DODGERS NOTEBOOK: ASHBY `EXCITED' TO GET BALL ROLLING.Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer Try as he might, Dodgers right-hander Andy Ashby The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. They are in the West Division of the National League. in the opener of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium • • [ . After all, it will be his first game in 358 days. Ashby made just two starts last season before injuring his pitching elbow, then suffered several setbacks before tearing the flexor flexor /flex·or/ (flek´ser) 1. causing flexion. 2. a muscle that flexes a joint. flexor retina´culum see entries under retinaculum. muscle during a bullpen session. He finally had surgery June 15, ending a frustrating first season with the Dodgers. ``It makes you feel kind of worthless,'' Ashby said. ``You come over here for the first year and you only throw 11 innings. You don't want to go out there and try to do too much to kind of make up. It's something that happened, but the main thing is we did what we had to do to get back. ``I thank God every day I can put this uniform on. You do the little things you have to do between starts to stay healthy and keep myself in shape and go out there every five days to help this club win.'' Ashby, 34, showed no physical strains from the injury during the spring and he cleared several mental hurdles surrounding the health of his elbow as the spring wore on. In his last tuneup, Ashby allowed five hits and one run in six strong innings against Cleveland. He said that should help him keep his emotions and adrenalin at a comfortable level against the Rockies. ``I think every game, you have your excitement and everything, and it's definitely a little different coming off surgery and stuff, but the main thing is just to focus on pitches and try not to do too much,'' Ashby said. ``Just try to get through the first couple of innings and try to get all the jitters jitters 'Butterflies' Psychology An episode of nervousness or anxiety that often precedes a public event; jitters is a type of performance anxiety which may affect actors in a stage production–stage fright or soloist musicians; it may respond to anxiolytics out. I'm definitely excited about it, to be a part of it and actually be back. To go out and give our club a chance to win all year is what I want. --Waiting in limbo: Add ex-Dodgers Tom Goodwin
tr.v. en·am·ored, en·am·or·ing, en·am·ors To inspire with love; captivate: was enamored of the beautiful dancer; were enamored with the charming island. with the former organization. Both are sitting at their offseason homes waiting to be put on waivers and both likely are almost a week away from being able to sign with another team and begin their 2002 seasons. Goodwin, an outfielder, and Trombley, a reliever, were designated for assignment Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. Saturday, giving the Dodgers seven days to trade them. If they are not traded, they can be put on waivers. But that can't happen on a weekend, so both might not clear waivers until Wednesday afternoon. ``It's not a good time to be at home for 10 days or two weeks,'' said Trombley, who is working out a field near his Fort Myers, Fla., home. ``That's why I asked early if it wasn't going to happen, if I wasn't going to be on the team, let me know. Once they made their decision, I was disappointed in that they didn't just release me.'' Dodgers general manager Dan Evans wasn't about to let go of Trombley, who is owed $2.25 million, and Goodwin, who is owed $3.75 million, without exhausting every option, even if those options include holding on to the players and trying to trade them until the last minute. Though each player could be optioned to the minors if they agree to it, both said they would decline the offer. --Odds and ends: Dodgers manager Jim Tracy used the same lineup for the third consecutive game. He was only able to do that twice last season. ... Ground will be broken Saturday on Dodger Field at Algin al·gin n. Any of several derivatives, such as sodium alginate or alginic acid, of a gelatinous substance extracted from certain brown algae and widely used as a thickening, stabilizing, emulsifying, or suspending agent in industrial, pharmaceutical, Sutton Recreation Center, located near the USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. campus, to celebrate a renovation project for the athletic fields. DODGERS vs. COLORADO Time: 7:10 p.m., Dodger Stadium. TV/Radio: Ch. 13; 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish). Matchup: With Barry Bonds and the Giants gone, the Dodgers welcome Todd Helton, Larry Walker and the Rockies for a three-game series. RH Andy Ashby (0-0, 0.00 ERA) makes his first start in nearly a year; he missed much of last season after undergoing elbow surgery. Ashby was limited to two starts in 2001, winning both but lasting a total of 11 2/3 innings. RH Shawn Chacon (0-0, 0.00) makes his first start of the season for the Rockies. Helton hit seven homers, drove in 15 runs and batted .333 in 10 games last season at Chavez Ravine. Saturday - Dodgers LH Kazuhisa Ishii (0-0, 0.00) vs. Rockies RH Jason Jennings (0-0, 0.00); Sunday - Dodgers RH Kevin Brown (0-1, 15.75) vs. Rockies LH Mike Hampton (0-1, 14.73). - Brian Dohn CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Adrian Beltre went 1 for 3 with a strikeout during the Dodgers' 3-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California that currently play in the National League West Division. New York Giants history Early days and the John McGraw era on Thursday. Box: DODGERS vs. COLORADO (see text) |
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