Daily Dodger in Review: Ted Lilly’s unwanted farewell tour

TED LILLY, 38, starting pitcher

Final 2013 stats: 0-2, 5.09 earned-run average, 1.61 WHIP, 7.0 strikeouts per nine innings, .242 opponent batting average.

Contract status: Free agent.

The good: In two of his five starts, he only gave up one run. Had a 3.38 ERA in two road starts.

The bad: Plagued by injury most of the season, he was designated for assignment by the Dodgers on July 25, ultimately released and never picked up by another club. He battled a shoulder injury early and then a sore back.

With the Dodgers heading to the playoffs, they could no longer wait to see whether Lilly could regain his old form. And he had long ago lost interest in returning to the minors.

What’s next: Retirement, he says.

The take: It should be remembered Lilly had a strong 15-year career and was off to a great start in 2012 for the Dodgers before injury, and ultimately surgery, ended his season. He was never the same.

Despite his years, Lilly found it difficult to give up the dream and tried to rehabilitate his career in the off-season Venezuelan winter league. Unhappy with the results, the left-hander announced he was retiring.

Lilly went 135-113 in his career with a 4.14 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. He may not have been the hardest thrower, but he averaged a decent 7.6 strikeouts per nine innings. Also, he made over $80 million for his career.

Now he can retire to his home in Oakhurst, a small community about 14 miles south of the entrance to Yosemite. And for the last time here, his full name is Theodore Roosevelt Lilly.