DODGERS NOTEBOOK: GAGNE SADDENED WITH EXPOS' MOVE.Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer NEW YORK New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of - Dodgers closer Eric Gagne's adrenaline is flowing to return to his native Montreal, but he admitted to a high level of sadness about pitching in front of the home fans for possibly the last time. The Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos (French: Les Expos de Montréal) were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from 1969 until 2004. After the 2004 season, the franchise relocated to Washington, D.C. and became the Washington Nationals. might move to Portland, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (pwār`tō rē`kō), island (2005 est. pop. 3,917,000), 3,508 sq mi (9,086 sq km), West Indies, c.1,000 mi (1,610 km) SE of Miami, Fla. or heavy-favorite Washington, D.C., for the 2004 season, and when Gagne thinks of kids not having hometown heroes to cheer for in the future, it saddens him. The Dodgers open a three-game series today against the Expos at dingy dingy used as a description of fleece wool; the wool is lacking in brightness. Olympic Stadium The Olympic Stadium is the name usually given to the big centrepiece stadium of the Summer Olympic Games. Traditionally, the opening and closing ceremonies and the track & field competitions are held in the Olympic Stadium. and beforehand Gagne will be presented with the Tip O'Neill Award The Tip O'Neill Award is an award given out by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame to the Canadian baseball player "judged to have excelled in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to the highest ideals of the game of baseball. , awarded to Canada's top baseball player. He shared the award with Colorado's Larry Walker ``(The sadness) is not just for me, but also for all the little kids there,'' Gagne said. ``People say there's not many fans, but there's a lot of kids that look up to baseball players. Guys like Vladimir Guerrero Vladimir Alvino Guerrero (born February 9, 1976 in Don Gregorio, Nizao, Dominican Republic), and known in his native Dominican Republic as Miquéas (Spanish for Micah), is a Major League Baseball right fielder who plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. , (Jose) Vidro, (Javier) Vazquez, they're superstars over there and kids look up to them. They work hard and want to be an Expo. They want to be a baseball player, and now they won't dream about it.'' Gagne said he grew up idolizing Gary Carter But Gagne, who has 11 saves and is arguably the best closer in baseball, conceded he might not have been a baseball player if not for his youthful days watching the Expos. ``Maybe I never would have had the inspiration,'' Gagne said. ``I probably never would have met these guys. I went to camps and they were there and I met them. I always dreamed about being an Expo, and I never really dreamed about being anything else but a baseball player. I think it helped that the Expos were there.'' --Beltre benched: Thanks to an 0-for-16 streak, Dodgers third baseman Adrian Beltre's average is again below .200 and again he found himself on the bench trying to clear his head. Beltre, who is batting .183, arrived at Shea Stadium for early hitting with Shawn Green but was benched in favor of Ron Coomer. ``I think it's a necessary day off for Adrian,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``It seemed to have worked for him a little bit when we did it the last time, so we're going to do it again. I think from what I'm seeing, the quality of the at-bats is of a guy that is searching.'' Beltre entered Thursday's game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and struck out on three pitches with runners on first and third and one out in the eighth. Tracy said Beltre would return to the starting lineup today in Montreal. --Dreifort fine: Dodgers right-hander Darren Dreifort stripped off a knee brace halfway through his bullpen session, but he finished the 45-pitch outing and declared himself fit for Saturday's start against the Expos. Dreifort said he felt periodic pain in his right knee, but it wasn't enough to keep him from making his start. He said he won't wear the brace to pitch, but he will have the knee taped. --Shuey not ready: Dodgers reliever Paul Shuey is eligible to come off the disabled list Saturday, but after a setback during Tuesday's bullpen session in which he felt pain in the knee, the right-hander said it was doubtful he would be ready in time. Shuey sprained his right knee during his outing April 24 in Cincinnati, and not even a knee brace helped. Shuey is hoping to throw a bullpen session Saturday and be ready to return next week. --Odds and ends: Mets catcher Mike Piazza was scratched from the starting lineup because of soreness related to the removal of a mole this week. ... Given Olympic Stadium's hard turf, Tracy said left fielder Brian Jordan (sore knee) and catcher Paul Lo Duca Paul Anthony Lo Duca (born April 12, 1972 in Brooklyn, New York) is a catcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the New York Mets. Previously, Lo Duca played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1998-2004) and Florida Marlins (2004-2005). would get today off. CAPTION(S): box Box: DODGERS vs. MONTREAL - Brian Dohn |
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