Dodger Thoughts

Jon Weisman's outlet for dealing psychologically with the Los Angeles Dodgers, baseball and life

Rest allows Dodgers to emphasize matchups in bullpen use

With seven relievers in a potential five-game series with two off days, the Dodgers should have little trouble finding the right reliever for the right situation:

Ninth inning: Kenley Jansen, because it is ordained. But to be clear, he should be used even (especially) in a tie game.

Seventh and eighth innings: Brian Wilson, Paco Rodriguez, Ronald Belisario and J.P. Howell, according to matchups.

Before the seventh and after the ninth: Chris Withrow and Chris Capuano.

Emergency: Ricky Nolasco

With Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke on the mound in the first two games at Atlanta, the Dodgers might not need to dip deep into their bullpen for some time. But they can afford to have quick hooks if they do.

 

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25 Comments

  1. RBI

    How am I going to make it until 5:37? Jon, can you post every fifteen minutes, please?

    • I’m already amazed I’ve been able to do three today :)

    • ASW1

      I hear ya – glad I’m working today – home for a lunch break – but if I had the day off, I’d be going stir crazy.

      • RBI

        Sadly, or happily, I work at home, with no one but me to answer to. But either way, I have my brain to contend with!

        • I’m at home with the kids because of one of those “teacher In-service days” and have three extras for a play date thingee. Going MAD waiting for the game to start and/or my wife to get home to watch these kids!

    • dalegribel

      Torn between wanting a early start to stop the anticipation and wanting a late start to see it on TV. I’ve even been too nervous to read DT much today.

  2. WBBsAs

    A comment on the previous post: it could be very difficult to use Ethier in any potential DP situation.

    • Agreed – which again is another reason I like batting him leadoff.

      • NoahUCLA

        I would actually pinch run with one of the starting pitchers if he got on in the first and save Gordon for later in the game. I know a run in the first is as good as a run in the 9th, but Gordon can also hit and play the field if necessary and losing half my bench in the first inning scares me and who needs 3 starting pitchers available to pitch in an emergency.

  3. ASW1

    I just hope to see Kenley pitch two or three times in this series and not have to see Kimbrel pitch one single time – that’s not too much to ask is it?

  4. Of the Dodgers’ five losses to Atlanta this year, four were started by Capuano, Fife and Magill (two).

    • ASW1

      Admittedly, it’s been awhile since Kershaw has faced the Braves – but in his career Kershaw has only started 4 times against them : no wins, no losses, 29.1 IP, 2.45 ERA, 35 SO, 10 walks, 1.023 WHIP

  5. There’s another game today as well, and I’ve got an open thread up to discuss it if anyone wants to drop in there before the main event a few hours later.

    I’m rooting for the Pirates.

  6. ASW1

    “Homegrown” Dodgers on the NLDS roster :

    A.J. Ellis (18th round, 2003)
    Dee Gordon (4th rd., 2008)
    SVS ( 14th rd., 2005)
    Paco Rodriquez (2nd rd., 2012)
    Chris Withrow (1st rd, 2007)
    Kenley Jansen (Amateur FA 2004)
    Clayton Kershaw (1st rd., 2006)

    • Jack Dawkins

      Id be inclined to list Ryu and Puig, since they never played for any other MLB organization.

      • ASW1

        Well, international signings are free agents – and both Puig and Ryu had played professional ball, but I get your point – they ARE different from traditional FA’s.

  7. thescrounger

    This whole Ethier-Schu-Gordon thing could have been avoided if the club had simply remembered SLS’s shortcomings and brought up Pederson in September to get a little break-in time. No SVS, no JHJ, Ethier as a late inning pinch-hitter, Gordon as a PR. Better all around team in every way.

  8. Game 3 is at 5 p.m. Sunday.

  9. ASW1

    Just saw this : Skip Schumaker is hitting .400 vs the Braves over the last 2 years.

  10. WBBsAs

    In retrospect, Don didn’t do too well with the bullpen matchups…

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