--IF Blake DeWitt was recalled from Class AAA Albuquerque to take Doug Mientkiewicz's roster spot just four days after DeWitt was optioned so he could get regular playing time. Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti admitted that a lack of regular playing time potentially hampering DeWitt's development remains a concern. But DeWitt did play the final two innings at third base after pinch-running for Mark Loretta and is expected to start at shortstop on Saturday while Rafael Furcal rests.
--OF Xavier Paul was given strong consideration for a call-up to take Doug Mientkiewicz's spot, which would have marked his major-league debut. But the longtime outfield prospect, who was hitting .571 through eight games in his second season at Class AAA, ultimately was passed over in favor of DeWitt. Although Paul is questionable on defense, GM Ned Colletti said DeWitt's ability to play three infield spots was the deciding factor. --INF Tony Abreu, a highly regarded prospect, has run into injury trouble yet again. Abreu suffered a high right ankle sprain sliding into second base in a minor league spring training game a couple of weeks ago. He spent a week on crutches and is expected to miss between three and six weeks.
BY THE NUMBERS: 23 1/3 -- Innings pitched by the Dodgers' bullpen on the club's season-opening, seven-game trip to San Diego and Arizona, a stretch during which not one Dodgers starter survived past the sixth inning until Randy Wolf went seven-plus on Sunday. The primary culprit was early-inning pitch counts and walks, especially by the young trio of Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw and James McDonald at the back end. They combined to walk 11 batters in 13 1/3 innings.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Our offense was always going to come around. It just took a little while. We still have a long way to go. Mr. (Joe) Torre has seen this type of thing before, because he has been around this game a long time, since before I was born. Since before my parents were born, in fact, because my parents are only 49 and 51." -- 2B Orlando Hudson after the team's struggling lineup finally broke out for 11 runs on Saturday night at Arizona.
