Daily Dodger in review: The amazing disappearance of Ronnie Belliard
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RONNIE BELLIARD, 35, infielder
Final 2010 stats: .216 batting average, two home runs, 19 RBI, 10 doubles, .295 on-base percentage, .327 slugging percentage in 162 at-bats.
Contract status: Free agent.
The good: Alas, his season peaked in the third game, at Pittsburgh, when he went 3-for-5 with a double, triple and home run. At least he started like he might pick up where he left off last season, hitting .289 in April. Defensively played first, second and third base.
The bad: After May 21, he was trapped in Nowhere Land, batting just .183 (19 for 104) with one home run. He no longer resembled the infielder the Dodgers had acquired at the trading deadline in 2009 and hit so well that he supplanted Orlando Hudson as the starting second baseman down the stretch and into the playoffs.
The right-handed hitter batted only .167 against left-handers and .184 at Dodger Stadium. With two outs and runner in scoring position, went 3-for-19 (.158).
What’s next: Zippo as a Dodger.
The take: Though he performed well in the fall of 2009, you always had the feeling he was largely kept around because he was buddies with Manny Ramirez. A few days after Manny was claimed by the White Sox, the Dodgers waived Belliard and then released him when he went unclaimed.
It didn’t help his cause that Jamey Carroll, a utility infielder, was also signed, but Carroll stepped up and Belliard did not. He probably needed more consistent playing time to perform at the expected level, but it’s not like he earned it.
He’s probably looking at being invited to someone’s camp -- probably as a non-roster invitee -- but can’t imagine him returning to the Dodgers. Some will always have Paris, Belliard will always have his September-October of ’09.
-- Steve Dilbeck