Press Box Prattle by Stephen Dorman

The last thing this world needs is another countdown list.

Be it the 100 Greatest OneHit Wonders, 50 Most Awesome Hair Bands or 25 Worst NBA Draft Picks of AllTime, I simply can't take these lists anymore, and you shouldn't be subjected to them either, at least not in this column.

So, unfortunately, when I first started thinking about all of the reasons to promote going to see the Dodgers-Padres series this weekend at Chavez Ravine, the first thought that popped into my head was creating a top 10 list for our readers to enjoy.

Thankfully, I've scrapped that idea.

Instead I'll be identifying- in no particular order- six reasons why you need to find time to get down to L.A. to watch one of these games in person. These six topics will be dedicated to former Dodger and Padre first baseman Steve Garvey, who, of course, wore No. 6 during his playing career.

According to the website www.stevegarvey.com, Garvey, nicknamed the Senator, now spends his days as a motivational speaker and professional product endorser. Call (888) 550-6672 to retain his services. He remains a four-time Gold Glove winner.

Reason No. 1:

Penny vs. Peavy

Saturday night's scheduled pitching matchup is a doozy.

Los Angeles will send Brad Penny to the mound opposite San Diego's Jake Peavy. Without a doubt, these two studs have been the best pitchers in the National League this season, and one of them will certainly start next month's MLB All-Star Game in San Francisco.

Penny is 10-1 with a 2.04 ERA. Peavy is 9-2 with a 2.14 ERA.

Peavy, 26, tends to get a little too emotional when pitching in big games, and his aggression has hurt him in the past.

In two postseason starts, he's 0-2 with a 12.10 ERA. During last Sunday's much-ballyhooed matchup against Boston's Josh Beckett, Peavy allowed three earned runs and nine hits in five innings. When he's on, though, he can be dynamite, as evidenced by his NL-leading 113 strikeouts.

Los Angeles is 14-2 overall when Penny has started a game this season. The Dodgers are in good hands.

Reason No. 2:

Nomar goes to third

Looking at him now, I have a difficult time remembering Nomar Garciaparra as a shortstop with the Red Sox. I guess all the injuries have taken a toll on Mia Hamm's husband.

After a move to first base the past few years, he'll be back on the left side of the diamond against the Padres, this time as a starting third baseman. James Loney is now at first base in an attempt to jumpstart the mediocre Dodger offense.

I see the move helping L.A. a little bit, but they still have no power at third base, and that's a problem. Garciaparra has a grand total of one home run this year. The Dodgers need Troy Glaus from Toronto in a bad way.

Reason No 3:

Star gazing

You never know who's going to show up at a game in L.A., but one thing's for certain, when the Padres are in town, so is Jeff Spicoli . . . aka Sean Penn . . . aka Khalil Greene.

Greene, the Padres shortstop, is silky-smooth with the leather, making the "impossible play" on a regular basis. With his long blond locks, though, Greene's also a dead ringer for the "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" character created by Penn- sans the bagel jammed down the front of his pants, of course.

Reason No. 4: Monitor

your fantasy team live

If you've made it this far in the article, chances are you probably own a fantasy baseball team. I can't think of a better way to monitor your players' moves than to be there in person to root them along.

So what if the guy sitting next to you wonders why you're cheering for both Chad Billingsley and Justin Germano on Sunday afternoon? You've got both guys going on your roto team, and winning that battle often takes precedence over everything else in life.

Reason No. 5:

Revenge

The last time the Padres and Dodgers played, San Diego swept L.A. The Padres capped the threegame series at Petco Park with a five-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning off of Dodger relief pitcher Jonathan Broxton.

Los Angeles has since caught the Padres in the NL West standings, but the bitter taste from the teams' last meeting surely lingers.

Reason No. 6:

The weather

It might be miserable in other parts of the country, but in L.A. the weather should be perfect this weekend. Show up to the stadium in a T-shirt and sandals and you'll be more than comfortable- provided some random dude doesn't smash your toes in the hot dog line.

So what are you waiting for? Go get a few tickets, and enjoy this weekend's matchup.