Darren Dreifort

Two months ago, Darren Dreifort lugged a bucket of baseballs into his backyard and, just for fun, threw a couple of dozen pitches. Not long after, he underwent knee surgery. The procedure had been scheduled beforehand. Seriously. The surgery was the 16th in a career that ended Aug. 16, 2004, but lingers in trips to physical therapy, a sustained relationship with Dr. Frank Jobe and various aches that go ignored. He sat this week in a La Canada coffee shop, 33 years old for a few more weeks.

Pitchers with the most days spent on the disabled lists (through the 2005 season): World Features Syndicate *--* PLAYER DAYS ON DL 1. Bret Saberhagen 1,016 2. Matt Matei 910 3. Darren Dreifort 750 4. Mike Morgan 729 5. Steve Karsay 712 *--*

Math was never my strong suit in school, but I think even my old algebra teacher, Mr. Goldstein, would have a tough time with the following equation: The Dodgers sign Brad Penny for $5.1 million; a pitcher with one Dodger win in the bank and whose last memory for Dodger fans was of him hopping around the infield, cradling his pitching arm like so much chopped liver. Some acquisition. At the other end of the spectrum, Jose Lima, he of the enthusiastic and infectious persona and holder of the only Dodger playoff win since 1988, is offered and accepts a contract for $2.5 million from the Royals.

Darren Dreifort began his latest comeback attempt Saturday at Dodgertown, throwing off a mound for the first time since last May. The injury-plagued right-hander threw 30 pitches while Dodger officials watched attentively, hoping Dreifort continues to make progress after twice undergoing surgery last season. "It felt a little awkward but good," said Dreifort, who had right knee surgery June 18 and an arthroscopic hip procedure Sept. 23. "I'm just trying to get prepared for [opening day].

Paul DePodesta rolled the dice, remaking the Dodgers before Saturday's non-waiver trading deadline despite their position atop the National League West. The bold first-year general manager figured the group wasn't good enough to play deep into October, so he overhauled the roster and crossed his fingers. Maybe his big gamble will pay off, but the maneuvering triggered a change that contributed to a 3-2 loss to San Diego on Saturday night.

The Dodgers said it would be silly to overhaul their new bullpen rotation because Darren Dreifort has struggled as the primary setup man. Then again, how much rope should anyone get in a pennant race? That was the big question Thursday after Dreifort failed to preserve another lead in the eighth inning when the Cincinnati Reds rallied for a 6-5 victory in front of 27,416 at Great American Ball Park.

Notes, quotes and anecdotes from the Dog Days Diary: * The problems Darren Dreifort has experienced in the eighth-inning role previously occupied by the virtually spotless Guillermo Mota are the Dodgers' worst nightmare -- assuming that Brad Penny's injury doesn't prove to be long-term -- in the aftermath of the controversial trade with the Florida Marlins.

Darren Dreifort probably has made his last appearance of the season as the Dodgers' primary setup man, but it has nothing to do with the ineffectiveness that has marred his new assignment. An MRI exam on the injury-plagued reliever's right knee Tuesday revealed a severely sprained anterior cruciate ligament that will almost surely require season-ending surgery. The Dodgers will put Dreifort on the disabled list today.

The wife said she wanted to do some remodeling. And Darren Dreifort thinks he was having a bad day. I thought she was talking about making the bed or asking the daughter who can't get a date to move out, so obviously I was all for it. Next thing I know she has me talking to an electrician, who is a gung-ho Kings' fan, calling me at 7 a.m. to talk about the good old days when Craig Johnson was playing hockey here, and did I know he was on his way to Germany to play?

Darren Dreifort threw 30 pitches in batting practice Wednesday, taking another small step toward rejoining the Dodger pitching staff. The right-hander, sidelined since July 2001 and coming off right knee surgery, mixed a few breaking pitches with fastballs and changeups while facing Dave Roberts, Mike Kinkade, Chad Hermansen, Daryle Ward and Shawn Green.

Two months ago, Darren Dreifort lugged a bucket of baseballs into his backyard and, just for fun, threw a couple of dozen pitches. Not long after, he underwent knee surgery. The procedure had been scheduled beforehand. Seriously. The surgery was the 16th in a career that ended Aug. 16, 2004, but lingers in trips to physical therapy, a sustained relationship with Dr. Frank Jobe and various aches that go ignored. He sat this week in a La Canada coffee shop, 33 years old for a few more weeks.

Pitchers with the most days spent on the disabled lists (through the 2005 season): World Features Syndicate *--* PLAYER DAYS ON DL 1. Bret Saberhagen 1,016 2. Matt Matei 910 3. Darren Dreifort 750 4. Mike Morgan 729 5. Steve Karsay 712 *--*

Math was never my strong suit in school, but I think even my old algebra teacher, Mr. Goldstein, would have a tough time with the following equation: The Dodgers sign Brad Penny for $5.1 million; a pitcher with one Dodger win in the bank and whose last memory for Dodger fans was of him hopping around the infield, cradling his pitching arm like so much chopped liver. Some acquisition. At the other end of the spectrum, Jose Lima, he of the enthusiastic and infectious persona and holder of the only Dodger playoff win since 1988, is offered and accepts a contract for $2.5 million from the Royals.

Darren Dreifort probably has made his last appearance of the season as the Dodgers' primary setup man, but it has nothing to do with the ineffectiveness that has marred his new assignment. An MRI exam on the injury-plagued reliever's right knee Tuesday revealed a severely sprained anterior cruciate ligament that will almost surely require season-ending surgery. The Dodgers will put Dreifort on the disabled list today.

The wife said she wanted to do some remodeling. And Darren Dreifort thinks he was having a bad day. I thought she was talking about making the bed or asking the daughter who can't get a date to move out, so obviously I was all for it. Next thing I know she has me talking to an electrician, who is a gung-ho Kings' fan, calling me at 7 a.m. to talk about the good old days when Craig Johnson was playing hockey here, and did I know he was on his way to Germany to play?

Notes, quotes and anecdotes from the Dog Days Diary: * The problems Darren Dreifort has experienced in the eighth-inning role previously occupied by the virtually spotless Guillermo Mota are the Dodgers' worst nightmare -- assuming that Brad Penny's injury doesn't prove to be long-term -- in the aftermath of the controversial trade with the Florida Marlins.

The Dodgers said it would be silly to overhaul their new bullpen rotation because Darren Dreifort has struggled as the primary setup man. Then again, how much rope should anyone get in a pennant race? That was the big question Thursday after Dreifort failed to preserve another lead in the eighth inning when the Cincinnati Reds rallied for a 6-5 victory in front of 27,416 at Great American Ball Park.

Paul DePodesta rolled the dice, remaking the Dodgers before Saturday's non-waiver trading deadline despite their position atop the National League West. The bold first-year general manager figured the group wasn't good enough to play deep into October, so he overhauled the roster and crossed his fingers. Maybe his big gamble will pay off, but the maneuvering triggered a change that contributed to a 3-2 loss to San Diego on Saturday night.

Darren Dreifort began his latest comeback attempt Saturday at Dodgertown, throwing off a mound for the first time since last May. The injury-plagued right-hander threw 30 pitches while Dodger officials watched attentively, hoping Dreifort continues to make progress after twice undergoing surgery last season. "It felt a little awkward but good," said Dreifort, who had right knee surgery June 18 and an arthroscopic hip procedure Sept. 23. "I'm just trying to get prepared for [opening day].

You can tell when agent Scott Boras is spouting his bull again, because his lips are moving. This time, his ire is directed at the Dodgers, who have the nerve to pay Eric Gagne a salary commensurate with his experience, per the collective bargaining agreement. But that's not good enough for Scott, who says, "There's an industry standard that you have, and the Dodgers did not meet that. Both Eric and myself were not happy about that." Funny, I wonder exactly what "industry standard" Boras clients, such as flops Darren Dreifort and Chan Ho Park, are meeting while they continue to be paid 10 figures a year.