Arizona timetable may be concern

With funding not yet secured and ground not yet broken for the Dodgers’ new spring complex in Glendale, Ariz., construction there might not be completed when the Dodgers move in.

“It’s not something we want to happen,” Dodgers spokeswoman Camille Johnston said. “It’s something we’re prepared for.”

When the Dodgers agreed last November to move their spring home from Vero Beach, Fla., Glendale officials promised the new complex would be ready for use in 2009. The construction bill for the facility, to be shared by the Dodgers and Chicago White Sox and built at no cost to the teams, is estimated at $76.8 million.

In nearby Surprise, in the last two-team complex built in Arizona, construction started in March 2001. The Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals moved in for the spring of 2003.

Mark Coronado, community and recreation services director in Surprise, said officials in Glendale might have to choose between finishing late or spending millions more for night and weekend construction in order to finish on time. “It can happen, but they’ll have to pay a premium for that service,” Coronado said.

Glendale spokeswoman Julie Frisoni said the city expects to secure funding and break ground by August and said project architects have advised the facility can be completed on time and on budget.

“We don’t believe there’s an issue there at all,” Frisoni said.

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On the day after Hong-Chih Kuo hit the first major league home run by a Taiwanese-born player, the big hit was still making news around the world. In Taiwan, accounts of the home run appeared on the front page of all major newspapers and led prime-time newscasts, according to Rex Lin, who grew up in South Pasadena and now lives in Taipei.

In the clubhouse, as Takashi Saito giddily mimicked Kuo’s bat flip, Kuo learned his batting helmet was bound for the Hall of Fame.

“That’s pretty awesome,” Kuo said.

After the game, Kuo said he had not hit a home run since high school. Turns out he hit one last year -- a grand slam, in fact -- at triple-A Las Vegas.

“Oh, yeah,” he said. “I didn’t remember that. I’m a pitcher. You don’t get to hit very often. You always bunt.”

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The Dodgers led, 4-1, after seven innings Tuesday, when Manager Grady Little removed first baseman Nomar Garciaparra and replaced him with James Loney. Little said he did not make the move for defensive purposes, just to rest Garciaparra.

“Any time we can get him a break, even for an inning or two, that’s going to start happening,” Little said.

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Owner Frank McCourt said he has asked major league officials to consider sending the Dodgers to Japan or China to open the regular season, citing the team’s history in signing players from Asia and helping to develop amateur baseball there.

McCourt hosted Ryozo Kato, the Japanese ambassador to the United States, at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday. He said he would look into exhibitions in Japan too.

“The relationship with the Dodgers and Japan is very important to the Dodgers. It’s a relationship we feel is very special and one we want to renew in the years to come,” he said. “I think it’s time for the Dodgers to go to Japan.”

bill.shaikin@latimes.com