KUO MAKES SPRING DEBUT IN “B” GAME FOR DODGERS

The Los Angeles Dodgers are looking to bulk up their bullpen this spring, making Kuo Hong-chih’s first mound appearance in a “B” squad game against the Chicago White Sox more important than usual. The 27-year-old native of Tainan, Taiwan hurled a scoreless inning against the ChiSox last Monday, and said he felt fine. The lefty has had elbow problems the past few years, usually the day after he pitches. Dodgers manager Joe Torre said Kuo’s curveball needs work, but that he was spotting his fastball effectively.


Kuo pitched 80 innings for the Dodgers last year, posting a 2.14 ERA out of the bullpen, but missed the National League Championship Series. He pitched for Taiwan in the 2002 Asian Games, but has since undergone four elbow surgeries.

VALENTINE LIKELY DONE WITH MARINES AFTER NEXT SEASON

Former major league player and manager Bobby Valentine may be out as skipper of Japan’s Chiba Lotte Marines after his four-year contract expires following the 2009 season. Valentine told the Associated Press last week that the Marines have decided not to offer him a contract extension, saying “they just wanted to go in a different direction.”
Valentine led the Marines to a Japan Series championship in 2005, but the team finished fourth in the Pacific League standings in 2008 and did not make the playoffs. Valentine managed the New York Mets to a National League pennant in 2000 before losing the World Series to the rival New York Yankees in five games that fall. He managed the Texas Rangers from 1985 to 1992 before running the Mets between 1996 and 2002, winning 1,117 major league games against 1,072 losses.
As a player, Valentine made his major league debut in 1969 as a 19-year-old infielder with the Los Angeles Dodgers. After a final season in the minors in 1970 (when he was the Pacific Coast League’s Most Valuable Player with the Spokane Indians), Valentine spent nine seasons in the majors, batting .260 with 12 homers and 157 RBI for five teams before retiring in 1979.