Game 106: Sean Burnett at Jeff Weaver

It's a day game (3:10 EST) after a night game so expect a player or two to rest. Just a guess, but I'd expect something like Simon at first, Bay in left, and Mack in right with Craig Wilson sitting. Wilson has been flat-out not hitting since the All-Star break and he's looking pretty tired and clueless at the plate. We could say the same thing for Randall Simon, but ...

I'm also looking to see if Bobby Hill will start again at second. The knock on him in the Hill vs. Castillo competition has been his defense, but Castillo has not looked too sharp to me lately and Hill was fantastic last night. As Bob Dvorchak summarizes in his recap of last night's game:

The Dodgers could have tacked on a couple of more runs if not for Hill.

With Steve Finley aboard on a double in the first, Milton Bradley hit grounder to the right side that went for a single, but Hill kept it from going into right field and that held the runner at third.

In the third, Hill ranged to his left to knock down a grounder by Shawn Green and get an out at first. The Dodgers had a runner on third at the time.

Hill also made a stop on a ball hit by Brent Mayne to start an inning-ending double play in the fourth. He had to backhand the ball to Jack Wilson from his knee to get the out at second.

Hill's offense has been superior to Castillo's all season. With the offense struggling and Hill playing great defense lately, I don't know how McClendon would justify not starting him. Castillo needs a breather, I think, and Moses better take a look at the standings if he thinks there's no urgency to field the best possible team this afternoon. I don't admire but can understand the team's decision to go with Castillo most of the year since he's the younger and higher-upside player. At this point in the season, however, I think he needs to ride the pine while the hotter bat and hotter glove plays second. We needs some wins and we need them right now.

Jeff Weaver is a tall righty with a low 90s fastball, a hard slider, and a two-seamer. Throughout his career, he has shown some weakness against left-handers, so that's all the more reason to expect Mac to find matchups and start most of Noonie, Hill, Mackowiak, Redman, and Simon. Maybe Wigginton will get a game a first with Noonie at third, Hill at second, and Mackowiak in right. Why not?

...3:30pm Mac starts all five of the lefties and switch-hitters. Craiggers and Wigginton get a rest.

The Bucs delivered a run in the run in the first. But so much for Sean Burnett's ability to keep the ball in the park.