Recent tumult in the markets has put Dodger stock (NLWEST: LAD) in jeopardy of being delisted from the divisional exchange, but the bears are holding out hope for a third-quarter rally.

On May 29, this headhunter suggested that the Dodgers consider bringing in some new blood: a seasoned white knight by the name of Rickey Henderson.

Today, with Dave Roberts and Brian Jordan out and Wilkin Ruan struggling (not that Ruan has been given enough time to succeed or fail), the Times reports that the Dodgers "are keeping an eye" on Henderson. The 44-year-old outfielder would sign for the major-league minimum.

Henderson's statistics with the independent Newark Bears - .349 average, .498 on-base percentage, .608 slugging percentage, 1.106 OPS - translate to a major-league equivalent average of .288. That is higher than any Dodger player except for Dave Ross. (Henderson's batting average is exactly the same as it was when I wrote about him six weeks ago.)

Shawn Green leads the Dodgers with 28 walks. Henderson could join the team tomorrow and probably end up as the team leader by season's end.

Henderson could lead off some games, threaten havoc of the bench in others. I'm all for testing out the youngbloods like Ruan, but with an offense that makes the prisoners in The Bridge on the River Kwai look fat and sassy, are you telling me that Henderson couldn't help?

Would signing Rickey smack of desperation? Yes.

Would it be a smart as hell? Yes.

Would it be fun as all get out? Yes.

A lot more fun than watching Fred McGriff not attain 500 home runs? Yes.

Good players, cheap. That's the stuff.