Pen State

Dodgers Dugout: Is it fair to blame the bullpen for everything?

By Houston Mitchell

May 24, 2019 | 8:00 AM

Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell and let’s get right to it.

The emails poured in after Wednesday’s 8-1 loss to Tampa Bay. “This team will never win with this bullpen.” “How many games will management let the bullpen lose before they do something?”

Rather than attack the bullpen (which I have done in the past), let’s take a different approach. Let’s consider some things.

2. Some of those 60 losses will be because of the bullpen. That is true for every team. Some losses will be because of poor starting pitching. Some losses will be because of poor hitting (or, to put it another way, sometimes the other team wins because of their good pitching or better offense that day).

3. Sometimes we all forget to give credit to the other team. Tampa Bay hasn’t led the AL East most of the season for no reason, they led it because they are a good team. Sometimes good teams will beat you no matter who you throw out there. Sometimes the other team’s pitcher will be on his game and will shut you down, no matter what. So, sometimes, instead of attacking the Dodgers for their failure to win a particular game, you have to tip your hat to the other team and realize they were better that day. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not suddenly trumpeting the continued brilliance of the Dodger bullpen. I get frustrated too. It’s just I want to do what I always recommend we do when emotions take over our fandom, take a step back and look at the big picture. So, with all that being said, next Friday we will break down all of the Dodgers’ games this season. How many losses were because of the bullpen? Because of starting pitching? Because of no offense? Because of bad defense? How many wins did the bullpen preserve with good pitching? And let’s also be honest, there’s usually not one reason a team wins or loses. If a team loses 4-3, we can easily blame it on the bullpen, but could we also blame it on leaving the bases loaded with no one out earlier in the game? Or going one for nine with runners in scoring position? But we will narrow it down as best we can.were better that day.

4. If you want to blame the bullpen for their failures, you also have to praise them for their successes. When they pitch three scoreless innings to preserve a win, you have to credit them with that just as much as you blame them for a loss.

You may be wondering why I’m not doing that today. A couple of reasons: I want to take my time and give an honest appraisal of each game. But more importantly, and I ask you for your forgiveness for the brevity of today’s newsletter, my youngest daughter is graduating high school tomorrow and I have been sidetracked with preparations for that.

Speaking of the bullpen
Pedro Baez, once the bane of Dodger fans everywhere, has been a much, much better reliever since about August of last season. Since Aug. 13, Baez has posted a 1.99 earned-run average in 40⅔ innings. His .148 batting average against is tied for seventh among relievers with at least 30 innings during the span. His .209 on-base percentage against ranks fifth and his .211 slugging against ranks fourth.

Jorge Castillo talked to the Baez, who rarely talks much to anyone, so here’s a good chance for you to hear from the man himself. Click here to read.
The key quote, to me, is: “In spite of the bad moments that have happened, us, as athletes, we always have those moments,” Baez, 31, said in Spanish. “But, thank God, sometimes those moments help us come out better and more focused on finding success and focusing more on going out there and doing things right.”

You have to give Baez a lot of credit for not reacting to the boos or to the sniping of know-it-alls like me. He didn’t whine or complain, he just put his head down and worked to get better.

Dodgers' Joe Kelly: Expected back Monday

Rotowire May 24, 2019

Kelly is expected to return from the bereavement list prior to Monday's game against the Mets Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The right-hander was placed on the bereavement list Friday morning, though his absence will be a brief one. The Dodgers will need to make a roster move upon Kelly's return.

Dodgers' Pedro Baez: Likely unavailable Friday

Rotowire May 24, 2019

Baez (knee) will throw off a mound prior to Friday's game against Pittsburgh, but he isn't expected to be available, Alanna Rizzo of Spectrum SportsNet LA reports.

Baez will test out his knee before the ballgame to see how it responds, however, skipper Dave Roberts isn't optimistic about his right-hander's chances of pitching in the series opener.

I think it may be a little bit higher than this but that’s subject to “what ifs” that may or may not have happened.

I can remember at least a couple of Kelly games where we were down by a run and he came in to allow three or four more runs late (7th or 8th inning).

We then came back to within a run, but still lost the games, with the L being charged to the starter and not Kelly.

He was not charged with a blown “hold” as we were behind when he entered the game and obviously the starter got the loss as we never tied or took the lead.

Again, this is all subject to interpretation - but I do wonder how many games like this we have seen thus far in 2019. I’m guessing more than just the couple mentioned above.

GO DODGERS!!!

Kelly's ERA back up at 8.83. He comes in & is greeted with three straight hits. One a two-run homer. Roberts comes to get him without Joe recording a single out.

This necessitated five outs from Jansen. It's a ripple UP effect. In a close game, it's like Kelly isn't even there. Tonight he made a blowout close. So garbage time might be too challenging.

^^^ This.

Move Joc for a good reliever or two.

I think Joc's power plays well in a park like Nationals' Park for someone like Sean Doolittle or similar. 

Kimbrel would be fantastic but to get him to fit into the threshold some guys like Joc, Kike or Taylor who are the same, Cingrani etc. would have to be moved in my opinion. Also maybe someone like Barnes or Martin if Will Smith sticks.

Personally, I don't see what the big fuss is over the #1 draft pick.  Many of them never make it to the bigs, and are they so much better than the #2 pick?  And a certain #62 pick you might recall?  Why not promote JT Chargois and/or Tony Gonsolin?  However, I'd say that a good reliever is our only priority, as locked and loaded as we are otherwise.