Jury figures to remain out on Jonathan Broxton until he brings the heat [Updated]
Let’s accept this right from the start: Early in the season, Jonathan Broxton is going to be one of the most scrutinized Dodgers.
Many are waiting for him to fail, convinced it’s inevitable, so all the better that it should happen quickly and the Dodgers can move on to Plan B, whatever that is.
So the first series of the season was fairly unfulfilling for those still supporting the big boy as well as those eager for his tumble.
Over the weekend, the Dodgers won three of four games against the San Francisco Giants -- excuse me, the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants, and Broxton got the save in all three victories.
Entering the ninth inning with a 7-4 lead Sunday, Broxton shrugged off the home run he gave up to pinch-hitter Aaron Rowand.
"I had a three-run lead, you go after them," Broxton said. "You try to get threw quick outs."
You’d be more excited if he was at least blowing people away, which he clearly is not. Indeed, according to MLB.com, Broxton never hit 90 mph Sunday.
[Update: MLB.com appears to be posting conflicting information. On its Gameday page it now shows Broxton hitting 96 mph. However, on its play-by-play section posted immediately after the game, it never showed him hitting over 88.1 mph.]
At least, however, he is throwing strikes, having yet to walk a batter.
Manager Don Mattingly, who clearly isn’t going to criticize his players, said he was unconcerned with the two home runs.
"No, he keeps getting them out," Mattingly said. "That’s what we’re looking for."
Likewise, catcher Rod Barajas was giving only positive reviews to the early Broxton.
"His role is to close," he said. "The home runs would be of concern if it was a one-run lead, but he was up three and two runs [Thursday]. It doesn’t matter how you get it done. He’s making these guys swing the bat.
"It’s all about being aggressive. I’d much rather see that [homers], than four straight balls."
Of course, he’s not always going to have a three-run lead. Closers bring the heat. And the heat will be on Broxton until he does, and with some regularity.
-- Steve Dilbeck
Photo: Jonathan Broxton. Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea / US Presswire
"Many are waiting for him to fail"
Dude is tipping the scales at 300lbs! He's failed his team and himself. After last season you'd think he'd spend the off season trying to figure things out, instead he comes to camp in worse shape!
Try mixing-in a salad with those 88mph fastballs...
Posted by: richard simmons | 04/04/2011 at 08:45 AM
"I had a three-run lead, you go after them," Broxton said."
- can't wait to see what the dudgers widescreen version of a root canal does when he's asked to hold a one-run margin...
"You try to get threw quick outs."
- yes... be so rare nowadays him 'threwing' (me too) up nauseating 9th innings...
"You’d be more excited if he was at least blowing people away, which he clearly is not."
- oh he's 'blowing' all right: MLB kisses in the form of beach balls to the batters, his reputation as a closer and saves too soon enough, appears...
"Indeed,"
- good, we've consensus...
"according to MLB.com, Broxton never hit 90 mph Sunday."
- I thought something was wrong with my tv last night (besides Huff playing Lt. Gerard in pursuit Dr. Kimble & the dudgers practicing their 9-iron slices rf)... ESPN showed broxton hitting 95 mph; visions of Eric Gagne's descent.
Posted by: 16blows | 04/04/2011 at 08:49 AM
Wanna get rich quick? Every time Fatso comes into a game, wager that he will throw a ball on his first pitch. It's a 98% certainty.
Posted by: Chumpy Kemp | 04/04/2011 at 08:57 AM
On the Friday nite game it looks like he was hitting 97 according to the Dodger telecast. It's not the heat with Brox I am concerned about, it's his lack of a curve or change up. You would think that Lopes, whose Phils brutalized Brox in the playoffs, could offer some advice if Brox is tipping his pitches.
Also, what about Kuo's less than stellar work last night and Jensen's on Sat night?
Posted by: phillydodger | 04/04/2011 at 08:57 AM
Steve,
Where are you getting this non-sense that Broxton never hit 90 mph in Sunday's game? I just checked yesterday's game log on MLB.com and of the 19 pitches he threw 17 were between 93-96 mph. I also watched the game on ESPN and clearly remember seeing the mph graphics show him throwing in the mid-90's. The announcers even noted that his mid-90's fastball was very easy to hit because he was throwing it over the top and that his problem was that he couldn't hit his spots with his slider as well as having mental problems due to his old buddy Matt Stairs.
Posted by: SteeleHere | 04/04/2011 at 09:03 AM
Funny. No one on the Dodgers is concerned that Broxton has a 6.00 ERA and he didn't even hit 90 mph?
I see that according to FanGraphs he's still averaging 96.7 mph, but that probably doesn't include yesterday. Still, ask Dodgers fans if they are worried when he comes in.
Posted by: vtadave | 04/04/2011 at 09:23 AM
If that little tidbit about Broxton not exceeding 90 mph on Sunday is true, then I am quite alarmed. His main weapon was his fastball. He could dominate batters when he had command and speed on that pitch, but lately he appears to have neither. I now see why hitters are tagging his pitches.
Just a precautionary hypothetical but who closes next: Kuo or Jansen?
Posted by: Scott | 04/04/2011 at 09:41 AM
Dodgers take 3 of 4 from the defending champs to open the season. Nice.
SF has some clear weaknesses in their lineup, and old guys trying to field young guy positions. They will relying on pitching to save them. That was the best news. It makes the NL West title a little more attainable for this mixed Dodger team.
Granted only one of Huff's misplays mattered - his first inning miscue would have been a single either way and Kemp's HR would have scored that runner. But the Giants will have to choose between Belt and Huff in the lineup, clearly Huff is not an everyday outfielder any more.
It wasn't a pretty series, but 3-1 against SF is a lot better than 1-3. It's a long season, that's a good start.
Posted by: Tom Daniels | 04/04/2011 at 10:01 AM
Seems Brox is enjoying his salad days with a pitchfork, but that ain't hay. Little late to be blaming his psyche on Stairs, unless its the ones he's not using to get a little exercise. Whatever he had once is [or has] slipping away, which doesn't bode well with Kuo's and Jansen's seeming mortality. And to say I'm unimpressed with Guerrier and Hawksworth could possibly be an understatement. This bully is on the precipice of an epic fail, the likes of which we haven't seen since last year.
Posted by: Steve in Mariposa | 04/04/2011 at 10:25 AM
If he appears in 60 games he will give up 40 home runs. 6.00 era. 88 mph fastball. What's the problem? Another Fatushima waiting to melt down.
Posted by: Hollywood Dodger Mark | 04/04/2011 at 10:34 AM
I'm not going to say anything negative about Broxton today. There's such a thing as piling on. Y'all have this guy buried already, there's really not much point.
Posted by: BlueinAZ | 04/04/2011 at 10:49 AM
LA Times' Dilbeck: "At least, however, he is throwing strikes, having yet to walk a batter."
.
LA Dodgers' Barajas: "He's making these guys swing the bat."
.
Broxton's Grandma: "OMG. A walk? Give me a bat. I'll be swinging for the fences, too!"
Posted by: Lemonade! Lemonade! Just Like Grandma Made! | 04/04/2011 at 11:10 AM
i remember last year, he had uribe swinging late and lyons kept saying how he couldn't catch up to brox's fastball. then he throws the slider and uribe parked it halfway up the pavilion. same with last night, hershiser and valentine both criticized throwing that weak slider to rowand. with his injuries and that ridiculous stance of his, he was late on the fastball. then brox throws the stupid slider and there it goes, boom. was it barajas calling both of those games? how much of pitch selection is the pitcher, as composed to the catcher or manager?
Posted by: HI Dodger Fan | 04/04/2011 at 11:27 AM
The Dodgers need to get rid of him asap. I know it won't happen, but he's not going to get the job done. I agree with the other poster about the Fatso thing. The guy is such a fat tub of goo he makes Terry Forster look lean. And he came in fatter than he was last year. Who wants garbage like that?
Posted by: Chumpy Kemp | 04/04/2011 at 11:58 AM
Broxton should take note that when scrubs are digging-in at the batters box, they're are not afraid of you or your fastball.
Back in the day, if they had tried digging-in on Drysdale, the first pitch would be a fastball right under the chin, aka, chin music.
And never under-estimate the effectiveness of hitting a batter with a well placed fastball. The entire opposing team will get the message.
Posted by: Nolan Ryan | 04/04/2011 at 12:26 PM
Nolan Ryan, that is exactly what Broxton needs to do. Nobody is scared of him anymore. He doesn't even need to hit anybody though. Just get the ball close and keep the hitter on their toes and you will win the head game battle.
I have faith in Broxton. The saves haven't been pretty, but compared to last season against the Giants (20+ERA) he is doing better already. Let the season move on and he may regain his old form.
Go Dodgers.
Posted by: Matt | 04/04/2011 at 02:08 PM
He's a bum. He will blow more saves than he gets this year. Guaranteed. Can't believe he's still on the roster. I guess that's what you get when your team's owners are spending more money squabbling in a divorce than paying pitchers. Ugh.
Posted by: SM | 04/04/2011 at 02:10 PM
The jury is still out? Doesn't that presuppose he has a case?
Posted by: SM | 04/04/2011 at 02:32 PM
Here's a thought: "Now closing for the Los Angeles Doyers...Vicentte Padilla!"
Posted by: Dennis | 04/04/2011 at 03:10 PM
I can't believe the Dodgers don't see what I've seen for the last 2 seasons. This guy is getting worse, not better. My wife and I have a running joke whenever he enters the game, we go uh oh, better hold your breath, Broxton is coming in. Ans sure enough, he rarely disappoints, usually allowing a baserunner at every turn. Wake up Dodgers, get rid of this guy!
Posted by: Greg Dougherty | 04/04/2011 at 03:25 PM
It's not so much a matter of velocity...or a lack of it. According to the graphic on TV during the games, he was in the mid-90s...several pitches were 96 mph and he hit 97 at least once. The problem was location...he was missing spots. It doesn't matter how hard you throw, if it's right done the middle, a major league hitter is gonna crush it. Well, at least he didn't walk anyone.
Posted by: bob cuomo | 04/04/2011 at 03:30 PM
oops...that should read right down the middle...
Posted by: bob cuomo | 04/04/2011 at 03:31 PM
So far, so good. That's what I say. His job is to close it out, not how he does it. Of course we all would rather see 1-2-3 innings all the time because it's easier on the nerves but we have to take what we get.
Posted by: OldBrooklynFan | 04/04/2011 at 04:02 PM
Can him already!! 3 out of 3 SHAKY saves. He would have blown 2 had we not been ahead by more than 1 run. Put Kuo in as the closer until Padilla comes back from the DL. These early games might end up meaning something at some point, might as well have someone with confidence and consistency to get the job done. Broxton's "best days" are long gone
Posted by: A-Man | 04/04/2011 at 04:29 PM
i'm sorry, but broxton SCARES THE HELL OUT OF ME! he's like adding gasoline to a fire. yeah, L.A. took 3 out of 4 from s.f., BUT our closer looked like he didn't scare ANYONE! i liked the way the team played under donnie baseball, although i didn't particularly care for the "b" lineup they fielded on saturday. BUT, the way lily pitched, i guess it didn't matter, right?
Posted by: Lakeshowinphx | 04/04/2011 at 04:43 PM
So Mattingly thinks Broxton's problems last season were more between his ears than anything else...meaning, I suppose, that Brox is a headcase.
Why doesn't he have a curve or off-speed pitch? How did he get to the show without either of those? Does he think he's gonna continue to "get by" on his mediocre fastball and slider?
Posted by: k | 04/04/2011 at 04:48 PM
He is not the same, He added more weight which does not help as he sweats like crazy and huffs and puffs out there......He is so out of shape. His Fastball is not fast and hitters are s itting on it knowing thats his bread and butter pitch. His slider does nothing. He will blow more games then he saves this year. The Dodgers will find out the hard way but Mattingly looks like he will not stick with Broxy for long if he lets close games get away. Having Mariano Rivera in NY Mattingly knows what a closer is all about. Brox will be the man until he loses the role. It is his job to lose or keep.
Posted by: Chuckie P. | 04/04/2011 at 04:48 PM
Who's worse, Jonathon Broxton or Tom (Buff) Niedenfuer?
Posted by: John E. Sweeney | 04/04/2011 at 05:16 PM
I can shake the feeling that he's hiding an injury. Something happened to his ability to snap the ball, the slider has no bite and his fastball has really straightened out. If it's not injury it's mechanics, why can't honeycutt fix it?
Posted by: Blue in a sea of orange | 04/04/2011 at 06:21 PM
3 successful save in the first 3 attempts.
That is 3 for 3.
Not pretty enough for you?
Throw Jansen or Padilla out there in the closer role and then the howling will begin in ernest.
Broxton is doing his job.
Get real.
Posted by: 68elcamino427 | 04/04/2011 at 06:25 PM
Niedenfuer.
Posted by: Labeldude | 04/04/2011 at 07:20 PM
Broxton is too fat
Posted by: Nedisfrankspuppet | 04/05/2011 at 11:22 AM
Broxton said. "You try to get threw quick outs." WHUT?
He takes 3 minutes between every pitch, trying to gain the courage to throw the darn ball.
Big John is a Big Wuss!
Posted by: Binky | 04/05/2011 at 01:23 PM