I am personally relieved the game is over, after seeing five hit batters.”
— Vin Scully

Dodgers Juan Uribe and Clayton Kershaw, left, are after the head of D'backs pitcher Ian Kennedy, right, who had just beaned Dodger pitcher Zach Greinke, the fourth hit batter of the game, so far.

Juan Uribe, Ronald Belisario and Clayton Kershaw, left, are after the head of D’backs pitcher Ian Kennedy, right, who had just beaned pitcher Zach Greinke, the fourth hit batter of the game.

I’m pretty sure a lot of people feel exactly the opposite of the way Vin feels. And I admit, it was good to see some fire in the bellies of people like Ronald Belisario and Josh Beckett. I never thought Belisario cared that much about his team or his teammates, but he was out there kickin’ ass and callin’ names during the seventh-inning skirmish.

Now, let me just say that Ian Kennedy is someone I know a little. I played Blackjack with him at a Puerto Rican casino, and Steve has caught waves with him, both in the Caribbean and the Pacific. I would like to think he wasn’t trying to hurt anybody; he works for Kirk Gibson, so some quid pro quo plunking is expected of him. But then Vin Scully said Ian had the most hit-batters of any National League pitcher last year. That bothers me some.

I abhor violence, I cringe when I see people hurt in any way. My sensitivity is apparently part of my nature, because I’ve been this way since I was a kid. But after I became a mother in 1986, it became ridiculous. I can’t help thinking that every person (even a bad guy) is somebody’s child. It’s very difficult for me to watch any movie or TV show without shutting my eyes for a great deal of it. And I know hitting a guy with a baseball is a long way from shooting him with a rifle, but a baseball going 92 mph can be as lethal as a bullet if it hits somebody in the right (or wrong) place.

I’m hoping, as I’m sure Vin Scully is, that this violent feuding doesn’t carry over to tonight. Baseball is a game of strategy and wit. It’s an intelligent game that can be beautiful in its simplicity. It’s not a game where brutality is an asset. Leave that to football and hockey.

Kenley Jansen has been named Dodger closer, replacing the disastrous Brandon League.

Kenley Jansen has been named Dodger closer.

Closing time

Finally, maybe we have a guy who can close a game. Manager Don Mattingly named Kenley Jansen the new Dodgers closer, replacing the disastrous Brandon League.

Ten pitches, three outs, Dodger victory. Way to go, Kenley.