| Dodger Hiroki Kuroda takes the mound tonight for | | | | In the olden days of flamethrowers Nolan Ryan |
| the first time since a line drive caromed off his | | | | and Sandy Koufax, to name a few of the game's |
| forehead, sending him to the disabled list. | | | | best, starters were expected to go eight innings |
| Manager Joe Torre will probably be pleased if | | | | or all the way. If they were pulled earlier it meant |
| Kuroda goes five reasonably strong innings, giving | | | | they were being pummeled or they were literally |
| up 2-3 runs. Then, he'll be benched until his next | | | | worn-out. |
| slated start, one week later. | | | | Now, we have starters, long-relievers, middle |
| If this is the way tonight's contest against the | | | | relievers and closers. It takes three or four |
| Padres goes, then Kuroda, the Dodgers, and fans | | | | specialists to do the work of one capable |
| of the blue crew will be thrilled. They'll have one of | | | | generalist. |
| their starting pitchers back in the rotation, which is | | | | What is this-modern medicine or the game of |
| rich in choices, right now. | | | | baseball? |
| In Kuroda's returning game, a five-inning stint will | | | | Why are today's ballplayers seemingly so |
| be very respectable and ambitious enough. But | | | | injury-prone? |
| why are the rest of today's starters, the ones | | | | No one has answered the latter, a multi-billion |
| that haven't been traumatized by a speeding | | | | dollar question. You would think this would be a |
| projectile, generally expected to last no more | | | | research mystery that big insurance companies |
| than six innings? | | | | would be investing a ton of premium dollars in |
| And where did the 100-pitch limit creep into the | | | | systematically exploring. |
| equation, where starters ipso facto are thought | | | | Kuroda's medical excuse is written on his |
| to become unstable and require bullpen | | | | forehead. |
| assistance? | | | | Where is every one else's? |