You da (final) man, Nomah!

Nomar Garciaparra is officially 1-1 in All-Star bids since returning to his native L.A. He originally didn't missed the cut in the traditional balloting system, much more the result of him competing for a stacked first base slot than any sub-par play on his part. But hope was not lost, my friends. There was the "Final Man" candidate, a player voted in by Internet savvy fans. The NL choices: Nomar, Chris Capuano (Milwaukee), Billy Wagner (NY), Bobby Abreau (Philly) and Chris Young (San Diego). And in an extremely tight race, Nomar managed to squeak out a winner by a mere 4,000,000+ votes. Just think. A few million votes tip in another direction and... well, he still wins, but perhaps by only low seven figures.

Having just learned the news himself (he hadn't been following the voting), Garciaparra was all smiles. He's hardly a stranger to the festivities (6 and counting), but he still describes the game as a "fun time.... It's an event that's so big, so many people there." He also digs teaming up for a night with so many of the great players he battles all season. Whether or not that still includes D-Back players... kidding, kidding (I said it, not him). Needless to say, Grady Little and Ned Colletti were pleased. "It's very nice," beamed Little. "It's well deserved. The kid's put together a great first half of the season here." Colletti was even more succinct. "It's an honor to watch him play. To get to know him. And to see him accorded the honor he deserves." One of the reporters joked with the big winner about the successful "campaign" paying off. Nomar riffed a bit about having planned a skywriting presentation, but his long last name putting the kabbash on things. "The clouds would have been cleared by the time they got to the "P."

The idea of being recognized during his first year at a new position was especially gratifying and nothing Nomar takes for granted. While the success in no way surprises his Skip (for that matter, Little didn't bat an eye at Izzy's seamless transition to third), that doesn't mean Little isn't impressed. "I think that just peaks very highly of their level of talent. Each individual's level of talent. That's quite an undertaking, especially at the Major League level."

And in Gagne news... Zip, nada, goose egg. Nothing new to report. No better idea on what's bugging his back (or his elbow, or an ailing body part to be named later). It's mostly still a mystery. To everyone's knowledge, he's still in the hospital. Little spoke with him early this morning, and described the reliever as having "some concern in his voice." But then again, "he always does whenever something is wrong with him that keeps him from pitching." Colletti has also bought a first class ticket on the "Eric Gagne Concern Express." The only thing your G.M. knows for sure right now is that Gagne's "in a lot of pain. Everything else is up to mother nature and his healing power." Both are factors Colletti would love to see kicked into overdrive. Asked about trade deadline acquisitions, he noted that "getting Eric Gagne back would be pretty big. Not many teams would be able to have an Eric Gagne for their second half." All (semi) kidding aside on the subject, Colletti described much of the trade wind talk as "far more speculation than there is fact." If he had to guess, most of the impact players will be moved nearer to or on the 31st as opposed to right after the All-Star Game.

As one might imagine, big-time Pistons fan Derek Lowe wasn't thrilled with the idea of losing Ben Wallace. He was even less thrilled at the prospect of Nazr Mohammed picking up the slack. He joked that tonight's starting pitcher (and former NBA player) Mark Hendricksen would have been a better choice. Although given the thin NBA Free agent market, were I the lanky lefty, I'd be working on my jump shot and hitting the summer league.

FYI - Three blond triplets are singing the National Anthem right now. Now that's how you spread patriotism throughout the country.

Tonight's Lineup
Giants
Randy Winn - CF
Omar Vizquel - SS
Moises Alou - RF
Barry - LF
Ray Durham - 2B
Pedro Feliz - 3B
Lance Niekro - 1B
Eliezer Alfonzo - C
Matt Cain - P

Dodgers
Furcal - SS
Lofton - CF
All-Star - 1B
Drew - RF
Martinez - 2B (Kent and his illin' oblique were more or less a game time decision)
Ethier - LF
Izzy - 3B
Martin - C
Guy who should have received the Detroit Pistons mid-level- P

AK

Comments

[LoLo]

Well that was nice of Hendrickson to get those first 3 runs off his ERA out of the way in the 1st inning. Now he can concentrate on the other 0.71 for the rest of the game. I LOVE his strategy.

[LoLo]

I'm also glad that Hendrickson was having a good time out there, laughing at the fact that he spotted the Gnats 3 runs. I couldn't tell from his meeting at the mound with Little if they were talking baseball or exchanging their favorite "Your Mamma" joke.

[LoLo]

Are those three blond triplets singing the anthem named Faith, Ms. M, and MrsThinkBlue?? Those three will do anything to get on the same field with their favorite ball players! HAHA!!

[LoLo]

Another bad thing about Hendrickson: He has 5 ft 7 1/2 inches worth of strike zone when he bats. He must be the easiest man in the world to strike out.

[LoLo]

"Striking out the pitcher is like kissing your sister."

Vinny cracks me up sometimes. HAHAHA!

[LoLo]

Speaking of "Love", it's 5-0 Giants. I LOVE Hendrickson. Beautiful, F'n beautiful!!

THIS is LA Trade Acquisitions!

[Ms. M]

Ok, really now...so far, I'm not diggin Hendrickson very much!!

Lolo,
Laugh it up, buddy!! I'll be sure to wave to ya from behind the plate one day... in between exchanging recipes with Mia Hamm, that is!!

p.s. I thought i caught ya slackin with your Cooperstown bat a moment ago, I'm glad youre on top of it now!!

[Jim]

Let's hope Hendrickson can get thru 7 and not give up any more runs. Cain has thrown a lot of pitches and we are still in it.

[LoLo]

"Ramon Martinez has really been the fly in the ointment"

Keep them coming, Vinny. HAHAHA!!

[LoLo]

Ms. M,

Yeah, I was slacking. I'm paying half attention to the game because I'm running around getting chores done (paying just enough attention to clown on Hendrickson, HAHA). I'm on travel next week so I got a alot of things to get done around the house.

[Jim]

Sad!

[LoLo]

6'9 and NO HEAT. No wonder hitters bat .290 against him.

Update on Seo: 7IP, 3ER

We would kill for those numbers right about now.

I'll say it again, I think Honeycutt is at fault. Either that or the Tampa pitching coaches are that much better than ours. After all, the NL is supposed to be the "pitcher's league".

[Ms. M]

TSK TSK, Lolo,
Breaking tradition after only, what, like, 3 games?

haha...Mark Hendrickson makes Russ look Williow-ish

[Jim]

Not you Lolo, bases loaded, none out, one run.

[Andrew Kamenetzky]

"Mark Hendrickson makes Russ look Williow-ish"

That's funny.

AK

[LoLo]

Jim,

You have to give the Gnat pitchers credit. They are doing a fine job of damage control. Us? Not so much.

[LoLo]

"Mark Hendrickson makes Russ look Williow-ish"

Does that mean that your children (conceived with Russ' help) will also look Willow-ish? HAHA!!

[LoLo]

I'll say this again: I clown on Hendrickson because I don't like the trade that brought him here. But as a Dodger fan, I hope that he proves me wrong. I would love nothing else for this guy to be solid for us. But I just don't think that is going to happen. Take into account Honeycutt's bad coaching and couple that with Hendrickson's fluke season and it's a recipe for disaster.

Hendrickson, PLEASE prove me wrong.

[Andrew Kamenetzky]

Seriously, did Nomar pee in the entire NL West's Cheerios or something? Does he have enemies we're not aware of? How does a guy get hit 5 times in one week?

AK

[Jim]

LoLo,
We could use that 2 out base hit.

[LoLo]

AK,

Are there any incentives for HBPs in Nomar's incentive-laden contract. That would be my explanation. Mia needs new shoes, HAHA!!

[Jim]

Keep your fingers crossed.

[LoLo]

You see, Jim. Damage control. We should be up by now, but the Gnats pitching keeps inducing us into bad at-bats when they count.

2-out base hit? I'll settle for the RISP hit right about now, HAHA!

[Andrew Kamenetzky]

Lolo,

haha. That's as good a theory as any. I mean, this isn't a guy that comes off as the world's biggest smack talker. Just seems odd that he's the one that keeps getting hit.

AK

[Ms. M]

Considering the fact that I'm a mere 5'1 1/2", yes they will probably be Willow-ish...but I bet they'll be darn cute!! Our little Canadian-Mexican babies!! We are gonna take America from the North and the South!! WOOO!