Playing the Angles, Tracy Benches Choi

With three rookies and several players at unfamiliar positions, the Dodger lineup had an odd look. But even stranger was the absence of Hee-Seop Choi, whose 13 home runs rank second on the team, and Antonio Perez, whose .340 batting average ranks first.

Both players have made baserunning mistakes or failed to execute fundamentals in recent games, but Manager Jim Tracy said that neither was in his doghouse. Choi normally plays against right-handers, but he was 0 for 5 against Padre starter Brian Lawrence.

“I’ve got a good idea why Hee-Seop hasn’t had success against him,” Tracy said. “It’s the repertoire of pitches he throws and his arm angles.”

Lawrence throws from a low three-quarter arm slot and doesn’t have great velocity or a sharp-breaking curve. His best pitches are a changeup and a sinking fastball.

Tracy used Choi rather than the right-handed hitting Perez as a pinch-hitter against left-handed reliever Chris Hammond with one out in the ninth. Choi struck out.

“I had to keep Perez available in case we got an infielder hurt later in the game,” Tracy said. “We wouldn’t have had anybody to go to.”

*

Second baseman Jeff Kent must have gotten an earful from the crowd one day after being ejected for arguing a call. “I’m surprised the San Diego fans are bitter,” he said. “There are good people here. This is a great place. So it did surprise me.”

*

General Manager Paul DePodesta met with Tracy after the game, but emerged without a decision on whether to shore up the bench by calling up outfielder Cody Ross from triple A and sending down a pitcher, either Franquelis Osoria or Derek Thompson. DePodesta indicated he would assess the availability of outfielder J.D. Drew before deciding whether to call up Ross. Drew, who has soreness in his left kneecap, said he would not play tonight and did not sound thrilled about being the designated hitter on Saturday or Sunday.

*

Today marks the 50th anniversary of Hall of Fame broadcaster Jaime Jarrin’s arrival in the U.S. Jarrin is from Ecuador and began broadcasting for the Dodgers in 1959. ... Dodger coach Glenn Hoffman had tests to determine why he continues to experience dizziness nine days after he was hit in the head by a line drive during batting practice.