Los Angeles Dodgers Wiretap

Dodgers Inquire About Oswalt

The Dodgers called the Astros regarding the availability of pitcher Roy Oswalt on Thursday, according to reports.

"I don't talk about trades," Houston general manager Ed Wade said.

The Dodgers join the Rangers, Tigers, Angels and the Nationals as teams said to be interested in Oswalt.

Via Houston Chronicle

Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros

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Blake Accuses Lilly Of Cheating

Casey Blake accused Ted Lilly of cheating on Thursday, trying unsuccessfully to persuade the umpires that the Chicago Cubs pitcher should have been cited for starting his windup on some pitches from in front of the rubber.

"I know he doesn't have an overpowering fastball," Blake said. "I know he's trying to get as much of an edge as he can. But he moved in.

"That's cheating. You've got to stay on the rubber."

"Sometimes a batter will get in the box and he'll step out, and behind the box, and on the lines," Lilly said. "I don't think he's trying to cheat. It might not be intentional."

By pitching from in front of the rubber, Lilly said, a pitcher would lose the leverage of pushing off the rubber. Any such deliveries were strictly inadvertent, he said.

"I might have done it a couple times, just trying to gain my footing," he said.

Via Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs

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Dodgers DFA Ortiz, Call Up Justin Miller

The Dodgers purchased the contract of right-handed reliever Justin Miller from Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday and designated for assignment reliever Ramon Ortiz.

Despite the move, the Dodgers remain a pitcher short. Manager Joe Torre said another move is likely, probably a swing man, and he indicated it wouldn't be made until after the club sees what its latest fifth-starter candidate, Carlos Monasterios, does in Colorado on Friday night.

That could mean left-hander Scott Elbert is under consideration. He starts for Albuquerque on Friday. Charlie Haeger has a rehab start for Class A Inland Empire on Saturday, and Torre said, "my guess is he'll join us shortly."

Torre said he would use the durable Miller to pitch out of a jam during an inning or for multiple frames.

"He can pitch every day. I saw him do that with the Giants last year," said Torre. "In Spring Training, we knew we couldn't take him, even though you want on your staff someone with durability."

Via MLB.com

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