Herges Still Feels Blue

SAN DIEGO â€”  It has been almost two months since he was traded and Matt Herges has a team-high six saves for the surprising Montreal Expos.

But the feel-good story of the contraction-threatened team from Canada can’t erase the hurt for Herges, who was dealt away by the Dodgers in a four-player trade near the end of spring training.

“I’m still not over it. No way,� Herges said Wednesday before the Expos’ game against the San Diego Padres. “Just the fact that I gave everything I had to the Dodgers and bought into it big-time. I kind of felt abandoned.�

Tonight, Herges could face his old teammates for the first time when the Expos open a four-game series at Dodger Stadium.

It will be an emotional homecoming for a player who signed with the Dodgers as a non-drafted free agent in 1992 and spent nearly eight full seasons in the minor leagues before his first call-up in 1999.

Herges, 33, was used primarily as a setup man for Jeff Shaw in 2000 and 2001 when he went a combined 20-11 with a 3.30 earned-run average in 210 innings. He was also one of the most popular players on the team.

Herges has maintained contact with several former teammates and anticipates heart-tugging moments from the time he arrives at Dodger Stadium this afternoon.

“I’m going to see everyone I’m used to seeing at the stadium and hug a lot of people,� Herges said. “It’s going to be tough. We’ll see what happens, but I’ll tell you what--I’m going to be ready. I’ve been thinking about this situation every day since I’ve been traded. I fall asleep thinking about it.

“There’s a part of me that says I want to go there and save four games against those guys. I love them to death, but I want to beat them badly.�

Dodger catcher Paul Lo Duca relishes the chance to see one of his best friends again. Batting against him is another story.

“To be honest with you, I don’t want to face him,� Lo Duca said. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. Smile? Laugh?

“Hopefully, it won’t come down to a tight situation. It’s going to be tough.�

Few things were as difficult for Herges to deal with as his trade from the Dodgers. His 20 victories in relief the previous two seasons ranked as the most in the majors and he was hoping to become the team’s closer.

But Herges lost his chance when he gave up nine earned runs and 19 hits in nine innings during spring training.

At the same time, Eric Gagne was showing the stuff that would land him the closer role.

On March 23, Dodger General Manager Dan Evans sent Herges and double-A shortstop Jorge Nunez to the Expos for reliever Guillermo Mota and outfield prospect Wilkin Ruan.

The news left Herges in tears.

“I’ve gone from heartbroken over being traded and crying at the drop of a hat to now I want to beat these guys,� Herges said.

No one doubts the Dodgers for choosing Gagne as their closer. The 26-year-old right-hander entered Wednesday’s game against the New York Mets with 12 saves and a 1.29 earned-run average.

Herges has appeared in 21 games for the Expos and has a 3.68 ERA in 22 innings. He has blown three saves, including Wednesday night against the Padres.

“There is no way Herges could have duplicated what Eric Gagne has done,� Evans said. “It’s nothing against Matt, but he doesn’t have the physical stuff that Eric has.

“I know he has good friends here. We loved having him here, but we had to do what’s best for the Dodgers.�

While he is enjoying his opportunity with the Expos, Herges still questions the trade.

“I still do not know why I couldn’t be part of that bullpen,� he said. “I didn’t have to be the closer, that’s not the issue. Eric Gagne has some of the best stuff in baseball. I would love to be setting him up.�

Instead, Herges is settling in with the Expos, who entered Wednesday night’s game two games behind the Florida Marlins in the National League East.

Herges said playing before 4,000 at Olympic Stadium is different than playing before crowds of 40,000 or more at Dodger Stadium, “but when I come into a game, I can’t tell if there is one person in the stands or 100,000 because I’m focusing on getting major league hitters out.�

Herges has stopped longing for a quick route out of Montreal. He and his wife, Jane, are living in large loft in a historic building in Old Montreal and they are expecting their first child.

“When I got traded, my first thought was, ‘How quick can I get out of there?’� Herges said. “But the truth is, I like it here and like the guys and what is going on.

“I don’t want to be traded. The best-case scenario is for me to stay here and someone buys the team and moves it to Washington, D.C. That would be awesome. We could be America’s team.�

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Staff writer Mike DiGiovanna contributed to this report.