The Dodgers made a very easy choice in declining Angel Berroa’s 2009 option for $5.5 million bucks. He played in 84 games for the Dodgers last season and he was 52 for 226 (.230 avg, .614 OPS) with 26 runs scored, 1 homer and 16 RBIs. Some team will likely give the 30-year old Angel Berroa a spring training invite next season but it won’t be the Dodgers who saw more than enough of him last season. Berroa has now played in 711 games in his major league career in which he is 658 for 2,526 (.260 avg, .683 OPS) with 319 runs scored, 46 homers, 251 RBIs and 50 stolen bases.

Righty reliever Scott Proctor underwent elbow surgery recently which should have him ready for the 2009 season. Proctor is a Torre favorite since his days with the Yankees. Proctor pitched in 41 games (0 starts) for the Dodgers last season and he was 2-0 with a 6.05 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP. In parts of two seasons with the Dodgers, Proctor has pitched in 72 games (0 starts) in which he is 5-0 with a 4.84 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. The Dodgers need Proctor healthy in 2008 to help them early in games as he has been a workhorse in the past.

The Dodgers just didn’t have enough offense in the long run to deal with the Phillies in the N.L.C.S. With that in mind the Dodgers should make a very sincere effort in re-signing outfielder Manny Ramirez who re-energized the team in leading it to the playoffs. It appears that Ramirez likes to play for Joe Torre but there is no way he will ever take a discount. It’s time for Dodgers’ ownership to ante up again if they want to win the N.L. West again in 2009.

The Dodgers looked good early in the game last night before fading away in the 8th inning. Derek Lowe started on three day’s rest and he worked 5 innings allowing 6 hits, 2 earned runs, walking 1 batter and whiffing 4. Hong Chih-Kuo, Cory Wade (the losing pitcher) and Jonathan Broxton worked the final three innings for the Dodgers last night and they allowed 5 hits, 4 earned runs, walked 1 batter and whiffed 3. The bad relief pitching wasted a lot of good efforts by Dodgers’ hitters last night. Rafael Furcal was the Dodgers’ ignitor on offense again last night as he was 1 for 2 with 2 runs scored. The Phillies were scared to pitch to Manny Ramirez as he was walked three times last night. He was 2 for 2 with a double and a RBI when the Phillies did pitch to him. Russell Martin (2 for 4, RBI), Casey Blake (2 for 5, 1 run, a homer and a RBI) and Juan Pierre (2 for 3 with a run scored) all helped out on offense for the Dodgers. But, the Dodgers are now down 3-1 to the Phillies in this series.

The Dodgers jumped on the Phillies on Sunday Night early in the game and they never looked back or let up. Rafael Furcal had a great game leading off for the Dodgers as he was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored, a homer and a RBI. Manny Ramirez also had a very solid game as he was 1 for 2 with 2 runs scored, 2 walks and a RBI. Nomar Garciaparra (2 for 3, RBI), Matt Kemp (2 for 4) and Blake DeWitt (1 for 3, triple, 3 RBIs) all pitched in on a good effort by the Dodgers’ offense. Hiroki Kuroda had a solid start for the Dodgers in this game working the first 6 innings and allowing 5 hits, 2 earned runs, walking 1 batter and whiffing 3. He was the winning pitcher for the Dodgers on Sunday Night. Cory Wade and Jonathan Broxton combined to work the last 3 innings of this game allowing 2 hits, 0 runs and whiffing 3 batters. This win brought the Dodgers back into the series as they are now down 2-1.