Despite pitching better, Charlie Haeger may have run out of time with Dodgers
And now to ponder the unthinkable: Do the Dodgers now keep Charlie Haeger?
They’ve stuck by him through his horrendous start, but now that he pitches decently -- we’re talking comparatively here -- are they going to let him go?
Logically, it would seem time to designate him for assignment. Chad Billingsley is scheduled to be activated Monday, so room will have to be made.
If it’s going to be Haeger, it would be better to do it prior to Friday’s game and bring up a Jon Link or someone who might be useful this weekend against the Yankees, rather than wait until Monday.
Manager Joe Torre said he was uncertain what would happen next with Haeger.
"I don’t know," Torre said. "We have to see what our needs are. We have Billingsley coming back on Monday, so we’re just taking this a day at a time right now."
With his 0-4 record and 8.53 ERA, the Dodgers basically started Haeger on Thursday night out of desperation. With Carlos Monasterios and Billingsley on the disabled list and the system devoid of quality starters, Torre went back to his failed experiment.
Although Haeger’s final numbers looked familiar -- four runs on five hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings -- this was actually his best start since his first one on April 11.
If Ramon Troncoso could actually do his job -- he allowed both base runners to score when he relieved Haeger -- then the knuckleballer exits having allowed only two runs.
"I feel like I battled out there tonight," Haeger said. "I felt like I gave it everything I could out there tonight. I felt into a game, for the first time in a while. I felt good."
Haeger actually had good success with his slider, relying less on just his knuckleball and fastball.
Haeger is out of options, and if the Dodgers designate him for assignment, he could be claimed by another club. That doesn’t seem like much of a danger, given his current 8.40 ERA.
Still, it’s possible he pitched just well enough Thursday to intrigue some pitching-desperate club. I mean, even more desperate than the Dodgers.
If he goes unclaimed, he could accept a minor-league assignment with the Dodgers, which, given their lack of starting depth, they would almost certainly offer.
Haeger is as uncertain about what will happen as anyone.
"I have no idea," he said. "It’s not my job to make those decisions. I’ll come to the ballpark and get ready like I’m going to start in five days. That’s the only thing I can do."
The only way he stays in the rotation is if the Dodgers decide to send John Ely, who has options left, back down. Given that Ely has had some terrific outings and, after a rough stretch, pitched well in his last start, that seems highly unlikely.
They could keep Haeger as long man, but he’s been so unreliable, that’s a gamble. And it would likely mean sending down Justin Miller, who’s been reasonably effective.
Or Haeger could come down with another bout of plantar fasciitis, although at some point Major League Baseball has to say enough.
Haeger stuck with the Dodgers longer than he had a right to, but finally the stars are not aligning for the right-hander. After 12 weeks of trying to make it work, he may have run out of time.
-- Steve Dilbeck
They’ve stuck by him through his horrendous start, but now that he pitches decently -- we’re talking comparatively here -- are they going to let him go?
Logically, it would seem time to designate him for assignment. Chad Billingsley is scheduled to be activated Monday, so room will have to be made.
If it’s going to be Haeger, it would be better to do it prior to Friday’s game and bring up a Jon Link or someone who might be useful this weekend against the Yankees, rather than wait until Monday.
Manager Joe Torre said he was uncertain what would happen next with Haeger.
"I don’t know," Torre said. "We have to see what our needs are. We have Billingsley coming back on Monday, so we’re just taking this a day at a time right now."
With his 0-4 record and 8.53 ERA, the Dodgers basically started Haeger on Thursday night out of desperation. With Carlos Monasterios and Billingsley on the disabled list and the system devoid of quality starters, Torre went back to his failed experiment.
Although Haeger’s final numbers looked familiar -- four runs on five hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings -- this was actually his best start since his first one on April 11.
If Ramon Troncoso could actually do his job -- he allowed both base runners to score when he relieved Haeger -- then the knuckleballer exits having allowed only two runs.
"I feel like I battled out there tonight," Haeger said. "I felt like I gave it everything I could out there tonight. I felt into a game, for the first time in a while. I felt good."
Haeger actually had good success with his slider, relying less on just his knuckleball and fastball.
Haeger is out of options, and if the Dodgers designate him for assignment, he could be claimed by another club. That doesn’t seem like much of a danger, given his current 8.40 ERA.
Still, it’s possible he pitched just well enough Thursday to intrigue some pitching-desperate club. I mean, even more desperate than the Dodgers.
If he goes unclaimed, he could accept a minor-league assignment with the Dodgers, which, given their lack of starting depth, they would almost certainly offer.
Haeger is as uncertain about what will happen as anyone.
"I have no idea," he said. "It’s not my job to make those decisions. I’ll come to the ballpark and get ready like I’m going to start in five days. That’s the only thing I can do."
The only way he stays in the rotation is if the Dodgers decide to send John Ely, who has options left, back down. Given that Ely has had some terrific outings and, after a rough stretch, pitched well in his last start, that seems highly unlikely.
They could keep Haeger as long man, but he’s been so unreliable, that’s a gamble. And it would likely mean sending down Justin Miller, who’s been reasonably effective.
Or Haeger could come down with another bout of plantar fasciitis, although at some point Major League Baseball has to say enough.
Haeger stuck with the Dodgers longer than he had a right to, but finally the stars are not aligning for the right-hander. After 12 weeks of trying to make it work, he may have run out of time.
-- Steve Dilbeck
Surprise... Surprise.... As I said the other day... all the Dodgers would need to do in order to win with Haeger pitching is score 9 runs. Although I'm in shock that they actually did that (with a run to spare), I'm now very concerned that they may have blown a weeks worth of offensive production on one game. Hey, a win is a win and lord knows they needed one. Now all they have to do is get past the Yankees and they are back in the friendly confines of the NLW. I'm certainly not holding out much hope for them against the Yankees, but you never know... they might be able to beat the Giants and stay within a few games of first place.
Posted by: Tom Thompson | 06/25/2010 at 09:33 AM
That was fun yesterday. Never saw so many comments on a Dodger game this season. Well, here I am to remind people that last night's victory-of-the-week included another poor play in center field by Kemp, Troncoso and Sherrill continuing to be ineffective by allowing even more inherited runners, two more strikeouts by Kemp, and another base running blunder; this time by the normally reliable Jamey Carroll not knowing whether he was safe or out at second base.
Kemp's play was especially galling, since he had the ball in the pocket of his mitt (take a look at the picture in today's Times). The Angel's official scorer gave an Angel a double on it.
I really hope we can do something against the Yanks this weekend, but I'm a realist. Besides, Billingsley will start against the Jints Monday. We all know how that will turn out. The only question is: will he blow up in the 5th or 6th inning?
Posted by: Since '58 | 06/25/2010 at 09:39 AM
Hey, Steve. In your column in today's Times, when listing Dodgers all-time relievers, how could you forget Mike Marshall?? He was the NL Cy Young Award winner for the Dodgers in 1974, in which he appeared in a record 106 games. He was also The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year. He pitched 3 seasons for the Dodgers and his value to the team was greater at that time than any reliever the Dodgers have ever had, including the steroidal Gagne.
Posted by: Steve Freeman | 06/25/2010 at 03:02 PM
Steve Freeman: I did not forget about Mike Marshall. He had an incredible 1974 season, but was only a Dodger for a little over two years. You had to put some time in with the Boys and Blue to make this team. Ideally, be thought of as a Dodger.
Posted by: Steve Dilbeck | 06/25/2010 at 03:15 PM