Trade will affect others

When Andy LaRoche first heard that the Dodgers had acquired Casey Blake in a trade, he thought he had been sent to Cleveland.

“I didn’t want to go to Cleveland,” he said. “It’s too cold out there.”

LaRoche soon learned he wasn’t moving, but it also dawned on him that Blake’s arrival probably would result in his playing time being cut. He was right about that, as Manager Joe Torre said Blake would be the Dodgers’ everyday third baseman.

LaRoche, hitting .203 in 59 at-bats, shrugged.

“He’s going to help me get a ring,” LaRoche said. “I’ve got to accept my role if my role is to come off the bench.”

LaRoche, 24, was competing with Nomar Garciaparra in spring training to be the club’s starting third baseman, only for both of them to get hurt. That opened the door for Blake DeWitt, who played well enough to keep LaRoche in the minors when he returned from his thumb injury. Called up from triple-A Las Vegas on June 10, LaRoche platooned with DeWitt over the next six-plus weeks.

“I’d love to go out there and play every day,” LaRoche said. “I don’t know one guy in here who wouldn’t.”

LaRoche started the entire three-game series in Colorado and again Friday against Washington. He was three for 12 with two runs batted in in the four games.

“I got my timing,” LaRoche said. “Hopefully, I can carry that over to when I pinch-hit.”

DeWitt demoted

DeWitt, 22, was sent down to Las Vegas to clear a roster spot for Blake.

“It’s understandable,” DeWitt said. “You don’t produce, it’s not going to be in your favor.”

DeWitt was the NL rookie of the month in May, when he hit .322 with five home runs and 18 runs batted in. Over his next 40 games, he hit .200 with six RBIs.

“During that time, I had good at-bats,” DeWitt said, referring to the last month. “But I wasn’t as aggressive as I should’ve been. I got defensive. I was letting too many good pitches go by.”

DeWitt, a surprise inclusion on the opening-day roster, was sent down once before, on April 24. He was recalled two days later.

Not playing and not talking

Andre Ethier wasn’t in the mood to talk about being left out of the lineup for the second day in a row. Though Torre has complimented Ethier for his consistency in recent games, Torre opted for an outfield that included Juan Pierre, Andruw Jones and Matt Kemp.

“I’m not allowed to have feelings with what goes on around here,” Ethier said.

Torre said he spoke to Ethier on Friday, asking him to be patient while he figured out how to manage the Dodgers’ four-man outfield.

“Am I going to say he’s happy not playing?” Torre said. “No, but he understood.”

Short hops

Brad Penny threw close to 50 pitches in a simulated game. He will have a side session Monday or Tuesday, after which he will be sent to the minors for a rehab assignment. . . . Right-hander Scott Proctor threw a bullpen session in which he threw curveballs off the mound for the first time since landing on the disabled list on June 25 . . . General Manager Ned Colletti denied a report that the Dodgers had inquired about Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez. . . . Coach Manny Mota, who missed the previous trip because of personal reasons, and bullpen coach Ken Howell, who had a toe amputated, rejoined the team for this homestand.

--

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com