LOS ANGELES (AP) -First came new manager Joe Torre. Then the Los Angeles Dodgers added veterans Manny Ramirez, Casey Blake and Greg Maddux to a roster of youngsters, and the mix got them as far as the NL championship series.
“These kids didn’t know what inning it was, they didn’t know what score it was. They just kept fighting until someone told them it was over,” Torre said after the Dodgers were eliminated Wednesday night with a 5-1 loss to Philadelphia in Game 5.
“That’s what John Wooden taught me a long time ago, that it’s not always the club that wins that you’re proudest of. I certainly was satisfied with what I saw here.”
Young players like James Loney, Matt Kemp, Blake DeWitt, Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw, Cory Wade and Jonathan Broxton, along with Russell Martin and Andre Ethier, made a difference as the Dodgers swept the Chicago Cubs in the division series after rallying to reach the postseason.
some talent, these kids. I think they did a lot of learning this year.”
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RAYS FEVER: Nearly 5,800 seats that have been covered for Tampa Bay’s first four home playoff games will be filled when the Rays return to Tropicana Field for either Game 6 of the AL championship series or Game 1 of the World Series.
Team officials initially resisted the temptation to remove the tarps from the upper level of the domed stadium for the first two rounds of the playoffs, saying they wanted to retain a more “intimate” feel that existed with the regular-season configuration.
At the time, the Rays agreed to uncover 5,762 seats – some obstructed-view and lacking seatbacks – only if the team advanced to the World Series. Removing the tarps will increase capacity to about 41,000 for the rest of the postseason.
“Although the seating capacity we established provides an optimal fan experience, Rays fans have made it very clear that they want us to make every possible seating opportunity available,” team president Matt Silverman said. “We are pleased to meet that demand.”
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MANUEL HEADED HOME: Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was set to fly home to Virginia for his mother’s funeral after his team won the NL championship series Wednesday night.
June Manuel died last Friday in Roanoke, Va., after a brief illness. She was 87.
the game.
Manuel has continued managing since he learned of his mother’s death, the same day Philadelphia center fielder Shane Victorino found out that his grandmother died in Hawaii.
Manuel said the last time he talked to his mother she told him the Phillies would reach the World Series.
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PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS: Injured pitcher Brad Penny, a 16-game winner each of the last two seasons and the Dodgers’ opening-day starter last spring, wasn’t with the team Wednesday night as it was knocked out of the NL championship series by Philadelphia.
Los Angeles has a club option on the right-hander’s contract next year.
“I’ve spoken to Brad, told him I want to have lunch one of these days after everything settles down,” manager Joe Torre said. “He was just torn with a lot of stuff, plus he never felt very good. I’m curious to have a conversation with him. I think it’s going to be two ways.”
The 30-year-old Penny, who went 6-9 with a 6.27 ERA in 19 games, was hampered by shoulder problems most of the season and went on the 60-day disabled list in the final week. He appeared in relief twice late in the year and wasn’t comfortable in that role.
possible. He might not feel that way. He’s a starter, and we all acknowledge the fact that he’s a starter.”
But Torre did make it clear last month, before Penny went on the shelf for good, that he would be used in the bullpen during the postseason if he was healthy enough to pitch.
“It just didn’t look like he had the conviction (to relieve),” Torre said.
When asked if Penny would return next year, Torre replied: “I haven’t even thought about that.”
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BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE: Their season isn’t quite up in flames, but a small fire at a landmark near Fenway Park can’t be a good omen for the Boston Red Sox.
The fire Wednesday blackened some panels on the red, white and blue Citgo sign over Fenway’s Green Monster in left field.
The fire department said the flames were quickly put out and the blaze was likely caused by an electrical short circuit. Damage was estimated at $5,000.
Tampa Bay has hit seven homers over the Green Monster in the past two games. Boston trails the Rays 3-1 in the best-of-seven AL championship series, which resumes Thursday night.
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AP Sports Writer John Nadel contributed to this report.
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