Happy Father's Day, everyone ...
... and especially to my own dad, Mr. Mickey Jackson, back in Fayetteville, Ark., who so many years ago introduced me to this game that I now cover almost every day. I had actually forgotten that today was Father's Day until a very friendly stadium worker with whom I shared an elevator this morning wished me a Happy Father's Day. ... Kind of ironic that the world lost Tim Russert on Father's Day weekend, what with his having written that book Big Russ and Me about his relationship with his father. I haven't had the chance to read it, or even acquire it at this point, but it has been on my list for a while. ... Nothing new on the Dodgers so far today, and we probably won't know anything concrete on Penny until late tomorrow or possibly even Tuesday (my money's on Tuesday). My guess is he won't be DL'd until then, either, just on the very slight chance that he'll be told everything is fine and be given the go-ahead to continue pitching.
I want James McDonald to take his place in the rotation. Might as well see if he's ready for prime time.
The candidates, from what I have been told, are McDonald, Eric Stults and Jason Johnson (who isn't on the 40-man). My money's on Stults because he IS on the 40-man, has been pitching well and has big-league experience. If Penny doesn't go on the DL and misses only one start, it'll be Park.