[新聞] Future for Dodgers' Kuo still uncertain

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Future for Dodgers' Kuo still uncertain

Oft-injured reliever hopes to regain arm strength, command


By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com

06/01/09 10:35 PM ET

LOS ANGELES -- Last year, to the utter shock of anybody who has seen an MRI
of his left elbow, Hong-Chih Kuo stayed healthy enough to finally showcase
that star-crossed arm, winning MLB.com's Setup Man of the Year Award.

The 42 appearances and 80 innings, however, took their toll. In mid-September
he was shut down, missing the first round of playoffs. He was activated for
the National League Championship Series and pitched three innings.

Despite being babied this Spring Training and making the Opening Day roster,
Kuo suffered through a shaky April (6.75 ERA with four walks in 5 1/3
innings), was placed on the disabled list retroactive to April 30 and he's
still there with no sign of a return. His loss has been mitigated by the
unexpected emergence of Ramon Troncoso and rookie Ronald Belisario, although
one can only imagine how good the Dodgers' bullpen would be with a healthy
Kuo.

When, or if, that will happen again remains a big unknown. Manager Joe Torre
said Kuo has been unable to find one consistent release point, and changing
release points results in no command. Torre said Kuo changes release points
to compensate for discomfort. As Kuo told Torre: "There's always something
there."

What the discomfort does to Kuo isn't pretty, as Kuo showed when he tried to
warm up to enter a game May 1. He made 15 warmup throws, only four of which
were catchable by Brad Ausmus. Two cleared the top of the bullpen gate and
rolled onto the field during the game. Kuo yielded the bullpen mound to Will
Ohman and the next day was placed on the disabled list.

Kuo said nobody's mentioned a fifth elbow operation to cure his problems, and
they shouldn't waste their time if he needs one.

"I'm not having another operation," he said, meaning he'll retire before
going through another year-long recovery.

For now, said Kuo, he's hoping an ongoing rehab program restores arm strength
so he can find that release point and regain his command.

"I can play catch," he said. "It's a little tender. It just needs time to get
stronger."

Kuo, who had to be talked out of quitting when he underwent a second Tommy
John elbow-ligament replacement surgery in 200?, said he hasn't given up.

"Not yet," he said.

But he has no idea when he can get back on a mound or throw a bullpen session
or a Minor League rehab assignment. Returning to the Major Leagues is still
off in the distance.

"I'm not getting down," he said. "I think I'll be able to pitch again."


http://0rz.tw/TB2YW

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◆ From: 124.10.36.24
推 Terrill:希望早日復原..
推 Minamii:"I'm not getting down"!!! 小小郭加油 你一定可以的
推 t2007:一直很好奇KUO的傷痛史到底跟隊醫有沒有關係阿...
推 wtgcarot:推樓上 根據轉到其他隊的球員表示 道奇隊醫很有問題
→ wtgcarot:Jayson Werth 有在報導提過
→ skittles:如果真的隊醫有問題  那Schmidt搞不好也是受害者之一
→ wpd:Tsao也講過 科科...
→ wtgcarot:所以一直很希望KUO轉隊阿 一直沒機會
推 zizek:說真的，這篇文章我看的快哭了，kuo的棒球路怎麼這麼坎砢..
推 Azraelx:希望郭能健康
推 yangmilk:Oh NO~~~~~~~~~~