Dodgers rotation: Warm the milk and cookies, the kiddies are here
When Frank McCourt wishes upon a star, what do you think it is he desires most?
Other than a quick divorce settlement in his favor. And not paying income tax. And becoming the king of Chinese soccer. Or maybe being hailed as L.A.’s NFL savior.
Somewhere in there, don’t you just think it could be to acquire a real live, breathing, legitimate starting pitcher?
Forget an ace, we’re way past that. Just a proven, reliable major league arm.
Alas, currently in the Dodgers rotation are John Ely and Carlos Monasterios. That would be Ely, who until this season had never pitched above double A, and Monasterios, who essentially had never pitched above Class A.
Monasterios will make the first start of his career Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He remains a pleasant surprise, but hasn’t really done anything that screamed: "We have got to get that kid in the rotation!"
In seven games out of the bullpen this season, he is 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA. He’s thrown 10 2/3 innings, given up 10 hits and three walks, struck out six.
He is the Rule 5 pitcher the Dodgers drafted off the Phillies’ roster. He is what the Dodgers have. It was either that or send Charlie Haeger back out on three days' rest. And Haeger is 0-3 with a 7.45 ERA.
Ely, who has a slight resemblance to actor Matthew McConaughey, made his major league debut Wednesday, allowing five runs in six innings of a 7-3 loss to Washington. He could start again on Wednesday or Thursday.
Maybe they work out. Maybe they stick and live happily ever after.
And then, maybe they pitch like a couple of right-handers with precious little minor league experience, rushed to the majors because the Dodgers simply had no one else to offer. Because they knew what their need was in the off-season and failed to address it.
Enough to make you wish upon a star.
--Steve Dilbeck
Other than a quick divorce settlement in his favor. And not paying income tax. And becoming the king of Chinese soccer. Or maybe being hailed as L.A.’s NFL savior.
Somewhere in there, don’t you just think it could be to acquire a real live, breathing, legitimate starting pitcher?
Forget an ace, we’re way past that. Just a proven, reliable major league arm.
Alas, currently in the Dodgers rotation are John Ely and Carlos Monasterios. That would be Ely, who until this season had never pitched above double A, and Monasterios, who essentially had never pitched above Class A.
Monasterios will make the first start of his career Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He remains a pleasant surprise, but hasn’t really done anything that screamed: "We have got to get that kid in the rotation!"
In seven games out of the bullpen this season, he is 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA. He’s thrown 10 2/3 innings, given up 10 hits and three walks, struck out six.
He is the Rule 5 pitcher the Dodgers drafted off the Phillies’ roster. He is what the Dodgers have. It was either that or send Charlie Haeger back out on three days' rest. And Haeger is 0-3 with a 7.45 ERA.
Ely, who has a slight resemblance to actor Matthew McConaughey, made his major league debut Wednesday, allowing five runs in six innings of a 7-3 loss to Washington. He could start again on Wednesday or Thursday.
Maybe they work out. Maybe they stick and live happily ever after.
And then, maybe they pitch like a couple of right-handers with precious little minor league experience, rushed to the majors because the Dodgers simply had no one else to offer. Because they knew what their need was in the off-season and failed to address it.
Enough to make you wish upon a star.
--Steve Dilbeck
Yep. Matt Kemp really did a "below average" job of constructing this rotation, didn't he?
#blamekemp
Posted by: blueeyedgal | 04/30/2010 at 11:40 PM
Steve, you are way to snide and critical. Yes the Dodgers are playing bad and in that sense suck. But your hammering on the deficiencies of the pitching staff are way too obvious - who doesn't know we didn't get Halladay, Lee, Lackey, Wolf or Sabathia? Big contracts are risky and they are not obvious decisions, the Dodgers mostly have done bad with big contracts. And counting on Billingsley is the right decision: even if he doesn't put it all together he is not an example of Colletti's stupidity. Seeing Padilla pitch in the playoffs made him a good bet even if other roughly $5 million dollar choices look better in hindsight. Of course we will probably really need to acquire a pitcher this season, but that is true every year, who knew Wolf would be so good last year? McCourt's biggest sin has been giving up prospects instead of paying the salaries of late season acquisitions - seriously bad management of our team. So cheer up, be a Dodger fan, enjoy getting to see the prospects pitch before veterans take over and be glad we don't have a $20 million dollar arm on the DL.
Posted by: Rick | 05/01/2010 at 08:14 AM
I'm getting tired of the criticism thrown at management about not getting a front-line starter. Not because I didn't think we needed another pitcher, but because a good starting pitcher wasn't available. Halladay rejected being traded to a team that doesn't train in Florida. Philly wouldn't trade Lee to the Dodgers, and beyond those 2 there was no talent out there. Maybe they should have offered Wolf arbitration, but I definitely wouldn't offer a guy with that injury history a 3 year deal, at that age. Plus how could one expect the ineffectiveness and injuries of James McDonald. I failed to see any gems we missed out on. Every team could always use more pitching, it's not managements fault there weren't better options, and that Halladay didn't realize Philly is a place of misery.
Posted by: scott | 05/01/2010 at 12:20 PM
Steve,
When Frank wishes upon a star, what he desires most is for the Dodgers' 40-man roster to be comprised entirely of guys not yet eligible for salary arbitration.
Posted by: Harpo in San Diego | 05/01/2010 at 02:19 PM
CORRECTION:
The Dodgers did NOT draft Carlos Monasterios from the Phillies in any Rule V draft. Monasterios came to the Dodgers from the Mets via trade (for cash), after New York drafted the pitcher in 2009's Rule V from Philly.
Posted by: Brian Paone | 05/01/2010 at 04:54 PM
bpaone: The Dodgers wanted Monasterios enough that they had the Mets draft him from the Phillies for them, in exchange for cash.
Posted by: Steve Dilbeck | 05/01/2010 at 06:05 PM