Notes: Seo settles into rhythm
03/23/2006VERO BEACH, Fla. -- The Dodgers experienced a little of the downside of the World Baseball Classic on Thursday.
Jae Seo, who just returned from almost a month representing Korea, spent the first two innings of his Dodgers debut struggling to develop some rapport with rookie catcher Russell Martin, who is expected to make the Opening Day roster in place of the injured Dioner Navarro.
It was the first time Martin had caught Seo, something that would have happened earlier in a normal spring. Seo allowed three runs in those two innings before the pair settled into a pitch-calling and pitch-throwing rhythm over three scoreless innings.
"That's mostly from operating with a strange catcher," said manager Grady Little. "You see what it takes to get on the same page. I think we saw the beginning of that today. When a guy's got an assortment of pitches, they've got to learn each other."
Seo was acquired from the Mets to be the fifth starter. Because of an off-day the first week, he will open the season in the bullpen and be inserted into the rotation the second week in Pittsburgh.
"I definitely was concerned about not being here with a new team and new coaching staff, being gone for a month with no communication with the manager," Seo said through an interpreter. "The catchers don't know my style of pitching or what I like to throw. I need to learn how [Martin] calls a game. The second half today, I went with my style."
Seo's style is heavy on finesse. He changes speeds, varies location and pitches, rather than throws. But, Seo said he should have made a quicker adjustment away from the off-speed pitches he relied on against Mexico and Japan to more fastballs for Major League hitters.
"The second time through the lineup went a little smoother," said Martin. "He was locating his fastball on both sides, and I started to figure out the way he likes to throw. It took a couple of innings. Pitchers like him, they throw anything in any count. Where you set up is really important. The first time you catch any pitcher is always tough. It's just the process."
Navarro responds: The catcher was disappointed after hearing that he is expected to start the season on the disabled list because of a hamstring strain. April 12 would be his likely return date.
"That's their decision," Navarro said. "I know they want the best for me. I feel pretty good now. Stuff happens. It's nobody's fault; I just got hurt. I thought it would be longer to feel the way I feel now. I'm kind of disappointed I got hurt this late."
Relievers rebound: Eric Gagne, Yhency Brazoban and Hong-Chih Kuo all said they felt good the day after pitching against the Mets.
Gagne said he was hopeful he would be up to pitching Friday after one day of rest for the first time since elbow surgery. Brazoban, slowed by a sore shoulder earlier in the spring, said he felt very good for the day after. Kuo, whose history includes two Tommy John elbow reconstructions, had no problems after being the first Dodger to pitch in back-to-back games this spring and is making a strong bid for a staff job.
Ross returns: Cody Ross, who has broken eight bones playing baseball, thought he had No. 9 after getting hit by an Aaron Heilman fastball Wednesday night. So did the doctor.
"The first X-ray, the doctor said, 'It's broken,' and he showed me the X-ray," said Ross. "I told him that was an old injury, and they took another X-ray. It's fine now, just a little sore and swollen. I'll play tomorrow."
Ross pinch-ran in Thursday's game. Last spring, Ross' chances of making the team were compromised when he suffered a bad gash in a plate collision with Baltimore catcher Geronimo Gil. Ross also has broken bones in his hand, leg and toe and had a torn patella tendon.
Ross, a long shot for a roster spot, is out of options and cannot be sent to the Minor Leagues without clearing waivers.
Houlton impressive: D.J. Houlton, contending for a long relief role, followed a tutorial by Sandy Koufax two days earlier with two perfect innings Thursday against the Cardinals.
Roster moves: The Dodgers optioned outfielder Andre Ethier and reassigned reliever Takashi Saito, leaving 39 players in camp.
Ethier, the Texas League player of the year acquired from Oakland in the Milton Bradley trade, hit .276 and will be sent to Triple-A Las Vegas.
"You know what I don't like about Ethier? Nothing," said Little. "He's going to be a great player."
Saito, who had a successful career in Japan, had made a strong run at a long relief job until getting hit in his two most recent starts. He will pitch out of the bullpen at Las Vegas.
"We like his stuff and we're anxious to get him back to the Major League club," said Little. "We feel he could be very useful in the bullpen later on. We liked the person, his character. He's an awfully good teammate."
Saito's demotion seems to signal a better chance that Franquelis Osoria will make the club as a long reliever, although Houlton also could fill that role.
"Vamos Dodgers:" A Spanish-language news magazine show covering the Dodgers will debut this season on KBEH-63, featuring interviews with players and executives, feature stories, fan contests and educational segments, the club announced on Thursday.
"Vamos Dodgers" is scheduled to debut on April 9 at 10 p.m. PT, and it will air 15 times throughout the 2006 season. The show will be hosted by Francisco X. Rivera, the anchor of Latino Sports TV who also pens a column for losdodgers.com, the club's full-service Spanish-language Web site that was launched this month.
Source: http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/
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