Sturtze’s future remains in limbo

Nick Christensen

Friday, May 14, 2004 | 9:50 a.m.

Nick Christensen

Tanyon Sturtze is still a Las Vegas 51. For now.

Sturtze, a 33-year-old starting pitcher said to be involved in a deal with the New York Yankees, was the scheduled starter for Thursday's game against the New Orleans Zephyrs.

Earlier Thursday, though, Mark Johnson was summoned for the start, despite a scout from the Yankees among the crowd of 3,382 at the 4-3 Las Vegas win.

The Yankees are short on pitching, and were looking at Sturtze in Las Vegas' series at Sacramento last weekend. Some reports have Donovan Osborne starting for the Yankees on Saturday.

Kennedy said after Thursday's game that the Dodger organization felt that Sturtze wasn't in the right mindset for a start.

"I thought with his emotions, he thought he had a chance to go somewhere, most likely in the big leagues, I don't know if he'd be any good for himself or for us," Kennedy said. "Whether he's going to be with us or the Yankees in the major leagues, he's going to be needed. ... I thought the deal was going to be done today."

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