DODGERS NOTEBOOK: DODGERS STILL SEARCHING FOR PRODUCTIVE NO. 2.Byline: Brian Dohn Daily News Staff Writer Mark Grudzielanek Mark James Grudzielanek (born June 30, 1970 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is a second baseman in Major League Baseball who currently plays for the Kansas City Royals. Previously, Grudzielanek played with the Montreal Expos (1995-1998), Los Angeles Dodgers (1998-2002), Chicago Cubs failed to lay down a bunt and in frustration pulverized pul·ver·ize v. pul·ver·ized, pul·ver·iz·ing, pul·ver·iz·es v.tr. 1. To pound, crush, or grind to a powder or dust. 2. To demolish. v.intr. a batting helmet Tuesday night. Not only did it symbolize Grudzielanek's frustration through the first month of the season, but also the Dodgers' inability to find a No. 2 hitter - a crucial element in manager Davey Johnson's grand lineup plan. ``It's amazing you have a four-year veteran in the two-hole who isn't more selective,'' Johnson said. ``We're talking about Grud, but there's a lot of people you could talk about, being more selective. Grud hit a lot of second in Montreal, to my recollection, but obviously he's doesn't even get (good) balls to bunt at.'' Grudzielanek, Devon White
Todd made his major league debut with the New York Mets on May 18, 1990 when he was only 20 years old. have all been given opportunities in the second spot, where patience is paramount to success. The No. 2 spot has produced a .202 average. Grudzielanek is hitting .308 and has a .400 on-base mark while hitting second, but he's been swinging at pitches early in the count and not allowing leadoff hitter In baseball, a leadoff hitter is a batter who bats first in the lineup. Strategy Leadoff hitters must possess certain traits to be successful: they must reach base at a proficient rate and be able to steal bases. Eric Young Eric Young can refer to:
Though he's been asked to bunt on a few occasions, Grudzielanek has yet to be successful on a sacrifice attempt. ``With this club I think that's where I fit best because I can hit, and I can hit the other way,'' said Grudzielanek, who batted seventh Wednesday against Milwaukee. ``One thing I've been lacking in the two-hole is I failed to get the bunt down. If I can't bunt, I just have to find another way to get the man over.'' While Grudzielanek has faltered, neither White (3 for 30), Vizcaino (6 for 21) or Hundley (0 for 9) have provided answers. Sheffield ejected: Left fielder Gary Sheffield
Gary Antonian Sheffield (born November 18, 1968 in Tampa, Florida) is a Major League Baseball designated hitter and outfielder for the Detroit Tigers. was ejected in the top of the ninth by a chuckling Eric Gregg after being displeased dis·please v. dis·pleased, dis·pleas·ing, dis·pleas·es v.tr. To cause annoyance or vexation to. v.intr. To cause annoyance or displeasure. about a called third strike. Sheffield said it wasn't an isolated incident. ``Every time he's back there he punches me out (on strikes),'' said Sheffield, who was 2 for 5 with an RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in . ``Some umpires you know what he's going to call a strike and what he's going to call a ball. . . I said, `That ball was down and you know it.' He said, `Don't say anything.' I felt, `What, we can't talk to the umpires now?' '' In the past, Gregg has had an inconsistent, and wide, strike zone. Sheffield was on the field when Florida's Livan Hernandez struck out 16 Atlanta Braves during the 1997 playoffs. Greg Maddux struck out 10 in the same game. The farm report: While Johnson molds the bullpen at the major-league level, the Dodgers' brass keeps an eye on Single-A San Bernardino and right-handed relievers Antonio Osuna and Mike Maddux. Both pitched Tuesday against Lake Elsinore and both had success. Osuna (elbow bone elbow bone n. See ulna. spur) gave up one hit and struck out five in two scoreless innings. Maddux, who signed a minor-league contract with the Dodgers last week, pitched the ninth inning and recorded a save. Extra bases: Third baseman Adrian Beltre had the game off to rest his bruised knee. Jose Vizcaino started at third. . . . Johnson said catcher Todd Hundley would have today off and Paul LoDuca would start. . . . Brewers second baseman Fernando Vina was suspended by the National League for two games for an incident in an April 23 game against Pittsburgh. Vina argued a strike call and while pointing at an umpire made contact. But Vina appealed the decision and was in Wednesday's lineup. DODGERS vs. MILWAUKEE Time: 11:05 a.m., at County Stadium. TV/Radio: No TV; KXTA-AM (1150), KWKW-AM (1330 Spanish). Matchup: The Dodgers send right-hander Ismael Valdes (2-0, 3.14 ERA) to the mound as the Dodgers look for the three-game series sweep of the Brewers. Valdes is coming off a complete-game 6-1 win against the St. Louis Cardinals For the National Football League team that played in St. Louis from 1960 to 1987, see . The St. Louis Cardinals (also referred to as "the Cards" or "the Redbirds") are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. . Valdes struck out 10, one off his career high. It's also the last game the Dodgers will play at County Stadium, which will be torn down after the season. The Brewers are moving into Miller Park next season. The Brewers counter with right-hander Cal Eldred (0-0, 4.50), who is making his second start. Eldred missed the last two months of the season after suffering a fractured elbow. After the season, Eldred had arthroscopic surgery Arthroscopic Surgery Definition Arthroscopic surgery is a procedure to visualize, diagnose, and treat joint problems. The name is derived from the Greek words arthron, which means joint, and skopein, which means to look at. on his elbow. - Brian Dohn CAPTION(S): 2 Photos, Box PHOTO (1) GRUDZIELANEK (2) SHEFFIELD BOX: DODGERS vs. MILWAUKEE (see text) |
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