Hong-Chih Kuo placed on DL, leaving Dodgers without lefty reliever; Ramon Troncoso called up
The good news is Hong-Chih Kuo’s four-time-operated-on elbow is feeling swell. The bad news is his back is a major pain.
Enough pain that on Saturday the Dodgers placed Kuo on the 15-day disabled list with left lower back strain and called up right-hander Ramon Troncoso.
Which means now they have zero left-handers in the bullpen.
Kuo has pitched only 2 2/3 innings in four games this season, but he hasn’t looked like the left-hander who was absolutely dominant last season, became an All-Star, and by mid-August, the team’s closer. His 1.20 ERA was the lowest in Dodgers history among pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched.
This year he had a 3.38 ERA, with four walks and four strikeouts.
Troncoso suffered a disappointing 2010 season (2-3, 4.33). In seven innings and three games at triple-A Albuquerque, Troncoso was 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA, six strikeouts and one walk.
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--Steve Dilbeck
Photo: Dodgers reliever Hong-Chih Kuo delivers a pitch against the Giants earlier this month at Dodger Stadium. Credit: Katie Falkenberg / For The Times
It's hard to believe they don't have a left handed closer that they can bring up. This stuff is leaning on the ridiculous.
Posted by: OldBrooklynFan | 04/16/2011 at 05:09 PM
I meant a left handed reliever, not closer.
Posted by: OldBrooklynFan | 04/16/2011 at 05:10 PM
My crack- wait, poor choice words - 'astute' sense of premonition affirmed. I'd blogged earlier about my suspicion that an injury was the raison for his underuse.
"The good news is Hong-Chih Kuo’s four-time-operated-on elbow is feeling swell."
- an unfortunate use of verbiage - swell (chances are it WILL BE 'swelled' in due time, way dudgers inevitable season be imploding.)
"The bad news is his back is a major pain."
- the worse news yet another not ready for prime time AAA pitcher will leave the relative purgatory Albuquerque for the Avici lost anegeles dudgers...
Posted by: 16blows | 04/16/2011 at 06:09 PM
No matter what you meant, OBF, agreed. Ridiculous, unprepared organization.
Posted by: FormerLifelongDodgerFan | 04/16/2011 at 07:30 PM
Does this surprise anyone?
Posted by: McCourt blows | 04/17/2011 at 05:09 AM
As predicted. But would Ned sign one of the lefties in camp? No.
Please don't go to the games. The3 only way to drive Ned out is to drive Frank under.
Posted by: Native Angeleno | 04/17/2011 at 07:21 AM