It's a Broxton meltdown as Dodgers fall, 4-1, to Cubs
Jonathan Broxton is living on the edge. And right now, he’s teetering the wrong way.
It’s uncertain how long manager Don Mattingly can put up with Broxton as his closer, but after Tuesday night’s 4-1 loss to the Cubs, it can’t be too long.
On a night when Andre Ethier extended his hitting streak to 29 games, Broxton entered the ninth in a 1-1 tie.
After getting an initial out, he threw eight consecutive balls. When Mattingly, who has demonstrated a quicker trigger finger in player moves than predecessor Joe Torre, came out to get him, he was cheered.
When Broxton walked off, he was booed. The previous night he had retired the Cubs in order, but on Tuesday his velocity dropped to he low 90s. His form look off, almost awkward.
Broxton has converted seven of eight save opportunities, but few have looked clean. He has a 5.68 ERA.
His cause wasn’t helped Tuesday when Blake Hawksworth replaced him and gave up a two-run double to Geovany Soto that got past Matt Kemp and a run-scoring single to ex-Dodger Blake DeWitt.
After losing his bat when he swung it into the stands on a 1-1 pitch, he calmly got a new Louisville Slugger and drove a soft liner just over the reach of second baseman Darwin Barney.
Barney momentarily appeared to have a play on the ball, but he leapt awkwardly and the ball landed for a hit.
The hit tied Ethier with Zack Wheat for the second longest streak in franchise history, Wheat managing it in 1916 for the Brooklyn Robins. The only one left in front of Ethier now is Willie Davis and his 31- game hitting streak, set in 1969.
The starters battled in a tight pitching dual through seven innings.
It was scoreless through five innings when the Dodgers first scratched a run off Dempster in the sixth. Jamey Carroll led off with a single and was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Jerry Sands.
Ethier grounded out, but Kemp lined a single to center to score Carroll and give the Dodgers a brief 1-0 lead.
Brief, because with one out in the seventh struggling Carlos Pena hit his first home run of the season, connecting off Chad Billingsley on a drive into the Cubs bullpen.
It was Billingsley’s only mistake of the night. In his seven innings, he allowed the one run on four hits and two walks, while striking out eight.
-- Steve Dilbeck
Photo: Andre Ethier extends his hitting streak to 29 games during the Dodgers' 4-1 loss Tuesday to the Chicago Cubs. Credit: Kirby Lee / U.S. Presswire
Enough already!!! Broxton is DONE. Cut him and move on...if anyone really cares about the fans anymore.
Posted by: Steve | 05/03/2011 at 10:35 PM
Why is he still on this team? Serious question.
Posted by: FormerLifelongDodgerFan | 05/03/2011 at 10:35 PM
Well said Steve as it was yet another Meltdown(hear that Dylan ?!) for sure, by our aimless, ahem, Closer, an overweight slug who will not challenge a hitter as Closers do! If they beat ya, ok, but do not give them free tickets to 1B !
Sure Hawk did not do great, but Soto's hit had to be just perfect & it was.
And going into the game, we are facing a pitcher that leads the league with HR's allowed & where's our sluggers tonight & recently ? Yea, the 'streak' is fun to chat up, but he & Kemp need to step up the power as that's their job.
I would let Sands play every game in LF to get ML AB's as the Crew is going nowehere this year & get rid of Gibbons, Thames is on the DL & bring up Kapler to back up Sands. Sands needs to get AB's & experience & this is the perfect opportunity !
Posted by: Dallas | 05/03/2011 at 10:50 PM
Happened to catch the ninth inning on MLB, and Matt Kemp got a less than terrific break on the game-winner.
Posted by: dud dew | 05/03/2011 at 11:14 PM
I actually felt bad seeing Broxton but I feel like this has reached the point where he has continued to hide an injury or has lost the ability to pitch in the Majors.
He either needs to address an injury or regain what pitching skill he has lost.
Both seem like tough tasks to say the least.
Posted by: Angelino | 05/03/2011 at 11:14 PM
I didn't see every pitch he threw tonight, but I saw some 91s and at least one at 89 mph. It appeared to me he was nibbling. Sure, it's good to have at least two other pitches besides the fastball, but why isn't he throwing that 96 or 97 mph heater anymore. I'm thinking he may have an arm or shoulder injury. Whatever it is, he's certainly not pitching like a closer should.
Posted by: bob cuomo | 05/03/2011 at 11:15 PM
decreased velocity, awkward form, inability to throw strikes, can't go back to back anymore, balky elbow? can't anyone in this organization realize that brox is hurt? just because he denies it all the time doesn't mean he isn't hurt. the results speak for themselves. get him checked out asap.
Posted by: HI Dodger Fan | 05/04/2011 at 12:08 AM
I read a post on the Dodger site that mentioned this guy, Shawn Tolleson. Steve, can you check on this guy? He's just made 23 and is only in his second year of pro ball so I'm thinking he is a college guy. But last year at Ogden, he had 17 saves, struck out 39 in about 28 innings, and had a 0.63 ERA, giving up 2 runs all year. this year he is at great lakes. 8 saves in 10 games, only 4 hits in 9 innings and get this, 22 K's! Can this be our next Jansen? Just don't let Honeycutt mess with him and we've got our new closer. Better yet, call back Jansen and don't let Honeycutt near him.
Posted by: HI Dodger Fan | 05/04/2011 at 01:34 AM
Broxton has lost his magic. Sad. He was quite a good closer back in the day.
Posted by: California Sun | 05/04/2011 at 02:30 AM
hey brox, thanks for great work as the 8th inning man few years ago, closer work you did prior to meeting stairs....but its over...its a bottom line deal, you can't do it, we've got to have someone else...no hard feelings, just got to move on...if donnie doesn't make a switch, its a strike against his managerial abilities for sure.
brox can't get outs, frank can't make payroll....uggh
Posted by: alanw19 | 05/04/2011 at 04:32 AM
He ought to go to St. Louis. Dave Duncan would get him back on track.
Posted by: StanL | 05/04/2011 at 04:59 AM
Am I right?
or not?
TDS!
Posted by: These Dodgers Suck! | 05/04/2011 at 06:07 AM
WELL Gosh!
he saved the All Star game for the NL last year so that the Giants could have home field advantage in the WS right???
well didn't he?
Posted by: just curious | 05/04/2011 at 06:09 AM
The underperformers can't meet their payroll? Start with not paying Fatso.
Posted by: Chumpy Kemp | 05/04/2011 at 06:48 AM
hard to fathom how this insanity can continue, butt it does appear that mgr. "maa-teen-glee" & others within "duds" (dys-funk-shun-all) organiza-shun are beginning to "see-the-light" re: broX-the-TON,
as THAT is the primary reason behind recent "demo-shun" of future-closer Jansen to AA, so that Kenley can work-out all the (various) learning-curve issues, as he WILL be back as "duds" closer, likely around July & the All-Star break this season (& sent to AA rather than AAA due to Albq. NOT being very pitcher-friendly)......
& CLEARLY, "Mr. Yips" (a.k.a. Kuo) is NOT the answer either!!!!
Posted by: PenInFluX | 05/04/2011 at 07:24 AM
Broxton looks like a dear in the headlights, he should go mto ABQ and get bhis head streaight.
Posted by: Fan | 05/04/2011 at 07:34 AM
The "injury" Broxton is hiding is called being overweight and out of shape. He could work around it a couple of years ago when he was younger and had more ability and confidence, now he just can't and it shows. He could probably return to form if he dropped 50 pounds - case in point, look at Pablo Sandoval. Until then, Broxton is just dead weight.
Posted by: AB | 05/04/2011 at 08:01 AM
Brox says he's not hurt, so I offer a different thought - Roids? Its an awful dramatic loss in velocity. I could understand it being the yips or head trauma if the velocity was still there, but its not.
Posted by: Labeldude | 05/04/2011 at 08:21 AM
Dallas - Gabe Kapler was released March 31st.
Posted by: Hollywood Dodger Mark | 05/04/2011 at 08:52 AM
I hate to see any Dodger get booed by Dodger fans. A quiet stadium, a hushed crowd would have been just as if not more effective. But then again it wouldn't be Dodger Stadium would it? I hope the Parking Fee, Dodger Dog, Turkey Burger, Garlic Fries, Beer, Dibs help pay for Andre's salary. I sure would hate to see him leave L.A.
Posted by: Fanner 50 | 05/04/2011 at 09:03 AM
I don't care what Broxton does, you don't win games scoring 1 run. This team doesn't have the offense to go anywhere.
Posted by: derek | 05/04/2011 at 09:13 AM
he needs to go on a serious diet.. get a nutritionist and get some good hard working out, lose weight and get healthy.
Posted by: rafael | 05/04/2011 at 09:26 AM
Its sad how our bullpen has really been our downfall. I think we have a decent lineup to stay above .500, but every time we get a streak going (winning) our bullpen blows it. Broxton should be a reliever and only brought in when we need someone to either clean up a mess or when we are 5-6 runs ahead to finish it off. But to bring him when we are trailing or winning by one or two runs its not good. Just like Mattingly is charging Loney $1 every time he hits to left field he needs to charge Broxton $500 every time he walks someone.
Posted by: Robert | 05/04/2011 at 09:33 AM
The thing is I listen to all these national talk shows and they keep saying the guy throws 99 what's the deal it must be in his head. Do any of these guys watch the games? Broxton has been in the 93-94 range all year and the second half last year. He was always a "thrower"; wild in the strike zone but at 100 mph got away with it. Slider was always mediocre with poor command but again, with that gas you had to commit so early the slider could get you. Now, at 93, he is reduced to nibbling, pitching away from contact. Comfortable to hit against. Lay off the sloppy slider, no problem. Any mistakes up, he gets hammered.
How many guys come into the league, throw gas for a couple years, then lose it a little and are gone? 99 to 94 - a different world. You either adjust or you're gone.
Posted by: Doug C. | 05/04/2011 at 10:46 AM
WE NEED A PITCHING COACH. Look what happened to ELY and JANSEN once they got called up. KUO was obviously not ready - who made that call? IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE - BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE
Posted by: miss dewitt | 05/04/2011 at 11:24 AM