Plans awry, Dodgers bullpen tries to stay one step ahead of chaos
So much for the best-laid plans of mice and general managers.
When the Dodgers went into spring training, they were confident their rebuilt bullpen would be a 2011 strength. Had it all mapped out.
Maybe they were crossing their fingers on returning Jonathan Broxton as closer, but he was an All-Star coming off a bad half-season. And if he faltered, there was the nearly unhittable Hong-Chih Kuo.
Behind them, the hard-throwing Ronald Belisario. Vicente Padilla would return as the long man. Kenley Jansen was back off his lights-out rookie campaign.
Then there was new addition Matt Guerrier, and even Blake Hawksworth if needed for the middle innings.
Only six weeks into the season, the bullpen is completely upside down. Almost unrecognizable.
Now Padilla is suddenly forced into being the closer, and the bullpen counts on non-roster invitees Mike MacDougal and Lance Cormier, plus perennial prospect Scott Elbert, who left the organization last year because he was stressed. And Hawksworth is battling a groin injury.
The bullpen is all duct tape and bubble gum, as uncertain as they come.
The saddest part is Kuo, who has undergone four elbow operations (including two Tommy Johns) and shown remarkable will in fighting back to his record season last year. Hopefully he overcomes his psychological roadblock and makes it back. He’s still only 29 and deserved more good days.
Bullpens are seldom whole, but the Dodgers’ never will be the one envisioned. They’re like Indiana Jones, making it up as they go along, despite their best-laid plans.
-- Steve Dilbeck
Photo: Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly stands in the dugout during the second inning of the Dodgers' 4-1 loss to the Pirates in a game in Pittsburgh on Monday. Credit: Gene J. Puskar / AP
How sound can a Ned plan ever really be?
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Brox appears to have some sort of psychological problems. Kuo. Elbert last year... what are they doing to these guys?
Posted by: Labeldude | 05/12/2011 at 08:11 AM
actually, @ present, the bullpen is about as good as it's been in over a year, as Padilla is by FAR the best option down-there for closer-role, as he has proven time-&-again of possessing the mental-toughness/intestinal fortitude required of that job.......
& each of "Mac," Jansen, "Gay-Rear," & the "Hawk" (presuming the latter is healthy & not soon to be on DL) is quite capable of "bridging" from 7th-8th innings to get to Padilla..........& even last years' ver-shun of "Mr-Yips" (a.k.a. Elbert) just MIGHT be able to come in & get one out, i.e., a lefty-batter????
the BIG remaining issue is Cormier, who is the 2nd-biggest "crook" found in "duds" stadium this season (first being the thugs who still remian at-large following the ugly/terrible assault on opening day; maybe the commish needs to call in the Navy Seals to get this job done!!!!).......
Cormier ought to be brought before a grand-jury on larceny/grand-theft charges, as he is stealing from the duds, presumably collecting/cashing his paycheX for producing absolutely NOTHING!!!!
don't merely cut Cormier-the-Clown, but throw him in the slammer!!!!
Posted by: CormierTheClown | 05/12/2011 at 08:24 AM
You'd be stressed too having to labor in Frank's bull(pen)...
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Aside from arguably the best pitchers in LA Dodger history - Sandy & Fern, Lost Angeles (and even Brooklyn) has been a star-crossed destination for leftys, those that made it and/or those fell off the track somewhere along the way, decades through the years:
- kuo
- elbert
- greg miller
- chuck tiffany
- onan masaoka
- steve howe
- karl spooner
- tommy lasorda
No Carlton or Spahn nor even an Moyer in terms longevity, just steady guys like a Podres who won more than 15 games just once in his career, Osteen who won 112 games during his best 6-year stretch (only a bit less a koufax 129 his best 6 years same); Reuss never won more than 18 games a season anywhere, LA or otherwise, Perranoski won 16 games as a reliever in '63; Fernandez was one slipped away, but Brewer parlayed his screwball into a 17-year 3-team career.
Posted by: 16blows | 05/12/2011 at 08:58 AM
Forget Belisario he's strung out behind a curtain on crack or whatever they call it down there. So far we are only three and a half games off the pace and less than a couple of weeks short of seeing hopefully both Furcal and Blake back. We are better than last year and soon the cloud of ownership will be decided. With all the Dumb stuff encircling this season. We really are in good shape. I just hope that when not if Mattingly makes his errors as a rookie manager people shut up and just let him manage. So far hes been really good. And Knuckle nose Ned will look pretty darn smart in September if we just keep pace. Hes one trade away from being a genius. Sometimes the trade you pass on is the best move possible.Take that into consideration as well. I will always bleed Dodger Blue no matter what.
Posted by: Jack Sparrow | 05/12/2011 at 10:13 AM
Do reporters even know what Tommy John surgery is? Doubt it.
Does anyone under 45 years old even know who Tommy John is? Doubt it.
How hard is to write "ligament replacement surgery" rather than using what is an obscure phrase.
Bet most people think Tommy John is the doctor who invented the surgery.
Lazy reporter, lazy copy editors.
Posted by: p david | 05/12/2011 at 12:26 PM
Dammit! Who left the kool-aid sitting out?
Posted by: Labeldude | 05/12/2011 at 12:46 PM
Since there is no cash available, keep bringing up he prospects. Whatever happened to Lindbloom? Thought he was nearing a call up last year. And by the way, just in case it could happen - I would take Ryan Doumit off the Pirates hands for Navarro and De Jesus Jr. or another prospect. Barrajas is an aging 35 and Doumit can rake it pretty good from both sides - and of course - he looks a lot like Kirk Gibson!
Posted by: phillydodger | 05/12/2011 at 12:53 PM
Maybe p david has also never heard of Lou Gehrig's disease. He's beed dead for so long. Maybe we should rename the Washington Monument.
Tommy John surgery is common usage and if a baseball fan doesn't know what that is..........
Posted by: Tom Daniels | 05/12/2011 at 02:18 PM
This is an important part f this team, it won't get far without it's bullpen.
Posted by: OldBrooklynFan | 05/12/2011 at 04:49 PM