Kuroda Skipping Next Start

Shee-ooot, if I got hit in the head with a 100-mph baseball, damn skippy I'm going to miss a day of work. But Hiroki Kuroda, the warrior, is still fighting his way back from injury and progressing at a fast pace: LOS ANGELES -- Although right-hander Hiroki Kuroda will miss his next scheduled start for the Los Angeles Dodgers while recovering from a mild concussion, the club is encouraged by his early progress on the way back to the mound. Dodgers manager Joe Torre and trainer Stan Conte seemed quite optimistic about Kuroda's prospects for a quick, full recovery just two days after Rusty Ryal's line drive hit him in the head during the sixth inning of a game in Arizona. The 34-year-old Japanese pitcher participated in a range of tests Monday after the club returned to Dodger Stadium. "The greatest gift for me is that smile on his face," Torre said. "He feels a lot better than we expected him to. I think it's remarkable where he is right now. It'...