SEEING IS RELIEVING
Dodgers have more faith in their bullpen this season
During the playoffs last year, the Dodgers invited defeat by placing the baseball in the hands of any reliever other than closer Kenley Jansen.
That makes the Dodgers’ current corps of relievers an upgrade.
Whereas the bullpen last season included declining former All-Stars such as Brian Wilson, Brandon League and Chris Perez, this group is largely made up of hard throwers in the relatively early stages of their careers, including Chris Hatcher, Luis Avilan and Juan Nicasio.
“We have more power,” pitching coach Rick Honeycutt said.
However, that power is tethered to inexperience, which is one reason why the bullpen was erratic during the regular season.
The Dodgers’ bullpen had an earned-run average of 3.91, fifthworst in the National League. The teams with higher bullpen ERAs failed to reach the postseason.
“We have a lot of guys throwing 96, 97 [mph],” General Manager Farhan Zaidi said. “Early in the year, they were able to just throw it by guys. But then the league adjusted to them.”
There were times reminiscent of last year, when every call Manager Don Mattingly made to the bullpen was doomed for failure.
But there were also positive signs. There were plenty of strike-
outs and few walks.
“What that is to me, is guys that have good stuff, throw strikes, but make mistakes,” Zaidi said. “It’s about limiting those mistakes. You don’t want to be getting too much of the plate with two strikes.”
Down the stretch of the regular season, the results improved.
Over the last 30 days, the bullpen posted a 3.43 ERA, fifth-best in the NL.
“They’ve had to make the counter adjustment, and the counter adjustment is mix your pitches and don’t let guys just sit on the fastball,” Zaidi said.
Yimi Garcia worked on throwing his slider with greater frequency while in triple-A Oklahoma City. Pedro Baez learned to better incorporate his changeup while recovering from a strained pectoral muscle.
“They’re blessed with great arms, but, at the same time, the more weapons they show they can use, it puts something else” in the hitters’ minds, Honeycutt said.
Avilan was acquired from the Atlanta Braves and established himself as a left-handed late-inning option. He pitched in 23 games for the Dodgers, allowing only 14% of inherited runners to score.
Hatcher, who had a 6.38 ERA when he was sidelined with a strained side muscle in June, returned from the disabled list in mid-August and posted a 1.31 ERA over his last 22 games. By relying more on his split-finger fastball, Hatcher became the team’s firstchoice eighth-inning pitcher.
Jansen continued to dominate, saving 33 games, striking out 80 and walking eight in 521⁄3 innings and registering a 2.41 ERA.
Veteran left-hander J.P. Howell finished the regular season with a 1.43 ERA.
Nicasio, previously a starter, had a 3.86 ERA in his first season as a full-time reliever.
“We have pieces this year that can do the job,” Jansen said. “There should be no problem with us.”
Howell said the change in personnel has resulted in a change in attitude. “Some of these guys weren’t here the last two years, so they don’t have that negative vibe, that barrier,” Howell said. “We have a lot of fresh eyes, a lot of fresh hope. That can go a long way. It’s a whole new outlook here. These guys don’t know what happened. They don’t remember one pitch.” Mattingly can only hope. “I feel really good about our pen,” Mattingly said. Really? “Have you looked at our numbers over the last month?” he asked. “We’ve thrown the ball OK.”
Mattingly said something similar last October, only to admit now that he was less than truthful at the time.
“Some of these guys are young guys, and you never know what’s going to happen, but I think their year has shown them to be really good,” Mattingly said. “We’ve seen them bounce back, which gives us hope that these guys are continuing to learn and continuing to get better.”