DODGERS NOTEBOOK : RACE FOR MVP EXCITES WALKER.Byline: Kevin Acee Daily News Staff Writer Larry Walker Walker, who was booed as he walked to the plate in the first inning, and Piazza are considered the top candidates to win the National League MVP (Multimedia Video Processor) A high-speed DSP chip from Texas Instruments, introduced in 1994. Officially introduced as the TMS320C80, it combines RISC technology with the functionality of four DSPs on one chip. award. Walker, never a believer in the religion of pregame batting practice, spent almost 15 minutes before Friday's game talking about his season and the MVP race while his teammates worked outside. ``I know this has been a great year,'' said Walker, who entered Friday's game leading the league in eight offensive categories, including his .372 average, 48 home runs and 139 runs. ``I know my numbers are good. . . . (The MVP) would mean the world to me, but it's not something I'm going to get all confident about that I'm going to win.'' Piazza, who has finished in the top 10 in MVP voting all four off his seasons, played that part a little bit last season. Obliging o·blig·ing adj. Ready to do favors for others; accommodating. o·blig  ing·ly adv. questions and engaging in theories about the MVP made him believe he
could win. He does not want to experience again the letdown he felt when
the Padres' Ken Caminiti ``The thing I did was answer questions about it last year,'' said Piazza, a distant second last season. ``I'm not going to do that this year. I've got no thoughts. I'm completely oblivious to it.'' Piazza, batting .357 with 36 home runs and 113 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 all while playing catcher and sometimes while being the only Dodger hitting, then spent a few minutes passionately explaining his lack of thoughts on the subject. ``Obviously, everyone has their opinions,'' he said. ``But you know what they say about opinions. I'm just trying to do my job, finish the year and get into the playoffs. I could care less about what people think about who wins the MVP. I really couldn't give a (hoot) about who wins the MVP if I'm at home watching the World Series on television.'' Walker also spoke of the good fortune he enjoys being followed in the Rockies' lineup by Andres Gallaraga, who entered Friday batting .320 with a league-leading 133 RBI. Protection is something Piazza has lacked sometimes this season. ``Without batting in front of Andres, my numbers might not be that good,'' said Walker, whose 399 total bases are the most by any National Leaguer since Hank Aaron had 400 in 1959. It gets worse: Relief pitcher relief pitcher n. Baseball A pitcher who replaces another during a game. Noun 1. relief pitcher - a pitcher who does not start the game fireman, reliever Darren Hall Michael Darren Hall (born July 14, 1964, in Marysville, Ohio) was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers. Sources
That was potentially horrible news for a team that had used its bullpen an average of four innings in the 13 games leading up to Friday. ``Our bullpen has thrown a lot of innings,'' said manager Bill Russell Noun 1. Bill Russell - United States basketball center (born in 1934) William Felton Russell, Russell , who used nine pitchers in Tuesday's 15-inning game in St. Louis. ``We're to the point where we need some innings out of our starters. . . . If we get to our bullpen, we're wiped out.'' Worth remembering: Russell was asked how his players felt about the Giants' postgame celebration on Thursday, which included Barry Bonds treating home plate like bongo bongo (bŏng`gō), spiral-horned antelope, Boocercus eurycerus, found in jungles and thick bamboo forests of equatorial Africa. Shy, elusive animals, bongos never emerge into the open and are seldom seen; they browse singly or in small drums. ``They'll remember the celebrating the Giants did,'' Russell said sternly. And he would say no more on the subject. CAPTION(S): Box Box: DODGERS TODAY |
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