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07/21/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brad Penny nearly reprised his role as the National League's starting pitcher in the All-Star Game for a second consecutive season. The Los Angeles Dodgers are now hoping that their burly ace doesn't repeat his subpar second-half performance of 2006.
Although Penny was nudged out by San Diego's Jake Peavy for the NL's starting nod of this year's Midsummer Classic, he certainly made a strong case for the honor. He entered the break with a 10-1 record and 2.39 earned run average in 18 starts, while surrendering a mere three home runs over 116 2/3 innings of work.
Penny posted similar numbers (10-2, 2.91) en route to earning last year's starting assignment in Pittsburgh. That appearance turned out to be the high point of the 28-year-old's season, as he slumped to a 6-7 record with an uncharacteristic 5.25 ERA following the break.
The hard-throwing right-hander appears determined not to duplicate that disappointing performance this time around, and if Penny's initial start of the 2007 second half is any indication, he won't be. He threw seven dominating innings against a potent Philadelphia Phillies lineup on Monday, yielding only a run on four hits while striking out eight batters in the Dodgers' 10-3 victory.
Penny showed no ill effects from a recent blister problem that cut short his final first-half start. He was able to throw 104 pitches on the evening, 70 of which found the strike zone.
"Great plays were made that kept me out of trouble, he said afterward. "I threw strikes. I felt better as the game went on."
The Dodgers are going to need Penny to maintain his level of excellence with the club's once-formidable rotation currently in a state of flux. Derek Lowe has been struggling badly in recent weeks, Jason Schmidt is out for the season and Randy Wolf is temporarily on the shelf with a sore shoulder.
Factor in an expected lack of available starting pitching at the trade deadline, and it looks like Los Angeles will be relying heavily on Penny to keep pace with the Padres and Diamondbacks in the competitive NL West.
DYNAMIC DUO
Lately the Dodgers have received tremendous production out of right field, where youngsters Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp have been splitting time at the position.
Ethier, the left-handed member of the platoon, is batting .522 (12-for-23) with two home runs and 10 RBI over the last eight games. Kemp is presently riding a six-game hitting streak in which the 22-year-old has gone 11-for-21 (.524) with a pair of homers, two triples and seven RBI.
The biggest challenge for manager Grady Little has finding enough time for the budding sluggers in a crowded outfield that also includes clutch veteran Luis Gonzalez and speedster Juan Pierre.
"We've got guys battling for playing time, but you have to know what's expected of you and what your role is," Ethier recently told the team's official site. We have four outfielders swinging the bat well, and we know what's expected. There's no wondering why one guy plays and one guy's on the bench. We each have each other's backs."
IN WITH THE OLD
Los Angeles added an arm to its bullpen prior to Wednesday's series finale with the Phillies, as grizzled vet Roberto Hernandez was recalled from Triple- A Las Vegas to serve as the 12th pitcher.
The 42-year-old, who has 326 career saves to his credit, began the season with Cleveland but was released by the Indians last month after compiling a lackluster 6.23 ERA in 28 appearances. The Dodgers signed Hernandez to a minor-league deal shortly afterward.
While it's possible the right-hander could make a solid contribution to the relief corps, Hernandez's addition more than likely signals the Dodgers' willingness to trade for bullpen help prior to the July 31 deadline. Kansas City's Octavio Dotel has been mentioned as a possible target to serve as a bridge to All-Star closer Takashi Saito.
Los Angeles could use a fresh arm in the 'pen, though, as its starting pitchers have averaged just five innings over the first seven games following the All-Star break. Rubber-armed relievers Jonathan Broxton and Joe Beimel have appeared in five of those contests.
INJURY REPORT
Wolf will have a 20-pitch bullpen session on Friday, the lefty's first time throwing off a mound since he was placed on the DL on July 4, and is expected to make a rehab start for the Dodgers' Class A affiliate, the Inland Empire 66ers, sometime next week. Barring any setbacks, he should be ready to rejoin the rotation in early August.
Right-hander Chad Billingsley labored through a career-high 113 pitches in five innings of Wednesday's 5-4 win over Philadelphia and aggravated a blister on his finger that could put his next scheduled start in jeopardy. The talented young hurler is tentatively slated to take the mound when the Dodgers open a three-game series in Houston on Monday.
WHO'S HOT
The entire Dodger offense. Los Angeles has racked up 58 runs over its last eight games and compiled 13 hits or more in all but two of those contests. The surge has vaulted the club to the top of the National League in batting average (.278) and third in on-base percentage (.345).
Individually, catcher Russell Martin has gone 9-for-24 (.375) with a .500 on- base percentage in seven games following his first career All-Star appearance. Shortstop Rafael Furcal is batting .364 (12-for-13) with six runs scored since the break.
WHO'S NOT
Lowe was rocked for nine runs and 10 hits before being removed after three innings of Thursday's 13-9 loss to the New York Mets. He hasn't won in five starts since defeating Tampa Bay on June 22, having recorded three defeats and two no decisions over that span.
ON DECK
A four-game series with the NL East-leading Mets resumes Friday at Dodger Stadium, with Brett Tomko (2-7, 5.88) getting the call for Los Angeles opposite Oliver Perez (8-6, 3.13). Penny (11-1, 2.33) will face off against Jorge Sosa (7-4, 3.84) on Saturday, with Mark Hendrickson (4-5, 4.54) slated to start Sunday's finale for the Dodgers. Veteran Orlando Hernandez (6-4, 2.96) will pitch for New York.
<< British Open Second Round News & Notes
Carnoustie, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It has been quite a golfing week for
Spain.
On Monday, Seve Ballesteros, a three-time champion, and Spain's greatest
golfer in history, announced his retirement from competitive golf. He had be
<< Moya upended in quarters of Dutch Open
Amersfoort, Netherlands (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Third-seeded Carlos Moya was
upset in three sets by Werner Eschauer in quarterfinals action at the Dutch
Open on Friday.
Eschauer, an Austrian, survived a first-set tiebreaker loss, and
<< Yashin headed to Russian Super League
Yaroslavl, Russia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former New York Islander Alexei Yashin
agreed to a contract to play next season with Locomotiv Yaroslavl of the
Russian Super League on Friday.
Yashin, who had the last four seasons of his 10-
<< Thumbs down: Twins' Cuddyer placed on DL
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Minnesota Twins right fielder Michael
Cuddyer was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday due to a sprained right
thumb.
Cuddyer suffered the injury when sliding into second base during Tuesd
Red Bulls to be without Angel versus United >>
East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Red Bull New York enters the second
game of a five-game homestand Sunday when it hosts D.C. United in a Major
League Soccer fixture.
It will be the second meeting between the Eastern Conferenc
Conference USA - Title game rematch? >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two years ago, Conference USA won just
11% (two of 19) of its games vs. BCS schools, but finished 12-9 ATS. Last
season was an improved campaign with a 19% winning percentage against BCS
teams with five win
TFC aiming to end road trip on winning note at Crew >>
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Toronto FC concludes its six-game road trip on
Sunday with a visit to Crew Stadium to take on the Columbus Crew.
The Canadian side is 1-1-3 on its current trip, including a 0-0 draw last time
out against the
Colorado hopes for Rapid improvement in K.C. >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Wizards won for the first
time in seven games last week, and will try to continue their winning ways on
Sunday when the club hosts the struggling Colorado Rapids at Arrowhead
Stadium
Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)
"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."
Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins
There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.
Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins
Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.
USC Trojans - 10.5 wins
A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.
Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy
Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.
"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."
Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1
The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.
Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1
If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.
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