[PilotMan]

It's become clear that Gary Templeton was causing problems in the clubhouse. There's really no other explanation for his departure. Yes, you read that right, Gary Templeton, who signed a 3-year deal in the offseason and had started at short for most of the first half of the year has been released after we went unclaimed on waivers.


7/16 5-1 W over the Pirates
Eckersley got his second start of the year and was much better this time out. He went 7 innings and struck out 6 to run his record to 7-0. John Franco pitched the final 2 frames without allowing a baserunner. His best outing of the year. Jose DeLeon (9-6) left the game with an injury in the 3^rd.


7/17 5-0 W over the Pirates
Rhoden allowed 3 hits over 8 innings and would have gone the distance except that Lasorda wanted Niedenfeur to get some work, so he finished it up. Evans went 3-4 with 2 rbi's to lead the way. Another game where LA failed to hit a dinger.


7/18 6-4 W over the Pirates
Milt Wilcox (9-3) got some good run support, but it all came in the 6^th inning. Until then, LA had been held in check. Evans got on base all 4 plate appearances, then had 2 rbi's, but it was Roy Smalley, who has had an off year compared to 1983, who hit his 5^th homer of the year. The three-run shot put LA ahead for good. Niedenfeur pitched 2 innings for his 22^nd save.


The first Dodger trade of any significance in mid summer is here. I say any significance, because it's not that important. LA traded away Ruppert Jones (.188/2/13) is gone to the A's along with some cash. LA is getting the A's starting SS Tony Phillips (.268/4/40). Phillips is young and still developing and is probably the better option in the infield than Flannery. He could also take over for UL Washington. Also, big news for LA, is that Pena was activated from the DL and he's back in the rotation. Franco was sent down.


7/19 7-2 W over the Cardinals
Alejandro Pena (10-3) makes his first start and takes a no-hitter into the 7^th inning. He goes the distance and takes home player of the game. UL Washington, apparently making a claim for first team play, went 2-5 with 3 rbi's. Willie Randolph left the game in the second inning. Uh-oh.


Burt Hooton has come back from his rehab work in Albuquerque. He pitched over 8 shutout innings in a good performance. Dave Stewart, two years removed from a runner up showing for fireman of the year was placed on waivers and designated. That makes me sad.


Mike Scioscia's injury isn't healing right either. He's going to be out for another month.


Reports are that Willie Randolph's injury isn't serious, but he's going to miss a month. That's mid-August for a return. Mike Marshall was recalled. Lasorda mentioned that he would be moving Grich to cover 2B, while Stubbs takes over first. Tony Phillips is going to replace UL Washington at short too.


7/20 4-2 W over the Cardinals
Another 5 game win streak for us. Valenzuela (12-5) went 8 for the win and Niedenfeur picked up his 23^rd save in 25 chances. Phillips made his first start and went 1-3 with a walk and a steal. Evans, Grich and Murphy each got 2 hits.


7/21 10-5 W over the Cardinals
LA smacked 3 home runs, and the bullpen nearly let the Cards get back into this one. Bobby Grich went 4-5 with his 9^th HR and 5 rbi's in this one. Evans went 3-4. That's 6 in a row.


7/22 4-3 (12) L to the Cardinals
So much for that streak. Danny Cox was getting the best of Rick Rhoden until Dwayne Murphy (16) and Bobby Grich (10) went back to back. Rhoden pitched into the 9^th when he got into trouble and Burt Hooton came on and bailed him out. In extras neither team could do much until LA missed a bases loaded chance in the top of the 11^th. Eckersley (7-1) took the loss allowing 3 hits and a walk getting 0 outs to finish.


Dave Stewart is gone to the Mets off of waivers. Not.A.Fan.


7/23 4-3 W over the Braves
Pascual Perez had one over on LA for most of the game. First it was a fightback to tie it in the 6^th, then the never dangerous anymore, had 7 total hits in the last 2 years, 800 year old John Mayberry who hit his first homer in years to put Atlanta up again. Thankfully, Grich got it right back in the bottom of the 7^th to keep it tied. Pena had to spread 11 hits through 8.1, then gave way to Niedenfuer (9-1). Bottom of the inning Mike Marshall walked us off on the second pitch from Bob Shirley (2-7). His 10^th of the year.


7/25 7-4 L to the Braves
The Braves are one of the worst teams in baseball, yet here they are taking us down. Valenzuela (12-6) had the worst outing of the season. He only went 3 innings, but got tagged for 7 runs in the meantime. Eck, Reuss, and Denny kept ATL down from there while we scratched back, but it wasn't enough. Grich was 2-4 with an RBI.


7/26 4-2 W over the Braves
Wilcox (10-3) spread out 10 hits in his 7+ innings of work, while Niedenfeur got the last 5 outs for his 24^th save of the year. Roy Smalley went 3-4 and knocked in 2 runs in the first to put the Dodgers on the board first.


7/27 4-2 L to the Reds
A Dave Parker 2-run HR in the 6^th off of Rhoden (11-6) was the difference maker in this one. The Reds Jack Morris (12-6) shut down LA, except for the Murphy HR in the 2^nd that gave LA an early lead. His 17^th of the year. Rhoden went 8 in the loss.


7/28 7-2 W over the Reds
Mike Marshall went 2-4, with 4 RBI's and a three-run homer in the first. His 11^th of the year. A Roy Smalley (6) solo shot started the scoring festivities early. Frank Tanana (12-7) pitched into the 8^th and although he wasn't dominant, he did strike out 9. He also went 3-3 at the plate knocking in a run.


7/29 13-1 W over the Reds
Alejandro Pena (11-3) pitched into the 8^th and allowed 1 run to get the win. LA put up 4 in the first couple innings and just ran away. Tony Phillips went 3-4 and scored 4 times, while Dewey Evans went 4-4, with 5 RBI's and he hit his 22^nd HR. Sid Bream hit a pinch hit, 2-run homer in the 8^th, with the game already decided, his first.


In former Dodger news at the deadline, a pair of former Dodgers were involved in a trade from KC to SF. It looks like KC just dumped salary as they ditch Floyd Bannister and send over 1/3 of his salary in cash to the Giants. In return, SS Tack Wilson, former starter at short and his .247/1/10 line head to KC along with throw in Jeff Kunkel. Kunkel is a low-grade prospect, even if he's only 22. This is a steal of a deal for SF. Hell, as a fan, I'd have gladly send UL Washington back to KC to get Bannister and some cash back.


7/30 9-2 L to the Padres
Ugly, terrible baseball. Valenzuela (12-7) with another less than stellar outing, 2 errors by Tony Phillips, the bullpen was wholly ineffective, allowing 5 runs in the last 2 innings of work. All around, it was a poor game. Roy Smalley went deep for #7.


7-31 5-3 W over the Padres
Milt Wilcox (11-3) put in a workman like performance going 6.2, allowing 9 hits and striking out 4, while only allowing 2 runs. Niedenfeur pitched a scoreless 9^th for his 25^th save. A sac fly in the first from Milt Wilcox got LA on the board. Tony Phillips followed with a single for another run. In the second Bobby Grich hit a solo shot, his 12^th and LA took a 3-0 lead. Both Grich and Phillips ended the game 3-5.