Dein erstes Forum » the bat. We might have to play him maybe

SAN FRANCISCO -- Rookie Ty Blach will seek to avoid becoming the next Salomon Torres in San Francisco Giants lore when he pitches a critical game Saturday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.Torres, then a 21-year-old rookie, was called upon by Giants manager Dusty Baker to pitch the final game of the season in 1993 when San Francisco and the Atlanta Braves were tied for first place.The Los Angeles Dodgers bombed the youngster in 3 1/3 innings of a 12-1 thumping that relegated the Giants to second place at a time when baseball didnt have a wild-card entry into the playoffs.The Giants cant be eliminated from playoff contention Saturday, but itll be up to Blach to help the team retain its one-game edge over the St. Louis Cardinals for the last playoff spot in the National League.The Giants (85-75) will begin the day one game behind the New York Mets (86-74), who currently reside in the top wild-card position. The Cardinals (84-76) need a win Saturday and a Giants loss to forge a tie entering the final day of the regular season.Blach did not respond well to his first major-league start under playoff-race pressure last Sunday in San Diego, allowing two runs, four hits and three walks in three innings in a 4-3 loss.The 25-year-old did shut out the Dodgers in a previous three-inning relief stint, but that was after LA had built a 9-3 lead and was coasting.Giants manager Bruce Bochy has faith in his second-time starter, who got the nod over more experienced right-hander Albert Suarez.I have a lot of confidence in Ty, the veteran skipper said. Hell handle this just fine. Hes a tough competitor.Blach will be up against Dodgers ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw, who will be making his final playoff prep.Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pulled his No. 2 starter, Rich Hill, after five innings Friday night, then watched the Giants rally from a 3-2 deficit to win 9-3.Kershaw is attempting to work his way back into top form after having missed 10 weeks with a back injury.The standout has progressed from three innings to five, six and seven in his four starts since returning from the injury on Sept 9. The six-inning start came Sept. 19 against the Giants, a game the Dodgers won 2-1.Kershaw didnt get the win in that game, but nonetheless has posted an 18-7 record and 1.58 ERA in 34 career starts against the Giants.He will have five days off before starting Game 1 of the series against the Nationals.Roberts believes the Dodgers, who clinched the NL West last weekend, are benefiting from playing the Giants on the eve of the postseason.Thats a very good ballclub, he said. They fight, they compete and theyve won. Theyre fighting for their lives over there, so its good for our guys to play a team like that, especially in this environment. Nemanja Bjelica Kings Jersey . But when it comes to determining if Raymond will find a place on the Leafs roster when training camp concludes in a week, well, that decision will ultimately fall to the head coach. Custom Sacramento Kings Jerseys . Sulaiman, 44, was chosen unanimously Tuesday in a vote by the leadership, the World Boxing Council said. 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CHICAGO -- Playing left in Wrigley Field isnt easy under normal circumstances.Carlos Santana is about to find out what its like -- in Game 3 of the World Series with the wind blowing out to Waveland Avenue, millions watching on TV and Chicago Cubs fans breathing down his neck.Go get em, kid.Unable to use Santana as his designated hitter with the World Series switching to the fabled National League ballpark for the next three games, Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona has moved his DH into left field.Its risky, but Francona feels its the right choice for his club. Santana has played only four innings in left during his career, and that was in 2012 during a 14-1 loss.The manager discussed the move Thursday night before Game 3 lineups were released on Friday afternoon.I have anxiety about it, Francona said as he sat on the brick wall near Clevelands dugout Thursday night. I dont know how else to say it, and if he messes a ball up, Ill take responsibility because I dont think its fair to put it on him. But you try to figure out, OK, whats our best way to win? If we dont play him out there, thats the best way to have nobody second-guessing me.Santana took some fly balls during Clevelands workout, with bench coach Brad Mills standing nearby and offering him tips on tracking balls into the gap and chasing grounders into the corner, where Santana will have to deal with the iconic ivy thats fading fast with winter approaching.Francona said there was only one thing that would stop him from making the switch.If he just cant do it. If he looks at me and says, I dont want to do this or something like that, he said.The Indians could also play Coco Crisp or Brandon Guyer in left, but they dont hit like Santana. He hit 34 hommers and drove in 87 runs during the regular season, and although hes hitless in six at-bats in the Series and batting just .dddddddddddd179 in the postseason, Francona is confident the switch-hitter will warm up.Hes a really good hitter, Francona said, adding he has spoken to Game 3 pitcher?Josh Tomlin about playing Santana in left. You cant run away from your guys at this time of year. If guys go oh-for the first two games and you sit them, theyll never do well.A former catcher, Santana has also played first and third and the Indians are certain he has the athleticism to handle left. But theres no way of knowing how hell do until they put him out there.Hes quick enough, Mills said. And he can move enough. Weve talked to him about seeing balls off the bat. We might have to play him maybe a little deeper or something along those lines, just to have him come in so reading the ball, he has more time to read the ball that way. Those things. When you havent been out there, keeping that focus on there a lot of times is tough, but at least hes got the wall behind him.Wearing a stocking cap as he sat in the warmth of the Indians dugout on a chilly evening, Santana said hes ready for his new assignment.Ill be fine, he said. Tito, he told me dont put on any pressure, play your game, play hard, stay focused and concentrate, and thats it.The Indians dont have many other options, and first baseman Mike Napoli quickly removed himself from consideration despite playing 11 games in the outfield for Texas.It was a circus last year with me out there, he said, so I wouldnt go out there in this situation. ' ' '