LAD@SF: Fife strong over 6 1/3 frames of one-run ball
For two teams separated by less than three games at the top of the National League West, the Dodgers and D-backs took very different approaches to Tuesday’s non-waiver Trade Deadline.
While the Dodgers made big changes — including a Deadline acquisition of Shane Victorino from the Phillies — the D-backs opted for smaller moves and to keep their big pieces intact. The teams will test those strategies beginning Wednesday.
Victorino is the second big name to make his way to Los Angeles, as the Dodgers’ brass also added Hanley Ramirez to bolster their roster. Victorino will likely debut Wednesday, and is expected to bat leadoff while playing left field in an outfield that already features stars Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp. Victorino is a two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner.
As owner Magic Johnson explained, the Dodgers’ moves were made to ensure the club has a chance to be its best when all is said and done.
“We definitely want to win this year,” Johnson said. “We’re not sitting back, waiting on next year or the year after. We want to win now. As much as we can do, we did.”
As Los Angeles gets its first look at its newly-crafted roster Wednesday, its hope is to beat the D-backs, who will look to complete a sweep of the Dodgers. With the exception of the additions of third baseman Chris Johnson from the Astros, and outfielder Scott Podsednik and reliever Matt Albers from the Red Sox, the D-backs held onto their cards at the Deadline.
Rumored to possibly be moving shortstop Stephen Drew and outfielder Justin Upton, Arizona not only maintained the bulk of its roster, but did so while closing the gap on the Dodgers to 2 1/2 games while remaining 3 1/2 games behind the division-leading Giants.
Like the Dodgers, San Francisco also opted to make a big move, adding outfielder Hunter Pence from Philadelphia. With both teams at the top of the NL West making splashes, Arizona nonetheless has no intentions of conceding things down the stretch.
“I never let that [other teams’ moves] affect me,” D-backs general manager Kevin Towers said. “I don’t think you should do a knee-jerk reaction counterpunch just because they’ve done something … We still feel even with all the moves that the other clubs made in this division, we feel like we’re right there.”
D-backs: Breslow traded to Red SoxArizona’s final Deadline deal sent lefty reliever Craig Breslow to the Red Sox in exchange for right-hander Albers and Podsednik. Albers gives the D-backs a flame-throwing hurler to complement closer J.J. Putz and setup man David Hernandez.
“[Albers is] a guy with a power arm, heavy ball, quality secondary pitches and throws strikes and can dominate good teams’ middle of the order,” Towers said. “You can’t have enough of those guys.”
• D-backs’ pitcher Josh Collmenter was scheduled to start Wednesday’s game, but has been moved back to the bullpen to assume Breslow’s role. In his place, Arizona has called up lefty Patrick Corbin to join the rotation
The 23-year-old made his Major League debut on April 30, and is 2-4 with a 4.15 ERA in 10 big league games (five starts).
Dodgers: Fife on the hillWith the Dodgers not making a move for a big-name starter at the Deadline, Stephen Fife will get at least a few more chances to establish himself in the starting rotation. An injury to Ted Lilly left a spot open for the 25-year-old, who has filled in admirably in two big league starts since making his Major League debut on July 17.
The righty has given up just two runs in 12 1/3 big league innings. A product of the University of Utah, Fife twirled 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball against the first-place Giants in his last outing on July 27.
“Stephen has been a guy that has been under control. He doesn’t seem to get rattled,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “He’s given us a mix of pitches and different looks that teams haven’t really caught on. They’ve hit some balls hard, but he doesn’t get frustrated.”
Worth noting• Victorino was selected by the Dodgers in the sixth round of the 1999 First-Year Player Draft.
• The Dodgers made another move late Monday night when they acquired right-handed reliever Brandon League from the Mariners in exchange for Minor League outfielder Leon Landry and pitcher Logan Bawcom. League replaces Josh Lindblom, traded to Philadelphia as a part of the Victorino deal, in the Dodgers’ bullpen. He was 0-5 with a 3.53 ERA in 46 games for Seattle.
