DODGERS: SAENZ IS AMONG THREE RELEASED.Byline: TONY JACKSON
Anthony (Antonio) Jackson, best known as Tony Jackson Staff Writer A half-hour after the Dodgers' final game of the season, the team's longest-tenured player, Olmedo Saenz, stopped on his way out of the clubhouse and made a prophetic statement to teammate Shea Hillenbrand Shea Matthew Hillenbrand[1] (born July 27, 1975 in Mesa, Arizona)[2] is a Major League Baseball third baseman. A native of Mesa, Arizona, Hillenbrand attended Mountain View High School there, excelling in both baseball, as a shortstop, and soccer. . "See you in the American League American League (AL) One of the two associations of professional baseball teams in the U.S. and Canada designated as major leagues; the other is the National League (NL). ," Saenz said. Saenz's four-year tenure as the Dodgers' primary right-handed bat off the bench officially ended this week when the veteran infielder cleared waivers, refused an outright assignment to the minor leagues and officially became a free agent. Hillenbrand and veteran reliever Roberto Hernandez all suffered the same fate as the Dodgers cleared three 40-man roster spots. General manager Ned Colletti Ned Louis Colletti, Jr. is the General Manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Colletti graduated from East Leyden High School in Franklin Park, Illinois and Northern Illinois University. Colletti began his Major League Career in 1982 with the Chicago Cubs. said Friday the club won't try to re-sign any of them. Saenz, who turned 37 last week, reached the end of a two-year, $2 million contract. He joined the club on a minor-league contract before the 2004 season, but made the team out of camp that spring and had been a fixture ever since. He had 49 pinch hits during his four seasons with the club, including eight home runs. Saenz's biggest hit for the Dodgers was a pinch-hit single off San Francisco's Mike Stanton William Michael (Mike) Stanton (born June 2, 1967 in Houston, Texas) is a left-handed specialist relief pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds. From 1989 through 2006, Stanton has posted a 67-60 record with a 3. , a bouncer through the right side to tie the score in the ninth inning Sept. 29, 2006. The Dodgers went on to win that game and clinched the National League wild card by beating the Giants the following afternoon. This year, though, Saenz hit just .191 overall and went 14 for 63 (.222) as a pinch hitter pinch-hit intr.v. pinch-hit, pinch-hit·ting, pinch-hits 1. Baseball To bat in place of a player scheduled to bat, especially when a hit is badly needed. 2. , including a 10th-inning walkoff homer to beat Toronto on June 8. Hillenbrand and Hernandez were second-half pickups this season, and neither was especially impressive. Hernandez, who will turn 43 next month, had a 6.64 ERA in 22 appearances. Hillenbrand, 32, appeared in 20 games and batted .243, with just three extra-base hits. Saenz's departure leaves pitcher Brad Penny Bradley Wayne Penny[1] (born May 24, 1978 in Blackwell, Oklahoma)[2] is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers.[3] Early career , who was acquired on July 30, 2004, as the Dodgers' longest-tenured player. tony.jackson@dailynews.com (818) 713-3607 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: SAENZ |
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