Sunday, October 06, 2013

Ryu Ready, Or Not?

Hyun-Jin Ryu is supposed to be going tonight as the Dodgers' Game 3 starter. But a strange bullpen session for Ryu Friday in Atlanta has many wondering if he is indeed ready to go:

There’s what they say and what they do, and then somewhere is the truth.

Which is where you’re kinda left after the Dodgers tried to explain away Hyun-Jin Ryu throwing an odd bullpen session Friday in Atlanta while Manager Don Mattingly, team doctor Neal ElAttrache and vice president of medical services Stan Conte looked on.

Husbands arriving home in the wee hours with lipstick on their collars and reeking of bourbon don’t look half as suspicious.

But back in Los Angeles on Saturday, the Dodgers said it was really nothing. Just Ryu – who normally never throws a bullpen session between starts – getting in a little extra work because it will be a week between his last game and his scheduled start Sunday in Game 3 of their division series with the Braves.

Ryu said there was no reason for concern.

“No, not at all,” he said. “Typically, when I rest longer than normal, I always squeeze in a bullpen in there just to make sure that my body is responding the way I want it to.”"

Paul Casella at MLB.com echoed other Dodgers who said Ryu was just fine:

Mattingly backed his starter, saying the team has "no concerns" about Ryu or his status for Sunday's game. As of Saturday night, Mattingly said the Dodgers' scheduled rotation remains unchanged, with Ricky Nolasco slated to pitch Game 4 on Monday and ace Clayton Kershaw ready for a potential Game 5 in Atlanta on Wednesday.

For now, however, the focus remains on Game 3 and the man the Dodgers signed to a six-year, $36 million deal this offseason.

"I'm really excited to see what he's going to do on Sunday, because he is a big-game pitcher who has got so many different weapons, so many different ways to get you out," said Ryu's batterymate, A.J. Ellis. "He's been a joy to catch all year."

Holy smokes, I'm quite nervous. I'm hoping deep down that this is a solid misdirection by the Dodgers. Boy, I hope I'm right.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

It is nervous time indeed as Game 3 gets closer.
Especially given that our long relief pitcher is Cappie if Ryu struggles or cant finish because he is hurt. The flip side is that Ryu is a gamer and prides himself on pitching under pressure. As such, game 3 is ideally made for him. If Ryu is healthy, we should win. I am 100% convinced that winner of Game 3 is the winner of the series. I also believe that regardless of if we win or lose game 3, Kersh will start game 4 with Zach on game 5. I do not think the management is ready for their 2 big dollar pitchers only pitch 1 game in a series.

Fred's Brim said...

Cmon fellas, please don't be fucking around here. And if you do go, HJ, we can't have that shaky, 4-run first inning and then shutdown innings for the next 5. We gotta be better

John G said...

Anyone else going to the game? Well be in Loge 133 if you wanna grab a frozen foam beer.

Dusty Baker said...

I'll be out there tomorrow night but not today, John G. Have some over-priced foam for me!

BTW the Ryu injury story is bunk. He just threw a bullpen session bc he has had a lot of days off. Whether he's effective or not time will tell, but according to most recent reports, no injury.