After 16 seasons in the minor leagues, John Lindsey will finally get to realize his big league dream. The first baseman, who has hit .356/.404/.663 with 25 home runs for Triple A Albuquerque, will join the Dodgers Monday in San Diego, after 1,570 games and 6,638 plate appearances in the minor leagues.
Lindsey, who is 33 yrs, 219 days old Monday, will be the oldest non-Japanese Dodger to make his MLB debut since Pete Wojey (34 years, 213 days) on July 2, 1954. Takashi Saito (36 years, 54 days) was older than Lindsey is now when he made his MLB debut on April 9, 2006.
Joining Lindsey on the Albuquerque-to-San-Diego trip will be John Ely, Jon Link, Chin-Lung Hu, and Russell Mitchell. The Isotopes were eliminated from playoff contention with their loss Saturday night. Both Lindsey and Mitchell will have to be added to the 40-man roster. The Dodgers have 39 players on the roster currently, so a corresponding roster move will need to be made tomorrow, which will likely be the transfer of Russell Martin from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled lit.
Mitchell, who was drafted by the Dodgers in the 15th round in 2003, was hitting .315/.362/.536 with 23 home runs for the Isotopes this season. Joe Torre said Mitchell can play both corner infield positions. Mitchell becomes the ninth player drafted and signed by the Dodgers in 2003 to make the major leagues.
For today's game, Hong-Chih Kuo is unavailable today after pitching the last two nights. Kenley Jansen will be the Dodgers' closer today, should the opportunity present itself, but Torre also said in the right situation (translation: left-handed hitters due up), he would not be afraid to use George Sherrill as closer.
Rafael Furcal is getting today off after playing four days in a row, the first two on a rehab assignment with Albuquerque on Wednesday and Thursday.
Reed Johnson is playing left field today instead of Scott Podsednik because of the matchup with the left-handed Jonathan Sanchez of the Giants.