ARTFUL PICKING:

RHODES BLASTS 'SCAB' LIDLE (GEORGE KING, August 1, 2006, NY Post)

In a conference call with New York media yesterday, Lidle said, "Unfortunately over the last few years I haven't had a clubhouse that expected to win with me.

"We would go to the field on the days I was pitching and it was almost a coin flip as to knowing if the guys behind me were going to be there."

That put a charge in [Arthur] Rhodes' blood.

"He is a scab," Rhodes said of Lidle, who according to Rhodes was a replacement player during the 1995 spring training lockout with the Brewers. "When he started, he would go 51/3 innings and (the bullpen) would have to win the game for him. The only thing Cory Lidle wants to do is fly around in his airplane and gamble.

"He doesn't have a work ethic. After every start, he didn't run or lift weights. He would sit in the clubhouse and eat ice cream."