The return of Eric Gagne was somewhat less than spectacular…and then spectacular. After giving up a pair of home runs to Atlanta’s Jones brothers, and a single to Julio Franco, Gagne struck out the next three rather convincingly in a LA loss. Since he is facing this 2 game suspension, it might be better to leave him on the bench this week. For what it is worth Yhency Brazoban didn’t fare too well today coming in down 3-2…not that we needed to be told Gagne’s job was safe.
Manny Ramirez hit his 400th career homerun, seems impossible and that it was just the other day that he came up as a shortstop for the Indians. He’s 33 in a couple of weeks, 500 home runs and the Hall of Fame seem within reach. His three run shot was pretty impressive, he reached out over the plate on an outside pitch that fooled him and got just the end of the bat on it and carried it 10 rows deep into right. STRONG man. That homerun coincidentally helped Gil Meche continue his pattern of pitching very well for every inning but one – this time he got the win.
Aaron Boone got his first RBI since April 27 and went 2 for 4 to lift his average to .142. Not that I am suggesting that anyone play him, but Cleveland seems ready to leave him in regardless of the results and that may mean that somewhere down the line he will be worth owning. Just remember he doesn’t hit for average, it’s unlikely he will run, he doesn’t get on base so his runs won’t be great and he probably no longer qualifies at second base – but that does not mean that if the wheels fall back on, he couldn’t be a pretty good fill-in for a month or two somewhere.
Although it looks like a good matchup and is in a good park, Make sure to try to find the most current news on John Thomson’s back before starting him tomorrow against Stauffer and the Padres. It was reported his back was so bad he couldn’t sit down between innings in his last, non-stellar, performance.
Also tomorrow will be another test for Brad Penny at home against the Marlins. He was battered around pretty well in St. Louis last time out – but now faces an inconsistent offense and the surprisingly effective Brian Moehler at home in Chavez Ravine. Hee Seop Choi’s one for two today lifts his batting average to .312, but Olmedo Saenz’ stellar .333 hitting is keeping the platoon in order. If Choi keeps it up, eventually Los Angeles will need to find out if he can or can’t hit lefties. Although he hasn’t fared well against them so far, he has only faced lefties 8 at bats this season and all of 36 last season.