Dodgers’ Joe Torre: Fitness is not a factor on whether he manages next season
Baseball’s oldest manager turned 70 on Sunday.
But Joe Torre said he feels energetic for his age, adding that if he decides not to return as Dodgers manager next season, it won’t be because of any fears he’ll be taking naps in the dugout.
“I still have the energy to do pretty much everything I had the energy to do 10 years ago,” he said. “I don’t think that’s really going to be a factor. I don’t think that’s going to change between now and next month or between now and September.”
Torre, who is in the final year of a three-year, $13-million contract, said his main consideration will be how much he wants to work next year.
“Leaving home a lot of times, I’d rather, say, go watch my daughter play softball,” he said. “Stuff like that. I don’t think it’s the energy to do this job. I think I still have that, and I hope I will have that through a few more years.”
Torre was engaged in talks about a contract extension during spring training but cut them off. He said he will announce before the end of the regular season whether he wants to manage again next season.
Padilla shines again
By tossing six scoreless innings, right-hander Vicente Padilla extended his shutout streak to 14 innings.
Padilla is 3-1 with a 1.34 earned-run average over his last five starts.
Padilla appeared to wilt under the St. Louis heat, walking three batters to load the bases in the sixth inning. But he got Matt Holliday to fly out to escape the inning.
“He just hit a wall out there, but he battled and got a big out,” catcher A.J. Ellis said.
Padilla also did some damage with his bat, hitting a double in the fifth inning to drive in the Dodgers’ first run.
Not at full strength
Outfielder Manny Ramirez and catcher Russell Martin were out of the Dodgers’ lineup for the second consecutive day because of what continued to be described as minor injuries. First baseman James Loney, who suffered a leg cramp Saturday, was held out as a precaution and veteran third baseman Casey Blake was given a routine day off.
Although Ramirez was unavailable to pinch-hit Sunday because of continued tightness in his right calf and doesn’t appear likely to return until the middle of the week, Martin should be back Monday from his thumb injury.
Torre said the Dodgers will take a wait-and-see approach with Loney, who said his left hamstring was still sore.
Blake got some unexpected work on his supposed day off. Because of the shortage of bodies, he had to catch reliever Travis Schlichting as he warmed up and was inserted into the game in the eighth inning as a part of a double switch.
Short hops
The Dodgers fell to 5-23 in St. Louis since 2004, including the postseason. “I don’t know what it is, man,” center fielder Matt Kemp said. “I have no idea. Ever since I’ve been here, it’s been tough getting wins here.” … Infielder Ronnie Belliard ended a hitless skid at 22 at-bats with a fifth-inning single. The hit was his first since June 27. He finished two for four. … Right-hander Jon Link was optioned to triple-A Albuquerque after the game. The Dodgers are expected to recall right-hander James McDonald from triple A to start Monday against the San Francisco Giants.
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