There's a lack of trust, and good reason for it, in the Dodgers bullpen

OK, boys and girls, today we momentarily take pause from the grieving for the lost St. Louis weekend to offer this brief quiz:

Joe Torre currently has seven relievers in his bullpen -- how many does he actually trust?

His bullpen boys are Jonathan Broxton, Hong-Chih Kuo, Jeff Weaver, Carlos Monasterios, Justin Miller, George Sherrill and Travis Schlichting.

Come on, how many?

OK, despite blowing Sunday’s game, Broxton is an obvious choice. Kuo has yet to allow a hit to a left-handed hitter, so he’s in. Weaver has been more reliable than not.

And that about ends that.

That’s right, we’re going with the correct answer: three.

Oh, the pain. A year ago, the best bullpen in baseball. Now, tilting toward disaster.
 
How could this be? Let us count the reasons, again sticking with three:

1) Ronald Belisario had visa problems because of a DUI arrest, showed up the last week of spring training, joined the team late and then posted a 7.20 ERA in his first 16 appearances.

Then he got it together and had a 1.31 ERA over his next 19 appearances, only to disappear and be placed on the restricted list. Turns out, he’s in a rehab facility, and I don’t mean the kind that helps sore shoulders.

2) Ramon Troncoso, a workhorse middle reliever last season who owned a 2.72 ERA in 73 games, started the season decently and then went into a serious downward spiral.

Unable to get him untracked, the Dodgers finally sent him and his 5.15 ERA to triple-A Albuquerque to work on his mechanics. In his first five games for the Isotopes, he is 0-2 with a 2.84 ERA.

3) And then there is the unexplained mystery of George Sherrill, who was nothing short of sensational last season for the Dodgers (0.65 ERA) and nothing even close to that this season (7.17 ERA).

Finally at a loss as to how to get Sherrill to rediscover his form, the Dodgers placed him on outright waivers. He could clear Monday and then be asked to take a trip to Albuquerque. He could refuse and become a free agent, but he has the rest of that $4.5-million contract to consider.

This is a trio of key, reliable relievers for the Dodgers last season. Now, they’re out of the equation.

In their stead are rookies Monasterios and Schlichting and the journeyman Miller. And the Dodgers don’t want to use Kuo, because of four elbow surgeries, on consecutive days.

It makes for a lot of unpredictable nights in the bullpen. And days like Sunday, when Kuo and Weaver had already pitched the day before and Torre did not want to go back to them.

So he pushes Broxton, and it blows up. The depth just isn’t there, and unless most of the disappointing trio return to form or outside help is brought in, there could be a lot more games like Sunday's.

Who would you trust in that bullpen?

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Jonathan Broxton walks off the field after giving up a walk-off single to St. Louis Cardinals' Matt Holliday on Sunday. Credit: Jeff Roberson / Associated Press.

Comments

[LS]

Why does Broxton make the list? He is not a closer and never will be. It doesn't matter how hard he throws. He does not have the necessary mentality to challenge late-inning hitters. He is not feared. The covering for Broxton is stale. Move on.

[Chad Moriyama]

Pretty much.

He won't even use Weaver in important situations, so if Kuo pitched the day before, he only has Broxton.

Torre thinks Broxton is Mariano Rivera and wants to pitch him multiple innings.

[hdimig]

The Dodgers need to ditch Justin Miller and bring up Kanley Jansen. Broxton only has 2 pitches: fastball and slider, so he will have days like this. I'll still take him over 90% over the closers out there. J-Mac would be OK in the bullpen too.

[Dave]

Hey Brox ... Mix in a change up! If you look all he throws is a straight fb and once in awhile a slider. If he doesn't have a change up to use then learn one. Kuo has credited his improvement to doing this. Hey Mr. Pitching Coach ... Why don't you coach him on this? You've got. To give big league hitters different looks.

[lawdog]

Sell the geezers for promising prospects. Fold the tent for this season and look to build a contender once McCheap is FORCED to sell the team! It is shameful that this SOB was ever allowed to buy the team and loot it as brazenly as he and his wife have done. Jail to the chief!

[Victor]

Broxton for Haren? My nutsack can close it out for the Dodgers.

[Danny Bradley]

Broxton can't get that last big out when everything is on the line. He blew the pennant to the Phillies the last two years in a row. He throws hard but there is not enough movement on his ball. He couldn't hold a 6-2 lead against the Yankees and yesterday blew it against the Cardinals. Trade Martin and Broxton for a bonafide starting pitcher, and make Quo the closer.

[Since '58]

Guys are sitting on his slider. Righties are hitting it to right field. Lefties are pulling it to right field. He doesn't pitch inside effectively. How many hits has he given up to right field? Holliday's game winner was to right. Watch him give up a hit to right field to the first batter he faces. He's done it numerous times this season.

[phillydodger]

I certainly wouldn't trust Torre to work the bullpen. Sunday he could have left Padilla in for at least one more inning. For cryin' out loud Padilla is a Venezulean and certainly could handle the heat and only threw about 70 pitches of shut out ball. Bring up Josh Lindblom. What have you got to lose?

Also, the bigger issue is the the starters. I like the idea of Nolan Ryan insisting the Texas Rangers pitchers focus on innings and and not pitch counts. He has molded the Rangers staff (of all things) into a premier, tough bunch of innings eaters. He can be done. Really!