Banged-up O's eye Nomo
Posted: Tuesday June 02, 1998 08:15 PM
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Baltimore's battered pitching staff could use Nomo, but the Orioles wonder if Nomo isn't damaged goods as well (Harry How/Allsport) |
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Hideo Nomo might
look good in an Orioles uniform, especially in light of the team's current
pitching problems. But Baltimore officials wonder whether the Japanese
right-hander is physically sound.
Nomo, designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Dodgers on
Monday, was 2-7 with a 5.05 ERA after undergoing elbow surgery last
October.
"Obviously I would take him -- he's a major-league starter," Orioles
manager Ray Miller said Tuesday. "But you wonder what the situation is
there. He hasn't been pitching well, but there are a lot of people who
haven't been pitching well."
Nomo was sensational a few years back, but his effectiveness has tailed
off dramatically.
"His first two years he was awesome, but then people started laying off
his [split-fingered fastball]," Miller noted.
Meanwhile, Jimmy
Key still feels pain in his ailing shoulder, and there's no guarantee
that the left-hander will come off the disabled list anytime soon.
Key, 37, was placed on the 15-day disabled list May 24 with an irritated
left rotator cuff. He has already had surgery on the area four times, and
has not been able to throw recently because of intense soreness.
"I love Jimmy Key. I just hope I get him back," Miller said. "He's one of
the best big-game pitchers in the game. But until he gets some strength
back in his arm, you can't even think about him returning."
Key is one of three Oriole starters on the disabled list, along with Mike Mussina
and Scott
Kamieniecki. Mussina, who broke his nose when hit by a line drive May
14, is expected back Saturday for a game against Atlanta.
"He'll throw on the side tomorrow," Miller said. "Everything was a go
last time and I'm assuming it'll be a go this time, but I will not
jeopardize him."
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