Today's game marks the 5% mark for the season. Grady Little has already commented that he'd be happy to be 7-7 (obviously not after 8 games, but you get the point) and starting to understand what the team chemistry and player roles will be. It stands to reason that we, as fans, might take even longer. My main concern at this point is keeping Jason Repko from becoming, for me, what Hee-Seop Choi was for DePodesta haters: the guy who I can't enjoy because of all the baggage.
I am determined to prevent this. Repko seems very likeable: he smiles, hustles, and seems genuinely concerned with winning. So I remind myself to enjoy it. It's a lot easier to do when he's handing it to Jim Tracy with a triple and a homer (even if Fox decided to edit both out of the 2-hour delayed version of yesterday's game--WTF?). I enjoyed Saenz's (is that the right way to write that?) performance. If he had a power-hitting platoon mate, that would be awesome.
On to tonight's game. Ken Gurnick of mlb.com indicates that Little would be tempted to start Saenz against a righty tonight. Huh? I know he belted a few (7 of his 15, with 70% more at-bats) homers against righties last year, and Lyons and Steiner couldn't shut up about his success in PNC Park, but this guy has a limited number of at-bats in him, plus he thrives off the bench. Too bad we don't have a power hitting lefty to plug in there. Have I made that point already? Also, Jae Seo will be getting the start, which should be interesting. He did well in the WBC (how can something be called "classic" when it's brand new?), so I'm glad Little isn't shelving him yet.
The Pitching Matchup:
Jae Seo (RHP, Dodgers) vs. Ian Snell (RHP, Pirates)
For your Los Angeles Dodgers:
Furcal, SS
Cruz, LF
Drew, RF
Kent, 2B
Loney, 1B
Mueller, 3B
Repko ,CF
Navarro, C
Seo, P
For the Pittsburgh Pirates:
Duffy, CF
Wilson (Jack), SS
Casey, 1B
Bay, LF
Burnitz, RF
Randa, 3B
Castillo, 2B
Doumit, C
Snell, P