Friday, February 1, 2008

On second thought, no arbitration for Beimel

The final piece of the pie avoided arbitration today when Joe Beimel signed a 1-year/$1,925,000 deal. He will be entering his 3rd season with the Dodgers.

So far, it's been so good for Beimel. In 2006, he was 2-1 with a 2.96 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 62 games. Last year, he appeared in 83 games while posting numbers of 4-2 with a 3.88 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. He has been a great presence on the left side of the mound. Yup, he's pretty much done everything right...

... Buuuuuuut there's that minor "incident" that will continue to haunt him the rest of his career. For those of you unfamiliar, here's the skinny. Right before the '06 NL Division series started in New York against the Mets, he went out drinking at some NY bar watching the Packers-Eagles Monday Night Football game. Well, the night didn't end so well as he ended up slicing his pitching hand on glass. He initially lied about it and said it happened in his hotel sink. Feeling guilty, or perhaps because people were questioning his story, he finally came clean.

Oh ya, the Dodgers got swept and lefties like Carlos Delgado and Cliff Floyd hurt them. Beimel could have been used against them.

But that was then, and this is now. He pledged to change his life and appears to have done so, which is good for him. They need him coming out of the 'pen considering their lack of quality lefties. Expect another big year from him.

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