Friday, October 22, 2010

Back in Taiwan, Kuo reflects on breakout season

Taipei, Oct. 22 (CNA) Back home for the first time since the end of the Major League Baseball season, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Kuo Hong-chih attributed his record-setting season to "pure luck" and said he hoped to help his team get back into the playoffs next year.

"I would like to return to Taiwan at a later date next year," Kuo said at a press conference attended by some 100 reporters, alluding to his desire to have the Dodgers remain active into the post-season in 2011.

The Dodgers finished the season 80-82, fourth in the five-team National League West Division, after having made the National League Championship Series the previous two seasons.

But the team's drop-off was not because of Kuo. The 29-year-old left-hander had his best year since first making the Dodgers roster in 2005, finishing with a 3-2 record and 12 saves in 56 appearances and becoming the first Taiwanese player to earn a spot in the All-Star Game.

His ERA of 1.20 was also the lowest in franchise history for pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched, and he was nominated for the "Setup Man of the Year" award.

Responding to questions posed by fans in an online Internet chat room, which was opened at the same time as the press conference, Kuo politely attributed his success to "pure luck" and said he was happy as long as he was able to play the game after nearly having his career ended by four elbow operations.

Kuo said his most memorable performance of the year was a two-inning outing in a 3-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 4, when he struck out all six batters he faced.

Reflecting on his experience in the All-Star Game, Kuo said he was nervous because he didn't know what to do and where to go.

"I felt like I became a fan again and was busy taking photos with those big-name players, " he said.

The 29-year-old gave credit to first baseman James Loney and pitchers Chad Billingsley and Jonathon Broxton for their friendship, which helped him get through the long season. He added that fan support was also a big help.

"I thought of giving up, honestly. But I'm not a person who gives up easily, and I always tell myself that I have to keep fighting because I represent my country of Taiwan in the MLB to some extent, " Kuo said.

The left-hander, who started the 2010 season as a setup man but was installed as a closer in mid-August in place of the struggling Braxton, said he would not mind shifting between the two roles next year, even though "being a closer brings you so much pressure because you're supposed to finish it off."

Kuo said he hopes to continue playing in the United States for another 5-10 years, but "the most important thing for me, first and foremost, is to help my team win." (By Chris Wang) enditem/ls