JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Here are your Players of the Day for Sunday (10/3/2010):
- In the final game of an 18-year MLB career, Los Angeles Dodgers C Brad Ausmus showed he still has it, going 2/4 in a 3-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. According to MLB.com:
(Ausmus) was saluted before the game with a video tribute from teammates current and past. In his first at-bat, he doubled down the right-field line and the dugout called for the ball. In his final at-bat, he singled, was replaced by a pinch-runner, received a standing ovation as he left the field and got a hero’s welcome in the dugout.
“The fans were extremely nice to me today for a guy who’s only been here two years in very limited duty,” said Ausmus. “And I really enjoyed today, but I’m ready, I’m ready to move on to non-playing things. It was a good feeling to know that even though I’ve never been an offensive player that you could say at least you ended your career on a high note. There’s an old saying in baseball, you’re only as good as your last at-bat. I can stick to that.”
Ausmus shared the limelight with Dodgers manager Joe Torre, who also is leaving the team.
- 2B Ian Kinsler of the Texas Rangers went 1/2 with a double in a 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. He finished an injury-shortened regular season batting .286, with 9 HRs, 20 doubles, and 45 RBIs in 391 at-bats. Kinsler had his best walk-to-strikeout ratio ever, walking 56 times while striking out 57. His on-base percentage was .382, #2 in the A.L. behind teammate Josh Hamilton. Texas’ playoff series against the Tampa Bay Rays starts Wednesday (10/6/2010).
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