Dodgers impressed with Hoffmann's numbers

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Former New Ulmite Jeff Schugel, the Assistant to the General Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, said Tuesday afternoon that everything about Jamie Hoffmann has been estremely positive.

"He has continued to open people's eyes in our organization this summer (with the Gulf Coast Dodgers). That is for sure," Schugel said.

Schugel, who signed Hoffmann, said that one of the things hampering a Hoffmann move up to a higher class is that the one of the Dodgers' top picks this year is at Odgen, Utah in Class "A" ball.

"Certainly the way that Jamie has played has warranted him being moved up, but right now there is a little bit of a log-jam there," he said.

"There is nothing that Jamie can do there except keep on doing his job and I have told him that when I talked with him."

Hoffmann is hitting .369 with two home runs and 23 RBI.

"There is only a month left in Jamie's season, so it is my guess that he will finish the season out there. He would then be ready to make his next step next year."

"Hoffmann may also be invited back to Instructional League. There is also the outside chance that he could still move to Ogden or one or our full-season Class "A" clubs, mainly in Columbus, Ohio.

On the subject of trades involving the Dodgers, he said that he "did not want to comment" on the possibilty of Twins' first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz going to the Dodgers in a trade.

"He is certainly someone that we have talked about -- he would be back-up plan for us at this point. We are looking at more of an impact-type bat in our line-up. For me, he is more of a platoon-type player."

On the possibility of Mientkiewicz going to Pittsburgh for starting picher Kris Benson (as has been rumored although reports out of Pittsburgh say that the Pirates want Michael Cuddyer and/or Michael Restovich) "there have been serious discussions," Schugel said.

But you have to wonder if getting Benson would mirror what the San Francisco Giants did last year when they traded for pitcher Sidney Ponson. He was a one year rent-a-pitcher.

Schugel said thet Benson, who was a number one pick, has always had a great arm.

"He has had some setbacks (only 235 innings pitched since 2000), but I think that the thing with Kris is that he is now first starting to hit his stride. I would expect, you never know with injuries, only good things from him."

Mientkiewicz has also, accoring to a Seattle radio station, being talked about in a trade for Mariners' pitcher Gil Meche.

"The Twins are looking for another starting pitcher to get some depth in their rotation," Schugel said. "Beyond that, I would say that now that they have Justin Morneau up, their everyday line-up is pretty well set."

Schugel feels that Mientkiewicz in all likelyhood will go to Pittsburgh.

"They are in pretty thick in talks with them now," Schugel said.

There is also the possibilty that the trade involving Mientkiewicz could fall through.

"There is always the possibility that could happen." he said. "But I would think that with Morneau's arrival that he is pretty expendable. It just depends on what other teams think of him."

Schugel said that if he is not traded, it would be tough.

"But sometimes that is the nature of the beast," Schugel said. "Sometimes, you have to swallow your pride and put the team in front of you. Knowing Doug, he is enough of a professional that he would not let it become an issue."

It will be interesting to see what happens -- or what does not happen -- before the trade deadline.