Gary Matthews injured - Gene Autry is smiling...

Matthews has a slight tear in his ACL and is out indefinitely.  I couldn't be happier.  This will force Scioscia to keep Matthews on the pine and insert Rivera or Willits into the lineup on a daily basis for a while.  

Rivera had already supplanted Matthews, and put up great numbers in July - with an OBP of .455 and a SLG of .704.  But, this will make the move a little less likely to dissolve after a couple of bad games from Rivera or a sudden return to ignorant deference to veterans by Scioscia.  It is his most glaring weakness as a manager.

Anyway, I don't love rooting for injury, but as injuries go, this is a net positive for the team on the offensive side of the equation.