DODGERS SEND KARROS TO BENCH.Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer MIAMI Miami, cities, United States Miami (mīăm`ē, –ə). 1 City (1990 pop. 358,548), seat of Dade co., SE Fla., on Biscayne Bay at the mouth of the Miami River; inc. 1896. - Eric Karros After three strikeouts and a double play groundout on Wednesday extended his slump to 3 for 39, Karros was told he was being benched for at least the next two games. Karros, 33, did not play the season finale against the Marlins and will not play tonight when the Dodgers open a four-game series with the Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From to the present, the Braves have played in Turner Field. . The Dodgers will use Chad Kreuter Chadden Michael Kreuter (born August 26 1964 in Greenbrae, California) is a former catcher in Major League Baseball and the current head coach of the USC Trojans baseball team. behind the plate 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). at first. ``If I was the manager, that's what I would do,'' Karros said. ``I am swinging at balls over my head, way out of the strike zone. I am completely out of sync. They had to do something.'' Although the benching is not expected to last long, the club genuinely is worried about Karros' future. He just has begun a complicated three-year contract extension worth $21.5 million. Karros also has a club option for $9 million in 2004 or a $1 million buyout. But the club is locked in by a no-trade provision for this season and 2002. After next year, Karros becomes a ``10 and 5 man,'' meaning he can veto any trade because he has 10 years in the big leagues and five with the same club. Karros had six homers in the second half last season after hitting 25 in the first half. This year, he has been slowed by a sore lower back that forced him to miss most of spring training and a three-week stretch that began in late May. Karros is batting .230 with 13 homers and 52 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 . But since July 21, he is 3 for 32 with runners in scoring position In the sport of baseball, a baserunner is said to be in scoring position when he is on second or third base. The distinction between being on first base and second or third base is that a runner on first can usually only score if the batter hits an extra base hit, while a runner on , including 10 strikeouts. He also has grounded into four double plays during that stretch. ``He tells me the back is OK,'' Tracy said. ``It's all right to play but not that great. The guy works so hard before games, you have to believe him. I've had back problems myself. There is no way you could do all the work he is doing if your back was really bad.'' During the slump, Karros has been coming to the ballpark four to five hours early to watch video of his swing and take extra hitting. Karros has decided to switch gears during the benching, resting not ony his bat, but his mind. ``This is a time to take a step back,'' Karros said. ``I'm not going to do much the next couple of days. I think the situation is a lot like (New York's) Edgardo Alfonzo Edgardo Antonio Alfonzo (born November 8, 1973 in Miranda State, Venezuela) is an Atlantic League of Professional Baseball infielder in the Long Island Ducks and a former player in Major League Baseball, most notably for the New York Mets. . He had back trouble, then came back but was not quite the same. It has taken him some time, but he is starting to hit again. I will, too.'' --Brown almost there: Kevin Brown, sidelined since June 16 with a torn flexor flexor /flex·or/ (flek´ser) 1. causing flexion. 2. a muscle that flexes a joint. flexor retina´culum see entries under retinaculum. tendon in his right elbow, inched closer to returning to the Dodgers rotation after making 70 pitches Thursday in the Dodgers bullpen. ``He had better command of his pitches,'' pitching coach Jim Colburn said.``Tomorrow will be important to see how he feels. Kevin wants to come back. But he also has never known an injury like this.'' Brown will have one more pregame session on Saturday in Atlanta. If all goes well, he could pitch in relief Sunday or Monday, but Tracy said he doesn't expect him to start a game until the Dodgers return to Los Angeles. ``We know he is getting close, but there is no need to commit to anything until the time comes,'' Tracy said. DODGERS vs. ATLANTA Time: 4:35 p.m., Turner Field. TV/Radio: Ch. 5, 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish). Matchup: The Dodgers (69-58) open a four-game series tonight against the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves (69-56). In tonight's opener, Chan Ho Park (11-9, 3.04 ERA) faces left Tom Glavine (11-6, 3.79). Park is coming off an erraticfive-inning effort last Sunday when he lost 6-5 to the New York Mets
- Matt McHale CAPTION(S): box Box: DODGERS vs. ATLANTA (see text) |
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