This lineup has hit 53 HR this season
Padres at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.

  • Scott Podsednik, LF
  • Ryan Theriot, 2B
  • Andre Ethier, RF
  • Matt Kemp, CF
  • Casey Blake, 3B
  • Ronnie Belliard, 1B
  • Jamey Carroll, SS
  • Brad Ausmus, C
  • Vicente Padilla, P

Rafael Furcal’s MRI exam showed nothing of note, and he’s expected back in the lineup next week, Joe Torre told reporters today. We shall see …

Fellow MRIer Russell Martin was “in the machine now” as Torre was speaking, so no update on his condition yet. Knowing that Martin would be out for at least a few days, the Dodgers recalled A.J. Ellis and optioned Xavier Paul. Torre also noted that Reed Johnson’s minor-league rehabilitation assignment is just about complete and that the Dodgers will activate the reserve outfielder in the next day or so, either placing Martin on the disabled list or making another move. (I know what you’re thinking …)

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From the Dodger press notes: “Tonight, Dodger fan Jorge Bahaia will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Bahaia and his wife, Elsie have traveled from their home in El Salvador to watch one Dodger homestand every year since 1945 and have also never missed a Los Angeles Dodger World Series game at home or on the road. 50 of the Bahaia’s family members and friends will be on hand to watch Jorge toss out the first pitch. ”

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The Dodgers’ starting lineup, five years ago tonight:

Cesar Izturis, SS
Oscar Robles, 3B
Milton Bradley, CF
Jeff Kent, 1B
Ricky Ledee, RF
Antonio Perez, 2B
Jose Valentin, LF
Dioner Navarro, C
Brad Penny, P

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Gene Maddaus of L.A. Weekly pens a lengthy look at Frank McCourt’s pre-Dodgers real-estate dealings in Boston and how that bled into his Dodger ownership and relationship with Jamie McCourt. Plenty of interesting excerpts; here’s one:

… In April 2008, Jeff Ingram, a Boston real estate banker who had worked for the McCourts since 1999, wrote an e-mail to both McCourts titled “Getting on the Same Page.”

“The most important thing that has to be accomplished is for the two of you to get on the same page on both the family finances and aspirations and the strategic direction of the companies,” Ingram wrote, sounding more like a therapist than a banker. “If there are common goals, I believe the journey will be more fulfilling and enjoyable for you and for everybody else.”

For her own sense of comfort, Jamie wanted to have $250 million in the bank. Given that the McCourts owned mostly large, illiquid and leveraged assets, the only way to achieve Jamie’s goal, Ingram wrote, would be to sell a minority stake in the Dodgers.

That was directly counter to McCourt’s ambitions, which involved not only holding on to full ownership of the team but also building a football stadium and ultimately turning his company into a global sports enterprise.

“If you aren’t on the same page,” Ingram wrote, “I sincerely hope you can have the conversation in the spirit of ‘Look what we accomplished’ and ‘How do we want to spend our time going forward.’ Please appreciate the moment and work together to determine what is best for you and your family. … From a personal perspective, I really hope you can find a common ground.” …