Luis Gonzalez wants to hang around

Luis Gonzalez said something that really peaked my interest .

Luis Gonzalez, the 40-year-old veteran, has started 12 consecutive games in left field because of Josh Willingham's stiff back, and he has responded by hitting .364. He has hit safely in nine of the 12 games.

"It is a matter of repetitions," Gonzalez said. "I've been able to get my rhythm and maintain it better this way than coming off the bench. I hope this stretch will make it easier when Hammer is ready to go again."

Gonzalez had two hits in 12 at-bats with a homer and two RBI as a pinch hitter, a new role for him.

"I had too many strikeouts [six]," Gonzalez said. "I want these people to know they got what they wanted with me. I want to be valuable enough to them that I don't become a bargaining chip later in the season when teams are looking for veteran hitter."

The role of being a pinch hitter is probably one of the hardest to adapt to in all of baseball.  You sit on the bench maybe game after game and then you finally get your chance at the plate.  You come in cold and if you're lucky you may see one good pitch to hit.  Veterans are better at adjusting to pinch hitting, though not all can.  But I'm pretty sure Gonzo can but given the way the injuries are going and how well he is hitting, he may only see limited time in the pinch hitting role.

Which brings up the question again: Why in the world are Brett Carroll and Robert Andino being used as solely pinch hitters?  Shouldn't they be playing everyday somewhere?  The kids are starters -- they are not bench players.  I hope they aren't being evaluated by their performance off the bench batting once every four days as to whether they could be major league players -- because that wouldn't be fair.