The Argument for Kenta Maeda: The super-reliever for the LA Dodgers

In the 2017 postseason, the Dodgers gave fans no shortage of reasons to be amazed, and one of those reasons was how comfortable and reliable Kenta Maeda was out of the bullpen. It’s an aspect of the team that should be considered when piecing together the 2018 squad.

When looking at baseball from afar, home runs are often looked upon as the most important part of the game. It’s a completely common misconception. Whenever I think about a team and how they are constructed, I look first at their starting lineup. Then, I look at their rotation, and last, but far from the least, I look at their bullpen. I look at the players who are tasked with two things; protecting the lead their offense has given them or giving their offense the chance to get that lead back.

It doesn’t matter if a team hits four home runs if their bullpen gives up five.

The Dodgers‘ bullpen, though, has a talent for keeping the ball in the park and runs off the scoreboard. It’s an advantage that can not be taken for granted, and it rarely ever is.

One of the many topics surrounding this team, one that’s been on my mind since the season ended is this; the Dodgers should use Kenta Maeda out of the pen in 2018.

Kenta Maeda – The Super-Reliever

Maeda, who the Dodgers signed with the full intention of having him start, pitched out of the pen this past October. I, for one, saw the move as logical and even a little genius. Kenta Maeda is a great starter, but he may be even better out of the pen.

Though we have a fairly small sample size to work with, Maeda pitched 10 2/3 innings out of the pen during the postseason, it was enough to call him a super-reliever, and I think the title is fitting.

It’s perfectly possible that the Dodgers will have Maeda start in 2018, but there are other options, too. Julio Urias will most-likely be returning from the DL, where he was placed last spring with a shoulder injury, in time for summer.

Walker Buehler, who made his MLB debut as a reliever last September, could be called up for good by the end of April (not unlike Cody Bellinger in 2017.) Relievers Ross Stripling and Brock Stewart are also potential options for the rotation.

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In 2017, Maeda ended the regular season with a 4.22 era. By the end of the World Series, his postseason era sat at 1.59 over the course of the ’17 playoffs.

This is something the Dodgers should consider. Having a reliever who can easily go three, or four innings is an extremely valuable advantage. In the case that a starter gets injured in the third inning, Maeda could come out of the pen for a few innings. This would help LA play a bullpen game with as few relievers as possible.

Los Angeles may re-sign Yu Darvish. Though it is unlikely, there’s also a possibility that they sign Jake Arrieta, should Darvish sign somewhere else. They could trade for Michael Fulmer, which would take a top prospect or two, but would be well worth it.

The Dodgers have plenty of options for the 4th and 5th spots in the starting rotation. This team, the team that made it to the World Series and won 104 games, can afford to convert Maeda into a bona fide super-reliever.

Home runs, though they are more prominent than ever nowadays are, in my opinion, not the most important part of the game. That bold title belongs to the consistent pitching that keeps a team going.

Next: Dodgers Should Not Underestimate the New-Look Giants

The offense hitting four home runs in a game means nothing if the final score doesn’t turn out in their favor.

It’s the relievers’ job to make sure those runs mean something.

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