Rattled Dodgers call up their minor league pitcher of the year, Rubby De La Rosa, from double A [Updated]
Desperate times call for desperate measures, or at least call-ups.
The Dodgers, feeling troubled earlier this season in left field, called up Jerry Sands, who just a year ago was starting the season at Class A.
Now the Dodgers, melting in the bullpen and tired of carrying the nearly useless Lance Cormier, have called up Rubby De La Rosa from double A Chattanooga.
Like Sands, De La Rosa started last season at Class A. Like Sands, who was the Dodgers' minor league player of the year last season, De La Rosa was their minor league pitcher of the year.
He’s been mostly a starting pitcher, but for now will go the bullpen, presumably for long relief.
If the Dodgers are playing well, and not placing almost a second team on the disabled list, Sands and De La Rosa are still in the minors, being carefully brought along.
But these Dodgers are reeling and threatening to disappear from the National League West race before June rolls around.
Cormier was reasonably effective for Tampa Bay last season (4-3, 3.92 ERA in 60 games), but could never find his rhythm with the Dodgers.
The right-handed De La Rosa was impressive this spring (2.29 ERA, 16 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings), and continued to shine at Chattanooga (2-2, 2.92 ERA, 52 strikeouts and 19 walks in 40 innings). There's no doubt he's a promising talent.
Still, if the Dodgers’ house is in reasonable order, De La Rosa is looking at a summer promotion to triple A, not being asked to help stabilize a beaten-down bullpen.
[Updated at 4:44 p.m. from Ben Bolch in Houston:
Consider De La Rosa as shocked as anyone by his arrival in the major leagues.
“I’m very surprised,” said the 22-year-old.
Manager Don Mattingly said the Dodgers “wanted to put another quality arm out there” with four relievers on the disabled list and other pitchers battling bouts of ineffectiveness.
Though he had been used exclusively as a starter this season, De La Rosa is expected to start his major league career as a reliever. But Mattingly said the Dodgers envision the native of the Dominican Republic as a starter over the long term.
De La Rosa, who was holding opposing hitters to a .199 batting average at Chattanooga, features a fastball that has been clocked in the upper 90s, complemented by an improving slider and a changeup that Mattingly described as “dirty.”
“When you see his stuff,” Mattingly said, “you think this guy’s a big-league pitcher.”
When the Dodgers broke camp in spring training, they gave their reigning minor league pitcher of the year no indication he would pitch in the majors this season.
“They told me to keep working hard, and that’s it,” De La Rosa said.]
ALSO:
Angels outfielder Vernon Wells' dad has a different frame of reference
Dodgers can't hold it together in 4-3 loss to Houston
-- Steve Dilbeck, and Ben Bolch from Houston
Photo: Dodgers pitcher Rubby De La Rosa. Credit: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images
ALRIGHT!!! Another young arm to screw up.
Posted by: Labeldude | 05/24/2011 at 04:53 PM
Sorry to see Cormier go though. He fit right in with this year's club.
.
And remember, Ned gave this guy $1.2 million. Anyone still think Ned's hampered by McCourt? Ned's hampered by his own stupidity.
Posted by: Labeldude | 05/24/2011 at 04:57 PM
Move the Dodgers to Albuquerque and put all isotopes to play... maybe they will win some games and someone might go to watch them there . Jezz!, I hope Colleti is not thinking on putting on a uniform and pitch one of these days!
Posted by: Ricky | 05/24/2011 at 05:00 PM
I saw Goofy at Disneyland today. He's available.
Posted by: California Son | 05/24/2011 at 07:18 PM
Lance!
.
Cash that check before the end of the month!
Posted by: Lance Cormier's Mom and Banker | 05/24/2011 at 07:20 PM
This gets more and more pathetic every day. McCrap's Disgraced Dodgers: a disgrace and laughingstock of MLB. 2011 = the year of Dodger fans torture. And I thought we stopped torturing; I guess the Dodgers are now just an enhanced minor league club.
Posted by: KoufaxFan | 05/24/2011 at 07:27 PM
At this point send out the SOS & call up everyone and anyone with a pulse because several on the current 25 man appear to have flat-lined. Or, just run up the white flag of surrender, roll over & expire dudgers...the future might as well begin now, as the present veteran cast suggests it's DOA.
Late 1960's the Dodgers had an influx of youth whom became known as the 'Mod Squad', named aft a then popular tv series. A few years later some of those same players were joined by a few more from AAA Albuquerque's '72 team (still considered among if not the best minor league team ever)... they formed the nucleus of the later 1970's WS teams.
A cautionary note: conversely, the Jacksonville Five of more recent vintage flamed out to a large extent, so there are no guarantees; right now however, the only guarantee is things won't get better by continually cycling veterans on & off the DL, ad nauseam.
Perhaps like sands, de la rosa & others aren't yet ready (if ever they will be) for prime time, but then most the current 25 man roster isn't either. All the players on that '72 AAA team didn't make it big - but several did.
It was only 8 years between WS '66-'74... as of today its 23; shoot the moon, dudgers.
Posted by: 16blows | 05/24/2011 at 08:33 PM
Hey genius's, Sandy Koufax never pitched in the minors, so why the problem of this guy pitching in the 'bigs' now??
Posted by: waldobinney | 05/25/2011 at 06:37 AM
KUDOS to "duds" mgt for these moves, & MOSTLY for cutting the terrible Cormier........he is a TOTAL waste!!!........good riddance!!!
& this is a LOST season, so much more of these promo-shuns of top prospects ought to be occurring, incl. AAA's Gordon (SS), & pitcher Ely.......
"duds" should trade away at least one of their veteran starters (Lilly, Kuroda &/or garLAnd) to a contending team, as that is where the best value for each of these 3 truly is....perhaps get a good prospect from a contending team....
would be a good tie to "move" the rather "fragile" Ethier too, as he could help a contender, & ought to bring @ least 2 top prospects in return, one of whom ought to be major-league ready..........(seems to have a lot of issues w/his "digits," with last yr's infamous "pinkie" & now the toe, & recently middle finger too!!!)
Posted by: CleanHouse | 05/25/2011 at 09:20 AM
After a several lackluster years following the retirement of Koufax and the aging of stars like Wills, in 1969 the Ds brought up Bill Buckner, Steve Garvey, Bobby Valentine, and Bill Russell. Then by 1972 they added Tom Paciorek, Joe Ferguson, Ron Cey, Lee Lacy, Dave Lopes, and Steve Yeager. Paciorek, Buckner, and Lacy were traded shortly thereafter, but this was the core of the team for the next decade.
We're going nowhere this year. Management is in shambles, we have a few stars and a bunch of mediocre castoffs. Bring on the kids, let them play, and when the trade deadline approaches, trade in whoever is tradeable (Loney, Uribe, Carroll, Blake) to a contender for more prospects. In a few years, once McSnort is gone, we may be good again.
Posted by: Michael Hurst | 05/25/2011 at 01:41 PM