Nomo Faces Elbow Surgery

Did a line drive off the bat of the Philadelphia Phillies’ Scott Rolen injure Hideo Nomo’s right elbow?

That question was asked on the July night when Nomo was struck and it is being asked again, since the 29-year-old Nomo is undergoing arthroscopic surgery today at the Centinela Hospital Medical Center to remove what are being described as “loose bodies” in the throwing elbow of the Dodger right-hander.

No damage was found immediately after Nomo was struck, but he struggled afterward, hardly resembling the dominating pitcher who had burst upon the major league scene after his arrival from Japan in 1995.

Nomo was taken out of the Phillie game but said, through an interpreter, that he did not think the blow would affect his pitching.

After that night, though, he was 4-5 for the Dodgers down the stretch, finishing 14-12 with a disappointing 4.25 earned-run average after having posted a 2.90 ERA in his first two years in the big leagues.

Nomo had enough velocity to finish the 1997 season with 233 strikeouts, but he also was hit hard. He gave up three home runs in his first outing after the Rolen incident and wound up being hit at a .243 clip by the opposition.

In his first major league season, Nomo held opposing hitters to a .182 mark, lowest in the majors. And he was second in the National League in 1996, when he held hitters to a .216 average.

His struggles in 1997 were blamed on mechanical problems, although, at one point, Nomo himself confessed that he had no idea what the problem was.

Late in the season, he gave up his elaborate windup to pitch from the stretch position, and that seemed to make him more effective.

Dr. Frank Jobe, who will perform the surgery, was unavailable for comment Monday, but will hold a press conference after today’s procedure to discuss his findings.

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The door was swinging both ways for the Dodger pitching staff Monday.

The club claimed right-hander Jim Bruske, a former Dodger, from the San Diego Padres on waivers, while Dodger right-hander Mike Harkey elected to leave as a free agent. Outfielders Wayne Kirby and Eric Anthony, and infielder Nelson Liriano, all declared free agency last week, rather than accepting assignment to the Dodgers’ triple-A team at Albuquerque.

Bruske, who turns 33 today, was 4-1 with a 3.95 ERA for the Padres in 25 relief appearances.

He did not have a decision in his 20 appearances with the Dodgers in 1995 and 1996, but he did have one save, and a 5.16 ERA.