DODGERS NOTEBOOK: ALVAREZ AWAITS SHOT TO START.Byline: Rich Hammond Rich Hammond Los Angeles Daily News sports writer. Instrumental in bringing the Los Angeles Kings hockey organization closer to the fans. He is the atypical "what a guy" to Kings fans everywhere. Rich Hammond on himself. Staff Writer Wilson Alvarez The Dodgers won't need a fifth starter again until May 1, but Jose Lima, who was bombed for seven runs (five earned) in three innings Thursday in Colorado, will get that start instead of Alvarez, who relieved Lima and pitched three scoreless innings against the Rockies. Alvarez remains indebted to the Dodgers for giving him a chance to resurrect his career in 2003 and has continually said he will pitch in whatever role the team needs, but his desire to start is apparent. ``Something I would really like to do this year is get to 100 (career) wins,'' Alvarez said. ``I need six more, so I would like to do that. There's still a lot of baseball left, and I still think I will start later on this season. I mean, there's no way we can go with the same five guys all year. ``I'm here to do whatever they want from me, but I've been a starter my whole career. I'd like to start, but I don't mind. I have a couple more years left in my arm, hopefully, so I'll get a chance.'' Lima has had only one bad start, so perhaps it's too early to draw comparisons, but the situation could parallel the one in 2003, when manager Jim Tracy
Alvarez made 12 starts and nine relief appearances in 2003, thriving in both roles. Tracy seemed willing to dismiss Lima's outing Thursday, and perhaps with good reason, since the rain and low temperature in Denver made for miserable game conditions. ``It's probably the only time he hasn't pitched well,'' Tracy said. ``To solely point the finger at Lima is unfair. Unless something changes the landscape, he will be the starter on the first of May.'' Alvarez entered Friday's game having allowed one earned run earned run n. Baseball A run scored without the aid of an error, used in computing earned run averages. Noun 1. earned run - a run that was not scored as the result of an error by the other team and nine hits in 12 innings, with two walks and 11 strikeouts. Before Thursday, Lima had allowed four runs in 9 1/3 innings. --On track: Paul Shuey Paul Kenneth Shuey (born September 16, 1970 in Lima, Ohio), is a Major League relief pitcher most recently for the Baltimore Orioles. He played most of his career for the Cleveland Indians from 1994 to 2002. He made 4 playoff appearances with the Indians. had his injured right thumb re-examined Friday, and hand specialist Dr. Norman Zemel determined that Shuey will not require surgery. Shuey will have to wear a splint splint, rigid or semiflexible device for the immobilization of displaced or fractured parts of the body. Most commonly employed for fractures of bones, a splint may be a first-aid measure that allows the patient to be moved without displacing the injured part, or it for three more weeks, and if everything proceeds as planned, Shuey could then start throwing normally. For now, he's limited in his work. ``(Zemel) told me I can't use my thumb, so I can work on my changeup change·up n. Baseball A pitch intended to look like a fastball, which actually approaches the plate at a slow speed, thereby causing the batter to swing prematurely. [Alteration of change-of-pace.] , which I don't throw,'' Shuey joked. ``I'm going to keep working, so when I'm able to start working on the thumb, I'll be ready to go.'' |
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