Dodgers need to back off Ramon Troncoso fixation
I don’t know, maybe it’s time to give Ramon Troncoso a break.
After appearing in both games of Tuesday’s doubleheader, he looked less than his usual best.
He has now appeared in 14 of the Dodgers’ first 20 games. That’s a pace for 114 games this season, which I’m thinking just might be a tad much.
Only one Dodgers reliever has ever appeared in as many as 90 games: Mike Marshall setting the team record with 106 in 1974. Only five have appeared in more than 80.
Troncoso entered the second game Tuesday with the score tied 3-3 after Charlie Haeger opened the bottom of the fifth with a pair of walks.
Troncoso, who threw 17 pitches in the first game, got the first two outs but then appeared to tire. David Wright lined an RBI single and Ike Davis followed with a two-run double.
Troncoso left having thrown 19 more pitches. And the Dodgers play a day game Wednesday.
The problem for Joe Torreis that Troncoso is about the only middle reliever he can currently count on. Outside of young Carlos Monasterios, every other middle reliever has an ERA over 6.00.
Still, it’s time to fight temptation. Time to think of the season, and not just the immediate need.
-- Steve Dilbeck
Well, Belisario wasn't used in either game today, so he's certainly available to relieve whoever starts tomorrow. Ortiz threw only nine pitches in the first game and wasn't used in the second game, so he can work tomorrow too. Link threw 10 pitches in the opener and 15 in the second game, so he might be able to go an inning. As for Troncoso, you are absolutely right, it would be very wise of Torre to rest him tomorrow.
Posted by: bob cuomo | 04/27/2010 at 09:47 PM
Oh, come now! Torre overuse a pitcher? Cory Wade, Scott Proctor, and Jeff Weaver would all disagree.
Posted by: Bill Grabarkewitz | 04/27/2010 at 11:41 PM
Scott Proctor should start a Relievers Anonymous support group...
Posted by: blueeyedgal | 04/27/2010 at 11:55 PM
It's what Joe Torre does. He always destroys relievers' arms, like he did with the Yankees. And the excuse given for him is always "what alternative does he have"? Well, nobody else in baseball overuses as many of the same guys as Torre does. Joe has his circle of trust, where he uses the same two or three guys, then he says it's not it's fault when they need Tommy John surgery, the way he did with Scott Proctor.
Posted by: Subway Squawkers | 04/28/2010 at 07:45 AM
torre is a complete senile old coot, FAR MORE interested in race-horses than baseball, & talk/rumors of him staying on w/dodgers for another (LONNNNNNNG) season next year????
PLEASE, NO MORE TORRE!!!!
(simply put him "out-to-pasture," much like the equine species he dearly luvz!!!)
Posted by: bigunit | 04/28/2010 at 08:33 AM
Troncoso should stretched out and used as a 4'th or 5'th starter.
1. Free agent options are all Ortiz-ish scrubs and a useless payroll sink.
2. Any payroll flexibility that may exist should be preserved for midseason/pennant race, so...
3. Any trade that adds significant talent would cost payroll and young talent L.A. cannot afford to give away for what is right now a shaky season. So...
4. You convert Tron into a starter, see how his talent rises or fails to rise to the occasion. Not much to lose in the experiment, and just might find the next, low paid, reliable starting pitcher in their own bullpen.
His ground ball tendencies combined with some shaky infield D may result in a few frustrating games, but I think Troncoso challenged will show and prove he's more than a multiple-inning reliever most likely to end up burnt out like Scott Proctor et al...it's the only humane thing to do to save this kid's arm from Torre's brain.
Posted by: the ghost of Odalis Perez | 04/29/2010 at 05:29 PM