and it doesn't look like the team has gotten much better.