박찬호 시즌 첫 선발 등판 - Park earns starting nod for Dodgers
박찬호선수가 드디어 2008시즌 첫 선발 등판한다. 최근 두 경기에서 3이닝 무실점의 좋은 모습을 보여준 결과인가 싶다.
mlb.com 사이트에 실린 아래 기사를 보면 토요일 애너하임 원정경기에 선발 등판함으로써 또하나의 이정표를 쓰고 있다고 언급하고 있으며, 34살의 박찬호가 2008년 다저스 개척(재생 또는 부활 의미로 보임)의 역사가 되고 있다며 추켜세우고 있다.
박찬호는 스프링 캠프에서 잘 던졌지만 5선발 경쟁에서 선발이 보장된 로아이자에게 밀렸고 트리플A에서 1주일도 되지 않아 4월3일 메이저로 승격되었다. 승격후 1승 1세이브 2.16의 방어율을 기록하고 있다. 조 토레 감독은 박찬호를 잘 알고 있고 불펜 역할에 잘 적응하고 있다면서 시간은 필요하지만 이러한 과정을 잘 극복할 수 있을 것 같다고 언급했다.
이번 주말 선발로 클레이튼 커쇼와 궈홍치가 경쟁했지만 결국 박찬호선수에게 차례가 돌아갔다. 에너하임이면 과거 전적이 썩 좋지 않다. 17경기 선발 등판에 5승 7패 평균자책 5.90을 기록했다. 에인절스에는 박찬호의 천적이라고 할 수 있는 블라디미르 게레로가 있다. 박찬호를 상대로 통산 46타수 15안타(타율 .326) 4홈런 11타점 OPS 1.019로 박찬호에게는 강한 선수이다. 이 외 개럿 앤더슨(38타수 12안타, 타율 .316), 숀 피긴스(14타수 5안타, 타율 .357)도 박찬호가 조심해야 할 상대이다.
부담있는 팀을 상대로 시즌 첫 등판을 하지만 지금까지 불펜에서 보여 주었던 모습을 지속한다면 좋은 경기 결과가 나올 것으로 기대해 본다.
[기사원문 : 출처 mlb.com]
Park earns starting nod for Dodgers
Right-hander slated to pitch Saturday against Angels
By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com
MILWAUKEE -- The comeback of Chan Ho Park hits another milestone on Saturday when he gets the start for the Dodgers against the Angels in Anaheim.
The 34-year-old Park is the Dodgers' reclamation story of 2008. He was signed to a Minor League contract after pitching only four innings in the Major Leagues last year and being released by two organizations. He pitched well enough to make the club out of Spring Training in most seasons, but lost the fifth-starter competition to Esteban Loaiza, who had a guaranteed contract, and instead Park was sent to Triple-A for less than a week.
He was promoted to the Majors on April 3 and has adapted to long relief remarkably well for a career starter, compiling a 2.16 ERA with a 1-0 record and his first career save. He has pitched three innings on four separate occasions.
"We felt with his stuff and his feel, he could adjust to the bullpen," said manager Joe Torre. "It took him time, but he seems to have conquered the process."
Torre said Park was available to pitch one inning Wednesday night. Otherwise, he would throw his bullpen session during the late innings of the game.
Park, the Dodgers' Opening Day starter in 2001, got the nod over Hong-Chih Kuo and Minor League phenom Clayton Kershaw, who still could be promoted later this month. The fifth starter spot comes up again on May 27 and then pretty much becomes necessary through the All-Star break.
Meanwhile, incumbent fifth starter Loaiza came out of a bullpen session on Tuesday without any problem with his shoulder blade tightness, and another session is scheduled for Friday in Anaheim.
Loaiza has been working on mechanics and building arm strength. He is eligible to be activated on Sunday, but it's unclear what his role would be. Cory Wade has a 1.86 ERA in middle and long relief duty. Yhency Brazoban was called up to replace Loaiza, but he has pitched only one inning, in an appearance on May 9.
Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
