"It's just an opportunity right now to help out the organization for this
time period," Mueller said.
The Dodgers were .500 when Murray was fired and are 8-8 through their first
16 games with Mueller in place. But the Dodgers are able to see signs of life
coming from the offense, signs that weren't visible with Murray running things.
"The total approach has been a little bit different," Dodgers manager Grady
Little said. "We're seeing more pitches and our on-base percentage is better.
"When we made the change, we made it at a time when we felt we needed a
change, and the results have been good so far."
Mueller said that the last two weeks have been a learning experience, one
made easier by Dodgers coach Manny Mota. Mota was actively helping the Dodgers'
hitters when Murray was around, but his role has since increased to include
traveling on road trips.
The players have enjoyed working with the tandem while Mueller has learned
about the players.
"He and Manny have been working hard, trying to figure out us and figure out
the routine that makes us better," outfielder Andre Ethier said.
Notes & Quotes
--C Russell Martin went 4-for-5 on Monday for the first four-hit game of his
career. Three of his four hits were against former Cy Young Award winner John Smoltz. He also extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games. "He
missed some spots a few times and I was able to put the barrel of the bat on
them," he said.
--OF Juan Pierre stole third base in the seventh inning on Monday, giving him
steals in four consecutive games. He has six stolen bases in that span.
--OF Matt Kemp's sixth-inning home run off of John Smoltz on Monday was
measured at 436 feet. It was caught by RHP Chin-hui Tsao, who was warming up in
the Dodgers' bullpen at the time. The home run gave the Dodgers the lead for
good in that contest. "That's probably one of the biggest hits in my career,"
Kemp said. "Hopefully, I'll have a lot more."
--RHP Derek Lowe used up a lot of pitches early and wasn't around to get a
decision in Monday's Dodgers victory, but he still lowered his ERA to 2.98 after
allowing one run in six-plus innings. Lowe's ERA was 2.29 during two-month
period of May and June.
--INF Olmedo Saenz picked up his sixth RBI as a pinch-hitter with a sacrifice
fly in the seventh inning of Monday's victory. He trails OF Andre Ethier for the
team lead by two.
By the Numbers
88. The number of pitches that RHP Chad Billingsley needed
to get through seven shutout innings against the Padres on Sunday.
Quote to Note-- "Hopefully the National League will win this year." -- Dodgers
pitcher Brad Penny, looking ahead to this year's All-Star Game.
*M*A*S*H* 4077 Report
INF Ramon Martinez (sore lower back) went on the disabled list retroactive to
June 4.
RHP Chin-hui Tsao (strained right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list
on May 23. He started a rehab assignment with Class AAA Las Vegas on June 27 and
was activated June 29.
RHP Jason Schmidt (sore right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list
retroactive to June 17. He underwent exploratory surgery on June 20, and a torn
labrum was discovered. He will miss the rest of the season.
RHP Yhency Brazoban (strained right shoulder) went on the disabled list June
1. He cut short a throwing session June 15, and he was subsequently diagnosed
with a torn labrum. He underwent surgery June 22 and is out for the season.
OF Jason Repko (torn left hamstring) had surgery on March 28 and is expected
to be out for the season.
Player Stats
Hitters
TAbreu, 2B BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .429 14 3 6 0 0 1 2 0
Season .290 107 14 31 11 0 1 9 0
W Betemit, 3B BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .100 10 1 1 0 0 1 1 0
Season .190 126 17 24 5 0 8 20 0
AEthier, RF BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .231 13 2 3 1 0 0 0 0
Season .274 234 26 64 14 1 6 30 0
RFurcal, SS BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .500 4 1 2 1 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .273 33 6 9 2 0 1 2 2
Season .275 305 40 84 15 3 2 29 9
NGarciaparra, 3BBA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .250 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 0
Last 7 Games .200 30 3 6 0 0 1 3 0
Season .272 290 25 79 12 0 2 41 2
LGonzalez, LF BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .500 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .292 24 2 7 0 0 0 0 2
Season .294 272 43 80 17 2 10 39 5
MKemp, RF BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .333 3 1 1 0 0 1 3 0
Last 7 Games .294 17 4 5 0 0 2 5 1
Season .397 68 13 27 2 0 3 12 3
JKent, 2B BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .250 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Last 7 Games .250 28 3 7 1 0 0 4 0
Season .264 276 44 73 18 1 10 40 1
MLieberthal, C BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .071 14 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
Season .184 38 2 7 1 0 0 1 0
JLoney, 1B BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games .333 27 3 9 1 0 1 5 0
Season .393 56 8 22 4 2 3 14 0
RMartin, C BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .800 5 1 4 1 0 0 2 1
Last 7 Games .406 32 5 13 5 0 1 6 3
Season .306 288 47 88 20 2 9 55 16
JPierre, CF BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .200 5 1 1 1 0 0 0 1
Last 7 Games .281 32 5 9 1 0 0 2 9
Season .276 344 47 95 11 3 0 19 32
OSaenz, 1B BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
Last Game .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Last 7 Games .200 10 0 2 1 0 0 2 0
Season .219 64 7 14 4 0 3 12 0
Pitchers
Joe Beimel ERA W-L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 0.00 1-0 0 1 2 0 0 0 2 1
Last 7 Games 0.00 1-0 0 3 3.2 1 0 0 2 4
Season 4.15 2-1 1 41 34.2 28 16 0 12 19
CBillingsley ERA W-L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 0.00 1-0 0 1 7 3 0 0 0 9
Last 7 Games 4.30 1-0 0 3 14.2 9 7 4 6 13
Season 3.44 5-0 0 26 49.2 38 19 5 19 53
Jon Broxton ERA W-L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 0.00 0-0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1
Last 7 Games 0.00 1-0 0 3 4.1 2 0 0 2 3
Season 3.00 3-2 1 41 42 33 14 0 19 49
MHendrickson ERA W-L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 0.00 0-0 0 1 3 2 0 0 1 2
Last 7 Games 0.00 0-0 0 3 6 5 0 0 2 6
Season 4.08 2-3 0 19 68.1 67 31 9 22 54
D.J. Houlton ERA W-L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 0.00 0-0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0
Last 7 Games 0.00 0-0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0
Season 0.00 0-0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0
Derek Lowe ERA W-L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 1.80 0-0 0 1 5 8 1 0 0 5
Last 7 Games 2.45 1-1 0 3 18.1 18 5 1 4 14
Season 2.98 8-7 0 18 120.2 105 40 6 35 86
Brad Penny ERA W-L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 1.29 0-0 0 1 7 5 1 0 2 7
Last 7 Games 1.23 2-0 0 3 22 15 3 0 5 16
Season 2.00 10-1 0 17 112.2 96 25 2 30 77
Takashi Saito ERA W-L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 0.00 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
Last 7 Games 0.00 0-0 2 3 2.2 0 0 0 0 2
Season 1.34 1-0 22 33 33.2 21 5 4 3 42
Rudy Seanez ERA W-L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 0.00 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2
Last 7 Games 0.00 0-0 0 3 2.2 2 0 0 1 3
Season 3.29 4-1 0 36 38.1 42 14 3 12 39
Brett Tomko ERA W-L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 9.00 0-0 0 1 1 3 1 0 0 0
Last 7 Games 10.38 0-1 0 3 4.1 11 5 0 1 3
Season 5.89 1-6 0 24 65.2 81 43 9 21 56
Chin-hui Tsao ERA W-L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 0.00 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0
Last 7 Games 0.00 0-0 0 3 2.1 0 0 0 2 0
Season 2.70 0-1 0 17 20 12 6 0 7 15
Randy Wolf ERA W-L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K
Last Game 4.50 1-0 0 1 6 4 3 0 6 4
Last 7 Games 5.60 1-2 0 3 17.2 21 11 2 11 10
Season 4.33 9-6 0 17 99.2 105 48 9 35 93