DODGERS NOTEBOOK: MCGRIFF OUT OF LINEUP.Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden - Dodgers manager Jim Tracy
McGriff, who isn't expected to play again until Tuesday against San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. , didn't appear enthralled en·thrall tr.v. en·thralled, en·thrall·ing, en·thralls 1. To hold spellbound; captivate: The magic show enthralled the audience. 2. To enslave. about getting time off to locate the swing that accounted for 480 career homers. ``I think as a team we're not swinging the bat well,'' McGriff said. ``You want to give the whole team some time to think about it?'' As a whole, the Dodgers are batting .223, with McGriff's .146 average lowest among the starters. He also has nine strikeouts in 41 at-bats and after starting the season as the clean-up hitter, he was dropped to sixth in Friday's loss. ``He needs a couple of days off and that's what I'm going to do,'' Tracy said. ``It's to pull him away from the action and let him sort things out.'' Even before rain forced the postponement of Saturday's game against San Francisco at Pac Bell Park, McGriff wasn't going to play. Daryle Ward Daryle Ward (born June 27, 1975 in Lynwood, California) is a Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman for the Chicago Cubs. He bats and throws left-handed. The 6-foot-2, 240 pound (109 kg) Ward was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 1994 amateur draft. was in at first base, and Tracy said McGriff wouldn't play today. With Monday's scheduled day off, McGriff has three days to find his stroke. ``He's not having good at-bats right now,'' Tracy said. ``But normally when a guy of his stature and that good a hitter is not swinging the bat well, they're normally not very good at-bats because they're not hard outs. And good hitters, when they're not hitting, they are hitting. They're just making hard outs. He's not making hard outs.'' Tracy said the respite would give McGriff time to work in 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 and clear some mental issues that are plaguing him at the plate. The two spoke about the situation, but McGriff didn't appear enthusiastic about not being in the lineup. ``We talked earlier,'' said McGriff, who was asked whether he told Tracy he wanted to be in the lineup. ``I ain't the manager.'' The slow start is nothing new to McGriff. He batted .205 with a homer and 10 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 in the opening month last season but finished with 30 homers and 103 RBI. In fact, McGriff has fewer hits, homers and RBI in the first month of each season than any other month. ``I've said all the time, go out there and play, make adjustments,'' McGriff said. ``That's how you play.'' --Perez might miss turn: X-rays on the right ankle of Dodgers pitcher Odalis Perez were negative, trainer Stan Johnston said, but the left-hander said he might miss his Thursday start because pain remains. He hurt the ankle running the bases in Friday's loss. ``It all depends on how (Sunday) goes,'' said Perez, who had the ankle heavily taped and limped around the clubhouse. ``It's the day when I have to throw on the side. If I don't throw on the side (Sunday), I won't make it.'' The Dodgers are calling the injury a sprained ankle A sprained ankle, also known as a ankle sprain, ankle injury or ankle ligament injury, is a common medical condition where one or more of the ligaments of the ankle is torn or partially torn. . Perez, who is putting ice and getting treatment on the back of his ankle, said there is limited swelling. ``They say it's weird,'' Perez said. ``When you have a broken ankle or when you have a dislocated dis·lo·cate tr.v. dis·lo·cat·ed, dis·lo·cat·ing, dis·lo·cates 1. To put out of usual or proper place, position, or relationship. 2. ankle or something, it looks different. I just kept playing.'' Tracy said if Perez cannot pitch Thursday against San Diego, right-hander Darren Dreifort --Rain drops: Saturday's rainout rain·out n. An event, such as an athletic contest, that has been rained out. Radioactive material in the atmosphere brought down by precipitation. was rescheduled as part of a day-night doubleheader Sept. 27 at Pac Bell Park, and it also caused the Dodgers to shuffle their pitching rotation. Right-hander Kevin Brown was pushed back a day and will pitch today's series finale. With Monday being an off-day, right-hander Hideo Nomo pitches Tuesday and left-hander Kazuhisa Ishii throws Wednesday. Perez tentatively is slated for Thursday and Brown will open the three-game series Friday at Dodger Stadium against the Giants. Dreifort would pitch Saturday. --Odds and ends: Dave Checketts withdrew his bid to purchase the Dodgers because, as expected, News Corp. wouldn't part with a cable television station as part of the deal. Checketts is focusing on purchasing several Atlanta sports teams and a cable station from AOL (A division of Time Warner, Inc., New York, NY, www.aol.com) The world's largest online information service with access to the Internet, e-mail, chat rooms and a variety of databases and services. . ... Outfielder Chad Hermansen (shoulder) said he will begin a rehabilitation stint April 21 with Single-A Vero Beach, Fla. He can remain on rehab for 20 days. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Giants fans take cover during a rain delay at Pac Bell Park that later postponed the game against the Dodgers. Ben Margot/Associated Press Box: DODGERS vs. SAN FRANCISCO - Brian Dohn |
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