June 3rd, 2013 at 6:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka It was a fleeting moment in Dodger history but one that I will cherish forever – Lima Time.
It began on January 28, 2004 when the Dodgers signed journeyman free agent right-hander José Lima to a one-year contract which, at the time, drew very little fanfare. But during that magical season the Dodgers would win the National League West title on Steve Finley’s epic walk-off grand slam home run against the hated Giants, thus taking the title from those same Giants (take that, Bobby Thompson!).
The ever-animated Jose Lima was a huge fan favorite. (AP Photo)
Lima posted a respectable 13–5 record and 4.07 ERA with the Dodgers in 2004 – his best season since 1999 when he went 21-10 with the Astros and earned his only All-Star appearance. But it was his 4-0 complete game shutout over the mighty St. Louis Cardinals in game-3 of the 2004 NLDS that etched his name in Dodger history forever, giving the Dodgers their first post-season victory since game-5 of the 1988 World Series. It was the greatest moment in José Lima’s 13-year major league career and perhaps even in his entire life. And though his frequent and overly animated displays of emotion while on the mound (and in the dugout) often drew the ire of opposing teams, it made him a huge fan favorite. Sadly, Jose Lima died of a massive heart attack on May 23, 2010, only two days after receiving a standing ovation at Dodger Stadium when he was shown on the jumbotron. He was only 37 years old.
While in Cooperstown in 2011, I found this Jose Lima autographed baseball with his Dodger uniform number (27) on it in one of the many memorabilia shops. It is one of my most cherished autographed balls.
But what many Dodger fans may not realize is that José Lima had a younger brother; a younger brother who is also a right-handed pitcher; a younger brother who is a right-handed pitcher in the Dodger organization. His name is Joel Lima and he is off to a crazy kind of career that only a Lima could have.
Joel Lima was born on August 7, 1989 in Santiago, Dominican Republic. He was signed by the Dodgers in 2008 and after spending two seasons in the Dominican Summer League was promoted to the Arizona Dodgers in 2010. Used primarily as a reliever, Joel quickly moved up (and down) through the Dodgers minor league system spending time with the Arizona Dodgers (Rookie League) in 2010; the Ogden Raptors (Rookie League) and Chattanooga Lookouts (Double-A) in 2011; the Great Lakes Loons (Low Single-A) in 2012; and the Loons, Lookouts and the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Advanced Single-A) thus far in 2013 – hence that crazy kind of career that only a Lima could have.
Joel Lima began the 2013 season with the Great Lakes Loons,was promoted to the Chattanooga Lookouts, and is currently with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes… for now.
(Photo credit – Nick Anderson)
Because of roster moves made by the Dodgers with pitchers going back and forth between Albuquerque and Los Angeles, and with the resulting trickle-down effect, Lima was reassigned from the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts to the Advanced Single-A Quakes this past Friday and immediately received a baptism of fire in a lopsided 14-7 loss to the Bakersfield Blaze (Reds). Lima entered that game in the bottom of the 5th with the Quakes already down 7-3 and promptly retired the side in order. Unfortunately, the wheels fell off for the 23-year-old in the bottom of the 6th when he allowed 5 runs (4 earned) on 4 hits (including a solo home run) and 3 walks without recording an out. A quick glance at Lima’s career numbers clearly show that this was an aberration on a night with a circus atmosphere created by Dodger shortstop Hanley Ramirez making his first rehab assignment with the Quakes.
Lima made his second appearance with the Quakes against the Blaze on Sunday afternoon and pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the 9th with 2 strikeouts in a 7-3 Quakes win.
While Joel Lima may not have the same zany flamboyant free spirit that his beloved brother José had, he definitely shares his talent.
Who knows – maybe Lima Time will return to Dodger Stadium again in the not-too-distant future.
Posted in 
RT @Think_BlueLA: New post – ‘Lima Time’ could return to Dodger Stadium
Very cool. I wonder what his wife looks like? @Think_BlueLA @ChuyDoyersfan34
We need to do something to fortify the pen. Lose Cruz and add another bullpen arm…. and if it’s this guy, that would sell a few tickets.
Any guess at tonight’s attendance? I’ll say 50,000. If I were in L.A. I would go.
@Dodger_Therapy @Think_BlueLA She’s very good looking, I’ve seen her at CBR
Interesting post. As Bob Costas once said “baseball is a wacky game.” The Dodgers sold a ton of tickets playing up the veteran names like Gonzalez, Beckett, and Greinke. Now, they seem to be hoping the “no-names” like Puig and Lima can sell some excitement this year.
Speaking of the late Lima, I was in Houston back in 2010 and happened to see the Dodgers at Minute Maid. In the row behind me were four Hispanic women. We got to talking and a couple of them were teachers. They were there basically because the Astros were so bad that in order to draw fans, they had a ticket plan for teachers-something like 10 games for $20 bucks($35 face value). Anyway, I asked them how they became Astros fans. Their reply was simple “Jose Lima.”
Great story, Ken. As brief as it was, Lima Time was a special time for Dodger fans. Check out this bootleg video clip of Finley’s grand slam (before MLB bans it) and look at who is doing the cheer leading before the pitch: http://youtu.be/PPDI-DzHy4U
As corny as Lima was at times, I was a huge fan of his and actually wept when I received word of his death.
Joel Lima definitely has closer stuff, but then so do most guys in the Cal League. Regardless of his role, I hope he makes it to the Big Show with the Dodgers.
Back in ’99 when Lima was setting the baseball world on fire, my wife took one of those rare occasions to attend a baseball game with her son at Candlestick Park. It was a Giants-Astros game and I had no interest in attending, but I gave her a fresh baseball and told her, if you were to get an autograph today, seek out Jose Lima. I had just heard him on the Jim Rome show and he was always an engaging personality.
Anyway, long story short – she returned home that night with not only the signed ball by Lima, but an accompanying story in which she said that Lima read the riot act to Giants security for attempting to shoo away autograph seekers, telling them that “these are my fans and you don’t disrespect the people that pay the money to come see us” (or words of that ilk). She engaged him in animated conversation and even got him to sing a little bit of merengue in the process.
When I looked at the ball, I just shrugged. She had him sign it with a sharpie. Ugh! Still, 14 years later, the autograh is crisp.
That’s a great story, Evan, and so Lima-like.
I wasn’t into autograph collecting when he was with the Dodgers so the thought of trying to get his autograph never even crossed my mind. After he passed (and after I was deep into autograph collecting), I began searching on-line for an autographed Jose Lima ball with his Dodger number on it and quickly learned that they are quite rare. When I stumbled into the one in Cooperstown, I jumped on it and good it for a great price.
Hopefully we will get to enjoy Lima Time again, but it will never be like it was with Jose.