Big Dodger

Oh Great God of Baseball, redeemer of Clemens and Cobb, a heavy burden roils my soul and leads me to this prayer. I've grown weary, Great One, beaten down by a long succession of painful seasons. The Dodgers are an ugly 31 and 37 this year and I can no longer steel myself against the steady tides of misery. I have questions -- questions pondered by the Dodgers' multitudes for at least a generation now.

The Dodgers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-4, in 10 innings Wednesday night, heating up the remnants of a cold and dampened crowd of 30,065 at Dodger Stadium. Amid a steady mist, the Dodgers ended a 5-2 home stand that left them within one game of the San Francisco Giants in the National League West when Cory Snyder singled in Henry Rodriguez against Larry Andersen with one out in the 10th inning. Andersen had walked Rodriguez and Tim Wallach to open the inning.

On Tuesday, the Dodgers announced the hiring of Forrest Gump, I mean Grady Little, as their new manager, and by Wednesday the accolades came pouring in about how great he is. The word from just about everyone seems to be that he's a soft-spoken, patient communicator, great at handling situations on and off the field who is well respected by his players. You know, just like Jim Tracy. RICHARD TURNAGE Burbank With the hiring of Grady Little as Dodger manager, I find it perfectly fitting that the team with the most retreads in baseball history has a gas station in the middle of its stadium parking lot. LARRY YELLS Hermosa Beach I could not disagree more with Bill Plaschke on the hiring of Grady Little as new Dodger manager.

For $400 million, you could produce two Hollywood blockbusters. The Dodgers and Angels are betting they have. Los Angeles' two Major League Baseball teams have been on a buying spree, signing some of the game's most talented players. The Dodgers gave Zack Greinke a six-year contract for $147 million, a record for a right-handed pitcher. The Angels lured outfield Josh Hamilton from the Texas Rangers in a five-year, $125-million deal - a year after spending $240 million to secure slugger Albert Pujols' services for 10 years.

NASHVILLE - Would the Dodgers' 2013 season be a failure if the team did not win the World Series? Stan Kasten leaned forward in his chair. The Dodgers' president was one of a handful of team executives listening in as General Manager Ned Colletti briefed the media Tuesday. "I'm waiting for Ned to answer," Kasten said. "I want to know the answer. " The Dodgers arrived at baseball's winter meetings hoping to sign Zack Greinke, and they would not be surprised to leave in the very same position.

Tom Lasorda, back in the dugout? The Hall of Fame manager retired in 1996, but Lasorda still has the touch, leading the U.S. baseball team to an improbable gold medal in the Sydney Olympics. Now, the Dodgers might call Lasorda to duty again. Chairman Bob Daly would not rule out Lasorda, a senior vice president, becoming the bench coach for new Manager Jim Tracy, leaving many wondering if the Dodgers are planning another surprising move. "You'll have to ask Mr.

He used to be the first man out of the dugout. Now he is the last one to leave. Tom Lasorda, accustomed to jumping on the field to celebrate wins, stayed in his seat again Sunday, sitting motionless for 10 minutes after another Dodger loss. Alone, staring at an empty infield as workers moved around him to pick up bats and empty water buckets, Lasorda sat. Later, from his Wrigley Field clubhouse office, he stated what had already been made very clear. "This kills me," he said. "It just kills me."

Just when I thought I could not summon the words to describe the Dodgers' pitching rotation, Joe Torre found two. On Thursday afternoon, he boldly uttered them. By Friday, Dodgers fans were buzzing about them. On Saturday, I just had to ask him. Vicente Padilla? "Yes" Torre said. "C'mon," I said. Padilla has been selected as the Dodgers' opening-day starter, and, I know, opening day is only one game, only one of 162, an April gimmick forgotten by May. But opening day is also traditionally the place where starting rotations pitch their tent, plant their flag, make the first statement about their hopes for the coming season.

Cut through all the hugs and high-fives and head butts--"Yep, there was some guys so excited they were butting heads," said Mitch Webster--and the message sent by the Dodgers to the rest of the league Monday night was clear. You can only push them so far.

The New York Mets got their first look at the new Darryl Strawberry Friday when the Dodger outfielder greeted his former teammates with waves, warm embraces and autographs that referred to Bible verses. They also saw the old Strawberry, as he shut up a stadium full of boo birds with a 400-foot home run, a run-scoring double and a throw from right field that nailed Gregg Jefferies at home plate. The Dodgers lost a game, but Strawberry made a point.