< Back to front page Text size – +

AT THE NLCS

Print | Comments () Posted by Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff October 16, 2009 04:18 PM

Tweet
E-mail

LOS ANGELES -- It's 93 degrees here which is just swell, I'm sure, for Pedro Martinez, who got the Game 2 start. Martinez had an easy 1-2-3 inning in the first, inducing two infield pop ups. He's got good movement oin his pitches. Martinez has not appeared in a postseason game since Game 3 of the 2004 World Series. Vicente Padilla also retired the Phillies in the first.

Good to see old friend Bobby Schaefer, who spent many years in the Sox organization. He's Joe Torre's bench coach and a terrific veteran mind to have in that position. Schaefer really knows the game and situations. He's seen a lot of baseball in his day.

Late-arriving crowd here at Dodgers Stadium, truly one of the loudest arenas in sports.

Until someone else is named president/CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays, I still suspect Pat Gillick is a candidate. Gillick is here with the Phillies. He gave up the GM job last year to be a special adviser to the team. Toronto CEO Paul Beeston has been trying to get him to be the new prez for some time but Gillick has resisted.

Dodger utilityman Mark Loretta is still one of the best people in the game. Ditto backup catcher Brad Ausmus, who will likely become a successful big league manager.

A lot of baseball people here would be disappointed if Takashi Saito re-signed with the Red Sox because teams believe they can offer him a bigger role. But Saito likes it in Boston even if he won't make the $6 million option the Sox won't pick up. Saito, who earned $4.5 million in incentives which secured his 2010 option at $6 million, is currently on outright waivers and should clear because nobody will pay him $6 million. Once he clears Boston will likely re-sign him to a lower amount -- maybe half that.