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Dodgers’ Web musings: What’s Plan B if Jonathan Broxton struggles again?

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All nervous about Jonathan Broxton? It’s a big club. And it figures to take more time than anyone would like to admit to for the apprehension to evaporate.

Not to think negatively or anything, because that is clearly someone else’s department, but what happens if Broxton again performs the way he did in the second half of last season?

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Last year’s solution was Hong-Chih Kuo, who performed wondrously. Still, there will always be trepidation over his elbow. Plus, at the moment, he is their only for-sure lefty in the bullpen.

Could oh-so-green Kenley Jansen be the answer?

A big calling for someone who was throwing the ball back to the pitcher just a year and a half ago. Real uncharted territory the Dodgers would prefer not to be forced into.

But LA Dodger Talk’s Mark Timmons is convinced Jansen has that elusive closer’s mentality, something he never felt Broxton demonstrated.

True Blue LA’s Eric Stephen also likes Jansen as a future closer, but thinks (hopes) the earliest that would happen is next season.

Also on the Web:

-- Dodger.com’s Ken Gurnick takes a look at infield prospect Ivan De Jesus Jr., who said he doesn’t feel he has to play every day and could be a utility infielder for the Dodgers.

-- The New York Post’s Joel Sherman says the possibility of contracting Oakland and Tampa and allowing current A’s owner Lew Wolff to purchase the Dodgers and Rays’ owner Stu Sternberg to buy the Mets, is still at least being discussed in baseball circles.

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-- ESPN/LA’s Tony Jackson says don’t count out left-hander Scott Elbert just yet.

-- Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal has a video interview with Clayton Kershaw, in which the left-hander says of being called an ‘ace’: ‘I have a long ways to go to get that label.’

-- Vin Scully Is My Homeboy’s Robert Baly reviews a new book of recipes by major leaguers, but give a less than enthusiastic review to Dodgers’ resident food guru Andre Ethier’s three contributions.

-- ESPN/LA’s Jon Weisman is trying an optimistic bent on the chance of this season’s Dodgers.

-- Frank McCourt speaks! But it’s about his LA Marathon at Dodgers.com.

-- They can’t get over it. The San Francisco Business Times’ heralds the Giants’ fan base ranking as No. 4 in baseball with a headline that they beat the Dodgers -- by one spot.

-- Baseball Savvy’s Howard Cole with another installment on Dodgers’ Web contributors, this time with Dodgers.com pioneer Ben Platt.

-- More from Gurnick: Aaron Miles makes his case to land a spot on the Dodgers roster.

-- Steve Dilbeck

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