Los Angeles Hopes That Bullpen Shortfalls Will Halt In 2015
With Dodgers ace and 2014 NL MVP on the mound today, Clayton Kershaw. The Dodgers will be pursuing a win today, to avoid going under .500 for the first time since June 9, 2013.
As the Dodgers, were seeking a strong and fast start to this years 2015 season, the Dodgers’ journey back to the playoffs has started on what feels like the wrong foot.
At the moment, the Dodgers sit in fourth place of the NL West division, with the Colorado Rockies leading the division — a team that hasn’t lost this season with a 4-0 record (1-0 at Home and 3-0 on the Road).
For the Dodgers, the main thing that has, and currently is, stopping them from becoming an elite powerhouse team, is their lack in the bullpen.
The Dodger bullpen has already gave away two valuable games against the San Diego Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks, which could affect their chances of winning three consecutive NL West titles.
Last year, the Dodgers Achilles’ Heel was their bullpen, which was just eaten apart by the bats of St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS. This off season, the Dodgers main focus was to fix and improve their bullpen, which they indeed did.
The Dodgers did a fine job in retooling their bullpen through trades as they acquired, relievers Joel Peralta, Juan Nicasio, and Chris Hatcher in the off season. As well as acquiring reliever Ryan Webb, from the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, in a five-player trade.
Trade Details
Baltimore Orioles acquire: minor league pitcher Ben Rowen and minor league catcher Chris O’Brien
Los Angeles Dodgers acquire: reliever Ryan Webb, minor league catcher Brian Ward, and a competitive balance (Round B) draft pick.
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So, with all the acquisitions the Dodgers have acquired to fix their shaky bullpen, and all the great young and veteran talent that sits in their bullpen. Why haven’t the Dodges bullpen been able to close games?
Well, I’ll tell you why. Three of the Dodgers main relievers are recovering from their specific injuries, and surgeries on the DL.
On 15-day DL
Kenley Jansen: Targeting May return (recovering from Left foot surgery)
Brandon League: Will be out several months with an inflamed right shoulder
On 60-day DL
Chris Withrow: Recovering from Tommy John surgery since June of 2014
As of now, half of the Dodgers bullpen consists of acquisitions, and the other half consist of young and veteran relievers. And so far, the only Dodgers that have had trouble in relief are Chris Hatcher and J.P. Howell, which both gave up the leads in both the Dodgers losses.
Bottom Line: The Dodgers need to cut the bull
Chris Hatcher gave up a four run in ninth inning against the Padres, which lead to a 7-3 lost, and J.P. Howell gave up a walk-off single against the Diamondbacks in the bottom of the tenth, to give the Dodgers their second loss of the season.
With 2015 season still early, the Dodgers bullpen has plenty of time to get things straightened up, but doesn’t have all the time, as the Dodgers play forty-nine of their seventy-six divisional games, before the All-Star break.