Dodgers have to be concerned over George Sherrill’s woes
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How much longer can the Dodgers wait for reliever George Sherrill to find his way?
The season starts in three days, and Sherrill looks as lost now as when spring training began. Maybe more so.
Sherrill was a godsend when the Dodgers acquired him last summer, turning into a dominating left-handed set-up man for closer Jonathan Broxton. Sherrill had a 0.65 ERA in 30 games for the Dodgers.
But he’s been anything but dominant this spring. Manager Joe Torre said he’s not concerned, but it will be difficult to trust Sherrill with a lead the way he’s currently pitching.
At first the Dodgers said they were told he typically struggled in the spring, but was ready once the season started. Now they say he has problems with his mechanics.
Sherrill blew the save Thursday against the Indians, allowing two runs on two hits and a walk in just two-thirds of an inning.
‘That’s the first time he’s pitched since he’s tried to straighten himself out mechanically,’ Torre said. ‘A lot of times what he’s doing is just turning too much; when he comes out, he unwinds and his arm is back here [behind his head].
‘Then when he tries to correct it, he ends up yanking it and it’s low and in to a right-hander. It’s a rhythm thing. He knows what he needs to do. He’s in the bullpen, and he’s fine. It’s just a matter of when the game starts, it’s a little bit different emotionally.’
Overall Sherrill he has a 7.50 ERA this spring, having given up 11 hits and seven walks in six innings.
The Dodgers need Sherrill to find himself quickly. With Hong-Chih Kuo scheduled to start the season on the disabled list with a sore elbow, Sherrill is the only left-hander in the bullpen.
‘I think it’ll come,’ Torre said. ‘I’m not really concerned about it. There’s nothing physically wrong with him. But he’s not your conventional, smooth-type-of-delivery guy. I think it’s just a matter of getting comfortable. He knows what it is.’
-- Steve Dilbeck