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Maybe the starting line-up should just take a nap before games.

On Wednesday night, pre-game warm-ups claimed another Dodger victim, just minutes before the first pitch against the San Diego Padres.

Manny Ramirez was warming up his aging legs, performing an exercise he does every day before the game begins. The left fielder was swinging his legs in the recreational room, attempting to stretch out his hamstring, when he got too close to a table and struck it with his foot.

Already down their star right fielder, due to another freak pre-game mishap, the Dodgers took no chances and removed Manny from the starting line-up. With two outfielders out and a reliever on the mound to start the game, the Blue Crew finally relinquished their nine-game winning streak to the Padres, losing 10-5.

Manny’s injury didn’t appear to be serious, as he pinch-hit later in the game. However, the incident comes less than a week after right fielder Andre Ethier broke the pinky finger on his right hand during pre-game batting practice. Ethier is on the 15-day disabled list, and is sporting a splint on the injured finger.

The Dodgers can ill-afford another injury, already missing several starters due to injury. There has been no updates regarding Rafael Furcal’s return from the disabled list with a sore hamstring. He was eligible to return from the 15-day DL last weekend against the Padres, but team doctors and manager Joe Torre felt he was not ready after complaints from Furcal of continued discomfort.

Starting pitchers Vicente Padilla and Charlie Haeger are still out. Padilla has elbow soreness and isn’t due back until early June. Haeger suffers from Plantar fasciitis in his right foot and finished up rehab last week. Plantar fasciitis is a condition in the arch of the foot that causes sudden and immense pain, making it difficult to walk or even stand. Haeger should return soon, but will need to find a groove as he is still struggling.

Cory Wade has yet to see game action this season, and his return is expected some time in June.

Finally, Brad Ausmus is on the 60-day disabled list with a pinched nerve in his lower back. The veteran catcher had surgery on April 28th, but there is no time table for his return. He appeared to be moving slowly and gingerly, walking around the Dodgers’ dugout during pre-game in San Diego.

The current Dodgers success is a welcomed sign for concerned fans, but starting games with more than half of the line-up comprised of reserves will eventually take its toll on the win-loss column. There could be new faces in the clubhouse as the All-Star break nears.

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Just chill, Giants—we got this.

After sweeping aside the San Francisco Giants in a three-game series, the San Diego Padres had the favor returned to them by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The sweep put the Dodgers just two games back of the Friars for first place, and San Diego now sits just a half-game ahead of the Giants.

For the Dodgers, it marked their seventh win in a row and ninth in their last 10 games. The Dodgers finished the road trip a perfect 6-0, having swept the struggling Arizona Diamondbacks before arriving in San Diego.

So what major breaking news could top a seven-game winning streak?

How about Andre Ethier fracturing the pinky finger on his right hand during pre-game batting practice?

Ethier was having a marvelous day in the cage prior to Saturday’s game at PETCO Park when he suddenly stiffened up and promptly left the cage. Wincing and shaking his right hand, the right fielder was clearly in pain.

Andre was hastily removed from the starting lineup, replaced by Garret Anderson. An X-ray during the game revealed a fracture in his right pinky, and a splint has been placed over the bottom knuckle to prevent flexion as the swelling subsides.

Ethier told manager Joe Torre his pinky simply slipped under the knob of the bat, and the pressure of swinging and making contact cracked a knuckle.

The injury comes at a time when the Dodgers are riding high, but their recent success is largely in part to Ethier’s hot streak. The lefty slugger currently is the Triple Crown leader in the National League. Ethier is hitting .491 with 16 RBI in May.

With the recent stability and success of the Dodgers’ starting pitching, the win streak has been supported by just enough offense. If Ethier is out for a longer stretch than his ankle injury, Reed Johnson and Garret Anderson will once again be called on to pick up the slack.

Anderson tripled on Saturday but is currently hitting a meager .136, good for worst on the roster amongst position players (starting pitcher Chad Billingsley is batting .154). Johnson provides range in the outfield, but he too is struggling at the dish, batting just .224 with a .233 on-base percentage.

The team plans on announcing Ethier’s recovery time on Monday or Tuesday. However, if the Dodgers intend on staying the course, the news will have to be extremely positive.

The Dodgers open a brief tea-and-crumpets, two-game series with the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium Monday, followed by a three-game series with the division-leading Padres. The Astros have been dreadful this season, and the Dodgers will look to continue recent success before taking on a hungry Padres squad seeking revenge.

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Well thus far he’s a winner.

A native of Illinois, John Ely was drafted by the Chicago White Sox out of the University of Miami (Ohio).

Ely started his professional career in 2007 at Great Falls of the Pioneer League, part of the Chicago White Sox farm system. The 21-year-old was impressive in 56 innings, going 6-1 while walking just six batters.

Following the 2007 season, Ely was promoted to Single-A at Winston-Salem. His tour through the Single-A system was the roughest for Ely, finishing 10-12 with a 4.71 ERA. Despite the high ERA and adverse record, scouts saw something in him and promoted him to Double-A Birmingham.

In the middle of his best professional season at Double-A, Ely was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with Jon Link. The move sent Juan Pierre to the Chicago White Sox, a team desperate for a solid, every day outfielder at the top of the lineup.

Had the White Sox known they would find themselves ranking 22nd in Major League Baseball in ERA after 30 games, they may have been more hesitant to deal the young righty.

Ely has provided a much needed boost in the Dodgers’ rotation and the team record shows that. Following a very rough ML debut against the Mets, in which Ely surrendered five runs in six innings, he has made two starts. In those two starts, Ely has allowed just three runs in 12.2 innings while collecting his first major league win.

With Vicente Padilla likely out until mid-June at the earliest, the Dodgers now have two available spots in their rotation. Expect Ely to be around for a while, and Dodgers fans should be just fine with that.

After three starts, Ely is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA; not dominating statistics but remove his first start and he is a welcomed break from Charlie Haeger and Padilla’s 2010 campaign.

Ely’s next start is scheduled for May 17th against the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers are approaching a pivotal stretch in the 2010 season. The next 11 out of 17 games the team will play will be against division opponents. Fewer and fewer anaylists and experts are calling the season “young” as Major League Baseball is nearly 30 games in, with several surprises including the Boys in Blue.

The San Diego Padres are currently half a game back of the San Francisco Giants for the division lead while most had predicted the Colorado Rockies and the Dodgers to get off to the best start.

Look no further than re-tooled pitching for the Giants marking early successes while the Dodgers have been constantly hindered by injuries to key starters and pitching.

However, the next two weeks will undoubtedly mark change for L.A. Key players will be coming off the disabled list and will need to have an immediate impact in their returns. The corresponding roster moves will bring fresh faces to the mix while some exit to await another call.

If the defending National League West Champions want to prove they can defend their crown, the next couple weeks would be a glaring opportunity.

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Two National League Championship series in two years. Two division titles, but no championship.

Now five-plus years into ownership for the Los Angeles Dodgers, one phrase dominates the nightmares of Frank McCourt’s personal life: “What have you done for us lately?”

Picture it: Divorce papers scattered by a whirlwind in the master bedroom, those words written in red all over the walls, and a man meagerly huddled in the corner clutching his knees and a glass of scotch while muttering, “I never should have put a ring on it.”

Now, I’m not going to say Beyonce is to blame for the problems in Los Angeles, but maybe her advice is strictly circumstantial.

High-profile weddings and divorces are as much a part of Hollywood as Rodeo Drive and miniature dog accessories. The fundamental difference here, is while the public is quick to forget nasty divorces amongst A-List stars because they happen so often, each game for the Dodgers faithful reminds them of their soon-to-be ex.

Frank and Jamie McCourt are continuing to stockpile attorneys, and if said attorneys perform like the Dodgers’ bullpen—well, folks, we’re in for a long one.

However, there is a mirage on the horizon: With all the money the two are spending on lawyers, there may not be enough funds to retain one of the most expensive franchises in professional sports.

While fans await resolution of the issues, solace may be found in the unlikeliest of places. If the divorce continues to drag on, the McCourts may be looking to throw away that old shoebox of saved cards, gifts, and photos, and slowly heal from what they left behind.

It’s a harsh world out there for prospective Dodgers owners, should the opportunity arise.

Los Angeles fans have high standards and high expectations for their teams. The Clippers aside, L.A. sports have always about winning championships and obtaining legends in their own time.

A colleague recently put things in perspective sharply: The Lakers, Ducks, and Sparks all have had their championships within the last half decade, but who doesn’t? Make yourself feel smart and say the Dodgers.

The Dodgers are the last piece to the championship puzzle—the ugly sister still waiting for Prince Charming.

The MLB season is nearly 30 games in, and the “It’s still early” is slowly wearing off. The Dodgers are still in last place, chasing a group of teams that entered the season with low expectations. Dodgers fans were expecting another championship run.

The water is heating up and rising for Frank McCourt, and he will soon be feeling the pressure.

Will we be able to say goodbye to a man that has led the team to four playoff appearances in six years?

I don’t know. Did you desert the team that year between playoffs? Where’s the faith?

Maybe it’s as fair-weathered as Frank was with Jamie.

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Some unfamiliar faces have been spotted around the Los Angeles Dodgers dugout lately, but suddenly the number in the “W” column is going up. Meanwhile, the pitching has stepped it up with the return of some familiar faces and the infusion of some new ones.

Pop Quiz: Who has the lowest ERA on the Dodgers’ roster? If you said Carlos Monasterios, you’d be wrong. It’s actually Jonathan Broxton. In nine games or 8.2 innings, Broxton has allowed just four hits and no runs while striking out 14 and walking only one. Tough to compete with that, but Monasterios isn’t far off. In his 14.2 innings, Monasterios is sporting a 1.84 ERA and has filled in marvelously for injured Dodger veterans.

Monasterios was brilliant in his first major league start, going four innings while only allowing one run. Manager Joe Torre pulled him after 79 pitches, leaving many to wonder why he didn’t stretch him out over the fifth inning, which would have qualified him for the win. However, Monasterios isn’t the only young Dodger getting valuable regular season experience. 

Pitcher Charlie Haeger, catcher A.J. Ellis and utility outfielder Xavier Paul all have bolstered their major league resumes this season, as injuries continue to nag the defending National League West Champions. Haeger has had a “rough go” of it so far this season, but he has filled in as an innings eater, sometimes pitching on just three days rest, in a time when the Dodgers have really needed him. Ellis has become the catcher for Haeger, and has given Russell Martin a much needed break as Martin’s groin continues to heal. Paul is seeing significant innings, even batting leadoff in front of Russell Martin while Rafael Furcal is still out with hamstring issues. Thus far, Paul is struggling at the plate, batting just .200 (3-for-15) but providing versatility and range in the outfield.

Although the Dodger rookies and prospects can’t all be Jason Haywards, their roles are all vital in the season swing for a team looking to rebound once their veterans come back from the disabled list. The role of unsung hero is one that is rarely relished in the public eye. So give them a hand, they are the reason we are still within range of the division lead.

Hiroki Kuroda and Clayton Kershaw need to remain consistent, as it is apparent they will need to carry the load for a rotation lacking depth, and thus far it appears the rest of the pitching staff is following the lead. Dodgers pitching has allowed just five runs in the last three games. Granted, it was against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but hey, it’s a two game win streak and the Dodgers have looked dominant after losing two of three to the sea burglars in Pittsburgh.

With the recent performance of the Dodgers’ pitching staff and a return to consistency with the offense, the Dodgers look to be on the up-and-up. One thing is for sure, the trend is uplifting for L.A. fans: The team ERA is dropping, and the run production is rising. Good things to come…

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