Whereas it’s not a very direct line between these three for a roster spot, they had been all linked indirectly. It appeared like a enjoyable thought to trace how one factor led to a different over the span of two seasons, with none of it actually understanding as meant (for the Dodgers and even the groups on the opposite facet of some of those offers).

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Wilson Betemit … And Invoice Mueller

Opening the 2006 season with the 35-year-old Mueller beginning 25 of the primary 26 video games at third base, the Dodgers appeared to have discovered an answer for the Oscar Robles/Antonio Perez/Mike Edwards/Jose Valentin/Willy Aybar/Olmedo Saenz/Norihiro Nakamura journey there that included no participant spending greater than 37 video games on the place in 2005.

Signed to a two-year contract price $9.5 million in December 2005, Mueller joined the Dodgers after three years with the Purple Sox, the place he received the AL batting title in 2003 and a World Sequence in 2004. Slashing .299/.404/.483/.887 in April, Mueller’s scorching begin got here to a sudden halt simply two weeks later. Taking part in in all 29 video games to start the season (pinch hitting within the two video games he didn’t begin), Mueller and his historical past of knee issues popped up as he was pressured out of a sport on Might 4. Returning on Might 9 after an MRI confirmed no injury in his proper knee, Mueller lasted three extra video games earlier than the next occurred:

• Might 12, positioned on 15-day DL with soreness in his proper knee 
• Might 13, if the irritation doesn’t enhance, arthroscopic surgical procedure is a robust chance
• Might 13, (sure, simply later that very same day), will bear arthroscopic surgical procedure, anticipated to overlook 4 to five weeks
• Might 16, underwent “profitable” surgical procedure to take away free cartilage in his knee
• June 2, could have his knee checked out by staff docs as he’s coming alongside slowly
• June 3, he could also be out just a little longer than initially anticipated
• June 17, Dodgers “no less than considerably involved about” Mueller’s restoration
• June 20, transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled record
• June 23, knee harm possible will finish his season and will finish his profession
• July 21, docs eradicated all procedures for fixing the knee deterioration
• Sept. 16, Mueller stated he doesn’t plan to retire after the season is over
• Nov. 17, Dodgers announce Mueller’s retirement

With Mueller sadly gone simply as quickly because it appeared he was bringing some stability to 3rd base, it brings us to Betemit. The Dodgers moved again to Aybar, Saenz, Robles, Ramon Martinez and one straight week of Joel Guzman (that successfully determined his future with the group) at third base from early Might to late July. Now in quest of a long-term resolution at third, the Dodgers despatched Danys Báez, who was simply 5 months and 46 appearances into his tenure in Los Angeles, and the 23-year-old Aybar to the Braves for the 24-year-old Betemit just a few days earlier than the commerce deadline. 

Aybar had really hit .280/.394/.430/.824 in 256 plate appearances between 2005 and 2006 after initially rating as a Prime 10 prospect within the group again in 2000 and 2001. Nevertheless, Betemit was just some seasons faraway from rating among the many Prime 50 in baseball and No. 1 or No. 2 prospect within the Braves’ group. Hitting .281/.344/.497/.842 on the time of the commerce, Betemit was behind Chipper Jones at third and Marcus Giles at second with the Braves searching for bullpen assist as they had been 6.5 video games again within the Wild Card on the time of the commerce.

The Dodgers made the transfer for Betemit as they had been six video games behind the first-place Padres, sitting in fifth within the NL West, and 7 video games behind the Reds for the Wild Card. Going 3-for-4 in opposition to the Nationals in his Dodgers debut on July 30, and 2-for-5 in opposition to the Reds on Aug. 1, Betemit wanted seven extra video games to get his subsequent 5 hits, and hit .224/.294/.400/.694 in his ultimate 53 video games of the season. After arising with three extra-base hits in these first two video games, Betemit had 13 the remainder of the way in which.

Swept by the Mets within the NLDS, the Dodgers entered the offseason with Betemit nonetheless within the plans at third base, whereas Andy LaRoche entered 2007 ranked because the Dodgers’ No. 1 prospect and nineteenth in all of baseball based on Baseball America.

Beginning 17 video games in April, Betemit hit simply .125/.297/.167/.464 and misplaced any maintain he could have had on the place because the Dodgers known as up LaRoche on Might 6 after which Tony Abreu on Might 22. After the Dodgers performed all three in Might, LaRoche went again to Triple-A in early June and Betemit began simply 12 extra video games between June and July, whereas Abreu began 20 in June. Regardless of slashing .278/.391/.611/1.002 in his 128 plate appearances from Might 1 to July 29, Betemit’s temporary time with the Dodgers got here to an finish as Nomar Garciaparra took over as the first third baseman on the finish of June, with James Loney lastly pushing his manner in at first.

A sport out of first place within the NL West on July 31, and main the Wild Card, the Dodgers despatched Betemit away for 30-year-old reliever Scott Proctor, who had been drafted by the Dodgers in 1998 and despatched to the Yankees in 2003 for Robin Ventura.

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Scott Proctor

Making an attempt to outlive within the playoff race with Chad Billingsley, Mark Hendrickson, Brett Tomko, David Wells, Hung-Chih Kuo, Eric Stults and Esteban Loaiza beginning behind Brad Penny and Derek Lowe after Jason Schmidt and Randy Wolf went down for the 12 months, the Dodgers wanted somebody to reliably eat innings out of the bullpen.

Coming off a 2006 season that included 102 1/3 innings in 83 video games (fifth within the majors that season) for Joe Torre’s Yankees, Proctor pitched in 31 of the Dodgers’ ultimate 55 video games. Dodgers basic supervisor Ned Colletti stated on the time of the acquisition:

“Scott has a document of sturdiness and success in one of many main markets within the nation. We see him as a strong addition to our bullpen down the stretch.”

Unsurprisingly, the staff’s beginning pitching struggled over the ultimate two months and Proctor couldn’t do a lot to resolve these points as he simply tried to bridge the hole to Jonathan Broxton and Takashi Saito. Proctor did end the 12 months with a 3.38 ERA in his 32 innings with the staff, however the Dodgers went simply 24-31 down the stretch, together with dropping streaks of six and 7 video games. Between his time with the Yankees and Dodgers, Proctor as soon as once more pitched in 83 video games, tying for third within the majors in 2007 with fellow Dodgers Broxton and Joe Beimel.

Returning to the Dodgers’ bullpen in 2008, Proctor was reunited with Torre who changed Grady Little throughout the offseason. Pitching in 13 of the staff’s first 26 video games, and ultimately 33 of the primary 74, Proctor struggled mightily with a 6.82 ERA in 31 2/3 innings, together with 36 strikeouts to 22 walks and 6 homers allowed via late June. The breaking level lastly got here on June 21 when Proctor entered a 1-1 tie within the eleventh in opposition to Cleveland and allowed three singles and two walks with Los Angeles falling behind 7-1.

Touchdown on the DL with an elbow harm, Proctor didn’t return till early September, after which he really completed with a 2.57 ERA/2.99 FIP in 7 innings. Closing the season with a 17-8 document in September, the Dodgers turned a 2.5 sport deficit to the D-backs right into a 2.0 sport result in finish the season with an NL West title.

Leaving for the Marlins as a free agent forward of 2009, Proctor completed his temporary run with the Dodgers with a 4.84 ERA in 70 2/3 innings, together with 73 strikeouts and 39 walks throughout 72 video games. Proctor threw in 166 video games between 2006 and 2007, accounting for 54 % of his profession video games throughout his seven years within the majors.