Hiroki Kuroda News: Pro Sports Daily

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October 15

MLB.com

"Reliever Jeff Weaver was sent home from Wednesday's practice with flu-like symptoms, the third Dodgers player this week to fall ill with a bug on the eve of Thursday's National League Championship Series opener (5:07 p.m. PT on TBS) against the Phillies. Of course, there are worse places to be sent than home. Chad Billingsley, who would have started Game 4 of the NL Division Series if there had been one, has been sent to the bullpen. Jon Garland, not used in the first round as a long reliever, has been sent to baseball Siberia -- told he will be left off the roster entirely for the best-of-seven rematch with the Phils. The demotions of Billingsley and Garland are fallout from the rapid ..."

Kuroda may be back in NLCS mix

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October 13

MLB.com

"Dodgers pitcher Hiroki Kuroda worked out at Dodger Stadium on Monday, and is scheduled to fly to Arizona to pitch in a simulated game Tuesday against instructional league hitters at the club's Camelback Ranch complex. Kuroda has recovered from a herniated disk in his neck, which forced him to skip his final regular-season start and kept him off the roster for the National League Division Series against the Cardinals. A successful simulated game might put him back in the mix for one of the Dodgers' four starting slots in the NL Championship Series, which starts Thursday at home against Philadelphia."

Hiroki Kuroda will face fears head-on

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September 4

Los Angeles Times

"For days now, people have talked in amazement about Hiroki Kuroda's last pitch. The ball coming off the bat of Arizona's Rusty Ryal, shooting into the side of Kuroda's head, bouncing off his skull and back into the stands, dropping him to the dirt with a ground-rule concussion. For days now, people have talked in amazement about Hiroki Kuroda's last pitch, which sent me to Dodger Stadium on Thursday in search of something even more compelling. His next pitch. How exactly does one do that? A soft cap covering his head, memories of violent pain filling his brain, how does a pitcher resume taking giant steps within 55 feet of a man swinging a bat?"

Kuroda could start Sunday for Dodgers

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September 2

MLB.com

"Hiroki Kuroda improved his chances of returning to the Dodgers' rotation Sunday with an effective rehab start for Class A Inland Empire on Tuesday night. In his first game action since taking a line drive off the head Aug. 15, Kuroda allowed San Jose one unearned run on five hits in five innings, throwing 62 pitches. He struck out five and the only run allowed scored in the third inning on a passed ball. Kuroda has been disabled from the effects of a concussion since getting drilled off the side of the head by a Rusty Ryal line drive in Arizona. Dodgers manager Joe Torre said earlier Tuesday that Kuroda is "penciled in" as the Dodgers' starter Sunday against the Padres."

Dodgers' Hiroki Kuroda will miss his next start

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August 18

Los Angeles Times

"Hiroki Kuroda has been ruled out for his start on Thursday, Manager Joe Torre said. Kuroda underwent a battery of tests that indicated he was recovering from the line drive he took on his head on Saturday in Arizona, but was sent home early and missed his previously scheduled bullpen session. "That would all but eliminate that," Torre said of Kuroda taking his next turn in the rotation. Trainer Stan Conte said that Kuroda continues to experience headaches from time to time and that his activities will be determined on a day-by-day basis. Kuroda underwent an exam that tests brain function, and it showed he had a mild concussion. "A lot of his reaction times were normal," Conte said. "It was ..."

Kuroda to return to rotation Monday

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May 29

MLB.com

"Hiroki Kuroda will return to the Dodgers' starting rotation Monday night for the opener of a nine-game homestand, manager Joe Torre announced before Friday's game with the Cubs. Kuroda, out since an Opening Day win because of a strained left oblique muscle, cleared the final hurdle by throwing a bullpen session in Los Angeles on Friday morning. He had made two rehab starts for Class A Inland Empire, the most recent on Wednesday, when he allowed seven runs in five innings. But Torre is eager to get his warrior back in the rotation. "If he's fine," Torre said, "he'll start Monday." Torre said he hasn't decided who will be removed from the rotation to make room for Kuroda, but it will be one ..."

Kuroda to return to rotation Monday

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May 29

MLB.com

"Hiroki Kuroda will return to the Dodgers' starting rotation Monday night for the opener of a nine-game homestand, manager Joe Torre announced before Friday's game with the Cubs. Kuroda, out since an Opening Day win because of a strained left oblique muscle, cleared the final hurdle by throwing a bullpen session in Los Angeles on Friday morning. He had made two rehab starts for Class A Inland Empire, the most recent on Wednesday, when he allowed seven runs in five innings. But Torre is eager to get his warrior back in the rotation. "If he's fine," Torre said, "he'll start Monday." Torre said he hasn't decided who will be removed from the rotation to make room for Kuroda, but it will be one ..."

Kuroda feels good after bullpen session

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May 11

MLB.com

"Dodgers right-hander Hiroki Kuroda, who is on the disabled list with a left oblique strain, threw his first bullpen session Sunday since suffering the injury.Kuroda threw 25 pitches, all fastballs, and came out of the session saying his shoulder and side "feel so much better."But he also added that it's still too early to set a target date on his return to the club."I don't really have a timetable and if there is one I'm not aware of it," Kuroda said through a translator. "Last time, I tried to rush it though and tried to push the trainer to let me throw more and it caused a setback. So this time I'm going to listen to the trainer as much as possible."Dodgers athletic trainer Stan Conte ..."

No timetable for return of Kuroda, Kuo

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May 5

MLB.com

"Hiroki Kuroda played catch Monday and Hong-Chih Kuo did not, but there's no timetable for either disabled pitcher to take the mound again for the Dodgers. Kuroda, the Opening Day starter who has been disabled since April 7 with a left oblique strain, played light catch on flat ground just to keep his shoulder loose. But trainer Stan Conte said until the lingering tightness in the injured area is completely gone, Kuroda won't take the mound. And even when he does, it will still be weeks before he's activated as Kuroda essentially will need to go through a Spring Training to rebuild the arm strength needed for a starting pitcher. "It's a tricky injury and if you move too fast at the end, you ..."

Dodgers pitcher Kuroda out a little longer

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April 16

L.A. Daily News

"Dodgers right-hander Hiroki Kuroda, whom club officials had hoped would be ready to come off the 15-day disabled list as soon as he becomes eligible next Wednesday, will instead need additional time to recover from a mild strain of his left oblique. Kuroda presently isn't allowed to participate in any baseball activity, including playing catch, and Dodgers trainer Stan Conte said the pitcher almost certainly will need to make at least one start in a minor-league game before being activated. "There is still some tightness in his side, but there is no question he is better," Conte said. "With this type of injury, we definitely want him to have (at least) a bullpen. In a perfect scenario, you ..."

Dodgers' Hiroki Kuroda goes on the disabled list

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April 11

Los Angeles Times

"Hiroki Kuroda's goal was to make it through the season without landing on the disabled list. He couldn't make it through a week. The Dodgers' opening-day starter was scratched from his scheduled start today in Arizona and put on the 15-day disabled list, but not because of the shoulder that bothered him most of last season. The culprit is a left oblique that he mildly strained in a bullpen session three days ago. Left-hander Eric Stults, who posted a 9.49 earned-run average in spring training, will be recalled from triple-A Albuquerque to start today in place of Kuroda. "I realize I've burdened the team by getting so hurt so soon after opening day," said Kuroda, who won his first start of ..."

Dodgers' pitcher Kuroda's DL stint merely a precaution

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April 11

L.A. Daily News

"Right-hander Hiroki Kuroda, the Dodgers' opening-day starter, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a mild strain of his left oblique, a move that was mostly precautionary for a condition that isn't believed to be serious. To fill Kuroda's spot on both the roster and in the starting rotation, the Dodgers recalled lefty Eric Stults, who was about to make his first start of the season for Triple-A Albuquerque against Omaha but instead will now start tonight for the big club at Arizona. Although Dodgers trainer Stan Conte stopped short of predicting Kuroda will miss the minimum amount of time - the move was backdated to Tuesday, so he is eligible to return on April 22 - club ..."

Kuroda to start Dodgers' opener

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March 18

L.A. Daily News

"Right-hander Hiroki Kuroda will be the Dodgers' starting pitcher for their season opener on April 6 at San Diego and will be followed, in order, by Randy Wolf, Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw and a yet-to-be-determined fifth starter. That will line up Billingsley, who led the club with 16 regular-season wins last year, to start the home opener on April 13 against San Francisco.Dodgers manager Joe Torre confirmed the alignment Wednesday, an off day for most of the club, after watching Billingsley pitch five innings in a minor-league intrasquad game. The rotation had been determined before Billingsley took the mound.Billingsley also had been a strong candidate to pitch the season ..."

Hiroki Kuroda could make a start in Houston

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June 29

Los Angeles Times

"Dodgers right-hander Hiroki Kuroda faced 16 batters over three simulated innings Saturday to put him in line to be activated Wednesday to make a start in Houston."He didn't have any hesitation with anything that he was doing," Manager Joe Torre said. Kuroda, who hasn't pitched since June 12 because of tendinitis in his right shoulder, delivered 49 pitches. He finished the session by serving up a home run to Andruw Jones."Of course, I didn't feel the way I do when I'm pitching well," Kuroda said. "I wanted to throw as much as I could to regain that feeling.""

Kuroda will likely miss one start

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June 19

L.A. Daily News

"Dodgers reliever Chan Ho Park will make a spot start on Saturday against Cleveland in place of Hiroki Kuroda, who was diagnosed with shoulder tendinitis and received a cortisone shot after undergoing an MRI on Wednesday in Los Angeles. Kuroda appears headed to the 15-day disabled list, but only to clear a roster spot so the club can bring up a reliever from the minor leagues to replace Park in the bullpen, and Kuroda probably won't miss more than that one start. "(The DL) is a probability, but based on the fact it has been a while since the last time he pitched, we wouldn't have to put him on for very long," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said."

MRI exam shows Dodgers' Hiroki Kuroda has tendinitis

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June 19

Los Angeles Times

"Diagnosed on Wednesday with tendinitis and an impingement in his right shoulder, Dodgers pitcher Hiroki Kuroda was scratched from his scheduled start Saturday at Dodger Stadium against the Cleveland Indians. Right-hander Chan Ho Park will start in place of Kuroda. Kuroda, 3-6 with a 4.04 earned-run average, underwent an MRI exam Wednesday in Los Angeles, one day after the Dodgers put opening-day starter Brad Penny on the 15-day disabled list because of inflammation and mild tendinitis in his right shoulder. Manager Joe Torre said he hadn't spoken to General Manager Ned Colletti about putting Kuroda on the DL but said that if the move was made, Kuroda would be ..."

Dodgers' Kuroda sent home for MRI

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June 18

L.A. Daily News

"Dodgers right-hander Hiroki Kuroda became the second member of the starting rotation to be sent home from the team's nine-game trip for an MRI on his shoulder, an exam expected to take place this morning. Kuroda had been scheduled to start tonight's game against Cincinnati, but because the Dodgers were off on Monday, Derek Lowe will pitch on regular rest instead of going on long rest Thursday. "I guess (Kuroda) has experienced this on and off for a while, and I just found out about it," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "He has been able to pitch, obviously, and his numbers have been good. I would have liked to have been told sooner, only because I am concerned about the health and ..."

Dodgers' Hiroki Kuroda, Brad Penny have arm issues

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June 18

Los Angeles Times

"The news went from bad to worse for the Dodgers on Tuesday, as they put Brad Penny on the 15-day disabled list and sent Hiroki Kuroda to Los Angeles to undergo a shoulder examination similar to the one Penny had a day earlier. Penny, who has inflammation and mild tendinitis but no structural damage in his right (throwing) shoulder, was replaced on the active roster by left-hander Eric Stults, who was recalled from triple-A Las Vegas. Kuroda will have an MRI exam this morning, making him unavailable to make his scheduled start tonight in Cincinnati."

Kuroda's effort for Dodgers gets wiped out

May 28

L.A. Daily News

"Much to the chagrin of Hiroki Kuroda, that player wasn't him. And much to the chagrin of the increasingly frustrated Dodgers, who fell 3-1 to the Chicago Cubs in front of 39,894 on Tuesday night, that free-spending, blue-sporting team most definitely wasn't them. In the first U.S. meeting between Kuroda and countryman Kosuke Fukudome, the Cubs outfielder burned the Dodgers right-hander for a hit and a walk in three head-to-head plate appearances. But it was Fukudome's final at-bat, against reliever Jonathan Broxton in the seventh, that did in the Dodgers for the fourth time in their past five games."

Andy LaRoche trying to make himself versatile

May 28

Los Angeles Times

"With rookie Blake DeWitt looking as if he has solidified his place as the Dodgers' starting third baseman, Andy LaRoche has started playing first base for triple-A Las Vegas as part of a plan to increase the ways he can help the big league club.LaRoche was competing for the third base job with Nomar Garciaparra in spring training but tore a ligament in his right thumb and had to undergo surgery. He was reinstated from the disabled list May 3, but the emergence of DeWitt blocked his path to the majors."

Soriano looking forward to Kuroda, Torre reunions

May 26

Chicago Sun-Times

"Alfonso Soriano not only returns home with the Cubs today, but back to his big-league roots. For the first time since he left Japan after breaking in briefly with Hiroshima of Japan's Central League in 1997, Soriano will be reunited on the same field with former minor-league teammate Hiroki Kuroda -- signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent last winter and scheduled to start against the Cubs on Tuesday. 'I know him very well. We became good friends,'' Soriano said. But more than Kuroda, Soriano said he's looking forward to seeing his first major-league manager -- Joe Torre, the first-year Dodgers skipper -- for the first time since signing with the Cubs."