The Dodgers tried everything they could to get Yhency Brazoban back to full strength. Unfortunately, it just wasn't meant to be. After being assigned to Minor League camp last week, Brazoban was released today.
Things were looking pretty good for him in 2005 as the fill-in closer for the injured Eric Gagne. He converted 21 saves as a power-throwing righty with a bright future.
Then it all came to a crashing halt in 2006 when he got Tommy John surgery. He followed that in 2007 with shoulder labrum surgery. He was never the same, battling weight problems every step of the way.
As for Joe Beimel, he settled on a 1-year, $2 million contract with the Nationals to be their 8th inning pitcher. There was talk of him re-upping with the Dodgers, but it's possible they never offered as much money. That's usually what it comes down to, so that's my guess.
Showing posts with label Beimel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beimel. Show all posts
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Beimel still could be back
The Dodgers haven't completely closed the book on Joe Beimel, as they are still showing some interest in resigning him. The catch is that he wants between $2-$3 million, and the Dodgers say, "No way." If that prices comes down, then something could happen.
Another lefty reliever being discussed is Will Ohman, who was last with the Braves. He had a pretty good, if not spectacular, year with a 4-1 record, 3.68 ERA, and 1.24 WHIP. Like Beimel, he's 31.
The biggest difference between the 2 was their averages against lefties. Ohman was a fantastic .200 while Beimel got hit much harder at .278. You'd think the Dodgers would just want one of these guys to last against a lefty batter or 2 most nights, so that would heavily favor Ohman.
Right now the Dodgers have one great lefty in the 'pen in Hong Chih-Kuo, but he can't go every night because of his past arm problems. It would be nice to have someone else that can take the ball whenever and get a couple of big outs before the 9th inning comes.
Another lefty reliever being discussed is Will Ohman, who was last with the Braves. He had a pretty good, if not spectacular, year with a 4-1 record, 3.68 ERA, and 1.24 WHIP. Like Beimel, he's 31.
The biggest difference between the 2 was their averages against lefties. Ohman was a fantastic .200 while Beimel got hit much harder at .278. You'd think the Dodgers would just want one of these guys to last against a lefty batter or 2 most nights, so that would heavily favor Ohman.
Right now the Dodgers have one great lefty in the 'pen in Hong Chih-Kuo, but he can't go every night because of his past arm problems. It would be nice to have someone else that can take the ball whenever and get a couple of big outs before the 9th inning comes.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Looking at the bullpen
While the Dodgers get ready to take on the Houston Astros tonight, let's take a look at how the bullpen has performed thus far.
LH - Joe Beimel
3-0, 12 IP, 0.75 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 1 ER, 11 H, 4 BB, 9 K
Beimel has been great so far, excelling in his role of left-handed specialist. Lefties stand virtually no chance against him, compiling a meager .190 BAA. He also leads the team in appearances with 18 since he has proven over and over that he is very much reliable.
RH - Scott Proctor
0-0, 17.2 IP, 6.11 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 12 ER, 19 H, 9 BB, 16 K
Probably the most surprising of all the numbers I have seen is Proctor's. For whatever reason, he has yet to really get on track, as evidenced by his bloated ERA. He's still a Joe Torre favorite, so he'll be given plenty of chances I'm sure.
RH - Cory Wade
0-0, 7.2 IP, 2.35 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 2 ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 4 K
The book on Wade was that he's a good strike thrower, and that has certainly carried over to the Bigs. After Ramon Troncoso flopped, Wade has played his limited role very nicely. Righties are only hitting .125 against him.
RH - Chan Ho Park
1-0, 1 SV, 22 IP, 2.45 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 6 ER, 20 H, 10 BB, 9 K
Park was briefly sent down to Triple-A to start the season after losing the 5th starter battle, but was quickly recalled. He has really given the Dodgers big innings in games where the starters have not been so hot. I never thought he'd be playing anywhere close to this well, but he has.
LH - Hong-Chih Kuo
2-1, 24.1 IP, 2.59 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 7 ER, 19 H, 9 BB, 33 K
While it's not the situation he would want to be in, he has been outstanding in his role of long relief. Earlier this week against the Mets, Hiroki Kuroda wasn't getting the job done, so Kuo came in struck out 8 in 3.2 innings. He's challenging hitters and winning with his overpowering stuff. If he stays healthy (BIG if), he will continue to play a huge role.
RH - Jonathan Broxton
1-0, 15 IP, 1.80 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 3 ER, 9 H, 6 BB, 21 K
Another year, another dominating performance by Broxton. He is easily one of the top setup men in the game. There have been calls for him to take over closer duties already. While I think that's premature, it wouldn't surprise me to see it happen next year. For now, he still owns the 8th inning.
RH - Takashi Saito
1-1, 5 SV, 15.1 IP, 1.76 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 3 ER, 13 H, 5 BB, 16 K
I hear people say Saito should be replaced, and then I look at these numbers and wonder what those people are thinking. I believe the problem is that he's been so good the last few years, any little slip up (like his blown save against Pittsburgh) gets magnified way too much. He's still one of the top closers in the game, and I'll take my chances with him closing out any game.
Overall, I think the bullpen has pitched very well. With the exception of Proctor, they all have really good numbers, which shows that with a little offense, the Dodgers are capable of winning any game. The return of a healthy Yhency Brazoban only gives them another weapon to turn to in innings 5-8. I really believe that if the starters can give 5-6 good innings, then it's a winnable game. Even when a starter isn't clicking, Park and Kuo have shown they can keep the game steady.
They're deep, talented, and most importantly, can get people out!
LH - Joe Beimel
3-0, 12 IP, 0.75 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 1 ER, 11 H, 4 BB, 9 K
Beimel has been great so far, excelling in his role of left-handed specialist. Lefties stand virtually no chance against him, compiling a meager .190 BAA. He also leads the team in appearances with 18 since he has proven over and over that he is very much reliable.
RH - Scott Proctor
0-0, 17.2 IP, 6.11 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 12 ER, 19 H, 9 BB, 16 K
Probably the most surprising of all the numbers I have seen is Proctor's. For whatever reason, he has yet to really get on track, as evidenced by his bloated ERA. He's still a Joe Torre favorite, so he'll be given plenty of chances I'm sure.
RH - Cory Wade
0-0, 7.2 IP, 2.35 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 2 ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 4 K
The book on Wade was that he's a good strike thrower, and that has certainly carried over to the Bigs. After Ramon Troncoso flopped, Wade has played his limited role very nicely. Righties are only hitting .125 against him.
RH - Chan Ho Park
1-0, 1 SV, 22 IP, 2.45 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 6 ER, 20 H, 10 BB, 9 K
Park was briefly sent down to Triple-A to start the season after losing the 5th starter battle, but was quickly recalled. He has really given the Dodgers big innings in games where the starters have not been so hot. I never thought he'd be playing anywhere close to this well, but he has.
LH - Hong-Chih Kuo
2-1, 24.1 IP, 2.59 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 7 ER, 19 H, 9 BB, 33 K
While it's not the situation he would want to be in, he has been outstanding in his role of long relief. Earlier this week against the Mets, Hiroki Kuroda wasn't getting the job done, so Kuo came in struck out 8 in 3.2 innings. He's challenging hitters and winning with his overpowering stuff. If he stays healthy (BIG if), he will continue to play a huge role.
RH - Jonathan Broxton
1-0, 15 IP, 1.80 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 3 ER, 9 H, 6 BB, 21 K
Another year, another dominating performance by Broxton. He is easily one of the top setup men in the game. There have been calls for him to take over closer duties already. While I think that's premature, it wouldn't surprise me to see it happen next year. For now, he still owns the 8th inning.
RH - Takashi Saito
1-1, 5 SV, 15.1 IP, 1.76 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 3 ER, 13 H, 5 BB, 16 K
I hear people say Saito should be replaced, and then I look at these numbers and wonder what those people are thinking. I believe the problem is that he's been so good the last few years, any little slip up (like his blown save against Pittsburgh) gets magnified way too much. He's still one of the top closers in the game, and I'll take my chances with him closing out any game.
Overall, I think the bullpen has pitched very well. With the exception of Proctor, they all have really good numbers, which shows that with a little offense, the Dodgers are capable of winning any game. The return of a healthy Yhency Brazoban only gives them another weapon to turn to in innings 5-8. I really believe that if the starters can give 5-6 good innings, then it's a winnable game. Even when a starter isn't clicking, Park and Kuo have shown they can keep the game steady.
They're deep, talented, and most importantly, can get people out!
Friday, February 8, 2008
MLB.com preview: Relievers
The second-to-last version of the upcoming season preview focuses on the bullpen. For the Dodgers, this is definitely one of their strengths. With a great closer and setup man, they can easily turn games into 7 inning affairs.
Takashi Saito has turned into one of the most reliable closers in the game. As the article points out, it's amazing how fast people have forgotten about Eric Gagne. Well, maybe not so much forgotten, but more that they aren't stuck in the past and wishing he was still there. Already with 63 saves in 2 seasons, he's bumped his way up into the category of elite closers like Hoffman, Papelbon, Rivera, and Nathan. Not bad for a guy that wasn't even on the roster to start the 2006 season.
Then there's Jonathan Broxton, who's still only 23, yet is quickly earning a reputation as one of the top setup men in baseball. With the exception of his September meltdown last year, he's been flawless. Should Saito ever go down, they should barely skip a beat sliding him in there.
Joe Beimel is the primary lefty, with Tom Martin and/or Mike Myers possibly joining him. Rudy Seanez has been resigned, and has provided solid innings for a 39-year-old. Scott Proctor will continue to be a workhorse, more so because of Joe Torre's love for him. The rest of the 'pen could include names like John Meloan, Eric Stultz, Yhency Brazoban, and Eric Hull.
Hopefully, the bottom end of the rotation won't be as crippled and ineffective as they were last year, so the bullpen will not be overworked.
Takashi Saito has turned into one of the most reliable closers in the game. As the article points out, it's amazing how fast people have forgotten about Eric Gagne. Well, maybe not so much forgotten, but more that they aren't stuck in the past and wishing he was still there. Already with 63 saves in 2 seasons, he's bumped his way up into the category of elite closers like Hoffman, Papelbon, Rivera, and Nathan. Not bad for a guy that wasn't even on the roster to start the 2006 season.
Then there's Jonathan Broxton, who's still only 23, yet is quickly earning a reputation as one of the top setup men in baseball. With the exception of his September meltdown last year, he's been flawless. Should Saito ever go down, they should barely skip a beat sliding him in there.
Joe Beimel is the primary lefty, with Tom Martin and/or Mike Myers possibly joining him. Rudy Seanez has been resigned, and has provided solid innings for a 39-year-old. Scott Proctor will continue to be a workhorse, more so because of Joe Torre's love for him. The rest of the 'pen could include names like John Meloan, Eric Stultz, Yhency Brazoban, and Eric Hull.
Hopefully, the bottom end of the rotation won't be as crippled and ineffective as they were last year, so the bullpen will not be overworked.
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.
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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