Dodgers Fail to Land Dempster at Trade Deadline, but They Add Victorino

Chris Capuano (10-6, 3.13) vs. Wade Miley (11-6, 3.11)

Dodgers Lineup: vs. Airzona

Hairston 7

M. Ellis 4

Kemp 8

Ethier 9

Ramirez 5

Rivera 3

Cruz 6

Treanor 2

Capuano 1

Trade rundown:

7/25-Dodgers trade Nathan Eovaldi and Scott McGough to Miami for Hanley Ramirez and Randy Choate

7/31- Dodgers trade Logan Bawcom and Leon Landry to Seattle for Brandon League

        – Dodgers trade Josh Lindblom and Ethan Martin to Philadelphia for Shane Victorino

My head is still spinning after all the non-waiver trade deadline deals the Dodgers have made this past week. Starting with Hanley Ramirez, the Dodgers have been checking off their wanted items from their shopping list. As the 1 pm cut-off approached, Ned Colletti and team were busy making phone goals and wheelin’ and dealin’. With no monetary restraints this year, we have seen increased trade activity by the Dodgers. From the moves made today, it is obvious that the Dodgers want to win now. They have traded away quite a few minor league prospects in hopes of making a run for the division in these final two months of the 2012 season. While the Hanley deal was to my liking, this Shane Victorino for Josh Lindblom and Ethan Martin deal was not. My disdain for Victorino runs deep, but I will have to wait for a later post to fully express my mixed emotions with this situation. As of right now, I have to suck it up and face the reality that Shane Victorino is leading off for the Dodgers. The Giants made a counter deal as they traded Nate Schierholtz to the Phillies in exchange for Hunter Pence. I like Pence a lot more than Victorino, but the Dodgers are still coming out of this transitional phase with upgraded power and speed in the lineup, a true lead-off hitter, and a couple of new bullpen pieces. While the Dodgers failed to land Ryan Dempster (he went to Texas), I’m glad they didn’t give into the Cubs hefty requests for prospects like Zach Lee or Allen Webster. Dempster would have been just a two month rental. Remember, we have Ted Lilly close to return and also Rubby De La Rosa is in rehab as well. Additional trades can always be made after today, but the player (s) would have to clear waivers first.

Oh yeah, there’s a game tonight. After losing 7-2 to the D-backs last night due to a horrible start by Aaron Harang, the Dodgers need a solid outing from Chris Capuano. While we were concentrating on the battle for first place between the Dodgers and Giants, the Diamondbacks were slowly slithering their way back into the race and sit at just 3 1/2 games back. Tonight will feature a southpaw matchup between two pitchers with very similar numbers.

Chris Capuano, a 10-game winner, will go to the mound in hopes of bouncing back after a rough start last time out against the Cardinals. He only lasted 4

1/3 innings during the extreme heat, and he allowed 11 hits and 6 earned runs on his way to his sixth loss of the year. He’s had some trouble against the snakes in his career, and he has a 2-5 record with a 4.31 ERA against them. Back on July 8th, Cappy lost against Arizona after allowing 5 runs on 9 hits over 5 innings of work. Chris Johnson, the newest grand slam hitting snake, is hitting .375 against Cappy. Johnson along with Miguel Montero and Justin Upton have all gone deep against Capuano.

Wade Miley will strive for his twelfth win of the season as he tries to help his team capture the series win at Dodger Stadium. Last time out against the Mets, he picked up the win. In his start against the Dodgers earlier in the month, he lost. During that game, he allowed 4 earned runs on 8 hits over 6 2/3 innings. In his career against Los Angeles, Miley is 1-1 with a 4.40 ERA. Mark Ellis and Matt Kemp have both hits homeruns against him.

Tune into KCAL at 7:10pm for the game, and check back here at Lasorda’s Lair for continuing trade deadline coverage and analysis.