Dodgers Notebook
LA locks up Piazza, Martinez
During the dog days of summer, Los Angeles owners made sure the franchise's top hitter and top pitcher will be back in uniform the next few seasons. Catcher Mike Piazza was signed to a five-year deal valued at $11.1 million a season. He had been asking for more than $12.5 and wanted seven years, but seemed content at the latest offer the Dodgers put on the table. Ramon Martinez, who is having a banner year from the mound like his brother Pedro in Boston, was inked at $12 million a year for three years...
3B Todd Zeile and OF Raul Mondesi also signed extensions with Los Angeles, who have not yet inked any future deals with possible free agents like closer Scott Radinsky or LF Trenidad Hubbard...
Pitcher Pinch
The Dodgers' biggest hindrance to hanging onto the NL West crown against the hard-charging Colorado Rockies? Arms. Los Angeles lost starter Ismael Valdez for up to a month with a strained tricep. His replacement, Butch Henry, 30, called up from AAA Albuquerque was pretty dreadful in his first two starts with the big club, giving up 12 earned runs.
***Some other notes of interest: Barry Bonds and Roberto Alomar both got their 2,000th hit within two days of each other in late July ... The trading deadline passed with the Dodgers sitting at 60-44, nine games up on Colorado. But the Rockies made a big move by winning nine of 10 and pulled as close as four games back. It should be a tight finish in the NL West...