Hyun Jin Ryu
Hyun Jin Ryu, the Korean starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers had a remarkable comeback yesterday in a game with the San Diego Padres at Petco Park in San Diego. The Korean pitcher had come back from a muscle injury he had received a couple of weeks back when he was starting for the Dodgers against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at the Angels Stadium.
At yesterday’s game, Ryu pitched 7 innings, allowing only 4 hits, and 1 earned run. As a result, the pitcher won his 14th starting game. Ryu had struck out 7 Padres batters but only pitched 86 games. Don Mattingly, the manager of the Dodgers explained to ESPN and other sports media that he had made this decision to bring Ryu down from the mound in order to prevent further injury and to not overdo his player.
ESPN expressed that this was the perfect timing for Ryu to return to the mound. They explained that the “Big 3” starters of the Los Angeles ball club virtually ruled the games they started. Out of the 73 games that Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and Hyun Jin Ryu started, the Dodgers won 47 and lost only 26 of them. Although it is true that a good baseball team or good pitchers need batters to score runs to guarantee a win, this shows the overwhelming influence these three pitchers have had on the team so far.
On the other hand, when other Dodgers pitchers such as Josh Beckett started, the Dodgers only won 30 out of 64 games while losing 34 of them. In fact, while Ryu was on the D.L. (Disabled List) for the second time this season, the Dodgers had to go through some difficult times, even having to come down from first place in the western division of the National League.
Even Don Mattingly expressed great gratitude for the Dodgers “Big 3” starters and that he could not deny that the fate of the team rests on their shoulders. At the same time, ESPN and other experts pointed out that some of the Dodgers’ batters and field players need to get back into shape for the Dodgers to be a better team and be able to play in the World Series. ESPN pointed to Cuban outfielder Yasiel Puig, who has not been performing at his best in the most recent Dodgers’ games.
On the bright side however, the Dodgers announced that they also brought Juab Uribe, their starting 3rd baseman out of the disabled list.
Meanwhile, Shin Soo Choo, the Korean outfielder for the Texas Rangers, who recently was put out of the starting lineup for the rest of the season, was reported to have gone through a successful elbow surgery. Rangers insiders have reported that they had to remove a protruding bone in Choo’s elbow that was preventing the player from batting properly. As of now, Choo and most of the Rangers’ lineup is preparing for the 2015 MLB season.
