(This has to be at least the third time I’ve used that line on this blog, right? Guess I’m just a sucker for Nixon references.)

Ken Gurnick with the news on today’s roster move:

To make room for Thursday starting pitcher Vicente Padilla on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers placed Jason Schmidt on the 60-day disabled list, effectively ending his tenure with the club. Schmidt is in the final season of a three-year deal and has hinted he will retire. He went 2-2 in four starts last month, but was placed on the disabled list with recurring shoulder problems. In three seasons with the Dodgers he won a total of three games and had two shoulder operations. The Dodgers also optioned infielder Tony Abreu to Triple-A and he is expected to return Sept. 1 when rosters expand.

Not that any of this was anything but completely expected, but it sure is good to know that we’ll never have to suffer through Jason Schmidt in Dodger blue again. No hard feelings, of course, because we know that he did everything he could to come back and it just wasn’t there – but man, was that some of the most painful pitching you’ve ever seen? Actually, I kind of wonder what he’s doing right now; if he’s still rehabbing or if he’s packed up and gone home.

It’s less than an hour until Padilla-time, and for the record, no – I don’t care that he’s a jerk. If he can pitch, great. If not, lose him.

By the way, how great would “Dodgers go into Coors Field and take two of three from baseball’s hottest team” look as a headline to all those who predicted impending doom?