Monday, April 5, 1999
Masaoka makes
‘The Show’ on
opening day
The left-hander gave up
just one run in 13
spring inningsStar-Bulletin wire services
Last week's feature on Onan Masaoka
LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers made their final cuts yesterday, and Waiakea High alumnus Onan Masaoka was not among them, meaning he will skip Class AAA baseball and start the season in the Dodgers' bullpen.
Masaoka and Pedro Borbon beat out veteran Greg Cadaret for the two lefty reliever spots.
After being honored last week as the top rookie in the Dodgers' camp, Masaoka seemed to have the inside track on making the big-league roster.
It clearly appears the decisions to re-assign Hubbard and Cadaret were based on spring performance, and not past seasons.
When Cadaret broke into the big leagues, Masaoka was 9. But this spring Cadaret was 0-1 with a 4.61 ERA in the spring. Borbon pitched well in the last two weeks of spring training and had a 2.45 ERA, while Masaoka, who is yet to pitch above the Double-A level, surprised everyone by yielding one run in 13 innings.
Cadaret, who will get his guaranteed $375,000, was designated for assignment but said he wouldn't accept it. He has that right because he has more than five years' service time.
"(Borbon and Masaoka) had great springs, but the veterans, I told (the Dodgers' management), come along slower," Cadaret said. "I told them I'd be ready opening day ... and I had my best stuff (yesterday). You think 10 years, they'd judge you by your past history. I didn't get the first (lefty) out and the last one out, I got them all out in between."
An impressive showing this weekend solidified Masaoka's spot on the roster. He struck out the side Friday night against the Anaheim Angels and pitched one scoreless inning yesterday against the New York Yankees. He gave up one hit, walked two and struck out two against the defending champs.
Molokai High alum Keith Luuloa was sent to the Anaheim Angels minor league camp. Luuloa, who can play infield and outfield, is expected to get his minor league assignment later this week.
