[PilotMan]

June 1993


So many injuries this month. This team has never had to endure a stretch like this in the 10+ years we've been following them. This season has been horrible and it's not like there's a plethora of talent to carry the load either. We're talking, guys who a filling a role, getting hurt, and guys who shouldn't be filling a role stepping in, or in some cases, getting hurt too.


We've seen the long injuries to talented guys like Grahe, Cleto, DelRosario, and Lindsey, but then again, these guys have had long, recent histories of injury problems so they shouldn't be surprising either. This month we added shoulder surgery for 38-yr old, journeyman reliever, Bobby Castillo (15g, 4.58 ERA), and even more recently, closer Bob Patterson (3-4, 11S, 7.23 ERA) for a month too. Those losses have lead to guys like 26yr old, former first rounder in 1987, Jerry Spradlin, 31yr old, career minor leaguer, Mike Hartley, who hadn't made a major league roster in 9 years, and last pitched more than one inning at the major league level back in his rookie year of '82 with the Cardinals, to get the call. Other guys like Tom Bolton, Tony McKinney, and Scott Baker to take more turns, when they likely would have been bypassed. Recently, Rickey left the game after a collision at first base. The National League's leading base stealer, and Dodger's only real hope to make an All Star game based on stats looked to be lost. Henderson had a small tear in his shoulder, and is gone until after the break now. Geronimo Pena was lost with an abdominal strain, that moves Buechele to second and not one week into his replacement gig, Scott Coolbaugh strained a hammy and he was off to the DL. LA has tried 3 different guys over there since; Dave Hansen (who was sent down eventually), Jose Oliva (who they tried to get rid of), and now are going with 21yr old prospect, and former 4^th round pick, Shane Andrews, who was called up from AA to make his major league debut. I mean, at least he was hitting .303 with 11 HR's in San Antonio.


Speaking of injuries in the world. Tom Henke at 35, announced his retirement from baseball after damage and swelling in his shoulder wouldn't allow him to throw a baseball any longer. Henke had been the 12^th pick of the expansion Colorado Rockies, but never threw a pitch for them. An All Star in '88 and Rolaids Reliever of the Year the same year, he was best known as the closer for the Pirates and Astros. Helping the Astros win the title in '91. He posted 230 career saves, in 600 games with a career ERA of 3.29.


With 10 days left in the month relievers Tony McKinney and Jerry Spradlin were both designated and placed on waivers. Getting the call up is #8 Dodgers prospect Ismael Valdez, who at 19, was only recently promoted to AAA. Also getting called up is #18 prospect Terrell Berthau, who also started the season in AA. Both men saw action on their call up day in an 11-0 blowout loss to the Astros. They combined for 5.1 innings, 7 hits allowed, 4 ER, 6 K's. Valdez will never, ever live down giving up his first HR of his career. The batter? El Presidente, Dennis Martinez, who at 38, had never hit one in over 385 at bats, and has a career SLG of .186.


Berthau was then optioned the next day and Ron Blazier was given his 3^rd call to the club. At 21, Blazier has never pitched below AAA. He's posted a career 2.95 ERA in 21 innings with 16 K's and a 1.03 WHIP. He was an 8^th round pick by the club in 1990. At Albuquerque this season, he's 5-1 with a 3.13 ERA in 11 starts.


And it is McKinney that is claimed as he heads to division rival San Francisco Giants. Spradlin heads to Albuquerque. Blazier threw a scoreless inning in an Astros game and was designated and placed on waivers for another new arm. This time for Shigeki Taguchi. Taguchi (23), a southpaw, is considered a decent prospect, in the kind of player to be named later kind of way. He was closing at AA San Antonio with 6 saves, and a 1.56 WHIP. He throws a low to mid 90's fastball and a curve.


We'll have the team update at the All Star break in about 10 days.