Picture this scenario: Eighth inning, Dodgers beating the Cardinals 2-1, Adam Liberatore staying in the game after getting the last out of the seventh.
Do you have confidence that the Dodgers will hold on to win?
I certainly didn't, and guess what? They sure as hell couldn't do it.
Alas, it's another frustrating end of the game, as the Cardinals scored three times, and the Dodgers had zero answers in dropping the finale of the four-game set 4-2. Good thing Clayton Kershaw was masterful on Saturday, because the Dodgers lost all three of the other games.
We all know how lousy the offense has been, as they scored a grand total of six runs in the four games, and that was without facing the great Adam Wainwright, who's done for the season. Hell, the Cardinals scored seven runs on Thursday, which has been practically unheard of for this damn team.
Rather, let's focus on the middle relief. That is, the horrendous arms that are trying to bridge the gap to Kenley Jansen, and failing miserably.
Sunday night it was up to Liberatore and Juan Nicasio. That's how desperate the Dodgers are - relying on a guy who wasn't with the club to begin the year, and another who was supposed to be there for long relief. Liberatore did get Kolten Wong swinging to end the seventh, and should've been pulled right after.
Instead, Don Mattingly stuck with him to pitch to Matt Carpenter to start the eighth. It didn't work, as a walk later, Nicasio came in. To his credit, he did have a 1.48 ERA coming into this appearance. But don't be fooled - those weren't against the Cardinals in the eighth inning of a one-run game. This was a whole different animal in which he failed miserably.
To sum it up quickly, Matt Holliday ripped an RBI triple to tie it, Jhonny Peralta an RBI single to take the lead, and Mark Reynolds a deep RBI double to get some cushion. Yimi Garcia got a double play to end the inning, but was lucky since it was a liner to short that Jimmy Rollins caught and doubled Reynolds off of second.
By the way, Nicasio's ERA shot up to 2.19 based off that one appearance alone.
I, along with many others, am kind of at a loss on what exactly the Dodgers can do. They've tried everything under the sun the last couple of years. The former closers (Brian Wilson, Brandon League, Chris Perez) and young arms (Garcia, Liberatore, Chris Hatcher) and it's just not working. I'll give them this, at least they've tried a bunch of different options.
Right now, the Dodgers will probably just have to accept the fact that this is truly a trial-and-error process until somebody, ANYBODY, steps up and can pair himself with Jansen. With Joel Peralta and Pedro Baez still out, then I wouldn't be opposed to giving flame throwing Josh Ravin a chance for holds. He's only pitched 2 1/3 innings, but with two strikeouts and no walks. Better than watching Hatcher screw things up, right?
From what I can tell, Baez could be back soon. That would great news, and I'd immediately give him the ball in the eighth as well and see what happens.
As for J.P. Howell, who has an 0.63 ERA in 21 appearances, I wouldn't consider him as a major option in the eighth. Perhaps sometimes he could, but he throws so soft, and with a 1.40 WHIP, I wouldn't totally trust him to be the guy. He's better off earlier in the game for hitters here and there.
Maybe Andrew Friedman has a move or two up his sleeve, and we're about to find out. Then again, maybe not, and the Dodgers are stuck with who they've got. Which, um... isn't much. But until this thing gets figured out, the awful middle relief will continue to hold them back from becoming a serious threat to come out of the National League.
Again.
Showing posts with label Hatcher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hatcher. Show all posts
Monday, June 8, 2015
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Let's hope Kenley is OK. As for the rest of the bullpen...
Boy, do they flat out stink lately.
And that's being nice.
The latest example of a reliever melting down is Adam Liberatore. Actually, it's Yimi Garcia. No wait, it's J.P. Howell. On second thought, it's Chris Hatcher.
What do they all have in common? They all had a hand in blowing a 6-4, ninth inning lead to the Rockies on Wednesday, which soon lead to a painful 7-6 defeat in Colorado.
Painful, embarrassing... call it what you want. I'll call it pathetic, too.
One night after a thrilling comeback victory, highlighted by Alex Guerrero's go-ahead grand slam in the ninth, the Dodgers took one step back thanks to their shaky 'pen. Liberatore was perfect in the eighth, so with Kenley Jansen mysteriously unavailable, he started the ninth. A single and a ground rule double later, he was out of there.
Garcia wasn't any better, issuing two straight walks, one of which brought in a run to make it 6-5. Out he went, and in came Howell, who threw a low pitch that wasn't handled well by Yasmani Grandal for the passed ball, tying the game.
After an intentional walk to load the bases again, Hatcher gave up the walk-off sacrifice fly to Nolan Arenado, and that was that.
Simply put, the Dodgers just don't have a whole lot of options to rely on late in the game, save for Jansen of course. Liberatore has given up runs in two straight games. Garcia has fallen apart, allowing multiple baserunners in three straight appearances. If Hatcher even records an out it's considered an accomplishment.
Paco Rodriguez, Pedro Baez, and Joel Peralta are all hurt. About the only worthwhile guys are Howell and Juan Nicasio. Josh Ravin has looked really good in both of his appearances, but it's still way too early to tell if he's an answer.
It's hard to know where the Dodgers go from here. They've signed veterans with good track records to big contracts, and it's blown up in their faces (Matt Guerrier, Brian Wilson, Chris Perez, Brandon League). Now they're trying youth and power, and it's starting to come apart.
Right now, the Dodgers have the fourth best bullpen ERA in the National League at 3.09, but don't be fooled. That's mostly from the start of the season when they didn't even need Jansen to look untouchable. Now Jansen is back, looking fantastic, and they either can't get the ball to him, or he's suddenly unavailable for unknown reasons.
The Dodgers won the NL West last year with a struggling 'pen, and they were exposed by the Cardinals in the NLDS. This year, they shouldn't even count on getting that far, as you know the Giants won't be going anywhere, and if the Padres start playing up to their potential, they'll be there as well.
So like the title says, we can only hope Jansen's disappearing act was only for a night or two, and nothing more. But Jansen or not, the rest of the bullpen has got to step up and deliver. All of those innings in middle relief has got to be pitched by someone. And hopefully pitched well.
And that's being nice.
The latest example of a reliever melting down is Adam Liberatore. Actually, it's Yimi Garcia. No wait, it's J.P. Howell. On second thought, it's Chris Hatcher.
What do they all have in common? They all had a hand in blowing a 6-4, ninth inning lead to the Rockies on Wednesday, which soon lead to a painful 7-6 defeat in Colorado.
Painful, embarrassing... call it what you want. I'll call it pathetic, too.
One night after a thrilling comeback victory, highlighted by Alex Guerrero's go-ahead grand slam in the ninth, the Dodgers took one step back thanks to their shaky 'pen. Liberatore was perfect in the eighth, so with Kenley Jansen mysteriously unavailable, he started the ninth. A single and a ground rule double later, he was out of there.
Garcia wasn't any better, issuing two straight walks, one of which brought in a run to make it 6-5. Out he went, and in came Howell, who threw a low pitch that wasn't handled well by Yasmani Grandal for the passed ball, tying the game.
After an intentional walk to load the bases again, Hatcher gave up the walk-off sacrifice fly to Nolan Arenado, and that was that.
Simply put, the Dodgers just don't have a whole lot of options to rely on late in the game, save for Jansen of course. Liberatore has given up runs in two straight games. Garcia has fallen apart, allowing multiple baserunners in three straight appearances. If Hatcher even records an out it's considered an accomplishment.
Paco Rodriguez, Pedro Baez, and Joel Peralta are all hurt. About the only worthwhile guys are Howell and Juan Nicasio. Josh Ravin has looked really good in both of his appearances, but it's still way too early to tell if he's an answer.
It's hard to know where the Dodgers go from here. They've signed veterans with good track records to big contracts, and it's blown up in their faces (Matt Guerrier, Brian Wilson, Chris Perez, Brandon League). Now they're trying youth and power, and it's starting to come apart.
Right now, the Dodgers have the fourth best bullpen ERA in the National League at 3.09, but don't be fooled. That's mostly from the start of the season when they didn't even need Jansen to look untouchable. Now Jansen is back, looking fantastic, and they either can't get the ball to him, or he's suddenly unavailable for unknown reasons.
The Dodgers won the NL West last year with a struggling 'pen, and they were exposed by the Cardinals in the NLDS. This year, they shouldn't even count on getting that far, as you know the Giants won't be going anywhere, and if the Padres start playing up to their potential, they'll be there as well.
So like the title says, we can only hope Jansen's disappearing act was only for a night or two, and nothing more. But Jansen or not, the rest of the bullpen has got to step up and deliver. All of those innings in middle relief has got to be pitched by someone. And hopefully pitched well.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
With Jansen out, who steps up to close?
Bad news coming out of LA yesterday, as Kenley Jansen will need 8-12 weeks to recover from left foot surgery. Jansen was recently working out at Dodger Stadium when he reported discomfort in that foot. Lo and behold, he has a growth on his fifth metatarsal, so he immediately when under the knife.
The news is bad, but not devastating only because of the timeframe it occurred. Yes, it would have been nice to get this over with all during the offseason, but Jansen had no control over that. Instead, he'll be looking at a mid-May return, which puts him out around a month and a half. That's much better than this happening smack dab in the middle of the season, at least.
So now, the Dodgers have a giant closer role to fill, which won't be easy considering Jansen had 44 saves last season. Let's take a look at potential options, both on the inside and out.
Current Bullpen - Joel Peralta, Pedro Baez, Chris Hatcher, Brandon League
The first guy to jump out would be Peralta, who's been pitching in the Bigs since 2005, but only has 12 career saves. He does get his fair share of strikeouts, though, so that could be a good sign that he can translate it to the ninth.
Baez is someone to keep an eye on. He only has 20 games of experience last season, but throws very hard and got in some action in the NLDS. He's also virtually unknown to people outside of big Dodger fans, which could help him against batters who are unfamiliar with him. Hey, that's how Eric Gagne got his start years ago, so you never know.
Hatcher is very much like Baez in that he doesn't have much experience, but throws hard and keeps his walks down, so he could emerge. I only included League because of his past experience closing, but it's a longshot. And quite frankly, if the Dodgers have him going in the ninth, it's because everyone else has flopped so miserably, they had to resort to him.
Minor League Invites to Spring Training - Sergio Santos, David Aardsma
Santos could be an intriguing option if he can get things together in the spring. He saved 30 games with the White Sox in 2011, but hasn't come anywhere close to that since then. Last season was a complete disaster with the Blue Jays, compiling an 8.57 ERA in 28 games. It's no wonder his stock is way down, but if his arm is right, the history of brief success is there.
Aardsma had two excellent seasons as the Mariners' closer in 2009-10, collecting 38 and 31 saves, respectively. After injuries set in, he had a very good season pitching for the Cardinals' Triple-A affiliate last year, and went to the Dodgers after attracting interest from quite a few teams in the offseason. Like Santos, if the injuries are behind him, then he could be a sleeper.
Free Agents - Francisco Rodriguez, Rafael Soriano
K-Rod came out of nowhere for an excellent 2014 campaign, saving 44 games for the Brewers. He's still unsigned, and latest word is that he's seeking a two-year deal, or a $10 million deal for a season. There's obvious hesitancy in giving him so much money, as he's about to enter his 14th season. Plus, it's hard to know if he can come anywhere close to last season's types of numbers again.
Soriano has saved 40+ games three times since 2010, and 32 last season, albeit with seven blown saves. So, it's a bit surprising that he still hasn't signed with any club, as he has a career 2.85 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. It could be a money thing like K-Rod, as he views himself as a top-tier closer who will only sign for what he wants.
Trade Candidate - Jonathan Papelbon
With the Phillies practically a sinking ship, you would think they'll finally be serious about rebuilding this season. Cole Hamels is the hottest name in trade talks, but Papelbon could be right behind. As this great article from John Stolnis points out, Papelbon is probably a better option than K-Rod, and if the Phillies eat some of his money, could be less expensive as well.
My Take:
I don't see the Dodgers reaching out for either of the big two free agents, or a trade for Paps. The only way a trade occurs is if the Phillies really want to move on from him, but that probably wouldn't happen until later in the season.
I do see someone from the Santos/Aardsma combination making the big club, then getting thrown into the fire. There's no real competition in LA right now, as every other option is not a true closer. Peralta is better suited for a setup role, and who knows if Baez and Hatcher are ready for such a role.
Spring Training just got a whole lot more interesting, as it will be fun to watch these many options duke it out and step up into that role for the first few weeks of the season. I just hope someone can hold the fort down for the time being so Jansen doesn't feel the need to rush back too soon. The last thing the Dodgers need is for Jansen's injury to linger all season long.
The news is bad, but not devastating only because of the timeframe it occurred. Yes, it would have been nice to get this over with all during the offseason, but Jansen had no control over that. Instead, he'll be looking at a mid-May return, which puts him out around a month and a half. That's much better than this happening smack dab in the middle of the season, at least.
So now, the Dodgers have a giant closer role to fill, which won't be easy considering Jansen had 44 saves last season. Let's take a look at potential options, both on the inside and out.
Current Bullpen - Joel Peralta, Pedro Baez, Chris Hatcher, Brandon League
The first guy to jump out would be Peralta, who's been pitching in the Bigs since 2005, but only has 12 career saves. He does get his fair share of strikeouts, though, so that could be a good sign that he can translate it to the ninth.
Baez is someone to keep an eye on. He only has 20 games of experience last season, but throws very hard and got in some action in the NLDS. He's also virtually unknown to people outside of big Dodger fans, which could help him against batters who are unfamiliar with him. Hey, that's how Eric Gagne got his start years ago, so you never know.
Hatcher is very much like Baez in that he doesn't have much experience, but throws hard and keeps his walks down, so he could emerge. I only included League because of his past experience closing, but it's a longshot. And quite frankly, if the Dodgers have him going in the ninth, it's because everyone else has flopped so miserably, they had to resort to him.
Minor League Invites to Spring Training - Sergio Santos, David Aardsma
Santos could be an intriguing option if he can get things together in the spring. He saved 30 games with the White Sox in 2011, but hasn't come anywhere close to that since then. Last season was a complete disaster with the Blue Jays, compiling an 8.57 ERA in 28 games. It's no wonder his stock is way down, but if his arm is right, the history of brief success is there.
Aardsma had two excellent seasons as the Mariners' closer in 2009-10, collecting 38 and 31 saves, respectively. After injuries set in, he had a very good season pitching for the Cardinals' Triple-A affiliate last year, and went to the Dodgers after attracting interest from quite a few teams in the offseason. Like Santos, if the injuries are behind him, then he could be a sleeper.
Free Agents - Francisco Rodriguez, Rafael Soriano
K-Rod came out of nowhere for an excellent 2014 campaign, saving 44 games for the Brewers. He's still unsigned, and latest word is that he's seeking a two-year deal, or a $10 million deal for a season. There's obvious hesitancy in giving him so much money, as he's about to enter his 14th season. Plus, it's hard to know if he can come anywhere close to last season's types of numbers again.
Soriano has saved 40+ games three times since 2010, and 32 last season, albeit with seven blown saves. So, it's a bit surprising that he still hasn't signed with any club, as he has a career 2.85 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. It could be a money thing like K-Rod, as he views himself as a top-tier closer who will only sign for what he wants.
Trade Candidate - Jonathan Papelbon
With the Phillies practically a sinking ship, you would think they'll finally be serious about rebuilding this season. Cole Hamels is the hottest name in trade talks, but Papelbon could be right behind. As this great article from John Stolnis points out, Papelbon is probably a better option than K-Rod, and if the Phillies eat some of his money, could be less expensive as well.
My Take:
I don't see the Dodgers reaching out for either of the big two free agents, or a trade for Paps. The only way a trade occurs is if the Phillies really want to move on from him, but that probably wouldn't happen until later in the season.
I do see someone from the Santos/Aardsma combination making the big club, then getting thrown into the fire. There's no real competition in LA right now, as every other option is not a true closer. Peralta is better suited for a setup role, and who knows if Baez and Hatcher are ready for such a role.
Spring Training just got a whole lot more interesting, as it will be fun to watch these many options duke it out and step up into that role for the first few weeks of the season. I just hope someone can hold the fort down for the time being so Jansen doesn't feel the need to rush back too soon. The last thing the Dodgers need is for Jansen's injury to linger all season long.
Monday, February 9, 2015
2015 Season Preview: Bullpen
Here is the second installment in my season preview series. Last season, the bullpen was a huge weak spot on a division winning team, as the Dodgers had a very difficult time getting the ball to their dominant closer, Kenley Jansen. It ended up being one of the big reasons they Dodgers went four and out in the playoffs.
So, have the flurry of moves made this unit stronger heading in '15? Let's take a look.
2014
Closer - Kenley Jansen
Setup - Brian Wilson
J.P. Howell
Brandon League
Chris Perez
Jamey Wright
Pedro Baez
2015
Closer - Kenley Jansen
Setup - Joel Peralta
J.P. Howell
Pedro Baez
Brandon League
Juan Nicasio
Chris Hatcher
Then Compared to Now:
Right off the bat, what jumps out is the addition by subtraction. That is, getting rid of dead weight in Wilson and Perez. They both were so horrendous last season, it's hard to imagine those two signings going any worse. Wilson had a 4.66 ERA in 61 games, and Perez collected a 4.27 in 49. Awful, just awful. Good riddance!
In their places come Peralta, Nicasio, and Hatcher. The biggest name is Peralta, who's coming off of three straight seasons of more strikeouts than innings pitched. But, he's also seen his ERA creep up the last few seasons as well. Like Peralta, Hatcher relies on his fastball to blow hitters away, so the strikeout is always a possibility.
Howell will look to pitch more like the guy the first few months of the season, and less like the one who was knocked around at the end. Baez will look to step up into a bigger role, and Nicasio will look to play the swingman role of long reliever and spot starter.
Individual Breakdown:
Jansen (2014 stats): 2-3, 44 SV, 2.76 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 101 K's in 65 1/2 IP
After some bumps in the road to start the season, he really turned it on as the summer months got hotter and hotter. The result was another terrific season in which he by far posted his most career saves. He's in love with the cutter, and when it has a sharp bite, it's practically unhittable. When he mixes in softer stuff like a slider, he's even more effective. He's only 27 with not much mileage, so the Dodgers have very little worry that he'll continue that success.
Peralta (with Rays): 3-4, 1 SV, 18 HLD, 4.41 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 74 K's in 63 1/3 IP
The good news is that he can't possibly be worse than Wilson in the setup role (right?). The bad news is that he appears to be going in the same direction as Wilson. Of course, that's not to say he'll completely fall off the map too, as I can't imagine he'll get roughed up nearly as bad as The Beard did. The strikeouts are still there, and he only walked 15 last season in 69 appearances, which is very good. With an improved defense behind him, those are reasons to believe he'll be effective. Is he an everyday setup man? That might be a stretch, but we shall see.
Howell: 3-3, 27 HLD, 2.39 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 48 K's in 49 IP
It's a shame he started getting shelled in September, because before that, he was really, really good. And what do you know, he's once again the only lefty in the bullpen. Like it or not, he's the man to face tough lefties. He's not going to blow you away, as he's a location and breaking ball type of guy. When it's working, it's good. When it's not, it's practically batting practice. Maybe he just ran out of steam last season, so hopefully he can be fresher down the stretch, because he'll be needed.
Baez: 0-0, 5 HLD, 2.63 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 18 K's in 24 IP
In his first season, he only appeared in 20 games, so the sample size is small. Even with that, he was thrust right into the spotlight of the postseason, giving up a huge three-run shot to Matt Holliday in that epic meltdown in Game 1 against the Cardinals. Still, I like what he offers, as he throws hard and seems to have good composure on the mound. With Chris Withrow most likely out for all of 2015, his role will be increased even more.
League: 2-3, 11 HLD, 2.57 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 38 K's in 63 IP
What a roller coaster ride it's been for him since being traded to the Dodgers from the Mariners in 2012. He went from closer of the future to a complete waste of a big money deal. Then he posted a fantastic ERA last season, but a very high WHIP showed just how often he was playing with fire. At this point, he is what he is - a guy who will fool some with his breaking stuff, and will go through awful stretches where he lets everyone on base. He survived the offseason without getting canned, but if he falters once again, he'll be sent packing.
Nicasio (with Rockies): 6-6, 1 HLD, 5.38 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 63 K's in 93 2/3 IP
The best thing for any young pitcher is to finally get out of Coors Field, as he owns a 5.24 career ERA at home. It's not like he lit it up on the road, though, with a 4.81 ERA. Still, he has to feel great about coming to the Dodgers and taking the ball in a much friendlier ballpark. If there's a silver lining, he's made six career starts in LA (seven games overall), and owns a 3.63 ERA. That's something to build on.
Hatcher (with Marlins): 0-3, 6 HLD, 3.38 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 60 K's in 56 IP
Like Jansen, he was once a catcher who converted to a hard throwing reliever. His first few seasons weren't so hot, but after getting called up in late May with the Marlins last season, put together a good season. He throws hard and keeps his walks low, which is always a good combination. Right now he's a young, power arm on the rise, so if he can keep missing bats and avoid the free passes, he'll be a good weapon.
Other Names to Remember: Daniel Coulombe, Carlos Frias, Yimi Garcia, Paco Rodriguez
Is Now Better Than Then?
The Dodgers could pair just about anyone up with Jansen and be considered better this season. They absolutely needed to dump Wilson, even if it cost them $10 million in dead salary. Big deal, it needed to be done. And thank the Lord that it did.
The guys who were brought in - Peralta, Hatcher, and Nicasio - aren't names that will jump off the page, and will have to prove that they can be the answer. Peralta appears to be the first in line to pitch the eighth, and finally give a reliable bridge to Jansen in the ninth. That, in my opinion, was the biggest Achilles' heel of the Dodgers last year, so that's something that absolutely needs to get better if they want to take the next step in the playoffs. If not Peralta, then maybe a surprise name such as Baez or Hatcher can be that guy.
Two other guys who are gone from last year are Wright and Perez, as their best days are clearly behind them. Because of those subtractions, I'll easily take this year's squad as an upgrade over last year's. But, does that mean this year's group is good? There's always a huge plus with Jansen at the end, but the newcomers and young guys like Baez will have to show they can put up consistent numbers all season long to be one of the better bullpens in baseball.
So, have the flurry of moves made this unit stronger heading in '15? Let's take a look.
2014
Closer - Kenley Jansen
Setup - Brian Wilson
J.P. Howell
Brandon League
Chris Perez
Jamey Wright
Pedro Baez
2015
Closer - Kenley Jansen
Setup - Joel Peralta
J.P. Howell
Pedro Baez
Brandon League
Juan Nicasio
Chris Hatcher
Then Compared to Now:
Right off the bat, what jumps out is the addition by subtraction. That is, getting rid of dead weight in Wilson and Perez. They both were so horrendous last season, it's hard to imagine those two signings going any worse. Wilson had a 4.66 ERA in 61 games, and Perez collected a 4.27 in 49. Awful, just awful. Good riddance!
In their places come Peralta, Nicasio, and Hatcher. The biggest name is Peralta, who's coming off of three straight seasons of more strikeouts than innings pitched. But, he's also seen his ERA creep up the last few seasons as well. Like Peralta, Hatcher relies on his fastball to blow hitters away, so the strikeout is always a possibility.
Howell will look to pitch more like the guy the first few months of the season, and less like the one who was knocked around at the end. Baez will look to step up into a bigger role, and Nicasio will look to play the swingman role of long reliever and spot starter.
Individual Breakdown:
Jansen (2014 stats): 2-3, 44 SV, 2.76 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 101 K's in 65 1/2 IP
After some bumps in the road to start the season, he really turned it on as the summer months got hotter and hotter. The result was another terrific season in which he by far posted his most career saves. He's in love with the cutter, and when it has a sharp bite, it's practically unhittable. When he mixes in softer stuff like a slider, he's even more effective. He's only 27 with not much mileage, so the Dodgers have very little worry that he'll continue that success.
Peralta (with Rays): 3-4, 1 SV, 18 HLD, 4.41 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 74 K's in 63 1/3 IP
The good news is that he can't possibly be worse than Wilson in the setup role (right?). The bad news is that he appears to be going in the same direction as Wilson. Of course, that's not to say he'll completely fall off the map too, as I can't imagine he'll get roughed up nearly as bad as The Beard did. The strikeouts are still there, and he only walked 15 last season in 69 appearances, which is very good. With an improved defense behind him, those are reasons to believe he'll be effective. Is he an everyday setup man? That might be a stretch, but we shall see.
Howell: 3-3, 27 HLD, 2.39 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 48 K's in 49 IP
It's a shame he started getting shelled in September, because before that, he was really, really good. And what do you know, he's once again the only lefty in the bullpen. Like it or not, he's the man to face tough lefties. He's not going to blow you away, as he's a location and breaking ball type of guy. When it's working, it's good. When it's not, it's practically batting practice. Maybe he just ran out of steam last season, so hopefully he can be fresher down the stretch, because he'll be needed.
Baez: 0-0, 5 HLD, 2.63 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 18 K's in 24 IP
In his first season, he only appeared in 20 games, so the sample size is small. Even with that, he was thrust right into the spotlight of the postseason, giving up a huge three-run shot to Matt Holliday in that epic meltdown in Game 1 against the Cardinals. Still, I like what he offers, as he throws hard and seems to have good composure on the mound. With Chris Withrow most likely out for all of 2015, his role will be increased even more.
League: 2-3, 11 HLD, 2.57 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 38 K's in 63 IP
What a roller coaster ride it's been for him since being traded to the Dodgers from the Mariners in 2012. He went from closer of the future to a complete waste of a big money deal. Then he posted a fantastic ERA last season, but a very high WHIP showed just how often he was playing with fire. At this point, he is what he is - a guy who will fool some with his breaking stuff, and will go through awful stretches where he lets everyone on base. He survived the offseason without getting canned, but if he falters once again, he'll be sent packing.
Nicasio (with Rockies): 6-6, 1 HLD, 5.38 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 63 K's in 93 2/3 IP
The best thing for any young pitcher is to finally get out of Coors Field, as he owns a 5.24 career ERA at home. It's not like he lit it up on the road, though, with a 4.81 ERA. Still, he has to feel great about coming to the Dodgers and taking the ball in a much friendlier ballpark. If there's a silver lining, he's made six career starts in LA (seven games overall), and owns a 3.63 ERA. That's something to build on.
Hatcher (with Marlins): 0-3, 6 HLD, 3.38 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 60 K's in 56 IP
Like Jansen, he was once a catcher who converted to a hard throwing reliever. His first few seasons weren't so hot, but after getting called up in late May with the Marlins last season, put together a good season. He throws hard and keeps his walks low, which is always a good combination. Right now he's a young, power arm on the rise, so if he can keep missing bats and avoid the free passes, he'll be a good weapon.
Other Names to Remember: Daniel Coulombe, Carlos Frias, Yimi Garcia, Paco Rodriguez
Is Now Better Than Then?
The Dodgers could pair just about anyone up with Jansen and be considered better this season. They absolutely needed to dump Wilson, even if it cost them $10 million in dead salary. Big deal, it needed to be done. And thank the Lord that it did.
The guys who were brought in - Peralta, Hatcher, and Nicasio - aren't names that will jump off the page, and will have to prove that they can be the answer. Peralta appears to be the first in line to pitch the eighth, and finally give a reliable bridge to Jansen in the ninth. That, in my opinion, was the biggest Achilles' heel of the Dodgers last year, so that's something that absolutely needs to get better if they want to take the next step in the playoffs. If not Peralta, then maybe a surprise name such as Baez or Hatcher can be that guy.
Two other guys who are gone from last year are Wright and Perez, as their best days are clearly behind them. Because of those subtractions, I'll easily take this year's squad as an upgrade over last year's. But, does that mean this year's group is good? There's always a huge plus with Jansen at the end, but the newcomers and young guys like Baez will have to show they can put up consistent numbers all season long to be one of the better bullpens in baseball.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Gordon and Haren traded to the Marlins
Day Three of the 2014 Winter Meetings will go down as a very big, and a very busy, one for the Dodgers.
First there was the acquisition of Jimmy Rollins from the Phillies. That alone seemed like enough for the day. Except it wasn't.
One day ago the Dodgers were both being linked to and denying a Dee Gordon trade to the Marlins. Well, it's happened, and Dan Haren will go along for the ride.
The Dodgers have traded Gordon and Haren to the Marlins for top pitching prospect Andrew Heaney. Also coming from Miami are second baseman Enrique Hernandez, right-handed pitcher Chris Hatcher, and catcher Austin Barnes.
First, let's take a look at Heaney. MLB.com has him ranked as the #18 overall prospect, and the #2 overall left-handed pitcher. He's stands 6'2" and will turn 24 next June. His profile describes him as a guy who throws up to 95 mph with a "wipeout" slider. Sounds like another lefty on the Dodgers right now. He also has developed a changeup for his third pitch, which has really raised his stock.
By the way, who's the #1 ranked lefty? Julio Urias... of the Dodgers. Nice!
The other three players are more for depth. Hernandez has one year of big league experience, appearing in 42 games with the Astros and Marlins, hitting .248. Hatcher has appeared in 81 games for the Marlins, all out of the bullpen, with a 4.82 ERA. Barnes has never played above the Double-A level after being drafted in 2011.
So, the big chip is obviously Heaney, who will join Urias as the next big guns ready to step in for the Dodgers. This makes me think that the new management might not be afraid to trade Zack Greinke this upcoming year if they really do think he'll opt out of his contract. At least they have some very good arms ready to step in, plus they can get more value in return via trade. We shall see.
I discussed Gordon more in-depth yesterday, so check out my post about him here. I will say that I very much enjoyed watching him emerge as an everyday player this past season, as there is simply no match for his speed. His defense at second was much-improved throughout the season, so I hope the Marlins leave him there. If he can cut down on his strikeouts and not be tempted to crush the ball too often, he'll be an All-Star again for sure.
Haren certainly had an up-and-down year in LA, as he looked like steal of the free agency class to start the season, fell into a horrible slump around July, then settled back down for some good starts down the stretch. He finished at 13-11 with a 4.02 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 32 starts. All things considered, he did his job for the most part at the back end of the rotation. I just wish he was more consistent, as when he was bad, he was REALLY bad.
With Rollins in the fold and Gordon and Haren shipped out, the next big name on the list is Matt Kemp. There's still plenty of talk about him going to the Padres, so don't fall asleep on that yet. Considering how rapid fire the moves on this day have gone, it could only be a matter of "when" and not "if" this will happen.
First there was the acquisition of Jimmy Rollins from the Phillies. That alone seemed like enough for the day. Except it wasn't.
One day ago the Dodgers were both being linked to and denying a Dee Gordon trade to the Marlins. Well, it's happened, and Dan Haren will go along for the ride.
The Dodgers have traded Gordon and Haren to the Marlins for top pitching prospect Andrew Heaney. Also coming from Miami are second baseman Enrique Hernandez, right-handed pitcher Chris Hatcher, and catcher Austin Barnes.
First, let's take a look at Heaney. MLB.com has him ranked as the #18 overall prospect, and the #2 overall left-handed pitcher. He's stands 6'2" and will turn 24 next June. His profile describes him as a guy who throws up to 95 mph with a "wipeout" slider. Sounds like another lefty on the Dodgers right now. He also has developed a changeup for his third pitch, which has really raised his stock.
By the way, who's the #1 ranked lefty? Julio Urias... of the Dodgers. Nice!
The other three players are more for depth. Hernandez has one year of big league experience, appearing in 42 games with the Astros and Marlins, hitting .248. Hatcher has appeared in 81 games for the Marlins, all out of the bullpen, with a 4.82 ERA. Barnes has never played above the Double-A level after being drafted in 2011.
So, the big chip is obviously Heaney, who will join Urias as the next big guns ready to step in for the Dodgers. This makes me think that the new management might not be afraid to trade Zack Greinke this upcoming year if they really do think he'll opt out of his contract. At least they have some very good arms ready to step in, plus they can get more value in return via trade. We shall see.
I discussed Gordon more in-depth yesterday, so check out my post about him here. I will say that I very much enjoyed watching him emerge as an everyday player this past season, as there is simply no match for his speed. His defense at second was much-improved throughout the season, so I hope the Marlins leave him there. If he can cut down on his strikeouts and not be tempted to crush the ball too often, he'll be an All-Star again for sure.
Haren certainly had an up-and-down year in LA, as he looked like steal of the free agency class to start the season, fell into a horrible slump around July, then settled back down for some good starts down the stretch. He finished at 13-11 with a 4.02 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 32 starts. All things considered, he did his job for the most part at the back end of the rotation. I just wish he was more consistent, as when he was bad, he was REALLY bad.
With Rollins in the fold and Gordon and Haren shipped out, the next big name on the list is Matt Kemp. There's still plenty of talk about him going to the Padres, so don't fall asleep on that yet. Considering how rapid fire the moves on this day have gone, it could only be a matter of "when" and not "if" this will happen.
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