now off the menu in L.A. : squirrel fricassee*

Grady Little "resigns" as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

*3800 google hits (now 3801)

SQUIRREL FRICASSEE

2 dressed young squirrels (2 lbs.)
1 1/2 tsp. salt
Pepper
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 - 3/4 cup water
1 1/2 cups milk
1 tsp. grated onion (optional)

Wipe squirrel thoroughly with a damp cloth. Remove any hair and scent glands. Examine carefully to locate imbedded shot and remove with a sharp pointed knife. Wash thoroughly inside and out in warm water. Drain well and cut into serving pieces. (Never wash after cutting up.) Combine salt, pepper, and flour. Dredge meat and coat well. Heat shortening in a heavy skillet; brown meat slowly on all sides to a rich brown (about 15 minutes). Add 1/4 cup of water; cover tightly; reduce heat and simmer gently until tender (about 30 minutes). Add remaining water as needed.

Squirrel should be very tender when done. Remove squirrel to a hot platter; cover and keep hot. Blend any leftover seasoned flour into the fat remaining in skillet. Add milk gradually and cook until gravy boils and thickens, stirring constantly. Serve at once with squirrel. Add the grated onion for additional flavor, if desired. 4 servings.

But was there a bounce in his step?

Nomar Garciaparra (calf) sat out Saturday's game but is expected back in the lineup Sunday. Garciaparra said his entire body was sore (even his hair!) when he woke up Saturday morning, but that the soreness in his left calf wasn't anything out of the ordinary. "He was anxious to get back in there and it looked like he was anxious to make things happen when he got to the plate," manager Grady Little said. "I'm sure he'll get it going."

Meanwhile, Andy LaRoche sits on the bench.

Grady Little hearts roasted squirrel with ketchup

Right back in the lineup even though Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp both had nice games Wednesday, Luis Gonzalez went 0-for-4 Thursday against the Phillies.
Gonzalez is batting just .224 with one homer in 107 at-bats since the All-Star break. He's even stopped walking, with just five base on balls in the second half after he had 41 in 293 at-bats before the break. Especially after factoring in defense, the Dodgers would seem to be quite a bit better off with both Ethier and Kemp playing regularly right now. Blame Grady Little for continuing to sign play Gonzalez, but also blame GM Ned Colletti, who gave the 39-year-old a $7.35 million contract when there was very little upside to the move. Plus, Colletti had to know Little would stick with him far too long if he wasn't any good.

Earth to the Country Bumpkin

a little secret: Brett Tomko SUCKS. He has always sucked and will continue to SUCK. How could this guy be any worse? Hell, even the Phillies got Awful Adam Eaton out of the rotation. But thanks for helping the rest of the National League...

The Dodgers say they have no plans to call up pitching prospect James McDonald to replace Brett Tomko in the rotation. "It's not going to happen," Manager Grady Little said. "If he was ready, he'd already be here." McDonald has a 12-9 record with a 3.15 earned-run average and 159 strikeouts in 125 2/3 innings between Jacksonville and Class-A Inland Empire this season.