Guillermo Mota

Fined by Major League Baseball on Thursday for throwing at Milwaukee's Prince Fielder two days earlier, Guillermo Mota said he considered the matter to be settled. Mota, who avoided a suspension, said he wouldn't file an appeal. "We're going to pay it and forget about it," he said, although he said he hadn't been told the amount of his fine. Fielder was fined $2,500, but also not suspended, for attempting to enter the Dodgers' clubhouse on Tuesday night to look for Mota.

The Dodgers have learned that Manny Ramirez will be theirs for another season -- at a price tag of $20 million. Ramirez's agent, Scott Boras, told General Manager Ned Colletti on Friday that Ramirez would not exercise the escape clause in his contract that would have let the former All-Star outfielder re-enter the free-agent market at age 37. Ramirez had until Tuesday to inform the cash-strapped Dodgers if he intended to void the second year...

Mike Piazza has some misdirected anger. Roger Clemens drilled him in the head with a 95-mph fastball, then tried to impale him on a chunk of broken bat. It has been three years in the making, but Piazza has finally fought back -- against Guillermo Mota. Jeff Sosner Sherman Oaks Concerning the much-replayed tirade of the new Devil Ray manager, I have only one question: What does Tommy Lasorda think about Lou Piniella's performance? Ed Herrera Fullerton It took a call-up from the Big Guy to silence Chick Hearn.

There are no plans to have struggling pitcher Chad Billingsley skip a start to clear his head, and in fact the key is to get the right-hander back on the mound, Dodgers Manager Joe Torre said Monday. Billingsley has lost four times in his last five starts, including Sunday's 7-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants. He said after that game he didn't "know how to explain" the slump. "I'm sure he's frustrated," Torre said before the Dodgers played the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium.

Dodger reliever Guillermo Mota hopes to persuade baseball to reduce his five-game suspension today during an appeal hearing at Dodgertown. Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, will decide whether Mota, also fined $3,000, should be punished less for intentionally hitting New York Met catcher Mike Piazza with a pitch March 12, igniting a bench-clearing brawl between the clubs. DuPuy's ruling is expected Friday, a baseball official said.

LAST SEASON 84-78 (first place in NL West) MANAGER Joe Torre (second season) PROJECTED STARTERS (last season's NL numbers): C-Russell Martin (.280, 13 HRs, 69 RBIs) 1B-James Loney (.289, 13, 90) 2B-Orlando Hudson (.305, 8, 41) 3B-Casey Blake (.251, 10, 23) SS-Rafael Furcal (.357, 5, 16) LF-Manny Ramirez (.396, 17, 53) CF-Matt Kemp (.290, 18, 76) RF-Andre Ethier (.305, 20, 77) STARTING ROTATION Chad Billingsley (16-10, 3.14); Hiroki Kuroda (9-10, 3.73)

It's obvious that The Times has no quality control, since they keep printing the rantings and ravings of Bill Plaschke, who is well on his way to being as baseless in his allegations as Ann Coulter. To somehow equate the trading of Paul Lo Duca and the acquisition of Brad Penny as ruining the potential "dominance" of the Dodgers in the Western Division is just laughable. The 2004 division crown, while exciting and fun, was built upon a series of fortuitous events and especially the tremendous year of Adrian Beltre who, clearly, has reverted to his pumpkin status.

Guillermo Mota has agreed to the terms of one-year contract to rejoin the Dodgers, according to baseball sources who were granted anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the matter. The deal is pending a physical, which is scheduled for today. Mota, a 35-year-old right-hander, pitched for the Dodgers from 2002 to 2004, primarily setting up closer Eric Gagne. He posted a 2.60 earned-run average in his two-plus seasons with the club but was traded to the Florida Marlins in 2004.

So let me get this straight: The Dodgers traded their starting catcher who was a fan favorite to the Florida Marlins in a package deal and we're going to end up with Charles Johnson behind the plate? Didn't we do that already or is it just deja vu? Scott Hofman Atwater Village While the acquisition of a pitcher might prove vital to the stretch run for the Dodgers, trading away Paul Lo Duca stings. He, more than any other Dodger since Orel Hershiser, embodies what it means to wear the uniform.

Florida Marlin closer Guillermo Mota was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Friday. Mota, a former Dodger, was 0-1 with a 1.86 earned-run average and two saves before right elbow inflammation resulted in his being put on the disabled list May 1. Florida Manager Jack McKeon said Mota probably would assume a middle relief or set-up role to get comfortable before resuming his closing duties. Todd Jones has replaced Mota as the closer.

Randy Wolf is 33 years old. He is in his 11th major-league season. But he has never pitched in the playoffs. "It's definitely a huge, gaping hole," Wolf said. Tonight, the left-hander will take the mound at Coors Field in what is arguably his most important start of the season, as he faces the team closest to the Dodgers in the standings. Wolf, who is 3-0 with a 1.99 earned-run average over his last three starts, said he doesn't expect to be any more nervous than usual.

Fined by Major League Baseball on Thursday for throwing at Milwaukee's Prince Fielder two days earlier, Guillermo Mota said he considered the matter to be settled. Mota, who avoided a suspension, said he wouldn't file an appeal. "We're going to pay it and forget about it," he said, although he said he hadn't been told the amount of his fine. Fielder was fined $2,500, but also not suspended, for attempting to enter the Dodgers' clubhouse on Tuesday night to look for Mota.

Prince Fielder became a 21st century baseball villain Wednesday. He was booed when introduced for each of his five hitless at-bats in the Milwaukee Brewers' 4-1 victory over the Dodgers. The fans at Dodger Stadium cheered whenever he missed a pitch. They snickered when the bulky All-Star made an awkward head-first slide stealing second base in the third inning. Fielder's crime?

Dodgers teammates Rafael Furcal and Guillermo Mota have spoken to Manny Ramirez in the last couple of days, they said Tuesday, and both described the slugger as distraught over his 50-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy. "He's recuperating," Mota said.

LAST SEASON 84-78 (first place in NL West) MANAGER Joe Torre (second season) PROJECTED STARTERS (last season's NL numbers): C-Russell Martin (.280, 13 HRs, 69 RBIs) 1B-James Loney (.289, 13, 90) 2B-Orlando Hudson (.305, 8, 41) 3B-Casey Blake (.251, 10, 23) SS-Rafael Furcal (.357, 5, 16) LF-Manny Ramirez (.396, 17, 53) CF-Matt Kemp (.290, 18, 76) RF-Andre Ethier (.305, 20, 77) STARTING ROTATION Chad Billingsley (16-10, 3.14); Hiroki Kuroda (9-10, 3.73)

Just wondering if anyone else finds it odd . . . the Dodgers wanted no part of Derek Lowe because of his relationship with a TV broadcaster while both were married to others, but management had no problem giving $2.35 million to a drug guy who was suspended for 50 games? In addition to $2.35 million, relief pitcher Guillermo Mota's contract provides for an additional $300,000 in incentives.

Guillermo Mota received a rude reception when he came in to pitch the ninth inning of Thursday's 6-1 victory over the New York Mets at Shea Stadium. "It was good to see the reaction of the fans," said the right-hander, who pitched a perfect inning in his first appearance in five games. "The fans just booed me. Everything is over."

The Glendale branch of the Los Angeles District Attorney's office Wednesday charged relief pitcher Guillermo Mota with two misdemeanors stemming from an alcohol-related arrest, an office spokesperson said. Mota, arrested April 21 after allegedly speeding on the Ventura Freeway, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and driving while having a blood-alcohol level of .08% or higher. Mota, whose blood-alcohol level was measured at .

Guillermo Mota has agreed to the terms of one-year contract to rejoin the Dodgers, according to baseball sources who were granted anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the matter. The deal is pending a physical, which is scheduled for today. Mota, a 35-year-old right-hander, pitched for the Dodgers from 2002 to 2004, primarily setting up closer Eric Gagne. He posted a 2.60 earned-run average in his two-plus seasons with the club but was traded to the Florida Marlins in 2004.

Reliever Guillermo Mota was suspended for 50 games Wednesday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, becoming the third player penalized this year for violating Major League Baseball's toughened drug policy. In announcing the suspension, the commissioner's office did not say why Mota was suspended. His failed drug test was confirmed by a baseball official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the specifics weren't included in the release. Mota, 33, was 4-3 with a 4.