DODGERS NOTEBOOK: PEREZ HIT HARD IN REHAB START.Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer PHOENIX - The clock is ticking on Carlos Perez and it's now to the point where the club might release him in early May but still have to pay the $7.5 million he's guaranteed. The grand plan was to send the puzzling lefty on a rehab assignment, have him pitch moderately well and then trade him or activate him and use him out of the bullpen. Perez's chance of rejoining the Dodgers was bleak given their deep bullpen and starting rotation, and it's taken a turn for the worse. Perez was hit hard, allowing six runs in five innings Tuesday for Triple-A Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. against Portland. In two rehab starts, Perez has allowed nine earned runs in nine innings. A rehab assignment can last 30 days, meaning the Dodgers must make a decision on Perez's future by May 5. He's 7-18 with a 6.28 ERA in the past two seasons with the Dodgers. ``We have a pretty good pitching staff here right now, and we just sent one pretty good pitcher (Luke Prokopec Kenneth Luke Prokopec (Born February 23, 1978) is an Australian-born, right-handed pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays. ) out,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy
General manager Kevin Malone
Kevin Malone is a fictional character from the US television series, The Office. He is played by Brian Baumgartner. was unavailable for comment. Pitching coach Jim Colborn
Perez's velocity remains in the mid-80 mph range despite having better arm extension because of shoulder surgery in September. Tracy was asked if it's possible Perez, at age 30, has lost his ability to be a successful pitcher. ``I think between now and that point in time (May 5) we have to make a decision,'' Tracy said. ``What are we talking, four or five starts?'' The Dodgers also are exploring every opportunity to trade Perez, but his hefty contract and the fact that a decision must be made by May 5 works against them. --Needing a lefty: Rookie lefty Jose Nunez's first week in the big leagues was awful. He allowed three homers and five runs in his first three games. That doesn't bode well for Nunez's development as the situational lefty in the bullpen, a role the Dodgers want the 22-year-old to grow into in the second half of the season. ``I am upset about how it's started,'' Colborn said. ``It worries me because I never expected him to have three outings and give up two-run homers in (two) of them.'' Colborn said Nunez makes more mistakes than most major-league pitchers, but he hoped Nunez would learn from those mistakes quicker than the hitters. That hasn't been the case. Nunez's ERA is 11.25, which could mean a change in philosophy. Colborn added he'll have Nunez throw bullpen sessions before games in which the Dodgers know they won't use him in an attempt to make his delivery more consistent. It's a luxury the Dodgers have because of the effectiveness right- handers Matt Herges Matthew Tyler Herges (born April 1, 1970, in Champaign, Illinois) is a Major League Baseball pitcher. He is an alumnus of Illinois State University. Signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1992, Herges would make his Major League Baseball debut with , Terry Adams
At Mary G. Montgomery High School he went 12-2 with a 1. and Mike Fetters Michael Lee Fetters (born December 19, 1964 in Van Nuys, California) is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played for eight teams during his sixteen year career from 1989 to 2004. have against left- handers. Lefties are batting .125 (8 for 24) against the trio and .417 (5 for 12) with two homers and three RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in against Nunez. ``That's why we're not in a panic to send (Nunez) out,'' Colborn said. ``That's why I feel like I have the freedom to work with him on the side before the games. If we didn't have those guys, we might be looking at it a different way.'' --Odds and ends: When Pittsburgh finally signed former right-hander Ramon Martinez Ramon Martinez is the name of several people:
Gary Antonian Sheffield (born November 18, 1968 in Tampa, Florida) is a Major League Baseball designated hitter and outfielder for the Detroit Tigers. and Eric Karros DODGERS vs. ARIZONA Time: 6:35 p.m., at Bank One Ballpark TV/Radio: Ch. 5; 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish) Matchup: Right-hander Andy Ashby (1-0, 5.40 ERA) will try to follow up his successful Dodgers debut by winning in Arizona for the first time in his career. Ashby is 0-4 with 7.43 ERA in four games at Bank One Ballpark. Last season Ashby was 0-3 with an 11.48 ERA against the Diamondbacks. Right-hander Armando Reynoso (0-1, 14.54) starts for Arizona after getting pummeled by St. Louis in his first start. He lasted 4 1/3 innings. - Brian Dohn CAPTION(S): box Box: DODGERS vs. ARIZONA (see text) |
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