Normally if the Dodgers score seven runs, they're going to win. They have excellent starting pitching, and a closer with 29 saves.
The downside, however, is the back end of the bullpen. And on Tuesday night, they showed just how shaky they are.
Josh Beckett didn't do much in his return from injury, but the trio of Paul Maholm, Jamey Wright, and Chris Perez did even worse in a 12-7 loss. Heck, even Brandon League was bad giving up two hits in 2/3 an inning, but escaped from getting charged with a run.
The Dodgers actually had the deficit at only 8-7 entering the bottom of the eighth... and then Perez got the call. That was already a mistake considering he entered the game with a 4.37 ERA. He got the first out on a popup to short.
Then he walked Gregory Polanco. And he walked Travis Snider. And he walked Andrew McCutchen. And to top it all off, he walked Neil Walker to force in a run. The floodgates opened after that, as League gave up three runs that were all charged to Perez, and just like that it was 12-7.
It was an absolutely embarrassing, pathetic performance by Perez. His ERA shot up nearly one full run to 5.35, and his WHIP is 1.42. The guy literally walked four straight batters. You would think he was imitating Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn early in the movie Major League, only this wasn't nearly as funny. It was frustrating and sad.
As I tweeted out during the game, if I'm Ned Colletti, I'm releasing his sorry ass and recalling someone like Paco Rodriguez or Jose Dominguez. Why not? Those guys can't possibly be any worse. The idea to bring the former closer Perez in was a good one, but it's clearly not working out. Get rid of him!
The two long relievers, Maholm and Wright, didn't exactly do much to encourage confidence in their abilities either. Maholm started off OK, getting four straight outs. But with the game tied 4-4 in the sixth, he gave up consecutive leadoff singles to Russell Martin and Ike Davis. Wright was brought in to clean up the mess, but instead made it was worse by giving up a two-run single to Polanco, an RBI single to Snider, and uncorking a wild pitch to score another, making it 8-4.
I've already stated plenty of times in the past how bad I think Maholm is, but Wright has certainly taken a turn for the worse as well. After pitching a scoreless inning on June 29 against the Cardinals, his ERA was 2.11. In his six appearances since then, he's given up 10 runs to raise it to 3.74. I don't know if he's tired or what, but he's obviously not the same pitcher as he was early in the year.
Right now, the Dodgers have a good closer in Jansen who's improved his numbers over the course of the season. J.P. Howell has been fantastic with a 1.30 ERA and 20 holds. League still has a 2.01 ERA, even if he still doesn't pitch big innings.
After that... UGH. That's about all I can say about some of these numbers. Brian Wilson, Pedro Baez, and Perez all have ERA's above five. The two long relievers aren't getting people out. It's not like Don Mattingly can call on Jansen and Howell every night, and when he doesn't, the results aren't pretty.
Let's see what, if anything, Colletti and the Dodgers do about this. Do they start to rev up the trade machine for bullpen help? Do they call up some arms from the minors? I would hope he does SOMETHING. If he doesn't, then don't expect to see these numbers change much.
Showing posts with label Maholm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maholm. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Not the greatest day for Dodger pitching
Josh Beckett. Hyun-Jin Ryu. Jamey Wright. What do they all have in common?
They're either hurt, or pitching like they're hurt.
We already knew before Tuesday night's game in Detroit that Beckett's sore hip would land him on the 15-day DL. Then the Dodgers went out and put up a five spot on Justin Verlander, with the big blows being a two-run double by Adrian Gonzalez, and two-run shot by Juan Uribe.
And then Ryu took the mound. And boy was it ugly.
Ryu walked leadoff hitter Austin Jackson, but managed to get out of the first. Then the second inning hit, and my oh my was Ryu just pounded into the ground. A combination of a tough strike zone by home plate umpire Paul Schrieber, who was terrible, in addition to not putting hitters away with two strikes did him in.
All in all, the Tigers sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five runs. Of course, I should point out that a questionable overturned replay on a great throw by Yasiel Puig to nail Torii Hunter leading off completely changed the momentum. I only say "questionable" because I'm not at all convinced that there's "clear and convincing evidence" to overturn the call.
Then again, I'm also a Raiders' fan, and I'll never believe that damn Tuck Rule should've happened. But I digress.
Ryu was chased in the third, and Wright had to come in to get the last two outs.
Still, the Dodgers were only down 7-5, and while they looked like they were dead, perhaps they could find some offense and put together a rally, and perhaps their bullpen could put up some zeroes.
Then again, perhaps not.
Wright was flat out atrocious, failing to get one damn out in the fourth as six straight hitters reached. Chris Perez had to relieve the long reliever, which is kind of embarrassing.
Here's the final line for each pitcher:
Ryu: 2 1/3, 10 H, 7 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Wright: 2/3, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Perez: 1 2/3, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Maholm: 2 1/3, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Baez: 1, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Here are the inflated ERA's after this beatdown:
Ryu: 3.08 to 3.65
Wright: 2.41 to 3.24
Perez: 4.65 to 4.68
Maholm: 5.07 to 5.18
Baez: 18.00 to 9.00 (Hey, at least something went right!)
The final tally? Detroit scored 14 straight runs to win 14-5. I think the Dodgers should've at least double teamed Megatron and forced Matthew Stafford to throw somewhere else.
I also think days like Tuesday will only make Ned Colletti hungrier for pitching of any sort. Beckett going down and Ryu getting shelled makes him want another starter for insurance. Wright, Perez, and Maholm make him want bullpen help, which in my opinion is the bigger need.
Any way you slice it, Tuesday was as ugly as can be. Hopefully a big start by Zack Greinke on Wednesday afternoon will help the Dodgers get a split and move on.
Other thoughts from the game:
* Matt Kemp went 3-for-4 with an RBI to raise his average to .275. The downside is that he's pretty much a singles hitter at this point. All seven hits this month are singles, and his slugging % is .443. In his near MVP season of 2011, it was .586. The next year, which was full of one injury after another, it was still .538. I'm guessing the Dodgers didn't give him eight years and $160 million to hit singles and lose his center field position.
* Going back to that replay in the second, I still hold firm that there's no conclusive evidence to overturn that call. But, the bigger problem was Miguel Rojas not making the easy tag on Hunter's leg. He went higher, which made the play a lot closer than it should've. Bottom line is that Rojas absolutely has to make that play. Puig made a PERFECT throw to second, and Rojas didn't do the easy part. Wow.
* I wouldn't be surprised if Puig keeps swinging for the fences the next few games now that he's officially in the Home Run Derby. And that's not a good thing. He'll swing hard, hit a fly ball, then stand there and react like he just missed it. That's why his numbers have been tumbling - he just can't resist going for the long ball.
* About the only positive from the pitching staff was the work of Pedro Baez. He threw really hard and had a sharp breaking ball. Maybe he gets more looks. Better than watching clowns like Perez and Maholm, who are awful.
As I said before, the Dodgers really need Greinke to step up and be an ace on Wednesday. Getting a split after a horrific first game would be a good boost. It won't be easy, as reigning AL Cy Young Award winner and wannabe billionaire Max Scherzer goes for the Tigers.
They're either hurt, or pitching like they're hurt.
We already knew before Tuesday night's game in Detroit that Beckett's sore hip would land him on the 15-day DL. Then the Dodgers went out and put up a five spot on Justin Verlander, with the big blows being a two-run double by Adrian Gonzalez, and two-run shot by Juan Uribe.
And then Ryu took the mound. And boy was it ugly.
Ryu walked leadoff hitter Austin Jackson, but managed to get out of the first. Then the second inning hit, and my oh my was Ryu just pounded into the ground. A combination of a tough strike zone by home plate umpire Paul Schrieber, who was terrible, in addition to not putting hitters away with two strikes did him in.
All in all, the Tigers sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five runs. Of course, I should point out that a questionable overturned replay on a great throw by Yasiel Puig to nail Torii Hunter leading off completely changed the momentum. I only say "questionable" because I'm not at all convinced that there's "clear and convincing evidence" to overturn the call.
Then again, I'm also a Raiders' fan, and I'll never believe that damn Tuck Rule should've happened. But I digress.
Ryu was chased in the third, and Wright had to come in to get the last two outs.
Still, the Dodgers were only down 7-5, and while they looked like they were dead, perhaps they could find some offense and put together a rally, and perhaps their bullpen could put up some zeroes.
Then again, perhaps not.
Wright was flat out atrocious, failing to get one damn out in the fourth as six straight hitters reached. Chris Perez had to relieve the long reliever, which is kind of embarrassing.
Here's the final line for each pitcher:
Ryu: 2 1/3, 10 H, 7 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Wright: 2/3, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Perez: 1 2/3, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Maholm: 2 1/3, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Baez: 1, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Here are the inflated ERA's after this beatdown:
Ryu: 3.08 to 3.65
Wright: 2.41 to 3.24
Perez: 4.65 to 4.68
Maholm: 5.07 to 5.18
Baez: 18.00 to 9.00 (Hey, at least something went right!)
The final tally? Detroit scored 14 straight runs to win 14-5. I think the Dodgers should've at least double teamed Megatron and forced Matthew Stafford to throw somewhere else.
I also think days like Tuesday will only make Ned Colletti hungrier for pitching of any sort. Beckett going down and Ryu getting shelled makes him want another starter for insurance. Wright, Perez, and Maholm make him want bullpen help, which in my opinion is the bigger need.
Any way you slice it, Tuesday was as ugly as can be. Hopefully a big start by Zack Greinke on Wednesday afternoon will help the Dodgers get a split and move on.
Other thoughts from the game:
* Matt Kemp went 3-for-4 with an RBI to raise his average to .275. The downside is that he's pretty much a singles hitter at this point. All seven hits this month are singles, and his slugging % is .443. In his near MVP season of 2011, it was .586. The next year, which was full of one injury after another, it was still .538. I'm guessing the Dodgers didn't give him eight years and $160 million to hit singles and lose his center field position.
* Going back to that replay in the second, I still hold firm that there's no conclusive evidence to overturn that call. But, the bigger problem was Miguel Rojas not making the easy tag on Hunter's leg. He went higher, which made the play a lot closer than it should've. Bottom line is that Rojas absolutely has to make that play. Puig made a PERFECT throw to second, and Rojas didn't do the easy part. Wow.
* I wouldn't be surprised if Puig keeps swinging for the fences the next few games now that he's officially in the Home Run Derby. And that's not a good thing. He'll swing hard, hit a fly ball, then stand there and react like he just missed it. That's why his numbers have been tumbling - he just can't resist going for the long ball.
* About the only positive from the pitching staff was the work of Pedro Baez. He threw really hard and had a sharp breaking ball. Maybe he gets more looks. Better than watching clowns like Perez and Maholm, who are awful.
As I said before, the Dodgers really need Greinke to step up and be an ace on Wednesday. Getting a split after a horrific first game would be a good boost. It won't be easy, as reigning AL Cy Young Award winner and wannabe billionaire Max Scherzer goes for the Tigers.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
It all could come down to the bullpen for the Dodgers
One night after Kenley Jansen's horrific blown save against the Padres, the Dodgers bounced right back behind seven shutout innings from Josh Beckett. Saturday was a solid night, as Dee Gordon scored twice and stole his 39th base, Hanley Ramirez drove in two, and Justin Turner had two hits. Jansen even got the save, regaining some momentum from the night before.
The Dodgers have been better in June with an 11-8 record, but one issue remains that could hold them back: the bullpen has got to get better.
The last two games in San Diego are the perfect example. Friday night was just brutal to watch. Dan Haren was pretty good, giving the Dodgers 5 2/3 innings for three runs. J.P. Howell and Brandon League both got a couple of outs to get into the eighth up 5-3.
Before the season, if you were to be told that the Dodgers have a two-run lead heading into the eighth, you would've been happy since Brian Wilson and Jansen were coming in. But reality has been much different than on paper, and both have underachieved.
Wilson was very fortunate to escape the eighth unharmed, as Scott Van Slyke, subbing for an injured Yasiel Puig, made a great running catch in right to prevent a run from being scored.
Then Jansen blew the save in the ninth, getting knocked all over the place, and raising his ERA from 3.72 to 4.55 in the process.
On Saturday night, the Dodgers found themselves up 4-0 heading into the bottom of the eighth. Don Mattingly rightfully didn't put Wilson back in there, but Paul Maholm gave up a leadoff triple to Cameron Maybin, and a two-out walk to Seth Smith. League came in and immediately let both runs score on two singles. Thankfully Jansen was much better in closing it out the next inning.
Right now, the bullpen is clearly sticking out as the weak link. The offense looks better with guys like Gordon, Hanley, and Matt Kemp swinging the bats better. The defense has settled in, save for Hanley's error during Clayton Kershaw's (almost) perfect game. The starting rotation has been superb all along.
Then there's the bullpen, which still can't seem to figure things out. Ideally, Wilson should've been one of the top setup men in baseball, but that certainly hasn't been the case. His ERA has actually gone way down to 5.33, but an enormous 1.89 WHIP shows that way too many men reach base against him. He looks like he's ready to implode at any point again.
The guys behind him have been a mixed bag as well. The best has been Howell with a 1.89 ERA and 16 holds. League had a good stretch to lower his ERA to 2.21, but still doesn't look comfortable in tight situations late in games. Chris Perez has been awful with a 5.61 ERA, and doesn't deserve any big innings at all.
Jamey Wright has been good with a 2.43 ERA, although his role is hard to figure out since he was supposed to be a long reliever. Does Donny strictly keep him for that role, or use him as a setup man occasionally? It's a tough call. The other long reliever, Maholm, looks lost with a 5.04 ERA. I wonder if he'll be sent packing.
Two guys relied upon for most of last year were Chris Withrow and Paco Rodriguez. Well, Withrow is done for the year with Tommy John surgery, and Paco is in Triple-A.
Jansen is going through some tough times for the first time in his career. He used to just show up, blow everyone away, then leave. Now, it looks as if hitters are more comfortable against him, and know what to expect. Supposedly there was a mechanical flaw that was being worked on after Friday's meltdown, so maybe that will work. I still think he needs to mix his pitches up more as I've said for awhile now. Mariano Rivera he is not, so throwing the same cutter over and over won't work all the time. It's time to accept some change.
I definitely expect Ned Colletti to be active over the next month-and-a-half in acquiring relief help. I can't imagine they can continue to watch games like these last two nights where the offense and starting pitching gets a lead, and they have to scratch and claw to hold on. That's pretty frustrating.
For in-house replacements, there's guys down at Triple-A like Paco, Jose Dominguez, and Pedro Baez who could get another shot in LA. Don't forget about those names.
The bottom line is that the Dodgers need to try something new with the 'pen. Most guys haven't pulled their weight, so some fresh arms will only do them good. We all know Colletti isn't afraid to pull the trigger on trades and roster moves, so keep an eye out for what happens. It should be interesting.
The Dodgers have been better in June with an 11-8 record, but one issue remains that could hold them back: the bullpen has got to get better.
The last two games in San Diego are the perfect example. Friday night was just brutal to watch. Dan Haren was pretty good, giving the Dodgers 5 2/3 innings for three runs. J.P. Howell and Brandon League both got a couple of outs to get into the eighth up 5-3.
Before the season, if you were to be told that the Dodgers have a two-run lead heading into the eighth, you would've been happy since Brian Wilson and Jansen were coming in. But reality has been much different than on paper, and both have underachieved.
Wilson was very fortunate to escape the eighth unharmed, as Scott Van Slyke, subbing for an injured Yasiel Puig, made a great running catch in right to prevent a run from being scored.
Then Jansen blew the save in the ninth, getting knocked all over the place, and raising his ERA from 3.72 to 4.55 in the process.
On Saturday night, the Dodgers found themselves up 4-0 heading into the bottom of the eighth. Don Mattingly rightfully didn't put Wilson back in there, but Paul Maholm gave up a leadoff triple to Cameron Maybin, and a two-out walk to Seth Smith. League came in and immediately let both runs score on two singles. Thankfully Jansen was much better in closing it out the next inning.
Right now, the bullpen is clearly sticking out as the weak link. The offense looks better with guys like Gordon, Hanley, and Matt Kemp swinging the bats better. The defense has settled in, save for Hanley's error during Clayton Kershaw's (almost) perfect game. The starting rotation has been superb all along.
Then there's the bullpen, which still can't seem to figure things out. Ideally, Wilson should've been one of the top setup men in baseball, but that certainly hasn't been the case. His ERA has actually gone way down to 5.33, but an enormous 1.89 WHIP shows that way too many men reach base against him. He looks like he's ready to implode at any point again.
The guys behind him have been a mixed bag as well. The best has been Howell with a 1.89 ERA and 16 holds. League had a good stretch to lower his ERA to 2.21, but still doesn't look comfortable in tight situations late in games. Chris Perez has been awful with a 5.61 ERA, and doesn't deserve any big innings at all.
Jamey Wright has been good with a 2.43 ERA, although his role is hard to figure out since he was supposed to be a long reliever. Does Donny strictly keep him for that role, or use him as a setup man occasionally? It's a tough call. The other long reliever, Maholm, looks lost with a 5.04 ERA. I wonder if he'll be sent packing.
Two guys relied upon for most of last year were Chris Withrow and Paco Rodriguez. Well, Withrow is done for the year with Tommy John surgery, and Paco is in Triple-A.
Jansen is going through some tough times for the first time in his career. He used to just show up, blow everyone away, then leave. Now, it looks as if hitters are more comfortable against him, and know what to expect. Supposedly there was a mechanical flaw that was being worked on after Friday's meltdown, so maybe that will work. I still think he needs to mix his pitches up more as I've said for awhile now. Mariano Rivera he is not, so throwing the same cutter over and over won't work all the time. It's time to accept some change.
I definitely expect Ned Colletti to be active over the next month-and-a-half in acquiring relief help. I can't imagine they can continue to watch games like these last two nights where the offense and starting pitching gets a lead, and they have to scratch and claw to hold on. That's pretty frustrating.
For in-house replacements, there's guys down at Triple-A like Paco, Jose Dominguez, and Pedro Baez who could get another shot in LA. Don't forget about those names.
The bottom line is that the Dodgers need to try something new with the 'pen. Most guys haven't pulled their weight, so some fresh arms will only do them good. We all know Colletti isn't afraid to pull the trigger on trades and roster moves, so keep an eye out for what happens. It should be interesting.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Taking a look at the starting 5
As Zack Greinke gets ready to take on the evils of Coors Field looking for his NL-leading ninth win, a place where Hyun-Jin Ryu conquered last night in a 6-2 victory, let's take a look at how the rotation as a whole has been performing. It's not often I get to say everyone's healthy, so let's hope it lasts longer than like a week or two.
Clayton Kershaw: 4-2, 43 1/3 IP, 3.32 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 55 K, 7 BB
Keep in mind the reigning Cy Young Award winner was on the shelf for six weeks with a back injury, so his innings will obviously be down. Also keep in mind that he's built such a high standard for himself, anytime he gets even somewhat touched up, it's a surprise.
With all of that said, he's still trying to find his groove after making only seven starts. Last year through seven starts he had a 1.66 ERA, and in 2012 it was 2.56. The major difference is that an injury this year completely disrupted his rhythm. He did pitch eight innings of two-run ball his last start, and if his curveball can be thrown with more snap, and he locates his fastball better, he'll be back to dominant. If there's anyone you can trust to figure things out, it's Clayton Kershaw.
Zack Greinke: 8-2, 72 IP, 2.50 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 83 K, 16 BB
The guy who stepped up in Kershaw's absence was undoubtedly Greinke, although that's no surprise at all. He's a #1 on just about every other staff in baseball. He recently snapped his 20+ straight start streak of two or less earned runs, and has actually given up seven runs in his last two starts.
Still, if that's the worst thing that's happened, then it's hard to be picky about his results. To go that many starts in a row without giving up even three runs is just amazing. It was also very quietly done, as the Dodgers get headlines for all sorts of other reasons, good and bad. If there's one area he can make a slight improvement in, it's that his K/BB ratio in his last six starts (37/10) has been a little worse than his first six starts (46/6). Yes, it's hardly worth mentioning, but when this guy's control is on, 99% of the time he gets a win.
Hyun-Jin Ryu: 7-2, 64 1/3 IP, 3.08 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 53 K, 14 BB
Another guy who spent some time on the DL was Ryu, as he was gone for nearly a month with shoulder inflammation. He actually has some pretty crazy splits, as he has a 6.15 ERA at home, but a minuscule 0.95 ERA on the road. If the Dodgers get back into the postseason, you can bet Don Mattingly won't be afraid to have him pitch on the road.
His numbers are nearly identical to last year's, with slightly better K/BB ration, but a few more hits allowed as well. However, you know his home ERA will only get better, so it's hard to find a better #3 starter in baseball. Last year his home ERA was 2.32, so get ready to see more great starts out of him in the middle of the rotation.
Josh Beckett: 3-3, 66 2/3 IP, 2.57 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 63 K, 23 BB
You already know how great of a season Beckett's been having based on his no-hitter on the Sunday before Memorial Day in Philly. Who in the world would've ever guessed he'd be the one to throw the season's first (and so far, only) no-hitter? I doubt he even would've thought that.
There's no denying just how big of a season he's been having. He's eighth in the NL in ERA. Of his 11 starts, only three times has he given up more than two runs. Oh ya, did I mention he no-hit the Phillies? All of this has resulted in a more crafty, intelligent pitcher who's using his changing speeds and control to get the job done. I would expect his ERA to be somewhere in the 3s when it's all said and done, but even if it does, that means he's still having a great season.
Dan Haren: 5-4, 74 2/3 IP, 3.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 52 K, 12 BB
On the surface, the #5 starter with a 3.50 ERA is something any manager would gladly take. He came out of five April starts at 3-0 with a 2.03 ERA. Plus, he only got better down the stretch in Washington last year, so things were definitely looking up.
Well, life hasn't been so good since then. He certainly hasn't been getting bombed, as the most runs he's given up has been four on two different occasions. The biggest problem has been the long ball, as he's surrendered seven in his last four starts. I don't think anyone expected him to pitch like a Cy Young contender, but with his ERA going up in six of his last seven starts, there's definite concern about how he'll hold up over the summer. Chad Billingsley could be right around the corner ready to take his spot. We shall see.
Overall Impressions:
I don't care how poorly the offense has performed, anytime you see the names Kershaw, Greinke, and Ryu at the top of the rotation, you like your chances to win. The encouraging thing is that Kershaw and Ryu are only getting stronger the more starts they get after injuries, and Greinke looks like an ace 9 times out of 10.
As I mentioned before, I think it will be real interesting to see where Billingsley fits into all of this once he's declared good to go. He has stated his desire to be a starter, and who can blame him? Save for a few bullpen appearances when he was younger, he's been starting games his whole big league career. Right now it looks like Haren is the one would should be most nervous since his numbers have gotten a little worse and worse. Do the Dodgers put both Haren and Paul Maholm in the bullpen as long relievers and see what they have in Billingsley starting games? It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to have three long relievers (Jamey Wright is the other one), so something has to give.
We'll wait and see how that all plays out. In the meantime, if the Dodgers can ever get guys like Hanley Ramirez and Matt Kemp on track, then this rotation will rack up more wins as the summer months heat up.
Clayton Kershaw: 4-2, 43 1/3 IP, 3.32 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 55 K, 7 BB
Keep in mind the reigning Cy Young Award winner was on the shelf for six weeks with a back injury, so his innings will obviously be down. Also keep in mind that he's built such a high standard for himself, anytime he gets even somewhat touched up, it's a surprise.
With all of that said, he's still trying to find his groove after making only seven starts. Last year through seven starts he had a 1.66 ERA, and in 2012 it was 2.56. The major difference is that an injury this year completely disrupted his rhythm. He did pitch eight innings of two-run ball his last start, and if his curveball can be thrown with more snap, and he locates his fastball better, he'll be back to dominant. If there's anyone you can trust to figure things out, it's Clayton Kershaw.
Zack Greinke: 8-2, 72 IP, 2.50 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 83 K, 16 BB
The guy who stepped up in Kershaw's absence was undoubtedly Greinke, although that's no surprise at all. He's a #1 on just about every other staff in baseball. He recently snapped his 20+ straight start streak of two or less earned runs, and has actually given up seven runs in his last two starts.
Still, if that's the worst thing that's happened, then it's hard to be picky about his results. To go that many starts in a row without giving up even three runs is just amazing. It was also very quietly done, as the Dodgers get headlines for all sorts of other reasons, good and bad. If there's one area he can make a slight improvement in, it's that his K/BB ratio in his last six starts (37/10) has been a little worse than his first six starts (46/6). Yes, it's hardly worth mentioning, but when this guy's control is on, 99% of the time he gets a win.
Hyun-Jin Ryu: 7-2, 64 1/3 IP, 3.08 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 53 K, 14 BB
Another guy who spent some time on the DL was Ryu, as he was gone for nearly a month with shoulder inflammation. He actually has some pretty crazy splits, as he has a 6.15 ERA at home, but a minuscule 0.95 ERA on the road. If the Dodgers get back into the postseason, you can bet Don Mattingly won't be afraid to have him pitch on the road.
His numbers are nearly identical to last year's, with slightly better K/BB ration, but a few more hits allowed as well. However, you know his home ERA will only get better, so it's hard to find a better #3 starter in baseball. Last year his home ERA was 2.32, so get ready to see more great starts out of him in the middle of the rotation.
Josh Beckett: 3-3, 66 2/3 IP, 2.57 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 63 K, 23 BB
You already know how great of a season Beckett's been having based on his no-hitter on the Sunday before Memorial Day in Philly. Who in the world would've ever guessed he'd be the one to throw the season's first (and so far, only) no-hitter? I doubt he even would've thought that.
There's no denying just how big of a season he's been having. He's eighth in the NL in ERA. Of his 11 starts, only three times has he given up more than two runs. Oh ya, did I mention he no-hit the Phillies? All of this has resulted in a more crafty, intelligent pitcher who's using his changing speeds and control to get the job done. I would expect his ERA to be somewhere in the 3s when it's all said and done, but even if it does, that means he's still having a great season.
Dan Haren: 5-4, 74 2/3 IP, 3.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 52 K, 12 BB
On the surface, the #5 starter with a 3.50 ERA is something any manager would gladly take. He came out of five April starts at 3-0 with a 2.03 ERA. Plus, he only got better down the stretch in Washington last year, so things were definitely looking up.
Well, life hasn't been so good since then. He certainly hasn't been getting bombed, as the most runs he's given up has been four on two different occasions. The biggest problem has been the long ball, as he's surrendered seven in his last four starts. I don't think anyone expected him to pitch like a Cy Young contender, but with his ERA going up in six of his last seven starts, there's definite concern about how he'll hold up over the summer. Chad Billingsley could be right around the corner ready to take his spot. We shall see.
Overall Impressions:
I don't care how poorly the offense has performed, anytime you see the names Kershaw, Greinke, and Ryu at the top of the rotation, you like your chances to win. The encouraging thing is that Kershaw and Ryu are only getting stronger the more starts they get after injuries, and Greinke looks like an ace 9 times out of 10.
As I mentioned before, I think it will be real interesting to see where Billingsley fits into all of this once he's declared good to go. He has stated his desire to be a starter, and who can blame him? Save for a few bullpen appearances when he was younger, he's been starting games his whole big league career. Right now it looks like Haren is the one would should be most nervous since his numbers have gotten a little worse and worse. Do the Dodgers put both Haren and Paul Maholm in the bullpen as long relievers and see what they have in Billingsley starting games? It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to have three long relievers (Jamey Wright is the other one), so something has to give.
We'll wait and see how that all plays out. In the meantime, if the Dodgers can ever get guys like Hanley Ramirez and Matt Kemp on track, then this rotation will rack up more wins as the summer months heat up.
Friday, April 25, 2014
The "dominant" Dodgers' bullpen... is pretty average
Oh boy. One night after Brian Wilson completely melted down against the Phillies in a 7-3 loss, getting burned for four runs and only one out in the ninth, it's time we take a look at how exactly the Dodgers' bullpen is doing.
Let's break it down, starting with team stats, and then looking at some individual arms in the 'pen.
Team Stats:
2-7, 83 1/3 IP, 3.56 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 8 saves, 4 blown saves, 40 BB, 92 K, .235 BAA
NL Averages:
4-3, 69 IP, 3.54 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 6 saves, 3 blown saves, 28 BB, 68 K, .236 BAA
Analysis:
Like the headline says, all things considered, the bullpen is pretty average. Not terrible by any means, but not exactly the shutdown group of arms Ned Colletti thought he was getting. The number that jumped out to me the most is the innings pitched, as only Arizona at 92 has more. No surprise, both teams lost their aces (Patrick Corbin for the year, Clayton Kershaw for over a month). The amount of walks is third in baseball. Even with more innings, that's still way too high. Blowing one out of every three saves isn't great, either.
Individual Stats:
Chris Withrow - 0-0, 11 1/3 IP, 0.79 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 7 BB, 16 K
J.P. Howell - 1-2, 10 IP, 0.90 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 6 BB, 11 K
Chris Perez - 0-1, 10 2/3 IP, 1.69 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 3 BB, 7 K
Jamey Wright - 1-1, 11 1/3 IP, 3.18 ERA, 1.85 WHIP, 8 BB, 10 K
Paco Rodriguez - 0-0, 5 2/3 IP, 3.18 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 2 BB, 5 K
Kenley Jansen - 0-1, 13 IP, 3.46 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 5 BB, 24 K, 8 SV
Brandon League - 0-1, 10 IP, 3.60 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 3 BB, 7 K
Paul Maholm - 0-0, 2 1/3 IP, 3.86 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 0 BB, 1 K
Jose Dominguez - 0-0, 5 IP, 10.80 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 2 BB, 7 K
Brian Wilson - 0-2, 4 IP, 15.75 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 4 BB, 4 K
Analysis:
Who would've thought Wilson's name would be dead last in ERA? He could not have possibly been any better last season, with only one run allowed in 13 2/3 innings. Now he's just getting hit all over the place, and his location has been abysmal. He's already spent time on the DL this season, so don't be surprised if it's right back to that soon.
Don Mattingly has recently stated that he wants to give Jansen more time off. That's a smart thing since he leads the bullpen in innings. But, Thursday night it was Wilson in the closer's role of keeping the scored tied in the ninth, and he flunked with flying colors. This is why Mattingly rides his horse so much. Even with an ERA higher than normal, with nearly twice the amount of strikeouts as innings, it's easy to see why he's used to much.
The top three names on that list should be getting more cracks in the late innings as Wilson works through whatever mechanical or physical issues he has. Withrow has emerged as a legit power arm. Howell continues to get batters out on both sides of the plate. Perez looks more like the All-Star closer he was with the Indians, and not the guy who fell apart last year.
Final Verdict:
All in all, the bullpen isn't quite as bad as people may think. It's completely understandable to be disappointed that a group of relievers making around $35 million this season are in the middle of the pack. That type of money is dished out to ensure zeros late in games, not blown saves and big hits.
Jansen is still the clear-cut closer, as he has four straight shutout appearances of late, including seven strikeouts and no walks. Mixing up his pitches a little more has really paid off. Even if he was still throwing cutter after cutter, he's the best closer they have, especially with Wilson being so bad.
Instead of Wilson as the primary setup guy, I'd move Perez up to that spot, with Withrow and Howell right behind. Perez has only given up runs in one of his 12 appearances. If there's a big lefty to get out, then of course send in Howell.
I'd also like to see is the return of Rodriguez from Triple-A. Right now the Dodgers have only one left-handed reliever in Howell, which is way too few. At least give Mattingly one more option from the left side.
Once Kershaw comes back, then Maholm can be moved to the long relief role, as Wright doesn't look like he's really in that role right now. Unless Maholm is sent packing, which wouldn't be a bad thing, quite honestly. I just think that if anything, he can be brought in for multiple innings if necessary.
Finally, I would address League, but if the Dodgers haven't canned him yet, I doubt they ever will. He's been better than Wilson, at least.
Let's break it down, starting with team stats, and then looking at some individual arms in the 'pen.
Team Stats:
2-7, 83 1/3 IP, 3.56 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 8 saves, 4 blown saves, 40 BB, 92 K, .235 BAA
NL Averages:
4-3, 69 IP, 3.54 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 6 saves, 3 blown saves, 28 BB, 68 K, .236 BAA
Analysis:
Like the headline says, all things considered, the bullpen is pretty average. Not terrible by any means, but not exactly the shutdown group of arms Ned Colletti thought he was getting. The number that jumped out to me the most is the innings pitched, as only Arizona at 92 has more. No surprise, both teams lost their aces (Patrick Corbin for the year, Clayton Kershaw for over a month). The amount of walks is third in baseball. Even with more innings, that's still way too high. Blowing one out of every three saves isn't great, either.
Individual Stats:
Chris Withrow - 0-0, 11 1/3 IP, 0.79 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 7 BB, 16 K
J.P. Howell - 1-2, 10 IP, 0.90 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 6 BB, 11 K
Chris Perez - 0-1, 10 2/3 IP, 1.69 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 3 BB, 7 K
Jamey Wright - 1-1, 11 1/3 IP, 3.18 ERA, 1.85 WHIP, 8 BB, 10 K
Paco Rodriguez - 0-0, 5 2/3 IP, 3.18 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 2 BB, 5 K
Kenley Jansen - 0-1, 13 IP, 3.46 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 5 BB, 24 K, 8 SV
Brandon League - 0-1, 10 IP, 3.60 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 3 BB, 7 K
Paul Maholm - 0-0, 2 1/3 IP, 3.86 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 0 BB, 1 K
Jose Dominguez - 0-0, 5 IP, 10.80 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 2 BB, 7 K
Brian Wilson - 0-2, 4 IP, 15.75 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 4 BB, 4 K
Analysis:
Who would've thought Wilson's name would be dead last in ERA? He could not have possibly been any better last season, with only one run allowed in 13 2/3 innings. Now he's just getting hit all over the place, and his location has been abysmal. He's already spent time on the DL this season, so don't be surprised if it's right back to that soon.
Don Mattingly has recently stated that he wants to give Jansen more time off. That's a smart thing since he leads the bullpen in innings. But, Thursday night it was Wilson in the closer's role of keeping the scored tied in the ninth, and he flunked with flying colors. This is why Mattingly rides his horse so much. Even with an ERA higher than normal, with nearly twice the amount of strikeouts as innings, it's easy to see why he's used to much.
The top three names on that list should be getting more cracks in the late innings as Wilson works through whatever mechanical or physical issues he has. Withrow has emerged as a legit power arm. Howell continues to get batters out on both sides of the plate. Perez looks more like the All-Star closer he was with the Indians, and not the guy who fell apart last year.
Final Verdict:
All in all, the bullpen isn't quite as bad as people may think. It's completely understandable to be disappointed that a group of relievers making around $35 million this season are in the middle of the pack. That type of money is dished out to ensure zeros late in games, not blown saves and big hits.
Jansen is still the clear-cut closer, as he has four straight shutout appearances of late, including seven strikeouts and no walks. Mixing up his pitches a little more has really paid off. Even if he was still throwing cutter after cutter, he's the best closer they have, especially with Wilson being so bad.
Instead of Wilson as the primary setup guy, I'd move Perez up to that spot, with Withrow and Howell right behind. Perez has only given up runs in one of his 12 appearances. If there's a big lefty to get out, then of course send in Howell.
I'd also like to see is the return of Rodriguez from Triple-A. Right now the Dodgers have only one left-handed reliever in Howell, which is way too few. At least give Mattingly one more option from the left side.
Once Kershaw comes back, then Maholm can be moved to the long relief role, as Wright doesn't look like he's really in that role right now. Unless Maholm is sent packing, which wouldn't be a bad thing, quite honestly. I just think that if anything, he can be brought in for multiple innings if necessary.
Finally, I would address League, but if the Dodgers haven't canned him yet, I doubt they ever will. He's been better than Wilson, at least.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Maholm provides depth, but no intimidation
Paul Maholm's first start as a Dodger started off decently, as the Giants had a slight 2-1 edge going into the fifth.
And then reality set in, and Maholm's soft tossing ways got him smacked around. Pablo Sandoval's three-run homer, an inning after Michael Morse's 427-foot bomb, gave the Giants the lead for good as they cruised for the second straight day 7-2.
For the Dodgers, it was the uncommon sight of a starting pitcher being taken out of the game early. In Friday's home opener, Hyun-Jin Ryu was chased after two innings and eight runs (six earned), and on Saturday it was Maholm lasting 4 1/3 innings for five runs.
Perhaps most alarming was only one strikeout of the 21 batters he faced. The reason? He might have some good off speed stuff, but I can't imagine any reason for a batter to be intimidated by him. When a starting pitcher fails to reach 90 MPH, and he's not named Greg Maddux, then it's going to be hard to get big outs.
Saturday's start was the perfect example of a pitcher like Maholm being effective for only so long until the opposing hitters settle in. He got a double play from Hunter Pence in the first, and nearly got another from Brandon Crawford the next inning, but had to settle for one out and one run. The third saw a double from Pence, but he was stranded.
From there, it was batting practice time. Morse unloaded on his solo bomb to start the fourth, and after the Dodgers' offense wasted Adrian Gonzalez's leadoff double with three straight strikeouts, Madison Bumgarner and Angel Pagan's singles in the fifth led to Sandoval's three-run tater. That was all she wrote for Maholm.
If you recall, Maholm was brought in right at the end of Spring Training, and it was a good thing considering Clayton Kershaw, Josh Beckett, and Chad Billingsley are unavailable right now. The problem is that if you're an opposing hitter, not only are you happy not to see those three names on the mound (especially the first one), but you can definitely stay patient and figure out Maholm because he won't blow you away.
Who knows how many more starts Maholm will get, but with reports of Beckett and Billingsley being near, maybe it will be none. I thought Jamey Wright would play the long relief role, but so far Don Mattingly hasn't used him like that, so maybe that will be Maholm's spot instead.
Other thoughts from the game:
* Yasiel Puig was back in the leadoff role, and like usual, it was an adventure. He bruised his thumb diving into first, got picked off of first, and flew out with the bases loaded late in the game. Hey, at least he was there and hustling, so let's run with it.
* Matt Kemp obviously will have to be patient as he regains his timing. He was 0-for-4 with a couple of punchouts. Then again, strikeouts have always been a problem, but it might be awhile before we see big hits thrown in there, too.
* No Dodger had a multi-hit game, something that three Giants accomplished. Hanley Ramirez is hitting .192, and A-Gon .167. That will obviously change, but until it doesn't, don't expect to see many runs scored.
* Good to see Scott Van Slyke's name back in the starting lineup, as he got on twice and scored both times.
* Justin Turner hitting starting at second and hitting in the #2 spot? I didn't like it, especially since Dee Gordon is hitting .421 and is clearly a more exciting player. Let's see Gordon getting more consistent playing time.
Sunday will be a nationally televised game on ESPN 2, as it's a good matchup between Zack Greinke and Matt Cain. So far the Dodgers look like they've settled in a little too much to being at home and have gotten slapped around by the rivals. A big start by Greinke and some hits from the heart of the order can at least get one back before the Tigers and Max Scherzer come to town on Tuesday.
And then reality set in, and Maholm's soft tossing ways got him smacked around. Pablo Sandoval's three-run homer, an inning after Michael Morse's 427-foot bomb, gave the Giants the lead for good as they cruised for the second straight day 7-2.
For the Dodgers, it was the uncommon sight of a starting pitcher being taken out of the game early. In Friday's home opener, Hyun-Jin Ryu was chased after two innings and eight runs (six earned), and on Saturday it was Maholm lasting 4 1/3 innings for five runs.
Perhaps most alarming was only one strikeout of the 21 batters he faced. The reason? He might have some good off speed stuff, but I can't imagine any reason for a batter to be intimidated by him. When a starting pitcher fails to reach 90 MPH, and he's not named Greg Maddux, then it's going to be hard to get big outs.
Saturday's start was the perfect example of a pitcher like Maholm being effective for only so long until the opposing hitters settle in. He got a double play from Hunter Pence in the first, and nearly got another from Brandon Crawford the next inning, but had to settle for one out and one run. The third saw a double from Pence, but he was stranded.
From there, it was batting practice time. Morse unloaded on his solo bomb to start the fourth, and after the Dodgers' offense wasted Adrian Gonzalez's leadoff double with three straight strikeouts, Madison Bumgarner and Angel Pagan's singles in the fifth led to Sandoval's three-run tater. That was all she wrote for Maholm.
If you recall, Maholm was brought in right at the end of Spring Training, and it was a good thing considering Clayton Kershaw, Josh Beckett, and Chad Billingsley are unavailable right now. The problem is that if you're an opposing hitter, not only are you happy not to see those three names on the mound (especially the first one), but you can definitely stay patient and figure out Maholm because he won't blow you away.
Who knows how many more starts Maholm will get, but with reports of Beckett and Billingsley being near, maybe it will be none. I thought Jamey Wright would play the long relief role, but so far Don Mattingly hasn't used him like that, so maybe that will be Maholm's spot instead.
Other thoughts from the game:
* Yasiel Puig was back in the leadoff role, and like usual, it was an adventure. He bruised his thumb diving into first, got picked off of first, and flew out with the bases loaded late in the game. Hey, at least he was there and hustling, so let's run with it.
* Matt Kemp obviously will have to be patient as he regains his timing. He was 0-for-4 with a couple of punchouts. Then again, strikeouts have always been a problem, but it might be awhile before we see big hits thrown in there, too.
* No Dodger had a multi-hit game, something that three Giants accomplished. Hanley Ramirez is hitting .192, and A-Gon .167. That will obviously change, but until it doesn't, don't expect to see many runs scored.
* Good to see Scott Van Slyke's name back in the starting lineup, as he got on twice and scored both times.
* Justin Turner hitting starting at second and hitting in the #2 spot? I didn't like it, especially since Dee Gordon is hitting .421 and is clearly a more exciting player. Let's see Gordon getting more consistent playing time.
Sunday will be a nationally televised game on ESPN 2, as it's a good matchup between Zack Greinke and Matt Cain. So far the Dodgers look like they've settled in a little too much to being at home and have gotten slapped around by the rivals. A big start by Greinke and some hits from the heart of the order can at least get one back before the Tigers and Max Scherzer come to town on Tuesday.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
With Arroyo in Arizona, Maholm seeks his chance in LA
***UPDATE***
Paul Maholm is officially a Dodger, inking a one-year deal for $1.5 million. It'll be Major League deal, and not a Minor League one which was the expectation, so good for him.
***
To answer the question I posed in my previous post: "No, because Arroyo apparently doesn't need the Dodgers either." After flirting with going to LA, Arroyo chose the Diamondbacks for two years (with an option for a third) along with $23.5 million. Can't blame him there.
Judging by the way Ned Colletti has pursued starting pitchers this offseason by signing Dan Haren and missing on Masahiro Tanaka and Arroyo, it shouldn't come as a surprise that he's looking to add another name for the back end of the rotation.
That man appears to be Paul Maholm.
Maholm is in Glendale, Arizona right now, undergoing a physical and looking to be on the verge of a minor league deal. Considering there's a locker with the name "Maholm" written above it, I'd say that's a good sign he's a Dodger.
So, let's go ahead and take a look at him. Last season the lefty was with the Braves, going 10-11 with a 4.41 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. Those were his highest numbers since 2010 with the Pirates, as the previous two seasons split between the Pirates, Cubs, and Braves saw an ERA at 3.66 and 3.67, along with a WHIP at 1.22 and 1.29. For his career, he's 76-95 with a 4.28 ERA and 1.40 WHIP.
Right away, the WHIP is what strikes me as way too high, but that could be a bit deceiving, too. Like I mentioned above, his WHIP was in the mid-1.20 range in 2011 and 2012, which is pretty good.. So, maybe last year was just a hiccup for some reason.
It's also obvious he won't blow anyone away, as he has 950 K's in 1,485 2/3 career innings. Last year he had 105 in 153 innings. Considering the Dodgers' pitchers were second in the NL last season in strikeouts, he doesn't exactly fit in. If he doesn't have his control, he suffers through rough starts.
Still, I'm willing to see where this could go. Rather than throwing $20 whatever million at Arroyo, maybe a smaller deal like this will bring similar results, as Maholm will only be asked to give some good innings as the fourth or fifth starter. His numbers last year were high, but the previous two were solid, including less hits than innings pitched in each of them, always a good sign.
Behind the big three of Clayton Kershaw, Zach Greinke, and Hyun-Jin Ryu, the battle for the final two spots looks to come down to Josh Beckett, Dan Haren, and Maholm (Chad Billingsley is out until July). Dodger fans are reminded about this all the time, but it's so true: you can never have enough quality starting pitching, as evidenced by last season.
Paul Maholm is officially a Dodger, inking a one-year deal for $1.5 million. It'll be Major League deal, and not a Minor League one which was the expectation, so good for him.
***
To answer the question I posed in my previous post: "No, because Arroyo apparently doesn't need the Dodgers either." After flirting with going to LA, Arroyo chose the Diamondbacks for two years (with an option for a third) along with $23.5 million. Can't blame him there.
Judging by the way Ned Colletti has pursued starting pitchers this offseason by signing Dan Haren and missing on Masahiro Tanaka and Arroyo, it shouldn't come as a surprise that he's looking to add another name for the back end of the rotation.
That man appears to be Paul Maholm.
Maholm is in Glendale, Arizona right now, undergoing a physical and looking to be on the verge of a minor league deal. Considering there's a locker with the name "Maholm" written above it, I'd say that's a good sign he's a Dodger.
So, let's go ahead and take a look at him. Last season the lefty was with the Braves, going 10-11 with a 4.41 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. Those were his highest numbers since 2010 with the Pirates, as the previous two seasons split between the Pirates, Cubs, and Braves saw an ERA at 3.66 and 3.67, along with a WHIP at 1.22 and 1.29. For his career, he's 76-95 with a 4.28 ERA and 1.40 WHIP.
Right away, the WHIP is what strikes me as way too high, but that could be a bit deceiving, too. Like I mentioned above, his WHIP was in the mid-1.20 range in 2011 and 2012, which is pretty good.. So, maybe last year was just a hiccup for some reason.
It's also obvious he won't blow anyone away, as he has 950 K's in 1,485 2/3 career innings. Last year he had 105 in 153 innings. Considering the Dodgers' pitchers were second in the NL last season in strikeouts, he doesn't exactly fit in. If he doesn't have his control, he suffers through rough starts.
Still, I'm willing to see where this could go. Rather than throwing $20 whatever million at Arroyo, maybe a smaller deal like this will bring similar results, as Maholm will only be asked to give some good innings as the fourth or fifth starter. His numbers last year were high, but the previous two were solid, including less hits than innings pitched in each of them, always a good sign.
Behind the big three of Clayton Kershaw, Zach Greinke, and Hyun-Jin Ryu, the battle for the final two spots looks to come down to Josh Beckett, Dan Haren, and Maholm (Chad Billingsley is out until July). Dodger fans are reminded about this all the time, but it's so true: you can never have enough quality starting pitching, as evidenced by last season.
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