Dodgers Need A Pitcher; Perhaps Cole Hamels

By Mitch Chortkoff

Sports Editor

It was my first Dodger game of this season

and on Sunday I knew I’d see many old friends in the press box.

The first one to greet me was Vin Scully, who I’ve known

For a lot of years.

“It’s so good to see you, Mitch” he said.

“Great to see you too Vin,” I said. “But, unfortunately I can’t hear you on the telecasts because I don’t have Time Warner Cable.

“Neither do I,” he replied.

Unbelievable, isn’t it? The legendary announcer, now in his 66th year describing Dodger games, joins 70 percent of the potential Southern California audience being unable to see Dodger games because Time Warner and the other TV channels haven’t agreed on a contract.

Of course it’s all about money. When this impasse happened in New York a few years ago the Yankees weren’t seen by the majority for a year.

Los Angeles has exceeded that as we’re now in our second year.

Well, the ballgame would start soon so I settled into my seat.

The San Diego Padres were the opponent. The first three batters reached base safely. Then Justin Upton hit a grand slam home run.

In the second inning the Padres, who didn’t have a .300 hitter in their lineup, scored four more runs. They proceeded on to an 11-3 victory.

The Dodgers have gotten off to a good start this season and have led their division by five games in recent weeks.

But two of their four starting pitchers have gone out for the season with injuries. With Hyun-Jin Ryu and Brandon McCarthy unable to pitch the Dodgers have filled in with others who didn’t figure in their original plans.

The solution may be a trade in which they’d have to give up some promising youngsters. The quality pitcher likely to be available is Cole Hamels, but he will command a heavy price.

The Phillies aren’t a contender this season and will probably be offering Hamels in a deal. They were expected to trade him before the season but held out, reasoning that by mid-season several teams hoping to do well in the playoffs would bid for his services.

The Dodgers are clearly in that position now. So are the Boston Red Sox, and there may be others.

Will the Dodgers give up some of their best prospects in order to acquire Hamels, who has a six-year, $144 million contract? That’s a huge amount but he is a special talent.

Reportedly, the Phillies have been scouting Dodger minor league games lately.

Stay tuned.

So far the Dodgers have survived by bringing up a minor league pitcher, sending him back down and calling up another to fill the next opening.

On Saturday Mike Bolsinger gave up only one hit in eight innings. But on Sunday Carlos Frias had a very shakey outing.

Most baseball authorities I’ve talked to say the Dodgers must obtain an established major league pitcher to join Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke if they expect to outlast the Giants and Padres in the division race and go a long way in the playoffs.