Daily Dodger in review: Ronald Belisario and the maddening season

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

RONALD BELISARIO, 27, relief pitcher

Final 2010 stats: 3-1, 5.04 ERA, two saves in four opportunities, 1.28 WHIP.

Contract status: Under club control; eligible for arbitration in 2012.

The good: During a 19-game stretch ending July 5, he looked very much like the rookie sensation of 2009 (2.04 ERA), posting a 1.31 ERA. He was throwing heat, looking confident, seemingly back on top of his game.

The bad: The rest of the season he was unrecognizable. Unless your dreams tend to run toward Freddy Krueger. He showed up so late because of a visa problem stemming from a DUI, he missed almost all of training camp. Then in his first 16 appearances, he sported a 7.20 ERA.

Then after he seemed to have found his groove in that 19-game span, he disappeared to points unknown. He reportedly entered a rehab facility, but no explanation was ever given. When he returned, he looked a lot more like the Belisario who had started the season.

What’s next: A lot of crossing of fingers. He’ll return next season, the Dodgers hoping he has his life in order and ready to resume being a dominant set-up man.

He’s still young and has shown what he can do when focused. Alas, he’s also shown what he can do when not.

The take: The Dodgers can’t count on Belisario at this point, they can only hope. He’ll get penciled in as a set-up man going into spring training, but will be watched carefully. He’s way too talented to be given up on, but needs to earn back the team’s trust.

If he can turn it back around, it’s major points for what was a disappointing 2010 bullpen.

-- Steve Dilbeck