Sheriff's Dept. inquiries about inmate abuse found to be shoddy

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department failed to thoroughly investigate allegations from inmates who said they were physically abused by deputies, according to an analysis of 31 cases by the department's internal watchdog.

In a 145-page report, the Office of Independent Review said the department's shoddy initial investigations made it difficult to determine whether the inmates' allegations were valid. The watchdog launched its review of the handling of the cases after the American Civil Liberties Union in 2011 released sworn declarations from 78 inmates who alleged they were abused.

After the ACLU made the declarations public, Sheriff Lee Baca promised to reinvestigate the complaints. That review has led to three deputies being criminally charged: one on suspicion of assault and two others suspected of making false reports. Five deputies have been disciplined for violating policy in other cases. Some of the allegations remain under review.

The Office of Independent Review, which is headed by former federal prosecutor Michael Gennaco, said the department's effort to reevaluate the allegations was undermined by the inadequate investigations that occurred when the inmates initially complained to authorities. Most of their allegations were dismissed at the time.

The watchdog's report, which was released this week, comes as federal authorities continue to investigate alleged deputy abuse of inmates. Currently, criminal and civil rights investigations of the county jails are being conducted.

Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said the department will analyze the watchdog's report to see whether improvements can be made. But he defended the department's initial investigations into the allegations, saying they were thorough.

Peter Eliasberg, legal director of the ACLU of Southern California, said the watchdog's report highlighting problems with Sheriff's Department investigations was consistent with what his organization has been saying for years. He also questioned why the sheriff's watchdog hadn't identified problems with those investigations earlier.

"What does that say about the oversight of the OIR?" Eliasberg asked.

Gennaco said the allegations of abuse — with "mid-level injuries" — didn't rise to the level that his office typically reviewed. He said his office now does review such cases.

In other reforms, Gennaco said, the department has changed the way it handles use of force investigations in the lockups. A team of sergeants and lieutenants now oversees cases involving force and presents its findings to a commander's panel that convenes to discuss the case. Supervisors have also started receiving daily reports on incidents involving force to help monitor how force is used in the jails.

Another reform, the report said, has been the installation of 1,500 cameras in the downtown jails. Ninety percent of force used in those jails is now caught on camera, according to the report.

james.barragan@latimes.com

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State Sen. Calderon was target of FBI sting, TV report says

SACRAMENTO — State Sen. Ronald Calderon allegedly accepted $60,000 in bribes from an undercover FBI agent during an elaborate sting operation, according to a report by the Al Jazeera television network, which cited what it described as a sealed federal affidavit.

The money was in exchange for Calderon's efforts to expand tax credits available to the film industry and for hiring on the state payroll a woman purported to be the undercover agent's girlfriend — but who was also an undercover agent, according to the document, which the television network posted on its website.

Filed in support of a search warrant served in June on Calderon's Capitol office, the document said the agent believed Calderon had also engaged in conspiracy, mail fraud and extortion under color of authority, and indicated that wiretaps were used to collect evidence.

"There is probable cause to believe that Ronald Calderon, a California state senator, has committed the subject offenses by accepting approximately $60,000 in bribes from an undercover FBI agent ("the UC")," the affidavit says.

Calderon, a Democrat from Montebello whose family has been prominent in California politics for three decades, has not been charged with any crime.

An FBI spokeswoman declined to comment on the television report and whether the affidavit was official.

The document says there was also probable cause to believe that Calderon "participated in a separate bribery scheme with Michael D. Drobot," the chief executive officer of Pacific Hospital of Long Beach. The lawmaker allegedly accepted $28,000 from Drobot in exchange for "supporting legislation that would delay or limit changes in California's workers compensation laws."

Jeffrey Rutherford, an attorney for Drobot, denied the allegations involving his client. "Any allegation that Mr. Drobot engaged in wrongdoing with respect to Ron Calderon is baseless," Rutherford said.

The affidavit said one of the payments made by the FBI agent to benefit Ronald Calderon was $25,000 given to Californians for Diversity, a nonprofit formed by the senator's brother, former Assemblyman Tom Calderon, in 2008.

Ron Calderon told the agent that he and Tom Calderon "intend to use that money when Ronald Calderon is no longer in public office," the affidavit says.

The alleged payments, which began in February 2012, the affidavit says, were from an undercover agent "posing as owner of a film studio in downtown Los Angeles that provides studio facilities to independent films and commercials."

Lawmakers told The Times that Calderon was often accompanied to social and political events in the past year by a man identifying himself as Rocky Patel, head of United Pacific Studios, a small independent studio in downtown Los Angeles. Patel gave a total of $10,800 in political contributions to Ronald and Tom Calderon in 2012 and early 2013, according to reports their campaigns filed with the state.

Patel posted a picture of himself with Ronald Calderon on his Twitter account in July 2012. The FBI declined to say whether Patel is the undercover agent mentioned in the affidavit.

The agent made nine $3,000 payments to Ronald Calderon's daughter, Jessica Calderon, who "has received these payments even though she has never done any work" for the undercover agent, the affidavit says.

Mark Geragos, an attorney for Ronald Calderon, challenged the Al Jazeera report.

"The only illegal act that is being committed is either by the government or by Al Jazeera," Geragos said. "The only illegal act I see is committed either by somebody who released a sealed affidavit or somebody who claims they got a sealed affidavit. Releasing a sealed affidavit is a federal crime."

Asked about the content of the affidavit, Geragos said, "My guess is it is fabricated and untrue."

The Times had reported earlier Wednesday federal investigators were looking at Ronald Calderon's proposal to expand tax credits for films made in California.

Gov. Jerry Brown signed a Calderon bill last year that extended for two years California's $100 million in annual tax breaks for films made in the state. The credit is available to productions of $1 million or more after financing is secured and certain production tasks have been completed.

Separately, Calderon wanted to give tax breaks to productions of less than $1 million. He proposed that in a letter to Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) on May 20. He also proposed a tax incentive for commercials filmed in California.

The affidavit quotes transcripts of recordings in which Calderon assures the agent he will be able to amend the film credit legislation. "I am in so tight with the pro-tem," he says. "He will do whatever I want."

Calderon did not succeed in expanding the tax credit last year. But, the affidavit says, he "continued to take official action on the UC's behalf by seeking to get the amendment introduced in 2013."

At an August awards event for Latino entertainers, the affidavit alleges, Calderon told the undercover agent, "I would not have pushed this hard if it wasn't for you."

Calderon told the agent the bribes were for his children, the document shows.

The senator agreed to hire the agent's girlfriend, without ever seeing her resume, if the agent would hire Calderon's daughter Jessica, the affidavit said. The undercover agent also contributed money toward the college tuition of Sen. Calderon's son, Zachary, who attends the Berklee School of Music in Boston.

"Any help you could do for my kids … you know that's diamonds for me," Calderon told the agent. "That's diamonds."

patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com

anthony.york@latimes.com

Times staff writers Ruben Vives and Richard Winton contributed to this report.

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Sebelius apologizes for Obamacare 'debacle'

WASHINGTON — In her first appearance before Congress since the botched debut of the federal healthcare website, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Wednesday apologized for the "debacle," accepted responsibility and promised the technical problems could be fixed.

Sebelius acknowledged that enrolling in insurance plans through the federal government's online marketplace was a "miserably frustrating experience for way too many Americans" — an observation Republicans repeatedly underscored by pointing to a screen that showed in real time that the website, healthcare.gov, was displaying an error message.

"I am as frustrated and angry as anyone with the flawed launch," she told the House Energy and Commerce Committee, becoming the second administration official to testify before Congress on the issue. "So let me say directly to these Americans, you deserve better. I apologize. I'm accountable to you for fixing these problems. And I'm committed to earning your confidence back by fixing the site."

In 3 1/2 hours of testimony, Sebelius endured an intense grilling from Republican critics, but tried to spotlight what she argued were the overlooked successes of the healthcare law.

"Millions of Americans are clearly eager to learn about their options and to finally achieve healthcare security made possible by the Affordable Care Act," she said. "And my commitment is to deliver on that promise."

Sebelius, a popular second-term Kansas governor when President Obama tapped her to run the department and oversee his planned healthcare overhaul, is in the eye of a maelstrom that has undermined confidence in the administration and given new ammunition to GOP critics of his biggest domestic achievement.

"Americans were assured that their experience would be similar to other online transactions, like purchasing a flight or ordering a pizza," said committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.). "But after more than three years to prepare, malfunctions have become the norm."

The administration has promised that the website will be fixed by the end of November. Upton said Sebelius had agreed to testify again in the first week of December.

Republicans have sought to pin the blame for the website's dismal performance on Sebelius. Last week, 32 members of the House signed a letter to Obama urging him to fire her as a "powerful signal that the American people will not be held responsible for her department's failings." This week, the top Republican on the Senate Health Committee, Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), also said Sebelius should step down.

Senior White House officials have dismissed such calls, saying their priority was to fix the problems. A White House spokesman reiterated Wednesday that the president "has complete confidence" in Sebelius.

Sebelius also said she did not support delaying a tax penalty for Americans who did not have health insurance next year, as many lawmakers, including Democrats, have called for. "We're still at the beginning of a six-month open enrollment, which extends through the end of March. And there's plenty of time to sign up," she said.

The technical problems that have marred the rollout of a crucial feature of the healthcare law were a recurring theme of the House hearing. But Sebelius argued that, despite major issues, the website had never crashed. "It is functional, but at a very slow speed and very low reliability," she said.

Republicans also continued a new line of attack over Obama's promise that Americans who already had health insurance would be able to keep their policies if they liked them.

"I'd call this a red herring that misled voters, intentional or not," Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) said. "Your words and those of the president, as he campaigned last year … seem to be directly refuted by the millions of cancellation notices already sent to Americans just in the past few weeks."

Sebelius told the committee the administration lacked "reliable data" on how many Americans had enrolled in new plans so far. She speculated that, because of the "flawed launch," it probably would be "a very small number."

Insurance companies have reported receiving inadequate or confusing information, which Sebelius said was one of the "priority fixes" now being made. Sebelius said she intended to release "confirmed data" on a monthly basis beginning next month. "The system isn't functioning, so we are not getting that reliable data," she said.

Critics have suspected that the administration was withholding information about enrollment because the numbers were low. If signups are significantly below expectations it could jeopardize the healthcare law, particularly if younger, healthier Americans do not enroll to help balance older, sicker ones who do.

Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, also raised concerns about the security of the personal data consumers submit to the website. He cited warnings in a Sept. 27 memo from Marilyn Tavenner, administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which oversees the online health marketplace. Tavenner noted that an outside contractor had not been able to test security controls.

"Don't you think you had the obligation to tell the American people that we're going to put you in this system, but beware, your information is likely to be vulnerable?" Rogers asked.

Sebelius said regular monitoring and testing continued, and security protocols were being upgraded.

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Lakers rain on Clippers' parade in season opener

Doc Rivers doesn't need to turn on his GPS just yet.

That Clippers' championship parade route he talked about plotting Tuesday may not be ready to be taken any time soon, even as a psychological ploy.

Not when your presumed Finals contender can't navigate the Lakers without Kobe Bryant. Not when your team of All-Stars is beaten largely by a who's-nobody collection of Xavier Henry, Jodie Meeks and Wesley Johnson.

BOX SCORE: Lakers 116, Clippers 103

A few hours before the Clippers' flop of an opener, Rivers had boldly talked about taking the Clippers where no coach had before, about figuring out the smartest way to navigate the streets around Staples Center come June.

You have to envision a championship before you can win it, right?

Rivers had famously used a similar tactic with the Boston Celtics in the summer of 2007. The coach took Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen on a duck boat tour through Boston after the trio of stars came together, emulating the title parade route used by the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots.

One year later, the Celtics piled into the same boats after beating the Lakers in the NBA Finals.

These Clippers looked merely waterlogged after a 116-103 defeat against the short-handed Lakers.

Rivers wore the look of someone powerless to stop a sinking ship in his first game on the Clippers' sideline.

The coach stressed defense, yet his team surrendered triple digits. He wanted smart play but got needless flagrant fouls from Matt Barnes and DeAndre Jordan. He emphasized togetherness yet watched his second unit outscored by a staggering 76-34 margin.

The Clippers also failed to address a few of the shortcomings Rivers pinpointed before the game, struggling to defend the perimeter as the Lakers made 14 three-pointers and giving up too many crowd-pleasing fastbreak points.

"It was everybody," Rivers said of his team's defensive breakdowns. "I would love to say it was the bigs, but it really wasn't a lot of times. It was our guards pulled in at the wrong time, going for steals, gambling, breaking coverage."

On the plus side, Jordan exhibited flashes of being the defensive menace Rivers envisioned, blocking three shots and twice stripping the ball from Pau Gasol in the first half.

But this performance wasn't anywhere close to one indicative of a contending team. Rivers will need to coax much more out of his defense and a second unit that was badly outplayed, with only three players scoring.

By contrast, the Lakers gleefully watched a trio of reserves come up big. Henry scored a career-high 22 points, Meeks went for 13 and Johnson hit a big three-pointer.

The Clippers were almost comically bad during a fourth quarter in which they gave up 41 points.

"We relaxed a little bit and I think that starts with me," point guard Chris Paul said. "I've got to get into the ball and stop getting the little nitpicky fouls and stuff like that and try to contain guys."

None of what happened Tuesday lends itself to plotting a parade route.

"We've talked about that," Rivers said. "But that's a long way away."

If this was a sign of things to come, indeed it is.

ben.bolch@latimes.com

Twitter: @latbbolch

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What a blast-off by the Lakers' castoffs

Never saw this coming. Never felt this happening.

Never thought the Clippers would begin their march to the NBA Finals by tripping over the Lakers ... bench?

Never thought new Clippers Coach Doc Rivers would watch the first step toward his second championship ring tarnished by … Mike D'Antoni?.

Never thought a Staples Center that contained some loud Clippers fans — including one dude who infiltrated the Lakers courtside seats—would once again roar for the Lakers as if it were June.

Never thought they would be roaring for … Xavier Henry?

Believe it. The building is still rocking from it. The NBA experts are still reeling from it. A season that is one day old might already have its upset of the year .

On the first step of the Clippers' supposed championship run Tuesday, the Lakers hit them over the head with a bench, kicked them in the gut with energy, and stole this season-opening moment with the unlikeliest of 116-103 victories.

That's right, a Lakers team playing with mostly old guys and castoffs — and without Kobe Bryant — beat the NBA's newest glamour teams with its new glamour coach by 13 points, outscoring them by 17 points in the fourth quarter.

The Lakers aren't supposed to make the playoffs. The Clippers aren't supposed to be knocked out until at least the NBA Finals. Yet what ensued was so upside down, the Lakers' faces were filled with shocked joy and the Clippers couldn't even look up from the floor.

"Man, that was fun," said Henry, a Memphis castoff who led the Lakers with 22 points, including a dozen in a fourth-quarter comeback engineered completely by the reserves. "We just want to prove everybody wrong."

This might be only one game. This might be only one moment. The Lakers might never again feel and express the joy that came from Tuesday's 14 three-pointers and a sprinting attack that ran the disjointed Clippers ragged.

But goodness, for this one night, they indeed proved everybody wrong. It was Showtime from a team expected to spend the season in down time. Besides Henry, it was fist pumps and swaggers from former Lakers castoff Jordan Farmar, who returned from a season in Turkey to score 16 points off the bench. It was skips and struts from reserve Jodie Meeks, who scored nine points in the fourth quarter. The Lakers' bench scored 76 points, third most in team history.

And, oh yeah, it was a horrendous defensive effort from a Clippers team that is still clearly learning Rivers' patented defense. Rivers was hired to teach this contending team to win games in the fourth quarter, yet the Clippers allowed the Lakers to shoot 65% during a fourth quarter in which DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin combined for three points.

"Everybody said we weren't going to beat them, and we were like, fine," Henry said. "We thought, if they want to beat us, they had to show up and beat us."

This was supposed to be Rivers' debut party. It was, instead, perhaps D'Antoni's finest 21/2 hours, his team finally running and rolling the way he's always planned.

This was supposed to be a reborn Clippers team's first national statement, a game filled with Chris Paul's magic and Griffin's acrobatics. It was, instead, a reminder that the Lakers, despite predictions of doom this season, still know how to be the Lakers.

The Lakers not only won, but they won with starters Pau Gasol and Steve Nash sitting. Trailing by four points at the start of the fourth quarter, the Lakers stormed back with the most unlikely of heroes. Henry hit a layup. Farmar hit a three-pointer. Meeks hit a three-pointer, then a layup and was fouled for a three-point play. Henry made a three-pointer. The Lakers were suddenly up by four with 8:23 remaining, and the Clippers never really fought back.

Even the coolest of celebrities were excited.

"I'm literally jumping up and down like a 12-year-old," tweeted Adam Levine, lead singer from Maroon Five.

Even the most animated of celebrities were also excited.

Cheering wildly from behind the courtside seats was Dodgers kid star Yasiel Puig, who began the game by singing along with the blaring pregame song by the Black Eyed Peas.

The night was so crazy, even an appearance by Bryant, who probably will miss at least the season's first month while recovering from a torn Achilles' tendon, went virtually unnoticed.

Midway through the second quarter, he slipped into the second row of the bench. He was dressed in a black suit and tie. He was staying strangely quiet. In fact, a quick check of his Twitter account revealed that he didn't even tweet.

"It's his rehab. ... He has his hands full with that," D'Antoni said.

If Tuesday was any indication, Bryant might want to hurry back. Who knows? He could be missing all the fun.

bill.plaschke@latimes.com

Twitter: @billplaschke

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Los Angeles County halts plan to export some jail inmates to Taft

Los Angeles County supervisors voted Tuesday to halt a controversial plan to send county jail inmates to a facility in Kern County after a board member who had originally supported the contract changed her mind.

The supervisors voted last month to approve a $75-million, five-year plan to send about 500 county inmates serving lengthy sentences to the correctional facility run by the city of Taft. The plan was touted as a cost-effective way to free up local jail beds and increase time served by the most serious offenders.

Supervisor Gloria Molina, one of the three who initially voted in favor of the contract, said last week that she had changed her mind after learning that there is ongoing litigation between Taft and the state's Department of Corrections.

The Taft facility housed state prison inmates until the corrections department terminated its lease in 2011. Taft sued last year, saying the state should reimburse the city for unemployment benefits paid to former employees after the facility closed. The city also sought to bar the state from exercising a contract clause that would have given it the right to lease the facility for $1 a year after 2017.

Molina said in an interview that she did not want the county to get dragged into the dispute and was concerned that the state might have sought to stop the county from leasing the beds or try to take the facility over in 2017. She said she felt the supervisors had been "misled and misinformed" by sheriff's officials and county attorneys that the contract was ready to go.

"I really wish that Taft would have come to us clear," she said. "We need to find some permanent solutions" to jail overcrowding that has caused many inmates to be released early.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Capt. Mark McCorkle said the department had not learned of the potential legal issues until after the board voted to approve the deal and Taft had signed the contract. At that point, he said Taft officials notified the Sheriff's Department that, in addition to the ongoing lawsuit, there had been correspondence between the city and state about Taft's plans to lease the beds to Los Angeles County. Sheriff's officials then notified the county's attorneys, he said.

Terry Thornton, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, declined to comment on how the dispute between Taft and the state could affect L.A. County, but said the department — which is facing a federal court order to further reduce prison crowding — is again looking at leasing space in the Taft facility.

The state agency "is interested in the beds and is looking forward to the opportunity to discuss this with Taft officials," she said in an email.

Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, who — along with Supervisor Don Knabe — voted against halting the county's deal with Taft, said lawyers had found that the county was on "strong legal grounds" to lease the beds at least through 2017.

In the meantime, Antonovich said, it would help relieve overcrowding in the county's jails and increase time served by serious and violent offenders.

Antonovich blames the state for local jail crowding because a law passed two years ago shifted responsibility for thousands of lower-level felons from state prisons to county jails.

Advocates of alternatives to incarceration applauded the decision not to send inmates to Taft because the distance would have made it harder for their families to visit.

Diana Zuniga, an organizer with Californians United for a Responsible Government and LA No More Jails, said she hoped the money that had been slated for the Taft jail beds could instead go to alternatives to incarceration, like a pilot program the county launched earlier this year to house female inmates with substance abuse issues in community facilities instead of jail.

abby.sewell@latimes.com

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Red Sox hold ace-high hand as Jon Lester beats Cardinals

ST. LOUIS — This was baseball the old-fashioned way. None of this nonsense about a quality start. None of this feel-good stuff about keeping your team in the ballgame.

These were two of the finest pitchers in baseball taking the reins and not letting go. Pitch count be damned, these aces were in it to win it.

This was one for Bob Gibson, one for Curt Schilling. This was October as its crispest.

Adam Wainwright and Jon Lester already are certified World Series heroes. Wainwright saved the clincher for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006. Lester won the 2007 clincher for the Boston Red Sox.

Wainwright and Lester dueled in Game 1, a sloppy mess for Wainwright and the Cardinals, the only game in this World Series devoid of tension.

The rematch was an instant classic. For the first time in three years, both starters lasted seven innings in a World Series game. The last time it happened, Tim Lincecum clinched the series for the San Francisco Giants, with a 3-1 victory over Cliff Lee and the Texas Rangers.

On Monday, the final score was 3-1 as well. Lester pitched 7 2/3 innings, so dominant that the Cardinals never put consecutive batters on base against him.

Wainwright provided the power. He struck out the side in the first inning, and again in the second. He struck out 10 in all.

He gave in to no one. In the first inning, with an open base, he pitched to David Ortiz, who is batting .733 in the World Series. He said the decision was his.

"I don't like walking anybody," Wainwright said.

Ortiz smoked a double, and the Red Sox had a run.

The Cardinals nicked Lester for one run, in the fourth inning, on a home run by Matt Holliday. The Cardinals have two home runs in this World Series, both by Holliday.

That was the last time a St.Louis player reached base against Lester until the eighth inning. The Red Sox do have setup men, but they gave the eighth inning to starter John Lackey on Sunday, and they let Lester start the eighth Monday, on his way to a 91-pitch outing. Then they called on Koji Uehara for a four-out save.

Six innings and turn it over to the 'pen? "As pitchers, we all expect a little bit more than that," Lester said.

Wainwright too. But, after five Boston batters had reached base against him in the first six innings, four reached within the span of five batters in the seventh. The one who did not reach base was Lester, who is 0 for 36 in his career.

David Ross doubled in one run, to break the 1-1 tie, and Jacoby Ellsbury singled home another. That, as they say, was the ballgame. Wainwright finished the inning — at 107 pitches — even with rookie flamethrower Carlos Martinez warming in the bullpen.

Lester was spectacular, allowing four hits, walking none and striking out seven. He has started three World Series games in his career, won them all, and given up a total of one run. He pushed the Red Sox within one victory of their third title in a decade, not that Wainwright was any less competitive about it afterward.

"It will be legendary if we go into Boston and win two games," he said.

In a world where analysis moves at the speed of social media, the thought would be that the momentum is with the Red Sox.

Not so much, at least going by recent history. Of the last 10 World Series in which the teams split the first four games, the team that won Game 5 ended up losing the series seven times. The Red Sox will try to clinch at home for the first time since Babe Ruth played for them.

So momentum takes Tuesday off, and so do the teams. See you at Fenway Park, for the conclusion of a Fall Classic that has lived up to its nickname.

bill.shaikin@latimes.com

Twitter: @BillShaikin

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Red Sox one win away from World Series title

ST. LOUIS — The Boston Red Sox supporting cast joined with the marquee efforts of Jon Lester and David Ortiz to move the Red Sox to within one victory of their third World Series title in the last 10 seasons as they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, 3-1, Monday at Busch Stadium in Game 5 of the best-of-seven series.

The Red Sox now take a 3-2 edge in the Series back to Boston.

"We've just got to win one," Dustin Pedroia said. "It's a good feeling."

PHOTOS: World Series Game 5

It was even a better feeling for the Red Sox when the bottom of the lineup started a rally against Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright in the seventh inning to break a 1-1 tie and support Lester.

The Red Sox left-hander pitched 72/3 innings, giving up only four hits and one run, striking out seven and retiring 12 consecutive batters after Matt Holliday hit a score-tying home run in the fourth that landed on the grassy knoll behind the center-field fence.

Lester has pitched 151/3 innings in the World Series, giving up nine hits and only one run, the home run hit by Holliday.

"When we won [the World Series] in 2007, you guys saw him perform that year," Ortiz said. "He told me he was going to be the ace of the organization. Now he's here, doing what he knows best."

The confidence Manager John Farrell had in Lester was magnified by the fact that he let Lester bat with one out in the seventh and Boston trying to extend a 2-1 lead. Lester appeared to tweak his groin on a swing but stayed in the game.

"The time is now," Lester said. "We've got to win now. That's all you can focus on."

Ortiz made the Cardinals pay the price in the first inning with an run-scoring double and is 11 for 15 (.733) in this Series. He reached base safely nine consecutive times until lining out to center in the sixth. Ortiz is batting .476 during his career in the Series, the highest average among players with at least 50 plate appearances.

"We call him Cooperstown because he does Hall of Fame stuff," Red Sox catcher David Ross said.

BOX SCORE: Red Sox 3, Cardinals 1

It was Ross, along with Stephen Drew, who helped advance Boston's cause in Game 5. Drew, who is four for 50 with 18 strikeouts in the Series, battled from a 1-2 count to draw a walk in the seventh inning.

"It changed the game," Drew said.

Ross followed with a ground-rule double to score Xander Bogaerts with the go-ahead run. Cardinals Manager Mike Matheny elected to stay with Wainwright, who struck out 10, but Jacoby Ellsbury hit a single with two out to score Drew and increase Boston's lead to 3-1.

It was another risk that fell flat for the Cardinals, who tried to pull out all the stops in Game 5, starting Allen Craig at first base for the first time since he was injured Sept. 4.

Craig, who moved gingerly, was 0 for 3 for a Cardinals offense that was limited to four hits and struck out nine times as Red Sox closer Koji Uehara polished off the victory with 11/3 scoreless innings.

mgonzales@tribune.com

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Bell adds online financial data in bid for transparency

Amid allegations that Bell has reverted to the financial trickery that made the small, working-class city a symbol for municipal corruption, Bell city administrators will launch an online tool Tuesday that gives the public deeper access to its finances.

The software program converts and organizes financial data into user-friendly formats so that taxpayers can track how their money is collected, transferred and how much is used for police, sanitation and other municipal services.

Bell joins a growing number of cities such as New York, Chicago and other towns in California that have embraced the "open data" movement. Las week, Los Angeles launched its own website with similar features.

"I think a large amount of citizens want to know more about their government and how it works, and this will be a useful tool," Bell City Manager Doug Willmore said.

More than two dozen cities in the state have joined OpenGov Inc., a Silicon Valley company that created the software. Other cities include Beverly Hills, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks, according to the company's website.

Through annual subscriptions, public agencies and districts can send their financial data to the company, which uploads it into their system for city and public use. Taxpayers can peruse the data by funds, departments or account types with icons and drop-down menus. It puts the data into charts designed to help citizens understand the information more easily.

OpenGov Chief Executive Officer Zachary Bookman says the program can be accessed anytime, even during council meetings.

"What the tool does and what it's doing — not just for Bell but other major cities — is that it turns conversations to fact, it focuses on numbers," Bookman said.

In Bell, reformers have been calling for financial transparency since the town was engulfed in scandal three years ago, when eight municipal leaders were accused of drawing huge salaries, collecting generous benefits and even lending city money. In some cases, contracts for ranking administrators were designed so the public could not determine what they were actually earning.

The former city administrator, Robert Rizzo, has pleaded no contest to 69 corruption-related charges, five of six former council members were convicted of misappropriating city funds and the former second in command is standing trial on 13 felony counts.

The city revamped its website earlier this year, publishing vendor contracts, city checks and other public records that, in the past, were only accessible through public records requests. Council meetings are now streamed live on the city's website.

"We think it's important for good financial oversight, which of course prevents the kinds of things that were occurring in Bell prior to the change in leadership," said JoAnne Speers, executive director of the Institute for Local Government.

She said the new feature will enable residents to participate in the decision-making process in a more informed manner, which makes their input more effective.

But the launch comes amid renewed controversy in the city of Bell.

Early this month, Vice Mayor Ana Maria Quintana publicly accused city administrators of hiding legal fees from residents.

Quintana claimed that in the last fiscal cycle, the council approved $300,000 in legal expenses, but that the city exceeded the amount by $1.5 million. She said the council was never told about the matter.

But her council colleagues and city administrators say that her allegations are false and misleading and that the council did approve the spending.

Councilman Ali Saleh said he hopes the new tool will reinforce public trust in government in Bell.

"This is really something all cities should be doing in order to cut through the political spin and allow the public and electorate to focus on the issues and business of governance in an informed and substantial manner," Saleh said.

ruben.vives@latimes.com

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It's best two-out-of-three in World Series as season hurls to an end

Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis will be offering his analysis throughout the World Series. Ellis, 32, recently completed his second full season as a starter for the Dodgers by batting .333 in a National League division series against the Atlanta Braves and .316 in the NL Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Ellis is familiar with the Boston Red Sox, a team the Dodgers faced during the regular season.

Regardless if your season ends after the traditional 162-game schedule or your team is fortunate enough to advance into the playoffs, the inevitable end of the year for all players marks the annual transition from everyday working professional baseball player to a daily routine that doesn't include bullpens and batting practice.

 The breakneck pace of games, flights and hotel rooms is replaced in various ways by players. For some, it is time for hobbies such as golf and hunting. For others, a vacation to rest and recover is needed. 

BOX SCORE: Red Sox 4, Cardinals 2

For a lot of veteran players — myself included — it is time to re-assimilate into home life as a husband and father. Steak dinners and bottles of wine are replaced with mac 'n' cheese and juice boxes. Ten-day, three-city trips are exchanged for carpools to kindergarten and gymnastics.

 Although most of us, myself the most, are blessed with amazing wives who juggle the household through the summer, baseball can be hard on families. It is crucial for us as husbands and dads to hit the ground running and make up for lost time. The day after the season ended, my 5-year-old daughter asked whether I had to go to the baseball field. My answer of, "No honey, the season's over," was met with a smile and a simple, enthusiastic "Yes!" from her.

 In the next week, baseball will crown a new champion and the winning team will celebrate long into the night. But morning will come and for many of the combatants, the off-season will begin with saying "good morning" to kids who are unimpressed and aloof to their father's professional accomplishments but genuinely only excited to have a full day with dad. Baseball is important and provides for our families and loved ones, but being a parent is the most important job we will ever have. 

Player(s) of the game

 Jonny Gomes made his first hit of the World Series count with his go-ahead, three-run homer in the sixth inning off Cardinals reliever Seth Maness. Gomes also had an impressive at-bat the inning before working a 10-pitch walk in a perfect characterization of the Red Sox offensive game plan. 

After the Red Sox had four-inning starts on back-to-back nights, Felix Doubront saved the Boston bullpen. He got eight huge outs in the middle of the game to bridge the game to the back of the bullpen. For a pitcher who spent the year as a starter, to throw multiple innings on back-to-back nights changed the game and made life a little easier on Manager John Farrell. 

 David Ortiz reached base in all four plate appearances, scoring two runs for the Red Sox. Ortiz is a jaw-dropping eight for 11 with four walks in the series thus far.

Turning point(s)

 Gomes' three-run homer came in an inning that started with two quick outs. Dustin Pedroia then laced a single into left field. Cardinals starter Lance Lynn wanted no part of the Boston superstar and pitched around Ortiz. Lynn was removed, setting the table for Gomes versus Maness. 

 After allowing a two-run double to Matt Holliday on a splitter in Game 3, Junichi Tazawa entered the game with two on and two out in the seventh to again face Holliday. This time he stuck with his fastball, Holliday grounded out to second and the St. Louis rally was squelched.  

Extra bases

A clearly hurting Clay Buchholz gave the Red Sox four innings to start Game 4. He was pitching without his best velocity and stuff but was able to use the kitchen sink and empty the tank in what in all likelihood will be his final appearance of the season.

Cardinals starter Lance Lynn cruised through four innings, allowing one infield hit and throwing only 50 pitches. However, Ortiz led off the fifth with a double and eventually scored the game-tying run. Lynn threw 29 pitches in the inning and looked as if all of his rhythm had disappeared.  

 A national audience is getting a long look this series at the all-around talent of Pedroia. Between the diving plays, clutch hitting and never-give-up at-bats, baseball fans are watching an undersized player plays the game as big as anyone.  

Carlos Beltran's RBI single to score the first run of the game was an example of the Cardinals' up-the-middle approach. The postseason hitting star is now a staggering eight for 10 in October with runners in scoring position.  

 In the unlikeliest move of the series, Farrell tapped Game 2 — and projected Game 6 starter — John Lackey to throw the eighth inning with a two-run lead. Lackey pitched around an error and wild pitch to escape the inning and provide Koji Uehara a save opportunity and plenty of postgame questions for Farrell.

 You cannot be picked off when your run does not matter. Rookie and prospect Kolten Wong will hopefully have a nice long career but could always be remembered for not allowing Beltran a chance to hit as the tying run with two outs in the ninth.

Game 5 preview

It's a Game 1 rematch of aces as John Lester hopes to throw another gem as he did in his opening victory. Adam Wainwright will study the opening game tape and make the necessary adjustments to give his team a much better chance to win. It will be his first start at home since his complete game win in the deciding game of the National League Championship Series, and expect the Cardinals fans to energize their Cy Young candidate. It's a best two-out-of-three now to determine the world champion, and seeing Lackey throw the eighth was the beginning of every chip being on the table for both clubs.

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Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester takes ribbing in stride

Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester had rosin on the inside of his glove during Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday night. (Jamie Squire / Getty Images / October 23, 2013)

By Mark Gonzales

October 27, 2013, 11:13 p.m.

ST. LOUIS — Boston Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester said he has received some good-natured ribbing from his friends and his wife about his penchant for sweating profusely.

But Lester is more prepared for the scrutiny he will face Monday night in his first start since he was alleged to have a foreign substance on his glove when he pitched 72/3 scoreless innings Wednesday to beat the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 1 of the World Series.

"I'm sure there's going to be focus on my glove and focus on my hands and what I'm doing," Lester said Sunday. "But I've got to worry about the Cardinals. If I'm worried about what people are looking at, I'm worried about the wrong things."

Lester said he had rosin in his glove to help him grip the baseball. The allegations were made on Twitter by a Cardinals minor league pitcher.

Enjoying the ride

Left-hander Matt Thornton isn't discouraged about being left off Boston's Series roster after reaching the postseason for the first time since 2008 with the Chicago White Sox.

"I just never found consistency," said Thornton, who had a 3.52 earned-run average in 20 appearances with the Red Sox.."

Dazed and confused

Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright said he didn't see the errant throw or the obstruction call on third baseman Will Middlebrooks that enabled Allen Craig to score the winning run in Game 3.

"I got out about halfway out there [on the field] and saw Craig out by a couple feet, and started tiptoeing backward into the dugout and saw they called him safe," Wainwright said. "I thought, wow, I think I've just witnessed the worst call in the history of the game at home plate, only to find out there was obstruction.

"So there were four of five times I didn't know what the heck was going on."

mgonzales@tribune.com

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One-shot deal: Jonny Gomes' homer helps Red Sox even World Series

ST. LOUIS — Jonny Gomes does not really look the part of World Series hero. Not too tall, kind of squat, a designated hitter on a team that already has one.

He is a dead pull hitter. There is nothing complicated or secret about his swing.

"He's like the little guy in the pinball game," Boston Red Sox catcher David Ross said. "Just swings and comes back."

That is not a bad way to sum up his career. Gomes is a baseball itinerant.

BOX SCORE: Red Sox 4, Cardinals 2

On Sunday, though, Gomes forever etched his name into the lore of one of baseball's most storied franchises. On a day the Red Sox appeared hobbled and defeated, Gomes hit the home run that might have saved their season.

With their starting pitcher gutting out four innings with a sore right shoulder, their right fielder out with back stiffness, and their first baseman on the bench because their designated hitter needed a place to play, Gomes stepped up as the star of a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

With one swing — and, oh, how he enjoyed it — Gomes lifted the Red Sox to the unlikely triumph that tied the World Series at two games apiece and ensured it will return to Boston for a Game 6.

"If I tried to put it into words, I'd probably screw it up," Gomes said.

Gomes is 32. In 2001, he was the 18th-round draft pick of a franchise then known as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

"There weren't that many people that knew that was a professional team," he said.

He stopped in Cincinnati, Washington, Oakland and Boston in the last three years alone. He was on the wrong side of 30 before any team guaranteed him more than $1.75 million for a season.

"Skin of a rhinoceros," Gomes said. "Heart of a lion."

The Red Sox needed a platoon outfielder, so Gomes signed with a last-place team best known last year for a successful clubhouse mutiny against its manager.

He blended in famously, he and his beard. When the Boston Marathon bombings struck, Gomes swung two bats with the names of four victims on the barrel, then auctioned off the bats for charity.

There was the baseball part. Gomes did what he was supposed to do, hit whenever he could, play some left field. He hit 13 home runs, four as a pinch-hitter. He helped turn the clubhouse into a place where teammates supported each other rather than turned on one another.

That kind of support was what the Red Sox envisioned from Gomes on Sunday. He was not in the original lineup. But Shane Victorino's back tightened up and, all of a sudden, Gomes was batting fifth, right behind David Ortiz.

There was a delay before the start of the sixth inning. As baseball paused to raise money for cancer research, Gomes held up a sign with the names of two victims — his high school baseball coach, now deceased, and Brady Wein, a 5-year-old battling leukemia.

Then, as the Cardinals warmed up, Ortiz gathered the Boston players and told them to relax and have fun.

The opportunity to play in the World Series, he said, does not come around very often.

"If this guy wants to rally us together for a pep talk, it's like 24 kindergartners looking at their teacher," Gomes said.

This is the first World Series for Gomes. Number of career at-bats before his first postseason home run, the one he hit in that sixth inning on Sunday: 2,999.

He paused to admire his majestic shot, then pumped his right arm into the sky as he rounded first base, and all the way to second, and again at home plate. He insisted he had not thought in advance about how flashy his trot might be.

"I don't think I'm that good to plan out my home runs in the World Series," he said.

He was good enough that the Hall of Fame wanted his bat. He was happy to donate it. The ball landed in the Boston bullpen, so Gomes was lucky enough to get it back, a souvenir of his moment in the spotlight, 10 years in the making.

bill.shaikin@latimes.com

Twitter: @BillShaikin

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Some health insurance gets pricier as Obamacare rolls out

Thousands of Californians are discovering what Obamacare will cost them — and many don't like what they see.

These middle-class consumers are staring at hefty increases on their insurance bills as the overhaul remakes the healthcare market. Their rates are rising in large part to help offset the higher costs of covering sicker, poorer people who have been shut out of the system for years.

Although recent criticism of the healthcare law has focused on website glitches and early enrollment snags, experts say sharp price increases for individual policies have the greatest potential to erode public support for President Obama's signature legislation.

"This is when the actual sticker shock comes into play for people," said Gerald Kominski, director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. "There are winners and losers under the Affordable Care Act."

Fullerton resident Jennifer Harris thought she had a great deal, paying $98 a month for an individual plan through Health Net Inc. She got a rude surprise this month when the company said it would cancel her policy at the end of this year. Her current plan does not conform with the new federal rules, which require more generous levels of coverage.

Now Harris, a self-employed lawyer, must shop for replacement insurance. The cheapest plan she has found will cost her $238 a month. She and her husband don't qualify for federal premium subsidies because they earn too much money, about $80,000 a year combined.

"It doesn't seem right to make the middle class pay so much more in order to give health insurance to everybody else," said Harris, who is three months pregnant. "This increase is simply not affordable."

On balance, many Americans will benefit from the healthcare expansion. They are guaranteed coverage regardless of their medical history. And lower-income families will gain access to comprehensive coverage at little or no cost.

The federal government picks up much of the tab through an expansion of Medicaid and subsidies to people earning up to four times the federal poverty level. That's up to $46,000 for an individual or $94,000 for a family of four.

But middle-income consumers face an estimated 30% rate increase, on average, in California due to several factors tied to the healthcare law.

Some may elect to go without coverage if they feel prices are too high. Penalties for opting out are very small initially. Defections could cause rates to skyrocket if a diverse mix of people don't sign up for health insurance.

Pam Kehaly, president of Anthem Blue Cross in California, said she received a recent letter from a young woman complaining about a 50% rate hike related to the healthcare law.

"She said, 'I was all for Obamacare until I found out I was paying for it,'" Kehaly said.

Nearly 2 million Californians have individual insurance, and several hundred thousand of them are losing their health plans in a matter of weeks.

Blue Shield of California sent termination letters to 119,000 customers last month whose plans don't meet the new federal requirements. About two-thirds of those people will experience a rate increase from switching to a new health plan, according to the company.

HMO giant Kaiser Permanente is canceling coverage for about half of its individual customers, or 160,000 people, and offering to automatically enroll them in the most comparable health plan available.

The 16 million Californians who get health insurance through their employers aren't affected. Neither are individuals who have "grandfathered" policies bought before March 2010, when the healthcare law was enacted. It's estimated that about half of policyholders in the individual market have those older plans.

All these cancellations were prompted by a requirement from Covered California, the state's new insurance exchange. The state didn't want to give insurance companies the opportunity to hold on to the healthiest patients for up to a year, keeping them out of the larger risk pool that will influence future rates.

Peter Lee, executive director of Covered California, said the state and insurers agreed that clearing the decks by Jan. 1 was best for consumers in the long run despite the initial disruption. Lee has heard the complaints — even from his sister-in-law, who recently groused about her 50% rate increase.

"People could have kept their cheaper, bad coverage, and those people wouldn't have been part of the common risk pool," Lee said. "We are better off all being in this together. We are transforming the individual market and making it better."

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Some health insurance gets pricier as Obamacare rolls out

Thousands of Californians are discovering what Obamacare will cost them — and many don't like what they see.

These middle-class consumers are staring at hefty increases on their insurance bills as the overhaul remakes the healthcare market. Their rates are rising in large part to help offset the higher costs of covering sicker, poorer people who have been shut out of the system for years.

Although recent criticism of the healthcare law has focused on website glitches and early enrollment snags, experts say sharp price increases for individual policies have the greatest potential to erode public support for President Obama's signature legislation.

"This is when the actual sticker shock comes into play for people," said Gerald Kominski, director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. "There are winners and losers under the Affordable Care Act."

Fullerton resident Jennifer Harris thought she had a great deal, paying $98 a month for an individual plan through Health Net Inc. She got a rude surprise this month when the company said it would cancel her policy at the end of this year. Her current plan does not conform with the new federal rules, which require more generous levels of coverage.

Now Harris, a self-employed lawyer, must shop for replacement insurance. The cheapest plan she has found will cost her $238 a month. She and her husband don't qualify for federal premium subsidies because they earn too much money, about $80,000 a year combined.

"It doesn't seem right to make the middle class pay so much more in order to give health insurance to everybody else," said Harris, who is three months pregnant. "This increase is simply not affordable."

On balance, many Americans will benefit from the healthcare expansion. They are guaranteed coverage regardless of their medical history. And lower-income families will gain access to comprehensive coverage at little or no cost.

The federal government picks up much of the tab through an expansion of Medicaid and subsidies to people earning up to four times the federal poverty level. That's up to $46,000 for an individual or $94,000 for a family of four.

But middle-income consumers face an estimated 30% rate increase, on average, in California due to several factors tied to the healthcare law.

Some may elect to go without coverage if they feel prices are too high. Penalties for opting out are very small initially. Defections could cause rates to skyrocket if a diverse mix of people don't sign up for health insurance.

Pam Kehaly, president of Anthem Blue Cross in California, said she received a recent letter from a young woman complaining about a 50% rate hike related to the healthcare law.

"She said, 'I was all for Obamacare until I found out I was paying for it,'" Kehaly said.

Nearly 2 million Californians have individual insurance, and several hundred thousand of them are losing their health plans in a matter of weeks.

Blue Shield of California sent termination letters to 119,000 customers last month whose plans don't meet the new federal requirements. About two-thirds of those people will experience a rate increase from switching to a new health plan, according to the company.

HMO giant Kaiser Permanente is canceling coverage for about half of its individual customers, or 160,000 people, and offering to automatically enroll them in the most comparable health plan available.

The 16 million Californians who get health insurance through their employers aren't affected. Neither are individuals who have "grandfathered" policies bought before March 2010, when the healthcare law was enacted. It's estimated that about half of policyholders in the individual market have those older plans.

All these cancellations were prompted by a requirement from Covered California, the state's new insurance exchange. The state didn't want to give insurance companies the opportunity to hold on to the healthiest patients for up to a year, keeping them out of the larger risk pool that will influence future rates.

Peter Lee, executive director of Covered California, said the state and insurers agreed that clearing the decks by Jan. 1 was best for consumers in the long run despite the initial disruption. Lee has heard the complaints — even from his sister-in-law, who recently groused about her 50% rate increase.

"People could have kept their cheaper, bad coverage, and those people wouldn't have been part of the common risk pool," Lee said. "We are better off all being in this together. We are transforming the individual market and making it better."

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County presents options for Devil's Gate Dam sediment removal

Runoff from the Devil's Gate reservoir in Pasadena in 2005. Officials say sediment and debris behind the dam have compromised its capacity to prevent flooding downstream in major storms. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times / January 9, 2005)

By Abby Sewell

October 26, 2013, 8:22 p.m.

Los Angeles County flood control officials presented several options for removing built-up debris and mud from a basin above Devil's Gate Dam in northern Pasadena in a draft environmental impact report released Thursday.

The basin became choked by mud and debris after the 2009 Station fire and storms that followed. Flood control officials have warned for years that the buildup compromises the dam's ability to contain debris and floodwater in another major storm.

Officials say locations downstream from the dam along the Arroyo Seco that could be in danger of flooding include the Rose Bowl, 110 Freeway, neighborhoods in Pasadena and South Pasadena, and the northeastern Los Angeles communities of Highland Park, Hermon, Montecito Heights, Mount Washington and Cypress Park.

The county Board of Supervisors in 2011 ordered an environmental study before any significant work could begin. Neighbors had expressed concerns about the destruction of wildlife habitat that has grown in the basin, as well as disruptions to use of the area by hikers, horseback riders and joggers.

Kerjon Lee, spokesman for the county Department of Public Works, said officials in the meantime have taken smaller mitigation measures. They include removing sediment from the face of the dam to allow operation of valves and control of stormwater as it flows through.

The draft report on proposed long-term solutions looks at five alternatives that would remove 2.4 million to 4 million cubic yards of sediment. The report is available for public review through Jan. 6 online at LASedimentManagement.com/DevilsGate.

abby.sewell@latimes.com

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Lasagna: A delicious project for a Sunday afternoon

We all have our own rituals for fall Sunday afternoons. Some guys sit around and watch football; for me it takes only about a quarter before I need a nap. Others feel inspired to take up household projects; the less said about my ability with a hammer the better.

Instead, I cook. Well, I cook all year round, but when the days start to cool and the light turns golden, I get more ambitious. Rather than 30 minutes at the grill, I throw myself into hours-long kitchen projects. This year, it's been lasagna.

It started in late September. I had just gotten back from the farmers market when I heard that Marcella Hazan had died. I looked over everything that I had bought and in her honor immediately started making dough for fresh pasta. And peeling and seeding tomatoes and turning them into sauce. And making a Parmesan-enriched white sauce. And blanching, chopping and sauteing beet greens. And then putting it all together. All of a sudden it was dinner time.

There's nothing like lasagna from scratch to while away a lazy Sunday afternoon.

It's habit-forming. I've made lasagna every weekend since. Not all have been so involved, of course. One weekend I made Hazan's wild mushroom and ham version. Another time I experimented with spicy tomato sauce and basil-flecked ricotta. Once you've mastered the basics of lasagna, it really is a most adaptable construct.

And I've learned there are places you can compromise to make the project easier. Canned tomatoes work just fine for most sauces. Not all lasagnas call for both ragù and besciamella. Spread out the work, taking one step at a time and making time for a break in between. Lasagna is forgiving that way.

One place I don't compromise is on fresh pasta. The fresh-versus-dried pasta debate is an old and tired one and, in the end, pointless. Each type of pasta has its purposes. Think of them as types of cloth: Fresh pasta is silk and dried is wool. But while I will grant that there are very good lasagnas made with dried pasta, the simultaneous delicacy and luxuriousness of fresh is what really makes the dish in most cases.

When it comes to building the lasagna, remember the importance of the pasta. The dish should be as much about the noodles as it is about the filling. Spread a thin layer of sauce in the bottom of the pan, then a layer of pasta. Spread a thin layer of filling, then another layer of pasta, repeating until you've either filled the pan or used up all the ingredients, finishing with a layer of sauce. Then just sprinkle with cheese and bake.

You'll want to let the lasagna settle for 10 minutes or so after it comes out of the oven. It'll be hard to resist the smell, but just keep reminding yourself that it's too hot to eat anyway. And besides, when you do finally cut into it, the lasagna will taste just that much better.

It's a lot more work than throwing a steak on the barbecue, no doubt. But what else are you going to do on a Sunday afternoon?

russ.parsons@latimes.com

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Recipe: Canter's egg salad

Canter's Deli simply blends eggs, celery and mayo, with some salt and pepper, for its egg salad. Recipe: Egg Salad (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

By Noelle Carter

October 26, 2013

Dear SOS: Don't laugh, but the egg salad from Canter's Deli on Fairfax Avenue is lovely. Light, not oily or overly mayonnaise-sodden. Think you can get the recipe for this retiree?

Toby Horn

Los Angeles

Dear Toby: Eggs, celery and mayonnaise. Los Angeles' landmark Canter's Deli keeps it simple with its take on this classic. And that's just fine.

Canter's egg salad

15 minutes. Makes about 1 quart salad

1/3 cup mayonnaise, or as desired

1/3 cup diced celery

1 dozen hard-boiled eggs, peeled and diced

Salt and pepper

In a large bowl, gently fold the mayonnaise and celery in with the eggs. Season with a generous one-half teaspoon salt and one-fourth teaspoon pepper, or to taste. Chill before serving.

EACH ½ CUP SERVING

Calories 182

Protein 10 grams

Carbohydrates 1 gram

Fiber 0

Fat 15 grams

Saturated fat 3 grams

Cholesterol 285 mg

Sugar 1 gram

Sodium 293 mg

NOTE: Adapted from Canter's Deli in Los Angeles.

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Pancakes, on a grand or silver-dollar scale, in L.A.

Name me one person who doesn't occasionally long to wake up, slowly, and amble out to the kitchen for a pancake. But not all of us are blessed with a significant other with serious pancake-making skills. Fortunately, you can find some stellar examples at restaurants around town that are ready to welcome sleepy heads. Add a good cup of coffee and it's not so bad waking up to the world. American comfort food at its best.

Cooks County

For Cooks County's weekend brunch, baker extraordinaire Roxana Jullapat makes a fantastic buttermilk pancake. Very plain, it's not much too look at, but boy does this one deliver. Baked to order in a cast iron skillet, it's, oh, 10 inches wide and a good inch thick, and light and fluffy. It's served with a dark fuchsia blueberry compote (like all Jullapat's desserts, notably not too sweet) and, if you like, bourbon-barrel maple syrup. And not to forget her exemplary basket of morning pastries, including a pecan sticky bun and ginger scone. Like her mentor, Nancy Silverton, Jullapat has the touch with doughs.

8009 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 653-8009. Baked pancake, $11.

Valerie at Grand Central Market

Valerie Gordon of Valerie Confections first won our hearts with her chocolate-dipped toffees. And now she's expanded with a cafe in downtown's Grand Central Market. Weekdays she serves breakfast and lunch, but on Saturdays, you can order her silver dollar pancakes. "They're a little homage to Sears Fine Food in San Francisco, and I always make little pancakes at home for our kids," says Gordon. They're adorable golden rounds, a dozen to an order, and served with a maple syrup compound butter. If pancakes aren't your thing, you can get old-fashioned cinnamon toast — or perhaps a salted caramel croissant or a crème fraiche scone.

317 Broadway, Los Angeles, (213) 621-2781. Silver dollar pancakes, $8. Only on Saturdays.

Axe

Chef and owner Joanna Moore has been serving up hearty vegetable-centric fare at Axe on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice since 1999. And one of the big draws has been her giant nine-grain pancake — big enough for an entire table to share. The name may sound like hippie fare, but this pancake has heft and sophistication. And the beautiful thing is you can get a half-order, which is about as large as a small pizza: Spongy and dense with whole grains, the legendary pancake is altogether delicious with a little butter and some maple syrup. Nourishing to body and spirit.

1009 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, (310) 664-9787. Nine-grain pancake, $12.

irene.virbila@latimes.com

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University of Chicago physicist to lead Caltech

Thomas F. Rosenbaum, an expert in condensed matter physics and second in command at the University of Chicago, will become the new president of Caltech, officials announced Thursday.

Rosenbaum, 58, currently is provost at the University of Chicago, where he also holds the position of John T. Wilson Distinguished Service Professor of Physics. On July 1, he will succeed Jean-Lou Chameau, who left Caltech earlier this year to head King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia.

Before becoming Chicago's provost in 2007, Rosenbaum studied the behavior of closely packed atoms in solids and liquids at the university's Rosenbaum Lab. By experimenting on materials in extreme cold — temperatures that approached absolute zero — Rosenbaum and his colleagues were better able to examine the quantum behavior of substances.

Terry Hartle, senior vice president of the American Council on Education, described Rosenbaum's appointment as "a superb choice" for Caltech.

"This is someone who has the intellectual and academic administrative experience to be a first-class new president," Hartle said.

Jacqueline K. Barton, chairwoman of Caltech's chemistry and chemical engineering department, said she believes Rosenbaum's experience at the University of Chicago prepared him well for the Caltech presidency.

"Caltech is a very special place and we need someone who can recognize that, preserve that and continue to help us excel," said Barton, who received a 2010 National Medal of Science from President Obama.

Like others, Barton said the risk of decreased federal funding for research is the greatest threat and that Caltech leaders may have to pursue private funding more vigorously than in the past.

"The model may be changing," she said. "We have to think about the best ways to continue to preserve this jewel of a place. And so we need smart, creative people to focus on that. I think [Rosenbaum] offers that opportunity."

Hartle agreed, saying that research funding will be one of Rosenbaum's biggest challenges.

"The federal budget uncertainty creates massive problems for all major research universities and Caltech is not alone in this regard," Hartle said. Because Caltech's undergraduate program is relatively small, the importance of high-level research looms larger there than at other high-profile institutions, he said.

Caltech Provost Edward Stolper, a geologist, has been interim president since Chameau left at the end of the last school year and will continue in that role through the end of the school year until Rosenbaum takes over, a campus spokesperson said.

As Chicago's senior academic administrator, Rosenbaum helped establish the Institute for Molecular Engineering, an effort that also involved the Argonne National Laboratory. Caltech officials said his scientific and administrative experience would help him "in furthering" the relationship between Caltech and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

While the federal government owns JPL's facilities, its 5,000 workers are Caltech employees, who work under government contract.

"The combination of deep management experience and visionary leadership Tom brings will serve Caltech extremely well in the coming years," said David Lee, chairman of the Caltech Board of Trustees. "The board is excited about collaborating closely with Tom to propel the institute to new levels of scientific leadership."

In addition to having five Nobel laureates on its faculty, Caltech was recently ranked as the top research university in the world by the Times Higher Education magazine of Britain.

Harvard University was tied for second with Britain's University of Oxford, followed by Stanford, MIT, Princeton, the University of Cambridge, UC Berkeley, the University of Chicago, Imperial College London, Yale and UCLA.

Rosenbaum's spouse, Katherine Faber, will also join the Caltech faculty. She is currently the Walter P. Murphy Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University.

Rosenbaum received his bachelor's degree in physics from Harvard University in 1977 and a master's and a doctorate in physics from Princeton University in 1979 and 1982, respectively.

His honors include an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, a Presidential Young Investigator Award and the William McMillan Award for "outstanding contributions to condensed matter physics."

Caltech enrolls 978 undergraduate students and 1,253 graduate students; it has about 300 faculty members and more than 600 research scholars.

larry.gordon@latimes.com

monte.morin@latimes.com

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University of Chicago physicist to lead Caltech

Thomas F. Rosenbaum, an expert in condensed matter physics and second in command at the University of Chicago, will become the new president of Caltech, officials announced Thursday.

Rosenbaum, 58, currently is provost at the University of Chicago, where he also holds the position of John T. Wilson Distinguished Service Professor of Physics. On July 1, he will succeed Jean-Lou Chameau, who left Caltech earlier this year to head King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia.

Before becoming Chicago's provost in 2007, Rosenbaum studied the behavior of closely packed atoms in solids and liquids at the university's Rosenbaum Lab. By experimenting on materials in extreme cold — temperatures that approached absolute zero — Rosenbaum and his colleagues were better able to examine the quantum behavior of substances.

Terry Hartle, senior vice president of the American Council on Education, described Rosenbaum's appointment as "a superb choice" for Caltech.

"This is someone who has the intellectual and academic administrative experience to be a first-class new president," Hartle said.

Jacqueline K. Barton, chairwoman of Caltech's chemistry and chemical engineering department, said she believes Rosenbaum's experience at the University of Chicago prepared him well for the Caltech presidency.

"Caltech is a very special place and we need someone who can recognize that, preserve that and continue to help us excel," said Barton, who received a 2010 National Medal of Science from President Obama.

Like others, Barton said the risk of decreased federal funding for research is the greatest threat and that Caltech leaders may have to pursue private funding more vigorously than in the past.

"The model may be changing," she said. "We have to think about the best ways to continue to preserve this jewel of a place. And so we need smart, creative people to focus on that. I think [Rosenbaum] offers that opportunity."

Hartle agreed, saying that research funding will be one of Rosenbaum's biggest challenges.

"The federal budget uncertainty creates massive problems for all major research universities and Caltech is not alone in this regard," Hartle said. Because Caltech's undergraduate program is relatively small, the importance of high-level research looms larger there than at other high-profile institutions, he said.

Caltech Provost Edward Stolper, a geologist, has been interim president since Chameau left at the end of the last school year and will continue in that role through the end of the school year until Rosenbaum takes over, a campus spokesperson said.

As Chicago's senior academic administrator, Rosenbaum helped establish the Institute for Molecular Engineering, an effort that also involved the Argonne National Laboratory. Caltech officials said his scientific and administrative experience would help him "in furthering" the relationship between Caltech and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

While the federal government owns JPL's facilities, its 5,000 workers are Caltech employees, who work under government contract.

"The combination of deep management experience and visionary leadership Tom brings will serve Caltech extremely well in the coming years," said David Lee, chairman of the Caltech Board of Trustees. "The board is excited about collaborating closely with Tom to propel the institute to new levels of scientific leadership."

In addition to having five Nobel laureates on its faculty, Caltech was recently ranked as the top research university in the world by the Times Higher Education magazine of Britain.

Harvard University was tied for second with Britain's University of Oxford, followed by Stanford, MIT, Princeton, the University of Cambridge, UC Berkeley, the University of Chicago, Imperial College London, Yale and UCLA.

Rosenbaum's spouse, Katherine Faber, will also join the Caltech faculty. She is currently the Walter P. Murphy Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University.

Rosenbaum received his bachelor's degree in physics from Harvard University in 1977 and a master's and a doctorate in physics from Princeton University in 1979 and 1982, respectively.

His honors include an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, a Presidential Young Investigator Award and the William McMillan Award for "outstanding contributions to condensed matter physics."

Caltech enrolls 978 undergraduate students and 1,253 graduate students; it has about 300 faculty members and more than 600 research scholars.

larry.gordon@latimes.com

monte.morin@latimes.com

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University of Chicago physicist to lead Caltech

Thomas F. Rosenbaum, an expert in condensed matter physics and second in command at the University of Chicago, will become the new president of Caltech, officials announced Thursday.

Rosenbaum, 58, currently is provost at the University of Chicago, where he also holds the position of John T. Wilson Distinguished Service Professor of Physics. On July 1, he will succeed Jean-Lou Chameau, who left Caltech earlier this year to head King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia.

Before becoming Chicago's provost in 2007, Rosenbaum studied the behavior of closely packed atoms in solids and liquids at the university's Rosenbaum Lab. By experimenting on materials in extreme cold — temperatures that approached absolute zero — Rosenbaum and his colleagues were better able to examine the quantum behavior of substances.

Terry Hartle, senior vice president of the American Council on Education, described Rosenbaum's appointment as "a superb choice" for Caltech.

"This is someone who has the intellectual and academic administrative experience to be a first-class new president," Hartle said.

Jacqueline K. Barton, chairwoman of Caltech's chemistry and chemical engineering department, said she believes Rosenbaum's experience at the University of Chicago prepared him well for the Caltech presidency.

"Caltech is a very special place and we need someone who can recognize that, preserve that and continue to help us excel," said Barton, who received a 2010 National Medal of Science from President Obama.

Like others, Barton said the risk of decreased federal funding for research is the greatest threat and that Caltech leaders may have to pursue private funding more vigorously than in the past.

"The model may be changing," she said. "We have to think about the best ways to continue to preserve this jewel of a place. And so we need smart, creative people to focus on that. I think [Rosenbaum] offers that opportunity."

Hartle agreed, saying that research funding will be one of Rosenbaum's biggest challenges.

"The federal budget uncertainty creates massive problems for all major research universities and Caltech is not alone in this regard," Hartle said. Because Caltech's undergraduate program is relatively small, the importance of high-level research looms larger there than at other high-profile institutions, he said.

Caltech Provost Edward Stolper, a geologist, has been interim president since Chameau left at the end of the last school year and will continue in that role through the end of the school year until Rosenbaum takes over, a campus spokesperson said.

As Chicago's senior academic administrator, Rosenbaum helped establish the Institute for Molecular Engineering, an effort that also involved the Argonne National Laboratory. Caltech officials said his scientific and administrative experience would help him "in furthering" the relationship between Caltech and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

While the federal government owns JPL's facilities, its 5,000 workers are Caltech employees, who work under government contract.

"The combination of deep management experience and visionary leadership Tom brings will serve Caltech extremely well in the coming years," said David Lee, chairman of the Caltech Board of Trustees. "The board is excited about collaborating closely with Tom to propel the institute to new levels of scientific leadership."

In addition to having five Nobel laureates on its faculty, Caltech was recently ranked as the top research university in the world by the Times Higher Education magazine of Britain.

Harvard University was tied for second with Britain's University of Oxford, followed by Stanford, MIT, Princeton, the University of Cambridge, UC Berkeley, the University of Chicago, Imperial College London, Yale and UCLA.

Rosenbaum's spouse, Katherine Faber, will also join the Caltech faculty. She is currently the Walter P. Murphy Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University.

Rosenbaum received his bachelor's degree in physics from Harvard University in 1977 and a master's and a doctorate in physics from Princeton University in 1979 and 1982, respectively.

His honors include an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, a Presidential Young Investigator Award and the William McMillan Award for "outstanding contributions to condensed matter physics."

Caltech enrolls 978 undergraduate students and 1,253 graduate students; it has about 300 faculty members and more than 600 research scholars.

larry.gordon@latimes.com

monte.morin@latimes.com

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Judge overturns Michael Skakel's murder conviction

Almost 40 years after a brutal slaying launched an investigation culminating in Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel's imprisonment, a Connecticut judge reversed his conviction Wednesday, saying the defense attorney had botched the job.

And one of America's most notorious cold cases tumbled wide open.

Martha Moxley, 15, was stabbed and bludgeoned to death in 1975 in Greenwich, Conn., a posh community about 35 miles northeast of New York City. Skakel, who lived next door at the time, was convicted in 2002 after a friend told authorities Skakel had confessed to him.

In a 136-page ruling, Connecticut Judge Thomas Bishop ordered a new trial for Skakel and blasted the efforts of defense attorney Michael Sherman, citing multiple failures. Sherman had never mentioned to the jury the concepts of reasonable doubt or the automatic presumption of innocence, the judge said. In addition, Bishop said, Sherman should have pointed the finger at Skakel's brother as the possible killer.

The celebrated case dates from Oct. 30, 1975, when Martha and some friends were celebrating Halloween by pulling pranks around Belle Haven, a shoreline community inside one of America's wealthiest cities. Afterward, she stopped by the Skakel house next door. By the end of the night, she was dead.

Martha had been repeatedly bludgeoned with a 6-iron golf club that broke in half and was then used to stab her several times, including through her throat. Her pants and panties had been pulled down around her ankles, but there was no clear indication she had been sexually assaulted, authorities say.

Suspects piled up, including three in the Skakel household: Kenneth Littleton, 24, a live-in tutor; Thomas Skakel, 17, who had been flirtatious with Martha before her death; and his little brother, Michael Skakel, who, like Martha, was 15. The brothers were nephews of Ethel Skakel Kennedy, the widow of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy.

Greenwich had not experienced a homicide in years, and local investigators would later be criticized for failing to thoroughly and speedily investigate the case.

Michael Skakel was not indicted until 2000, after a friend contacted authorities. He maintained his innocence, but was convicted two years later largely on circumstantial evidence and the theory that he was jealous of his older brother, Thomas, for stealing Martha's affections.

He was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.

In 2012, Skakel was denied parole. Even then, he maintained his innocence and expressed optimism that he would be freed by the upcoming appeal.

In his ruling, Bishop leveled some of his most damning criticism at Sherman for failing to paint Skakel's brother as the girl's killer.

Sherman never mentioned Thomas Skakel's admission to a private investigator that he had fondled and partially undressed Martha behind his home shortly before she was killed, the judge said. Nor had he mentioned that Thomas had apparently lied about doing homework that night that his school had never assigned.

"Attorney Sherman's failure to point an accusatory finger at T. Skakel was and is inexplicable," Bishop wrote.

Sherman said he was not surprised. "I've never thought that Michael Skakel was guilty, and I'm happy he's getting a new trial," he told the Hartford Courant. "He deserves it; he deserves to be free."

Skakel, now 53, was expected to apply for bail as soon as Thursday.

Prosecutors vowed to appeal, contending that Sherman did an excellent job.

"This strategy failed not because of any fault of Sherman's, but because of the strength of the state's case," prosecutor Susann Gill wrote in court papers. Skakel had confessed three times and made nearly a dozen incriminating statements over the years, Gill wrote.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. went on CNN to praise Bishop's ruling and to defend Thomas Skakel from insinuations that he could have been a plausible murder suspect.

"Thomas has never been on trial for this," Kennedy said, adding, "The judge was not saying Tommy Skakel is guilty."

But Martha Moxley's mother, Dorthy, 81, told CNN she was not giving up, saying: "I do believe Michael Skakel killed my daughter. I don't believe there's any doubt in that."

If there is a new trial for Skakel, she said, "I will be there."

matt.pearce@latimes.com

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It's business as unusual for the shaky St. Louis Cardinals

Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis will be offering his analysis throughout the World Series. Ellis, 32, recently completed his second full season as a starter for the Dodgers by batting .333 in a National League division series against the Atlanta Braves and .316 in the NL Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Ellis is familiar with the Boston Red Sox, a team the Dodgers faced during the regular season.

"Are you more nervous before a playoff game than a regular season game?"

That was probably the most-asked question I received from friends and family during the Dodgers' postseason run. As the National League West title became inevitable, I basically had the month of September to mentally prepare for the goose bumps and nail-biting excitement I was sure would come.

As a first-time playoff participant, I was able to ask some veterans and World Series champions in our clubhouse for advice about handling the nerves. The best advice I received was to embrace and enjoy every moment I could. I had put in all the work I could, from spring training throughout the 162-game grind, and it was time to relish what it is we play for.

BOX SCORE: Boston 8, St. Louis 1

The toughest part of the day wasn't the nervousness of actually playing. It was the anxiety of waiting for the game to begin. All the pregame preparation did seem to take longer than usual and the wait for batting practice, especially when playing on the road, felt endless. However, once I went out on the field and starting warming up the starting pitcher, it felt routine.

I'm sure the wait for an 8:07 p.m. first pitch felt like an eternity for the Red Sox and Cardinals. But besides the droves of media members, the celebrities along the front rows and pregame introductions, it will be business as usual for these professionals.

Player(s) of the game

In a battle of World Series-tested aces, Jon Lester dominated the National League's best lineup with a full assortment of pitches. His backdoor cutter to the righties was especially effective and he and catcher David Ross were on the same page all night.

Dustin Pedroia, one of the toughest outs in baseball, had two big two-strike hits to key Red Sox rallies in the first and second innings.

PHOTOS: Red Sox defeat Cardinals, 8-1

Turning point(s)

Leading off the bottom of the first inning, Jacoby Ellsbury worked Adam Wainwright to a full count. Wainwright decided to throw a 3-2 curveball that wasn't even close. In that situation it is really important to challenge the leadoff hitter, particularly an elite base stealer, and not allow a table-setter to get on via a walk.

Lester loaded the bases in the fourth but was able to induce a 1-2-3 double play to get out of the inning unscathed and keep any momentum the Cardinals desperately needed from happening.

Extra bases

It was really impressive to see the umpires come together in the first inning and overturn a force-out call at second base. The crew huddled and knew what was important — get the call right, and they did.

The Cardinals played uncharacteristically bad defense in Game1. Don't expect that to continue, especially from shortstop Pete Kozma, who was charged with two errors. He is an elite glove man who makes all the plays.

David Ortiz had done his homework. He was sitting dead red on the first-pitch fastball from Kevin Siegrist and deposited it over the right-field wall. Big Papi had a rough patch facing lefties a few years back, but former Red Sox and current Dodger Adrian Gonzalez helped him simplify his game plan versus southpaws.

Game 2 preview

Rookie playoff superstar and Dodgers nemesis Michael Wacha will take the ball for the Cardinals in Game 2. You can expect a cleaner game from the Redbirds and hopefully they get Carlos Beltran back in lineup after bruising his ribs on a grand slam-saving catch. The Red Sox will counter will John Lackey, who has a strong playoff and World Series resume of his own. The Cardinals will have to salvage a split to feel like they are still alive in the series.

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J.J. Redick returns in Clippers' win over Utah Jazz, 103-99

It didn't take long for J.J. Redick to score his first basket Wednesday night, and the Clippers shooting guard did it in a way he typically has used in his seven-year career — by moving without the ball.

Redick had missed the first six Clippers exhibition games while recovering from a partially torn left quadriceps, an injury that kept him from practicing for two weeks.

He had 14 points in 19 minutes 49 seconds during the Clippers' 103-99 victory over the Utah Jazz at Staples Center.

He was four for 12 from the field, three for seven from three-point range.

Redick's first basket came after he curled off a DeAndre Jordan screen down low. Chris Paul (14 points, 10 assists) passed to Redick, who took one dribble and pulled up for a 19-foot jumper that hit with 10:52 left in the first quarter.

Redick shot an airball on his second shot, but his third shot was a three-pointer off

a pass from Paul, also in the first quarter.

"It felt good to play," Redick said. "It was good to be part of the game. It's frustrating to watch six games. I have a little ways to go cardio-wise."

Playmaker Griffin

Though Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said he has "great confidence" in Blake Griffin's shot, Rivers also said he has faith in his power forward's ability to make plays.

Griffin averaged 3.7 assists per game last season, second-best on the team behind Paul's 9.7.

Griffin had two assists against the Jazz to go along with 15 points.

"I have probably more confidence in his playmaking," Rivers said.

"I think he's a terrific playmaker with the ball. I think after Chris, he may be our second-best playmaker, passer, and we want to play through him in that way as well."

Barnes update

Rivers said Matt Barnes hasn't practiced enough "to call it a practice" this week, but the hope is that the 6-foot-7 small forward will be available to practice Thursday.

The coach said that if Barnes can't practice then, they'll wait until this weekend in hopes that Barnes can play in the season opener against the Lakers on Tuesday night.

Rookie Reggie Bullock also played in his first ex-hibition game after missing time because of an injured right knee. Bullock didn't score.

broderick.turner@latimes.com

Twitter: @BA_Turner

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NCAA sanctions hit home as depth issue reaches critical stage

It was fitting that on Tuesday, the same day the NCAA announced comparatively mild sanctions against Miami, the full breadth of penalties imposed on USC revealed itself on the practice field.

The Trojans continued preparations for Saturday's game against Utah with no scholarship tight ends, only two hobbled scholarship receivers, nearly no reserve offensive linemen and a defense also becoming increasingly depleted by injuries.

Starting linebacker Lamar Dawson suffered an apparent knee injury during the workout and needed assistance to leave the facility. And paramedics arrived to transport walk-on running back Taylor Ross to the hospital because of a leg injury.

Quarterback Cody Kessler, still limping slightly because of a shin gash suffered against Notre Dame last Saturday, gathered walk-on receivers at the end of practice for extra work.

"I told them we're going to do this every day," Kessler said, "because they're going to have to play."

In 2010, the NCAA hit USC with sanctions that included the loss of 30 scholarships over three years and limited the roster to no more than 75 scholarship players, 10 fewer than the maximum. Miami, like USC, was cited for lack of institutional control but lost only nine scholarships over three years.

Kessler said interim Coach Ed Orgeron told players not to address questions about the topic.

"They gave us what they gave us, and they gave them what they gave them," said injured All-American receiver Marqise Lee. "We've just got to agree with it and keep moving forward."

According to the participation chart from the 14-10 loss at Notre Dame, USC played 48 scholarship players against the Fighting Irish. Tight ends Xavier Grimble, Randall Telfer and Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick all suffered injuries that will probably sideline them against Utah.

Tailback Justin Davis will not play Saturday because of an ankle injury. Lee aggravated a knee injury against Notre Dame and receiver Nelson Agholor also sustained an undisclosed injury that has prevented him from practicing.

Freshman Darreus Rogers and sophomore Victor Blackwell are the only scholarship receivers practicing — and both are gutting it out despite ankle injuries.

Lee watched the end of the workout after undergoing therapy in the McKay Center.

"Team-wise, we don't have many numbers anyway," Lee said. "And to have so many injuries . . . it's just rough when you're trying to get your team going when you've got setbacks in every position."

Trying to get back

Lee sat out the second half against Notre Dame and has not practiced this week. He said he would continue to rehabilitate his injured left knee with hopes of playing Saturday.

Lee caught two passes for 18 yards in the first half Saturday. He also dropped a pass in the end zone.

"Perfect pass, perfect D," he said. "Lost concentration, that's really about it. . Looked it in, thought I had it sealed and took my eyes off it. And as I took my eyes off it, it rolled right down my leg."

Quick hits

Offensive lineman Jordan Simmons will undergo season-ending surgery for a knee injury suffered Monday, Orgeron said. Coaches had offensive and defensive linemen compete as receivers and defensive backs in a one-on-one pass-coverage drill. The 6-foot-4, 335-pound Simmons leaped for a ball and landed hard on the turf. Orgeron described it as "an unfortunate accident" and said it was "kind of a freak deal." . . . Competition between Andre Heidari and walk-ons Alex Wood and Craig McMahon to handle field goals against Utah will be determined by Friday, Orgeron said.

gary.klein@latimes.com

Twitter: @latimesklein

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