End of mania? Dodgers outright John Ely, Carlos Monasterios

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During a miserable 2010 season, John Ely and Carlos Monasterios had moments of near inspiration. Moments, however, does not a season -– nor a career -– make.

So it’s come to this: The two former emergency starting pitchers were outrighted to triple-A Albuquerque just before Thursday night’s deadline to set the 40-man roster and protect players from the Rule 5 draft.

Which is how the Dodgers originally acquired Monasterios, of course.

The Dodgers added five minor leaguers to the 40-man roster to protect them from the draft, leaving their roster at 38.

In 2010 the Dodgers went into the season without a real No. 5 starter, and soon it was tryout time. Ely got the call in May, and much to everyone’s surprise, initially pitched exceedingly well.

After seven starts, while the light-throwing right-hander’s control was sharp, he was 3-2 with a 2.54 ERA. He even inspired a fan’s conceived Elymania cover of Sports Illustrated (@PA_Dodger via Blue Heaven).

Alas, it was not to last. He finished the season 4-10 with a 5.49 ERA. Ely, 25, spent most of last season at Albuquerque where he went 7-8 with a 5.99 ERA.

The Dodgers kept Monasterios, 25, on the 2010 roster all season to keep his rights. He appeared in 32 games, including 13 starts, going 3-5 with a 4.38 ERA. He appeared in only one game at Albuquerque last season before injuring his elbow and undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Of the five players joining the 40-man, only two were drafted by the Dodgers. Added were:

-- Outfielder Alex Catellanos, 25: He came from the Cardinals for Rafael Furcal. In 121 at-bats at double-A Chattanooga he hit .322, with .406 on-base and .603 slugging percentages.

-- Right-hander Stephen Fife, 25: A starter who came in the Trayvon Robinson trade, had a combined 3.74 ERA at double-A but has seriously struggled in the Arizona Fall League (1-6, 8.06 ERA).

-- Right-hander Chris Withrow, 22: Another former first-round pick from Texas, he went 6-6 with a 4.20 ERA at double-A, with 130 strikeouts in 128 2/3 innings.

-- Right-hander Josh Wall, 24: A former second-round pick, he was a middle reliever at double-A who went 4-5 with a 3.93 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 68 2/3 innings.

-- Left-hander Michael Antonini, 26: A starter who came from the Mets for Chin-Lung Hu, and finished 10-9 with a 4.01 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 148 innings at double-A.

The Dodgers previously added outfielders Scott Van Slyke and Alfredo Silverio to their 40-man.

-- Steve Dilbeck