AG when you curse someone you REALLY curse someone. I know you're a
dabbler in the Wikka (sp?) faith but I never thought it would work
this fast. If I ever piss you off please give me a chance to
appologize and make amends. : ^)
http://www.dailynews.com/ci_9317800?source=rss
Dodgers manager Joe Torre won't have to worry about how to squeeze
four outfielders into three spots for at least the next three days. He
might not have to worry about it for a lot longer than that.
Moments after rookie third baseman Blake DeWitt's walkoff, bases-
loaded single in the bottom of the ninth inning, scoring Russell
Martin to give the Dodgers a 6-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in
front of 34,669 Monday night at Dodger Stadium, Torre revealed
struggling center fielder Andruw Jones will be sidelined at least
until Friday after an MRI exam showed fluid and torn cartilage in his
right knee.
Moments after that, Jones made it sound more serious than Torre had.
"I'm going to give it two days, and if it doesn't get better ... we'll
go ahead and scope it," said Jones, using the word "scope" as a common
euphemism for arthroscopic surgery. Jones went on to say team medical
personnel had told him that such a procedure would carry a four- to
five-week rehabilitation, meaning it probably would sideline Jones
through the end of June.
That, of course, would be yet another blow for Jones, who is in the
midst of a miserable first season with the Dodgers after signing a two-
year, $36.2 million free-agent contract in December. After more than
11 seasons, 10 Gold Gloves and five All-Star Game appearances with the
Atlanta Braves, Jones has been, thus far at least, a colossal bust
with the Dodgers, batting .167 while striking out once every 3.5 plate
appearances and hearing an increasing chorus of boos with every game
he plays at Chavez Ravine.
At least that's one thing he won't have to deal with for a while -
unless, of course, he can avoid surgery.
"Hopefully, the swelling will go down, and I'll get more flexibility
in my knee, and I can just go out there and play," Jones said.
"Hopefully, I can just get treatment on it, and then probably get (the
surgery) done during the offseason."
Jones said he initially felt discomfort three days ago, but that it
wasn't severe enough to give it much thought.
"But when I woke up (Monday) morning, there was serious pain," Jones
said.Club officials are holding out hope that Jones can avoid the
disabled list, and as such are willing to play this entire three-game
series with the Reds a player short. Jones said if he does decide to
undergo surgery, he will do it as soon as possible - "maybe as early
as Monday," he said - to minimize the amount of time he misses. A five-
week rehab after a Monday surgery would put him on track to return
around July 1.
"I would say that by Friday, we'll know (more)," Torre said.
The Dodgers (23-21) responded to Jones' absence with their seventh
consecutive home win over the Reds, who haven't won a game in Los
Angeles since 2005.
Although an ineffective Brad Penny put the Dodgers in early holes of
4-0 and 5-2, they forged a stirring comeback against Bronson Arroyo,
stringing together four two-out hits in the fifth inning to tie the
score.
It remained tied until Martin led off the ninth with a slow roller to
short against David Weathers, setting off a chain of events that led
to the precocious DeWitt delivering yet again and the second-place
Dodgers moving within five games of division-leading Arizona in the
National League West.
After Takashi Saito (2-1) blew through the Reds in the ninth, Martin
hit a ball to rookie Paul Janish, who had been inserted at shortstop
an inning earlier and who has been in the majors for less than a week.
Janish scooped it and fired - directly into the stands behind the
first-base dugout, putting Martin on second. After Jeff Kent's
grounder to the right side moved Martin to third, Reds manager Dusty
Baker ordered intentional walks to both James Loney and Matt Kemp -
who to that point was 4 for 4 - to load the bases.
DeWitt, whose season is quickly becoming the stuff of legend, then
poked one through the left side to send Weathers (1-3) and the Reds
trudging off.
"He is a good sinkerball pitcher," DeWitt said. "I was just looking
for a pitch up in the zone that I could drive so I could stay out of
the double play."
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