DODGERS NOTEBOOK: A LITTLE LINEUP SHAKEUP.Byline: TONY JACKSON
Anthony (Antonio) Jackson, best known as Tony Jackson Staff Writer PHOENIX - Tired of watching his team waste scoring chances, strand more baserunners than any other club in the National League and lose winnable one-run games, Dodgers manager Grady Little William Grady Little (born March 30, 1950 in Abilene, Texas) is a manager in Major League Baseball. He guided the Boston Red Sox from 2002 to 2003, and has been manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2006. shook up the lineup for Tuesday night's game at Arizona. In doing so, he made no concessions for guys who had routinely hit in the leadoff spot for five years running or guys probably headed to the Hall of Fame. That means Rafael Furcal Rafael Antoni Furcal[1] (born August 24, 1977 in Loma de Cabrera, Dominican Republic),[2] nicknamed "Fookie", is a shortstop in Major League Baseball who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers. , who was dropped from first to second, and Jeff Kent Jeffrey Franklin Kent (born March 7, 1968 in Bellflower, California) is a Major League Baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers and a former MVP winner. Early career , who was dropped from fourth to fifth. ``Maybe we'll get a little different scenery for a couple of guys,'' Little said. ``We realize these guys aren't going to struggle all season. But we have reached a point in the season where we have to try to do something different.'' Kenny Lofton Kenneth Lofton (born May 31, 1967 in East Chicago, Indiana) is a Major League Baseball outfielder. He bats and throws left-handed. He currently plays left field for the Cleveland Indians, with whom he has spent 10 seasons during three separate stints. , who had batted second in every game he had started this season, moved to the top, where he has hit for most of his career. J.D. Drew, who had batted third in 22 of his 23 starts, moved to fourth. Nomar Garciaparra Anthony Nomar Garciaparra[1] (born July 23, 1973, in Whittier, California) is a Mexican-American baseball player who currently plays third base for the Los Angeles Dodgers. moved fr om fifth to third. Rookie Andre Ethier, as promised, made his major-league debut in left field, batting sixth. And regular left fielder Jose Cruz, a switch hitter mired mire n. 1. An area of wet, soggy, muddy ground; a bog. 2. Deep slimy soil or mud. 3. A disadvantageous or difficult condition or situation: the mire of poverty. v. in a horrendous slump, sat for the third day in a row. ``I will just say (Cruz) is getting a break,'' Little said. ``He is doing a lot of hard work in batting practice, the cage and early BP, and we have seen some improvement. He's at the point where he needed to improve a little bit hitting from the left side. From the right side, he has been pretty good.'' Cruz came in hitting .321 right-handed and .180 left-handed. As long as Ethier remains in the big leagues - and he will stay at least as long as Ricky Ledee is on the 15-day disabled list - Cruz figures to play only against lefties be cause the left-handed-hitting Ethier will get most of the starts against righties. ``That's my plan right now,'' Little said. ``We want to make sure when these (prospects) get here, they don't do a lot of sitting.'' Third baseman Bill Mueller, who had two hits in his past 20 at-bats, also was out. ``The last couple of days, he has been dragging a little bit,'' Little said. ``I think he needs a day.'' Also: Ethier, who grew up in Phoenix and starred at Arizona State, was expecting about 40 members of his and his wife's families to attend his big-league debut. ... Ledee, who strained his left groin on a checked swing in Monday's game, was walking better after undergoing an MRI 1. (application) MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging. 2. MRI - Measurement Requirements and Interface. on Tuesday but said he still wasn't feeling any better. |
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