Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Hu sent down, LaRoche will get the call

Chin-lung Hu was given plenty of opportunities to prove that he's a Major League-caliber player. Unfortunately for him, his bat never caught up to his glove.

Hu was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas in a move that was not unexpected once Angel Berroa was acquired last week. Defensively, he was great. But at the plate, he often looked lost with a .159 AVG and .221 OBP. On a team whose offense struggles enough as it is, they simply cannot afford to have someone playing so much with number that pathetic. He still has a great future, so if he can figure things out in the minors, look out for him next year.

The move will mean the likely call up of Andy LaRoche, who was all set to become the starting 3rd baseman had it not been for a torn thumb ligament in Spring Training. With the emergence of Blake DeWitt, LaRoche has been playing multiple infield positions in Vegas to better prepare himself to be a utility player in LA. His bat will be a breath of fresh air, as he has potential to hit for power that the Dodgers desperately lack.

Once Rafael Furcal is back from his injury (hopefully next week), Berroa will likely become a utility player as well.

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