推 Eric30:左投優勢顯現~ 04/18 12:52
http://0rz.tw/823Y4
Loaiza ready in relief(04/16/2008 11:13 PM ET)
After most of career spent as starter, righty OK with 'pen role
By Mike Scarr / MLB.com
LOS ANGELES -- Esteban Loaiza has spent most of his big league career as a
pitcher in a starting rotation but currently he's being asked to contribute
from the bullpen.
In 14 seasons, Loaiza has appeared in 370 games and started 331. Prior to
this year, the veteran right-hander hadn't pitched in relief since 2004 with
the Yankees, when incidentally his manager, like now, was Joe Torre.
Loaiza makes no secret he'd rather start than relieve but realizes he must
perform when called -- no matter the role.
"I just have to concentrate on being ready every day until they tell me
something. It's their decision. It's [Torre's] decision. We'll see what
happens," Loaiza said. "I wasn't upset. I was never upset. I just have to be
ready."
Loaiza is 1-2 this season with a 4.63 ERA in three appearances that include
one start. That was in his second outing of the year April 7 in Arizona,
where he allowed four runs in four innings to take the loss.
Hong-Chih Kuo was given the ball to start Tuesday's game against the Pirates
in place of Loaiza but was pulled after four innings and 75 pitches. That
opened the door for Loaiza, who came on to allow a run in five innings of
relief in the Dodgers' 11-2 victory.
The Dodgers will hold off on the decision to name Kuo or Loaiza the starter
in the slot that does not come up again until next Tuesday in Cincinnati.
Torre said Kuo's performance, which included three walks and 10 straight
balls at one point, will not rule him out.
"I didn't see him one time, even though he was wild, I didn't see him try to
guide the ball over the plate. His velocity stayed about the same," Torre
said of Kuo. "With a left-hander in your rotation it gives you some balance,
more balance anyway. We haven't said for sure what we're going to do."
Loaiza, who appeared on track to be the fifth starter coming out of Spring
Training, won't fight the situation and agreed that his most recent outing
was a bit of an audition.
"[Torre] had me in the bullpen in '04 in the playoffs. I think that was the
last time I was in the bullpen until now. There is still a lot of season
left. I know he wants to see people perform. He knows what I am capable of
doing in situations," Loaiza said.
"I just have to be ready if I'm in the bullpen and go from there just like
Chan Ho Park is doing now and Kuo, who got the opportunity last night. We
both finished the game. We ended up winning which was the most important
thing and now we just have to wait to see what he says next."
Derek Lowe will start in Atlanta on Friday, when the Dodgers open a
three-game series there. He will be followed by Chad Billingsley and Hiroki
Kuroda with Brad Penny scheduled to start Monday in Cincinnati.
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 140.115.218.146
※ 編輯: ONISUKA 來自: 140.115.218.146 (04/18 12:51)