Sorry no bloggy yesterday. I needed a day away from anything baseball-related. But now, I am completely refreshed and ready for action — even though Billy Witz is covering the game for us tonight. But anyway, Wilson Valdez cleared waivers and was outrighted to Las Vegas — probably a big blow to him, but a big coup for the team because they get to keep him in the organizatio, and they really like this guy. Here’s tonight’s lineup for this series opener against the Cubbies.

SS Furcal — 11gm hit streak
CF Pierre
1B Nomar
2B Kent
C Martin
LF Gonzo
3B Abreu
RF Ethier
RH Lowe — 200th career start

Also, a hearty congrats to the legendary Stu Nahan, who got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today. Ran into Stu getting on the elevator at Angel Stadium last weekend, and it was great to hear that he is healthy and feeling good. I’ll never forget one night during the 2004 season, when he was still traveling with the Dodgers, and Gary Miereanu and Tom Boman and I sat up until, like, 4 in the morning in the bar at the Westin Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta (the bar had long since closed) listening to Stu tell stories. This guy is one of the greatest storytellers who ever lived, and I have seldom laughed so hard in my life. Good times.