Dodgers appear to be loaded for stretch run

The Choking Dogs just keep getting better by the day.

Wednesday they claimed 35-year-old Esteban Loaiza off waivers, and I can personally testify to his toughness.

I watched him pitch a day game in Oakland a year ago after he spent a night in jail sobering up. Loaiza had been arrested for drunk driving about 2:30 in the morning and traveling at speeds in excess of 120 mph on one of the area’s main freeways.

Hangover or not, the guy then went six innings to lead the A’s to a win, and if he can go six innings -- by the Dodgers’ starting pitching standards these days -- that’s considered a complete game.

On another positive note, he’s injury-prone, so at the very worst, Randy Wolf and Jason Schmidt will have some company. I just wouldn’t make him the designated driver.

YES SIR, the Dogs’ rent-a-wreck plan is really working, and more on David Wells later.

Shea Hillenbrand is the latest lost soul to find himself, although he didn’t seem to have any idea why anyone would refer to him as a lost soul.

“The only reason you’re playing for the Dodgers right now is because you were a lost soul in Anaheim and then San Diego,” I said. “You were no good, and they got rid of you.”

And he was pretty much no good here up until Tuesday night, playing his best against the Washington Nationals, but then doesn’t everyone?

He had two hits Tuesday, and yet when he stepped to the plate Wednesday, he had a .239 batting average for the Dodgers, a .259 on-base percentage, six RBIs and no home runs. It was baseball like he had played it in Anaheim -- all over again.

Then he hit a two-run homer for the Dodgers, and later lofted a fly ball just deep enough to allow Jeff Kent to tag from third and slide his hand ahead of the catcher’s tag to give the Dogs a 12-inning win over Washington.

“I don’t blame anyone but myself, because I had an ample opportunity in Anaheim and Mike Scioscia just didn’t think I fit in,” he said. “But then I really don’t care what happened because the past is the past.

“I’m in the prime of my career right now and I’ve got eight years left,” and for the record, I did not giggle or laugh. “I’m very capable, and I think I can do a very good job.”

We talked a little about that, and how ridiculous he sounded. We also talked about how unimpressive he looks in a baseball uniform, especially from the waist down. Maybe his pants are too baggy, or he really is as slow as he appears, or maybe he’s just short on mobility at third base while moving six inches to his left or right.

“I don’t really care what anyone says,” Hillenbrand said, while a Dodgers publicist lingered nearby -- just in case Hillenbrand really did care what someone had to say.

“Baseball is not my life. It’s just my job, and people who know me, know what I’m all about,” he said, while maintaining a friendly and understanding grin throughout the interview.

“I don’t worry about things; there’s a good chance I won’t be here next year because there’s no opportunity [third base most likely being given to Andy LaRoche or Nomar Garciaparra, who is still under contract for another year]. But I can’t let any of that affect me.”

Given his reputation as a stiff to date, he seemed likable enough but didn’t seem to have the true grit that allows some players to fight through slumps and the criticism that comes with slumps.

He comes across like one of those “what will be, will be” kind of athletes, who lack the wherewithal to make everyone feel as if they really care. J.D. Drew comes to mind.

He’s got this weekend in San Diego, but beginning this weekend the Dodgers will be bringing up players from the minors, including LaRoche, while Garciaparra is also set to return.

Hillenbrand might have to really dig deep, which never seemed to happen in Anaheim, and do so quickly and consistently to avoid once again becoming a lost soul.

WELLS, WHO still faces a seven-day suspension, pitches Friday against the Padres. Wells is also author of the book “I’m Not Perfect: Boomer on Beer, Brawls, Backaches and Baseball,” in which he writes about the hangover he had while pitching a perfect game.

I’m not sure it’s a good idea to put his locker near Loaiza’s.

BY THE way, Loaiza failed several sobriety tests, according to news reports when stopped after driving more than 120 mph in his Ferrari, and when I asked GM Ned Colletti what Loaiza received for driving recklessly while drunk, he said, “some counseling.”

That sounded a little lenient, so I asked Colletti if he had really done his homework, and he insisted he had. He said he checked with Loaiza’s agent, and Loaiza’s agent had vouched for his client.

Sounds like the same kind of grueling background check they put UCLA assistant football coaches through these days.

For the record, court officials said Loaiza was sentenced to three years of court-supervised probation, which will expire Sept. 19, 2009. He was also fined.

When Loaiza was arrested, the A’s decided to stop serving beer to their players in the clubhouse, and also cut off the visiting teams. Colletti said the Dodgers will not stop their players from drinking, or stop them I presume, from driving their fans to drink.

TODAY’S LAST word comes in e-mail from W. DeBoer:

“Your sportsmanship lacks anything to be desired and your arrogance is distasteful. It is nice to at least see that the coaching staff and players are treating Idaho with some respect. Idaho may not be on par with USC, but we shouldn’t treat them the way you have in your column. Shame on you.”

Why are you getting worked up about a doormat?

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T.J. Simers can be reached at t.j.simers@latimes.com. To read previous columns by Simers, go to latimes.com/simers.