What a buzz kill. I was all pumped up for the return of Jeff Kent, and this is what I get? Positively depressing.
So, as I'm listening to the Dodgers throw the game away in the first inning, I got to thinking: maybe I wasn't insane after all for thinking it would be nice to have Ceasar at shortstop. I mean, if Furcal could have avoided booting two balls and only missed one, the Dodgers would have been out of the inning without giving up a run. If Sele doest throw 30 or whatever pitches that inning, maybe he gets us through six, Park throws a few more pitches trying to be careful--who knows? But you know what really chapped my hide (thank you, Black Angus)? Listening to Vin Scully describe Kenny Lofton's failure to catch Vinny Castilla's fly ball to center with two out and the bases loaded, that's what. Vinny Castilla, you see, can't hit in Petco Park, and Matt Kemp and J.D. Drew were watching from their corner positions in the outfield. Since when are defensive assignments handed out by seniority? I have to believe that both of the other outfielders would have gotten Sele out of that inning having given up one run (and throwing fewer pitches). And the very, very worst part was listening to Vin tell the listeners that Lofton's excellent defensive skills would usually allow him to catch that ball. So even while he's totally screwing the Dodgers, his defensive prowess continues to be overrated. Great.
sigh
Now that I got that off of my chest, I guess I can admit that they pretty much blew the game anyway. They had better win tonight, because tomorrow brings Tomko vs. Young, and I don't even want to think about that one.
Go Blue.
The Pitching Match-up:
Brad Penny (RHP, Dodgers) vs. Mike Thompson (RHP, Braves)
For your (35-29) Los Angeles Dodgers:
Furcal, SS
Lofton, CF
Garciaparra, 1B
Drew, RF
Kent, 2B
Ethier, LF
Aybar, 3B
Martin, C
Penny, P
For the (33-31) San Diego Padres:
Roberts, LF
Cameron, CF
Giles, RF
Piazza, C
Gonzalez, 1B
Bellhorn, 3B
Greene, SS
Barfield, 2B
Thompson, P
O.K., one more crack about the first inning. Here's what Grady Little had to say:
WTF? Who has he been watching this season? I believe the term you're looking for there, Grady, is "bad job." But he should get better.