Today's lineup:

Juan Pierre, LF (30)
Andre Ethier, RF (26)
Matt Kemp, CF (23)
James Loney, 1B (24 last week)
Russell Martin, C (25)
Blake DeWitt, 3B (22)
Delwyn Young, 2B (25)
Chin-Lung Hu, SS (24)
Hiroki Kuroda, P (33)

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Via Blue Heaven and Gaslamp Ball, Paul DePodesta has started a blog: It Might Be Dangerous... You Go First.

I began thinking about hosting a blog about a year ago, and back in January I took the first big step by starting an internal blog for employees of the Padres. The idea all along was to someday create an external blog to engage in a direct dialogue with our fans. Well, given the events of the past few weeks, that "someday" is now.

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Astros at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.

I've come upon a blog that is a perfect distraction from tonight's Dodger debacle: Earl Pomerantz: Just Thinking ..., authored by the prolific writer of Mary Tyler Moore, Taxi and the like. Just one rich entry after another.

Here's a sample of Pomerantz's writing for MTM:

TED: I've been reborn, Lou. And all because of a little spider. ... A few days ago, I was sitting on the terrace outside our bedroom when I noticed this spider spinning its web near the screen door – patiently, skillfully, lovingly. And then Georgette opened the door and tore the web. And the spider had to build it back up…Then a little later someone else opened the door and the spider had to build it back up again…and then somebody else….

TED: It was a "perseverance" story, Mair. But it became a "live-for-today" story when I smacked that spider with my newspaper.

* * *

Now, when Vin says, "In the old days, they'd call it a can of corn," and I remember them doing just that, does that make me old?

Andruw Jones 2008:
Coors Field: 2 for 10, one double, .500 OPS
Other games: 17 for 99, five doubles, one triple, one homer, 17 walks, .566 OPS

Juan Pierre 2008:
Coors Field: 7 for 13, one double, one walk, 2-for-2 stealing, 1.186 OPS
Other games: 17 for 68, three doubles, eight walks, 10-for-11 stealing, .640 OPS

Andre Ethier 2008:
Coors Field: 1 for 5, one homer, one walk, 1.133 OPS
Other games: 29 for 98, seven doubles, two homers, 13 walks, .807 OPS

* * *

Astros at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.

So, suddenly the starting pitching is collapsing, right? Or is it?

"In 16 of their 35 games this season, Dodgers starters haven't pitched past the fifth inning," Ken Gurnick writes at MLB.com. That's ugly and true, but things were actually looking better until this week began. Here's the ledger for the top four starting pitchers since the woebegone Atlanta series:

Arizona isn't so red-hot anymore. The Diamondbacks lost at Wrigley Field today - their sixth defeat in their past 10 games.

Yhency Brazoban was recalled today.

Astros at Dodgers, 7:40 p.m.

Rich Lederer of Baseball Analysts and his son got an unexpected surprise on their barnstorming baseball tour this week – a subway ride with Cleveland's Cliff Lee, hours before the Indians lefty shut out the Yankees over seven innings.

Scroll down the home page of Baseball Analysts to enjoy the Lederers' jealousy-inducing sojourn from the start.

* * *

It's been mentioned in the comments, but I shouldn't forget to note in this space that in the wake of our co-guest spot on KABC 790 the other night, Dodger commentator Steve Lyons has been pumping up the Bison nickname for Matt Kemp on the Fox Sports Net pregame and postgame shows. Can Bison souvenirs be far away?

In other news from Bisonia, Kemp is launching "Kemp's Kids" Friday, a program that will have him hosting kids from local Boys and Girls clubs at different games this season.

"In addition to Kemp, Dodgers Juan Pierre and Andruw Jones and Dodger legend Fernando Valenzuela have programs that host children at games this season," the press release says.

No spoilers ...

Dylan Hernandez of the Times isn't sure Clayton Kershaw is joining the Dodgers in 10 days, but he isn't sure he isn't, either:

Esteban Loaiza was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday because of tightness and spasms in his right shoulder -- a move that could create an opportunity for top pitching prospect Clayton Kershaw to make his major league debut in Anaheim on May 17.

"I feel fine," he said. "I want to pitch. I want to be out there and throwing."

Newborn babies don't smile. They can be cute beyond all get-out (or not, it doesn't really matter), but they basically won't give you the time of day. You love them, you love them instantly, long before you get any tangible evidence that they love you back, or even like you.

And so, even if you're on your third go-round as a parent, you forget that they're capable of smiling. You grow accustomed to their alternatively stoic and sobbing approach to life. Happiness is defined as a dry diaper, a full belly or a secure swaddle. Happiness is defined as relief.

And then, about five or six or seven weeks in, the corners of the mouth turn up, and it doesn't quite seem like an accident. Maybe once every couple of days, then maybe twice in a day.

And then you come home from work on a Tuesday night, and the kid just can't stop smiling. His mouth is wide-open joy, his eyes are sparkling pools of wonder, and he's giggling from cheeks to belly. It's like a big practical joke – "Had you going there, didn't I, Dad?" — like the merry mobbing at the end of the silent treatment for Blake DeWitt after his first major-league home run, like the end of the morose Atlanta road trip and the reanimation of the Dodger franchise.

There is joy in Mudville. And the joy will ebb and flow, you realize – you'll have winning streaks and losing streaks, tickles and tantrums. You step back and realize that you can do all you can do to win a World Series or raise a child, but you don't know what will happen come October, you don't even know what could happen come the ninth inning of a businessman's special in May, and your stomach curdles in anxiety.

Put that out of your head. Think about the smiles. "All I know is that life is pretty much a losing proposition," Josh Wilker says, "so it stands to reason you should celebrate the rare victories, however small." Focus on the smiles. Focus hard.

* * *

Mets at Dodgers, 12:10 p.m.

Today's lineup:

Juan Pierre, LF
Andre Ethier, RF
Matt Kemp, CF
Jeff Kent, 2B
James Loney, 1B
Russell Martin, you can't say you're surprised
Blake DeWitt, 3B
Chin-Lung Hu, SS
Brad Penny, P

Update: The reins have been pulled on Clayton Kershaw, who pitched one perfect inning of relief for AA Jacksonville today.

Here's Ken Gurnick's MLB.com update on Rafael Furcal:

Shortstop Rafael Furcal reported improvement in his sore back and pitcher Jason Schmidt's bullpen session went without incident before the Dodgers' game on Wednesday with the Mets.

Furcal missed his second consecutive start, but said with Thursday's scheduled off-day that he anticipated returning to the lineup for Friday night's series opener with the Astros. Furcal missed the last 12 games of last season with lower back spasms, but this injury is said to be in a different area and not considered by club officials as serious.

In the third, a two-run single to cut the Mets' lead to 4-3 ... that's just the appetizer.

In the fifth, a drive to the right-field wall ... INSIDE-THE-PARK TWO-RUN GO-AHEAD HOME RUN.

We had a long, fruitful discussion about third base today on Dodger Thoughts, and before tonight's game, it left me prepared to write Wednesday morning that it wouldn't do any good for the Dodgers to call up Andy LaRoche before DeWitt cooled off - even if LaRoche deserved the opportunity DeWitt has - because LaRoche would only be looking over his shoulder. The bulk of the Dodger community would find a slow start by LaRoche intolerable.

So without sacrificing my belief in LaRoche, I was converted to the idea of playing Blake DeWitt for the time being.

This just puts an exclamation point on the whole affair.

Well done, kid!

And meanwhile, Hong-Chih Kuo's first six outs in relief of Hiroki Kuroda came by strikeout.

Update: From Tony Jackson of the Daily News:

The second-place Dodgers (19-14), who remained three games behind division-leading Arizona in the National League West, won't need a fifth starter again until May 17 at the Angels. Whoever it ends up being, it isn't likely to be Kuo, no matter how well he pitches.

"No," Torre said. "That second left-hander in the bullpen ... that's important."

... and therefore probably not something to get upset over, however unaesthetic it might be. Still, expect naming rights for several elements of the upcoming Dodger Stadium renovation to be up for sale, writes Don Muret of the Sports Business Journal. (You need to be a registered user to read the entire story.)

I don't believe the sales will keep ticket prices down, because the Dodgers will no doubt continue to charge what the market will pay. But if selling naming rights to portions of the park helps keep the Dodger Stadium name intact, so much the better.

Here's a story excerpt:

The money from creating those branded areas will be used to help pay for construction, said Dennis Mannion, the team's chief operating officer. … Los Angeles sports marketer Randy Bernstein estimated the team could pull in $3 million to $5 million annually from doing as many as 20 deals for the new development and existing inventory….

In doing so, Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, a Boston native who tried unsuccessfully to buy the Red Sox in 2001, is following the lead of his hometown team in selling premium spaces but keeping the name of a beloved ballpark intact.

* * *

Forty-four Dodger Thoughts readers voted today on their ideal starting lineup for this moment in time. Here are the results, as tallied by Eric Stephen.

C – Russell Martin (44)
1B – James Loney (44)
2B – Jeff Kent (43), Blake DeWitt (1)
3B – Andy LaRoche (28), DeWitt (18)
SS – Rafael Furcal (44)
OF – Matt Kemp (44)
OF – Andre Ethier (44)
OF – Andruw Jones (29), Juan Pierre (8), Delwyn Young (5), Jason Repko (1), LaRoche (1)

* * *

Mets at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.

Update: Rafael Furcal was scratched tonight because of a stiff back. Diamond Leung of the Press-Enterprise has more dour news on Jason Schmidt, Tony Abreu and Scott Elbert.

Not gonna talk about it. But James Loney, watch your back.

* * *

I only just noticed that Baseball Prospectus spiffed up its team pages; you can see the Dodgers here. Among other things, it shows off some pretty stunning equivalent averages that reflect their lovely winning ways, led of course by Rafael Furcal, who also has a Value Over Replacement Player total of 26.3, 33.3 points higher than Andruw Jones.

Congrats to Blake DeWitt for his first home run, and to his Dodger teammates for their great celebration of it. Monday's game sure was fun.

Update: Okay, I couldn't resist. From the aforelinked Ben Bolch Times article:

(Joe) Torre said (Nomar) Garciaparra might need to complete a minor league rehabilitation assignment depending on how quickly he progresses. Is his spot as the everyday third baseman secure upon his return?

"He really didn't do anything wrong, he just got hurt," Torre said. "I think he certainly needs an opportunity to pick that up."

As for the Loney reference above, given Torre's knack for experimentation, I'm wondering if either Andre Ethier or Russell Martin will get a start there.

Ethier, by the way, has still outperformed Juan Pierre on offense this season if you look at the numbers above, even factoring in Pierre's basestealing and recent hot streak.

The Dodgers are tied for the National League wild card lead with Chicago.

* * *

Congrats to the Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana of the Angels for their outstanding starts to 2008: Each is a well-earned 6-0. Saunders ERA is 2.61 (though with only 21 strikeouts in 48 1/3 innings); Santana is at 2.02 (38 strikeouts in 49 innings).

At The Big Lead, Buzz Bissinger offers his post-tirade thoughts.

* * *

Mets at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.

So, I was answering some questions for a quick MetsBlog Q&A that should be posted this evening, and I got to thinking about what happens if – dare I say when - Jason Schmidt and Clayton Kershaw are both ready to join the Dodgers this summer.

Kershaw could very well beat Schmidt to the roster, although the 20-year-old might break in as a reliever. (There seems to be some internal debate over whether it makes sense to take Kershaw out of his starter's routine and risk reducing his endurance.) In any event, it's rather easy to envision Kershaw being ready to start games by the second half of the season, roughly around the time Schmidt's rehab will be complete.

I feel pretty confident that Kershaw will be a better starting pitcher than Schmidt this year. So what I'm wondering is whether there could be a movement to have Schmidt relieve. As unsightly as it could be to have a $12 million man entering the game in the seventh inning, it could bring him increased effectiveness along with shorter outings that would ease his arm back into action.

I realize it's premature to even worry about this – we don't even know if Schmidt has anything left to offer, and the Dodgers should be so lucky as to not have any more arm problems between now and then - so I'm kind of breaking my own rules here. But a rotation of Brad Penny, Derek Lowe, Chad Billingsley, Hiroki Huroda and Kershaw, backed by a bullpen led by Takashi Saito, Jonathan Broxton, Joe Beimel, Hong-Chih Kuo, Scott Proctor and Schmidt? That's a good staff, isn't it? And that's without even scratching the surface of the likes of James McDonald.

If there's consternation over the fact that so few Dodger starting pitchers reach the seventh inning, well, maybe that's just not how the Dodgers are going to do it in 2008. Maybe the Dodgers' path to success is to have good-if-not-great starting pitching and deep and effective relief, from the front end of the bullpen to the back. And maybe Schmidt could be a piece of that puzzle. (I'm sure some people will suggest Chad Billingsley, but I'm still confident that he will emerge as the ace of the Dodger rotation, at least until Kershaw flowers.)

One other thing that might be clever for the Dodgers to do as the season heats up would be to allocate the 12th spot on the pitching staff on a rotating basis. You dedicate that spot specifically to minor-leaguers who can be shuttled up and down as needed, to prevent the bullpen as a whole from becoming overworked. Instead of worrying about the Jake Peavy-type ace that you don't have, you take advantage of the depth that you do have.