For the Los Angeles Dodgers, it's the late-inning relief.
The Dodgers have already lost three games this season when leading after seven innings. The culprit each of the last two times, including Monday night's horrible loss to the Giants, was Ronald Belisario.
A friend of mine text me during the game and said that Belisario is "nasty." I told him he wasn't very good, but he didn't believe me.
Belisario has a pretty good sinking two-seam fastball, but he has a slider with no tilt. Just because he has one good pitch doesn't make him a good pitcher. Actually, I don't think he's very good at all.
In fact, since opening the season with 4 2/3 scoreless innings, he's allowed six runs in 10 innings, good for a 5.40 ERA.
He certainly is not the answer in the late innings. The problem is nobody in the bullpen is.
Will Ohman is a specialist. Hong-Chih Kuo has apparently lost his mind again. Guillermo Mota's best days are far behind him. Cory Wade is battling injury. Ramon Troncoso might be emerging as the best option, but one solid four-inning outing doesn't automatically make him the answer.
Besides, Troncoso might have to end up starting if James McDonald can't pull it together.
Now, I know that sometimes you win games you were trailing in late, and sometimes you lose games you are leading in late.
But so far, the Dodgers have let three seventh-inning leads turn into losses, but have only erased one deficit after seven innings and turned it into a win.
The biggest problem is that those three late losses have come to teams that combine for a record of 25-32.
They are blowing leads against bad teams. If it weren't for Jonathan Broxton and his amazing start to the season, it very easily could have been a whole lot more.
Tuesday suddenly turns into a must win, because if you don't beat Jonathan Sanchez, you're looking at Tim Lincecum on Wednesday and a sweep would be imminent, and horrible.
I actually like Belesario, if used in the sixth or seventh inning when the pressure isnt as intense, but when the game is on the line he chokes. Troncoso isnt a sure thing either, Matt's right four shutout innings makes his stats look pretty good. But we have seven guys in the bullpen, and only Broxten and Ohman (as a LH specialist ONLY!!!) are doing their jobs. Mota and Kuo are killing us, and we got spoiled with Johhny Cakes pitching the eigth inning for the last three years. Here is my bullpen
Lindbolm (not doing good as a starter but is used to closing)
Troncoso
Ohman
Kuo (start pitching in sixth and seventh to get confidence and fastball back)
Broxton
Wade (should be ready soon)
and anyone but Mota!
We need to start looking at outside options for a set up man! Or give a young new arm like Lindbolm the chance. We cant use McDonald in the pen because we dont have five healthy starting pitchers to throw out there. Please God dont let Milton pitch!!! Ill take Weaver first
For your sake, I hope the Dodgers win today. If not, you'll be feeling like Yankees' fans come Thursday after being swept by your arch rival.
(Going for 12 behind Penny today!)
Brad Penny's name shall never be uttered in a positive capacity on this website, ever again.
i like belisario also, but i dont think he should pitch the eighth, especially after pitching the seventh.
Another game, and more problems with the bullpen...Is it me or is Torre (whom I never question) hoping that the starters will hand the ball over to Broxten and there will be no need for the other SIX pitchers in the pen? That wasnt Broxton's fault yesterday, he along with Belesario shouldnt be pitching in the eighth inning! Broxton should only go into the eighth rarely, what happens if we over use Johhny? mlbtraderumors had a post yesterday about relief help out there for trades and there wasnt anyone on that list except of Valarde (which the Astros wont give up) I want on our staff.
GUCK THE FIANTS! Lets go boys, win tonight and beat THE FREAK! that should shut giant fans up for a month or two!