Manny Mota

The first thing that strikes you about the Mota family is their politeness and charm. The second is that there are too many to keep track of without a score card. Let's see. There's good old No. 11 himself, Manuel Geronimo Mota, the onetime Dodger pinch-hitter extraordinaire. Then, in chronological order among the ballplaying sons, you have Jose, Andy, Domingo, Manuel Jr. and Antonio. But there's more.

Juan Uribe was dark-haired Thursday, blond Friday and bald Saturday. The inconsistency of Uribe's appearance has been a source of some light-hearted humor in the Dodgers' dugout. His inconsistent presence in the lineup? Not so funny. The Dodgers' $21-million off-season acquisition went into Saturday's game with a .215 average, something Manager Don Mattingly said he blamed on a couple of injuries Uribe suffered. Always considered a streaky hitter, Uribe started to gain momentum in mid-April, when he batted .435 with two home runs over a six-game stretch.

Eric Karros, interviewed after a recent game-winning hit, gave credit to coaches Manny Mota and Jack Clark for his recent improvement. Had he gone as well to his interviewer, Rick Monday, for hitting advice, he could have attributed his recent success to "Manny, Mo & Jack." Jordan Austin Port Hueneme

The McCourts may have had the best of intentions when buying the Dodgers in 2004 to forward this storied franchise to greater heights. However, with stewardship comes responsibility. They got drunk with the West Coast lifestyle … spending lavishly on themselves with little regard to Dodgers fans' concerns. Instead of spending wisely for top-of-the-rotation pitching, they bought multiple expensive homes. Instead of providing more concession stands and shorter lines at the stadium, we were offered $600 seats with waiter service.

Suffering through watching Gary Pettis of the Angels at bat makes one cry out for a new category to be used in baseball lineups: The DK, designated strikeout. Being a switch-hitter, he is a threat to strike out either left- or right-handed. Perhaps a trade with the Dodgers can be arranged. Lasorda could really use the best center fielder in professional baseball. Manny Mota can surely teach Pettis what all batting instructors know: How to hit a round ball with a round bat, squarely.

Former Dodger Manny Mota gave lessons in the basics of baseball to a group of aspiring South Bay athletes Tuesday, as the L.A. Kids Sports Academy began a second season of free training for low-income youth at Hansen Dam Sports Center. "These kids can't go to a camp that costs $300 a week," said Academy director Gary Bond. "We feel by having these free programs, we'll be introducing them to the game and they'll be learning about the basics of life."

The Dodgers have announced their response to an impending baseball rule that would limit teams to five coaches by reassigning batting and first base coach Manny Mota and dugout coach Joe Ferguson. Mota will handle various special assignments throughout the organization, while Ferguson will simply move from the dugout to the press box, where he will resume his old job as the Dodgers eye in the sky, aligning Dodger defenses.

Outfielder Tony Mota, the youngest of Dodger coach Manny Mota's eight children, is showing signs that he could follow his father to the major leagues. Mota is batting .277 in his first season with triple-A Albuquerque. He had a 12-game hitting streak that ended last Sunday. During the 12 games, he batted .474 with 18 hits in 38 at-bats and extended the streak three times in pinch-hitting appearances. Manny Mota set a major league record for pinch hits in a career.

Before Wednesday night's game against Florida, Manny Mota was honored for his 30 years of service with the Dodgers as a player and coach. It was the finishing segment to "Manny Mota Day" as he was also honored in the morning by the Los Angeles City Council. "I'm so proud and grateful to be a part of the L.A. family because this is a beautiful city," said Mota, who played with the Dodgers from 1969 to 1982 and still holds the major league record for pinch hits.

Former Dodger Manny Mota gave lessons in the basics of baseball to a group of aspiring South Bay athletes Tuesday, as the L.A. Kids Sports Academy began a second season of free training for low-income youths at Hansen Dam Sports Center. "These kids can't go to a camp that costs $300 a week," said Academy Director Gary Bond. "We feel by having these free programs, we'll be introducing them to the game and they'll be learning about the basics of life."

Dave Stewart calls Davey Lopes his best friend. He refers to him as a brother. And he thinks he might be the person who can guide Matt Kemp to greatness. "Matt will have someone he can trust," said Stewart, the former All-Star pitcher who is now Kemp's agent. The second baseman of the Dodgers' famed infield of the 1970s, Lopes officially returned on Monday to the club with which he made his name. Lopes, 65, will be the Dodgers' first base coach next season, joining the staff of rookie Manager Don Mattingly that also includes Trey Hillman (bench)

Manny Ramirez's arrival here is the biggest thing since Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon, heard to mutter under his breath, "Are you sure we didn't land in New Mexico?" He's back, all right, and while baseball won't allow him in uniform when the gates to Dodger Stadium open, here in the hinterlands, the Isotopes have hit the jackpot, selling a record number of tickets because Ramirez was caught using drugs and needs to rehab somewhere.

New Dodger hitting instructor George Hendrick stood behind the batting cage Tuesday night, and appeared to be working on Manny Mota's stance. Makes sense to me -- of all the current Dodgers here, Mota has the best chance of sticking around. And getting on base, for that matter. Hendrick, of course, refuses to speak to the media, so we know now why he was hired.

Eric Karros, interviewed after a recent game-winning hit, gave credit to coaches Manny Mota and Jack Clark for his recent improvement. Had he gone as well to his interviewer, Rick Monday, for hitting advice, he could have attributed his recent success to "Manny, Mo & Jack." Jordan Austin Port Hueneme

Baseball has so many Latino players, yet so few Latino announcers. At least in English-speaking booths. Fox is doing something about that. It is teaming Jose Mota with play-by-play announcer Kenny Albert on Saturday's Dodger-Colorado telecast. Mota, the son of Dodger coach Manny Mota and the second baseman on Cal State Fullerton's 1984 national championship team, has been doing Fox baseball in Spanish for five years.

It isn't that Mark McGwire comes to this pinch-hitting business cold. After all, he noted, he grew up in the Los Angeles area watching Manny Mota with the Dodgers, the best. Now, McGwire said with a laugh and a wink Thursday, "I'm the pinch-hitter extraordinaire. I'm Manny Mota."

Irene Cazares giggled as she tried to get the colorful basketball through the red hoop. She missed a few times before UCLA women's basketball Coach Kathy Oliver helped her make a shot. The assist took nothing away from the feat for Irene, a 12-year-old who is developmentally disabled and attends Lokrantz Special Education Center. She celebrated as though she had just banked the winning shot in a crucial game. In victory, she jumped and held both arms in the air with clenched fists.

Dave Stewart calls Davey Lopes his best friend. He refers to him as a brother. And he thinks he might be the person who can guide Matt Kemp to greatness. "Matt will have someone he can trust," said Stewart, the former All-Star pitcher who is now Kemp's agent. The second baseman of the Dodgers' famed infield of the 1970s, Lopes officially returned on Monday to the club with which he made his name. Lopes, 65, will be the Dodgers' first base coach next season, joining the staff of rookie Manager Don Mattingly that also includes Trey Hillman (bench)

Outfielder Tony Mota, the youngest of Dodger coach Manny Mota's eight children, is showing signs that he could follow his father to the major leagues. Mota is batting .277 in his first season with triple-A Albuquerque. He had a 12-game hitting streak that ended last Sunday. During the 12 games, he batted .474 with 18 hits in 38 at-bats and extended the streak three times in pinch-hitting appearances. Manny Mota set a major league record for pinch hits in a career.

Before Wednesday night's game against Florida, Manny Mota was honored for his 30 years of service with the Dodgers as a player and coach. It was the finishing segment to "Manny Mota Day" as he was also honored in the morning by the Los Angeles City Council. "I'm so proud and grateful to be a part of the L.A. family because this is a beautiful city," said Mota, who played with the Dodgers from 1969 to 1982 and still holds the major league record for pinch hits.