DODGERS NOTEBOOK: ROOKIES PLAYOFF TESTED.Byline: RICH HAMMOND Rich Hammond Los Angeles Daily News sports writer. Instrumental in bringing the Los Angeles Kings hockey organization closer to the fans. He is the atypical "what a guy" to Kings fans everywhere. Rich Hammond on himself. Staff Writer These are heady times for Dodgers rookies such as Russell Martin
As a senior at Defiance High School in 2003, pitched in 11 games and was 6-1 with a 1. , young players who are experiencing a major-league playoff race for the first time. That's not to say that the rookies are unaccustomed to playing big games late in seasons. Between them, Martin, Ethier and Billingsley had 10 minor-league seasons, all of which ended in playoff appearances for their respective teams and four of which ended in championships. ``Energy-level wise, there is some comparison,'' Martin said. ``Whether it's the major leagues or minors, there's intensity there, but this is different, and I want to know what it feels like to make the playoffs.'' Martin and Billingsley were teammates last season in Jacksonville when the Suns won the Double-A Southern League title. Ethier, as a member of the Oakland organization, won a California League The California League is a minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth (Single-A) title with Modesto in 2004 and a Texas League (Double-A) title with Midland in 2005. ``I think he's our good-luck charm,'' Martin said of Ethier. Back in there: Ethier returned to the lineup Friday in place of left fielder Marlon Anderson Marlon Ordell Anderson is a Major League Baseball infielder who was born on January 16, 1974 in Montgomery, Alabama. Marlon attended the Autuaga County School system in Prattville, Alabama. He currently plays for the New York Mets. . In two previous games, Ethier had gone 2 for 5 with a home run against Claudio Vargas For the soccer player, see . Claudio (Almonte) Vargas (born on June 19, 1978 in Valverde Mao, Dominican Republic) is a pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers. In the past he has started games and also pitched in both middle and long relief. , who was the starting pitcher Noun 1. starting pitcher - (baseball) a pitcher who starts in a baseball game baseball, baseball game - a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs; "he played baseball in high school"; for Arizona. Ethier, whose average had dipped to .314, had started just one of the previous four games. ``A lot of it has to do with his history against (Vargas),'' manager Grady Little said before the game. ``Ethier has been a big part of his club all season long, and hopefully this will get him back on track.'' Playing through it: Nomar Garciaparra, hobbled by a strained quadriceps muscle, also returned to the starting lineup Friday, and Little said Garciaparra's status will remain a day-to-day decision. ``(He will play) if we can get him in there and we think it's the best for him, not only short term but long term,'' Little said. ``We'll make that decision day by day.'' Mixing it up: Little reiterated his plan to start at least two pitchers on three days' rest next week, although he declined to elaborate on which pitchers or their exact schedule. The Dodgers are off Monday, so on Tuesday, Little could start Greg Maddux on regular rest or bring back Derek Lowe on short rest. Lowe is the most likely candidate to start on three days' rest, so that he could pitch twice. |
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