Friday, July 20, 2001 | 11:57 a.m.
Las Vegas reliever Jim Dougherty surrendered five runs and the lead in the ninth inning, giving the Oklahoma Red Hawks an 8-4 victory Thursday at Cashman Field. Desperate for pitchers, 51s manager Rick Sofield gave reliever Bobby Bevel a spot start in the game, followed by Onan Masaoka, then the usually solid Dougherty, who pitched two innings and took the loss.
So what's it going to take for Onan Masaoka to be called up to the Los Angeles Dodgers?
The answer has eluded him so many times this season that he has stopped wondering.
Wondering about the future leads to worrying and sleepless nights, which is something the laid-back Hawaiian doesn't need.
"Last year I was just up and down a whole lot," Masaoka said. "From then on, I just pretty much told myself that it's nothing I can control.
"That's something that I learned. So I've just got to do what I've got to do to make myself prepared just in case they need me. I'm prepared. That's all I'm really doing."
Masaoka pitched three scoreless innings of relief for the Las Vegas 51s during an 8-4 loss to Oklahoma before an announced crowd of 3,023 at Cashman Field Thursday night.
It seems the Dodgers have needed him several times this season, but never made the call.
The latest missed opportunity for Masaoka occurred three days ago.
That's when Dodgers ace Kevin Brown went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 16 with an elbow injury, opening a spot in the rotation.
It appeared the Dodgers would have moved left-hander Jeff Williams (2-1, 4.96 ERA) out of the bullpen and into the fifth spot leaving a spot in the pen and a possible call-up for Masaoka (8-4, 5.86 ERA entering Thursday's game).
Except that's not what happened.
The Dodgers made room on their roster by putting Darren Dreifort on the 60-day disabled list and promoted 51s starter Dennis Springer.
"I'm not going to lie; it's frustrating," Masaoka said. "But it's the business.
"There were perfect situations that came up already and I wasn't called up. But I never anticipate being moved up. I just think if it happens it happens (and) if it doesn't, it doesn't. I just have to keep working hard. I just won't give up."
Masaoka's attitude is what pitching coach Dean Treanor values most.
In 2000 the lefty split time between Los Angeles and Albuquerque. With the Dodgers Masaoka was 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA in 29 relief appearances. He recorded 27 strikeouts in 27 innings.
During spring training, the Dodgers decided to convert him back to a starter, something he hasn't done for the last two seasons.
Masaoka had four rocky starts and after the fifth, Treanor realized he needed to be back in the bullpen.
Since Masaoka returned to the bullpen, the place where he said he is most comfortable, he has returned to the form that Treanor thinks can help the Dodgers immediately. As a starter Masaoka was 1-3 with an 11.63 ERA, but as reliever he is 7-1 with a 3.05 ERA.
"He'll go out there on a given night and he'll be good as anybody in the game," Treanor said. "When he pitched the other night and we left him in to close out that game (a 9-5 win over Sacramento last Sunday) he threw as well as anybody.
"He could have pitched anywhere. I believe he can help them win the National League West. I believe in Onan Masaoka and I guess he just needs another chance."
When is the only question.
"If something else happens, I've got to believe he's going to be one of the next guys up there," Treanor said.
Dodgers outfielder Gary Sheffield was hit in his left leg on Wednesday night and is questionable for the game.
"Anything can happen up there," said Aven, who hit .264 with six home runs and had 27 RBIs with the 51s. "I'm just fortunate enough to get an opportunity to get to go."
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