Last year, there were several installments of The Fifth Starter Report.
It's back with a vengeance because this year the spot is even more wide open/in flux than it was at this time in 2009.
Let's meet the candidates...
Scott Elbert
The 2004 first round draft pick has been dealing with injuries since 2007 and has only made 22 combined starts over those three seasons. He's never made a big-league start.
He obviously has the stuff, with 21 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings, but a 1.32 WHIP says he still needs to be more consistent. With questions surrounding his shoulder, durability and effectiveness, Elbert is probably a long shot to win this spot. He's going to get a chance, however.
Charlie Haeger
Haeger made a big splash with the Dodgers, giving them two very, very good starts down the stretch last year, and compiling a 3.32 ERA in six games (three starts). He is a knuckleballer, so naturally he struggles with his control. His fastball isn't exactly a BP fastball, clocking in the mid to high 80's. Haeger is only 26 years old and there is a chance he's just going to get better. Intriguing candidate here.
James McDonald
McDonald really developed as a reliever last year, but he wants to be a starter. A 2.72 ERA out of the bullpen and an 8.78 ERA as a starter might say he's better suited as a reliever where he can throw 95-97 for an inning or two instead of 91-92. His fastball is very straight. His curve and change are getting much better. The kid made 79 starts in the Minors, so that is what he knows. He deserves a fair shot and he's going to get it.
Carlos Monasterios
I can tell you very little about this guy. I know the Dodgers were excited to get him in the Rule 5 Draft. He's slight, weighing just 175 pounds and is 6-2. He doesn't appear to strike out too many guys, or walk too many guys. His ERA, WHIP and win-loss record are all very average, all the way across the board. Very much an unknown right now.
Eric Stults
It's pretty much now or never for the 30-year old lefty. He has looked very good in small stretches with the Big League club, but he's just been far, far too inconsistent. He's posted a 1.51 WHIP in the Bigs (and exactly that number in the Minors as well) and that's not going to get it done when you are a thumber.
His changeup is really good, and when he's throwing strikes he can use it quite a bit and be effective. He's made 17 starts with the club over the last two seasons, enough to give us a sample size, and now that he's out of options, he's going to have to find it.
Braden Looper
The Dodgers are in contact with Looper and his people, but as we've read on MLBTR the team won't guarantee him the fifth spot. Looper might provide a small upgrade at the fifth starter spot, because he's made 97 starts over the last three years and won 38 games, but an ERA of 5.22 last year and of 4.94 in 2007 shows that he's nothing to get too excited about.
Elbert and mcdonald are my favorites to step up and have a good spring...both need to throw strike one and keep their pitch counts low. Stults, and Haeger don't thrill me and well see about monsterious. We have a great long man in weaver but need one o these young guys to step up and prove they have major league capabilities...mcd is a pen option but elbert hasn't impressed me there.
LOOPER SUCKS
Important thing is we have depth and options. Problem is we have no insurance. Mcdonald really needs to step it up since this is basically his spot from last year when he was a rookie and like noted did not do so well starting. This is a new year and with Koufax at the facility, let's see if he can pull it together.
i am rooting for mcdonald... no looper...
How do we all feel about Pedro as a mid-season signing?
Not interested in Pedro unless someone also gets hurt like Kuroda and we need a replacement...there will be better options at the trade deadline for the dodgers to pick up other than Pedro (although I was all about him last spring). We need the young guys to continue to step up....
Anyone think Franko El Cheapo will spend for a legit pitcher? He is going to continue to send Ned to the bargain bin since he keeps getting lucky, then will blame and fire Ned once things dont work out. At one point two years ago that would be a win win situation but not now...Dodgers have a 3 year period to win or else its back to the drawing board. I say three years because we obviously arent going to be raising payroll until 2018 (http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-revenue22-2010feb22,0,157533.story)
and even then it will only be to 125 mil...under Chicago, Philly, Detroit and both New York teams now!