Herges Says His Arm Is Ready for More

Matt Herges would like to make one thing clear: His right arm is not tired.

When the Dodgers acquired veteran relievers Terry Mulholland and Mike Trombley on Tuesday, Manager Jim Tracy and interim general manager Dave Wallace each stressed the need to lighten the workload of Herges, the bullpen workhorse.

Herges leads all National League relievers in innings pitched. In 11 appearances since the All-Star Game, he has allowed two runners per inning, with opponents hitting .352 against him.

“It’s one of those things you hope to get out of as soon as possible, but I really don’t think I’ve been overworked,” Herges said. “I understand people worrying, but I don’t want to talk myself into being tired. You can talk yourself into things to make excuses. I’ve been getting hit lately, but it’s not because I’m tired.”

With the arrival of Mulholland and Trombley Wednesday, pitching coach Jim Colborn said the Dodgers hoped not to use Herges on Wednesday or today. Still, Colborn said Herges has not lost velocity or movement on his pitches, as a pitcher with a tired arm might. The new pitchers and the days off, he said, simply help refresh Herges for the stretch run.

“To me, what he’s going through is just part of the normal ups and downs a bullpen pitcher will have,” Colborn said. “That’s not our concern. Our concern is that there are two months left, and September and October are when we have to have him ready.”

Chad Kreuter, who caught Herges during the 11th inning of Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, said he did not detect any reduced velocity or quality in Herges’ pitches.

“It’s not a matter of stuff. It’s a matter of hitters making adjustments,” Kreuter said. “He kind of snuck up on everybody last year. Now people have an idea of what he’s going to throw. People make adjustments. That’s what’s going on. It’s up to Matt to make a few adjustments of his own.”

Herges was unabashedly enthusiastic about the arrival of Mulholland and Trombley, though it means he will get into fewer games.

“They’re both better than me,” Herges said. “They’re both quality veteran pitchers. I can’t complain a bit. I don’t see it as easing the pressure on me, but I do see it as making our team better.”

The Dodgers returned left-hander Jeff Williams to triple-A Las Vegas, where he will work as a starting pitcher. Tracy said the Dodgers will recall Williams in September if they do not need him sooner.

The Australian rookie pitched 23 innings in seven weeks with the Dodgers, posting a 5.16 earned-run average.

“I need innings--bad,” Williams said. “I wish I had a chance to get the ball more often, but it’s probably a good thing I didn’t, because that meant the starters were going six or seven innings and we were winning.”

The Dodgers could have kept Williams and removed right-hander Al Reyes from the roster, but Williams had an option and Reyes did not, meaning the Dodgers could not send him to the minor leagues before allowing other teams the opportunity to claim him.

“We don’t want to . . . run the risk of losing a pitcher,” Tracy said.

Tuesday’s trading deadline does not mean that players can no longer be traded. Instead, players must pass through waivers unclaimed before they can be traded. Any player acquired by Aug. 31 is eligible for the postseason roster.

In these first few days of August, teams generally put every player on waivers. These waivers, unlike the ones that would have involved Reyes, allow teams to withdraw any player once claimed. If a player is not claimed, or if a team does not wish to withdraw a claim, that player can then be traded.

Wallace, who traded for Mulholland, Trombley and starter James Baldwin within the last week, said he did not anticipate another significant acquisition.

“You always continue to explore,” Wallace said. “But James Baldwin was a nice addition for us. He’s a proven guy. And now we have a little more depth in the bullpen. I feel pretty comfortable with where we are.”

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

LUKE PROKOPEC

(6-5, 4.31 ERA)

vs.

REDS’

ELMER DESSENS

(7-8, 4.33 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7

TV--Fox Sports Net 2.

Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

Update--Prokopec makes his first start in eight days, delayed by a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand. In his last start, he struck out a career-high 11. Dessens, who pitched four seasons in Mexico and another in Japan, threw his first major league shutout in his last start. Triple-A Las Vegas infielder Phil Hiatt, who played briefly with the Dodgers in April, leads minor league baseball with 34 home runs.