Dodgers Bullpen Endangering The Season
Bullpen woes ensure the roller coaster of the Los Angeles Dodgers season continues.
It’s August still Dodgers fans. Which means, you don’t WANT to panic quite yet. Teams go through cold spells sometimes. So, an argument can be made that the Dodgers bullpen just needs more time….right?
Well, how much time is TOO much time? The acquisitions of Luis Avilan and Jim Johnson were meant to strengthen the Dodgers bullpen.
Things have gotten progressively worse, instead. The Dodgers 6.99 bullpen ERA since the All-Star break is the league’s worst.
Jim Johnson allowed 8 runs in 0.2 IP Sunday.. @EliasSports says he's the 2nd reliever in Dodgers history to do that. pic.twitter.com/2VS4NJqEC1
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 10, 2015
And, after a 3-game sweep at the hands of the Pittsburgh Pirates, which included HOPEFULLY the ugliest Dodgers moment of the season. That moment being blowing a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the 7th where Jim Johnson allowed a mind-boggling 8 runs in 0.2 innings pitched.
“I can honestly say it’s probably one of the worst professional innings I have had.” Jim Johnson
Luis Avilan and starters Mat Latos and Alex Wood have equally had a rough start in Dodger uniforms. Latos was completely shelled for 6 earned runs in his start vs. the Pirates last Saturday.
Dodgers bullpen has MLB's highest ERA since All-Star break at 6.99. @Dodgers
— Richard Justice (@richardjustice) August 10, 2015
Alex Wood has not been overly impressive. Avilan has yet to be completely bomb, however, he has placed himself in many opportunities where things could have gotten quite ugly.
Thus far, the only reliever who has yet to fail Los Angeles consistently have been Juan Nicasio and Kenley Jansen.
However, it’s hard for Jansen to save games when the middle and long relief has given the game up. And Nicasio quite possibly is on the verge of having a few bad outings of his own as he tries to carry his teammates baggage to avoid blowing games night after night.
For the Snap Judgment crowd -- Jim Johnson, Luis Avilan, Mat Latos, Alex Wood combined for an 8.68 ERA in 1st week as #Dodgers
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) August 10, 2015
The Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins almost appear to look as though they knew something the Dodgers didn’t before completing the mega 13-player trade with Los Angeles. Mat Latos and Alex Wood are 0-2, allowing 14 runs and 24 hits in 21 1/3 innings.
In a week’s time, the return on investment has led to poor pitching performances, losses, and the inability to capitalize on opportunities.
Opportunities such as the San Francisco Giants being swept in their own right by the Chicago Cubs in 4 games. Those type of opportunities have been the same ones missed upon by the Dodgers nearly all season.
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The Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen has 21 losses and a 4.19 ERA, second-highest in the National League. Despite the lights out performances by Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers simply can in no way survive the final stretch of the season with such poor bullpen performances.
Although the common theme from Don Mattingly and others is, “it’ll only get better,” it’s a hard theme to buy into.
Dodgers fans seen this story last year with the bullpen, which is why there is a sense of fury, and panic. The 18-24, 3.80 ERA, with a .354 opponent slugging percentage and 3rd most allowed walks in the league….was the Los Angeles Dodgers 2014 bullpen.
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Add in the Paul Maholm, Chris Perez, Jamey Wright, Roberto Hernandez bandages to the pitching staff of the 2014 season and you can see subtle similarities with the 2015 L.A. Dodgers. Thus, validating reason for fans to be worried, and angered about not landing a David Price or Johnny Cueto.
As the Dodgers search for answers, the front office may want to search for arms….and voices…to inspire focus and playing up to speed. Perhaps things WILL get better, but so far the only reason things are “better,” is because the Giants have been losing.