DODGERS NOTEBOOK: JORDAN'S HAND NOT BROKEN.Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer It's hard to tell whether it was Brian Jordan David Ray Roberts (born May 31, 1972 in Okinawa, Japan), is a Major League Baseball center fielder for the San Francisco Giants. or Dodgers manager Jim Tracy
Jordan bruised his hand in a unusual accident during batting practice Sunday in Montreal. He was resting his forearm on a bar on the back of the batting cage Noun 1. batting cage - a movable screen placed behind home base to catch balls during batting practice cage baseball equipment - equipment used in playing baseball when Roberts fouled off a pitch. The ball ricocheted off the net and hit Jordan on the hand. After missing one game, Jordan returned to the starting lineup For the line of action figures, see . A starting lineup in sports refers to the set of players actively participating in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes Monday with a brace and a smile. ``It's a big relief,'' Jordan said. ``I was nervous all (Sunday) night. I didn't even sleep. It was a freak accident. Unbelievable.'' Jordan is batting .299 - the best average among Dodgers starters - with 17 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 , and he is a respected leader in the clubhouse. ``To lose a guy like that for a long period of time, that would be difficult to accept,'' Tracy said. He won't have to. Neither will Roberts
Roberts was born in Ruabon, Denbighshire, the son of a railwayman of the Great Western Railway. , who felt terrible about the incident. ``Obviously, I didn't do it on purpose,'' Roberts said. ``It was an accident. We are just starting to get going as a team, so to know it's not serious, it's definitely a relief. ``He's like the core of this team. He's a leader. He's the centerpiece of this team, in that sense because of his motivation and his enthusiasm. He's putting up good at-bats. And on defense, he's always out there diving in the outfield.'' Jordan's hand was a little swollen, and he was experiencing pain. But he wanted to be in the lineup - probably even more so because it was against Atlanta, his former team - and declared himself ready after batting practice. ``It's hurting but I can swing, and that's all that matters,'' Jordan said. --The 500 club: On Sunday, Texas' Rafael Palmeiro ``He's had an awesome career,'' McGriff said. ``I'm sure it meant a lot to him. I think it's more of a personal thing. He's played a lot of games.'' McGriff needs 17 home runs to reach 500. But it's not something he can sense now. ``Not yet,'' McGriff said. ``I've got a ways to go.'' --Injury report: Catcher Todd Hundley, on the disabled list with a lower-back injury, is only about 50 percent healthy. He's still experiencing pain and might require another epidural injection. ... Paul Shuey (sprained right knee) is scheduled to throw a simulated game today or Wednesday. --News and notes: Roberts was not in the starting lineup Monday. He was given the day off because of soreness in his legs. ... Jordan was giddy as he posed for pictures with his first bobblehead, which will be given away July 1. When asked whether he thought it looked like him, Jordan said: ``I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. about that, but it's close enough.'' CAPTION(S): box Box: DODGERS vs. ATLANTA - Jill Painter |
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