Los Angeles Dodgers Closer Breakdown

May 22, 2006 @ 14:29:34

By Scott Ehrlich
Edited by KFFL Staff

Los Angeles Dodgers closer Eric Gagne's (elbow) surgery last season threw the Dodgers bullpen into a state of disarray, with no reliable replacement to fill-in. Gagne's injury was one of many the Dodgers suffered last year, but was the first domino to fall in what was one of the worst seasons ever in Chavez Ravine.

That terrible season cost general manager Paul DePodesta his job. New general manager Ned Colletti made sure he had insurance, engineering a deal with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to bring in former closers Lance Carter and Danys Baez. He also signed Japanese righthander Takashi Saito. Those two were to supplement youngsters Yhency Brazoban and Jonathan Broxton in setting up Eric Gagne. However, Colletti's plans have not worked out as well as he hoped. Brazoban went down for the season with an arm injury and Carter was demoted due to ineffectiveness. Broxton was only recently called up. Therefore, when Gagne went down with an injury this time, the last two men standing for his job were Baez and Saito.

Saito came to the Dodgers after a decent career with the Yokohama BayStars of the Japanese League. His best two seasons were in 2001 and 2002, and the now 36-year-old righty hasn't had a save in three seasons. However, his awkward delivery, which Colorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle says looks like a "jigsaw puzzle" has given major league hitters trouble thus far, as Saito has 27 strikeouts in 23 innings and a 2.74 ERA.

Table: Saito Japanese League Statistics

Year	W-L	SV	ERA	IP	K
2001	7-1	27	1.67	64.2	60
2002	1-2	20	2.45	47.2	46
2003	6-7	0	4.18	103.1	72
2004	2-5	0	7.71	44.1	37
2005	3-4	0	3.82	106	93

Baez was a heavily hyped Cuban import, who originally signed a four-year, $16 million deal with the Indians. They switched him between a relief and starting role before he took the closer's job from an injured Bob Wickman in 2003. He performed so well that Cleveland had no interest in even having him on the club the following year. When he was non-tendered, Tampa Bay picked him up and he performed solidly for the Devil Rays over the last two years before being dealt to the Dodgers.

Table: Baez Statistics Since 2001

Year	W-L	SV	ERA	IP	K
2001	5-3	0	2.50	50.1	52
2002	10-11	6	4.41	165.1	130
2003	2-9	25	3.81	75.2	66
2004	4-4	30	3.57	68	52
2005	5-4	41	2.86	72.1	51

While those are the two options to hang on to the closer's job until Gagne returns, neither should have it long. Gagne is due back early in June. Expect Baez to have the majority of save opportunities until that point, even though he already has five blown saves on the season. Baez was brought in for exactly this sort of situation and it would be a bold move for the Dodgers to try the untested Saito in keeping them afloat. Either way, this job will belong to Gagne on his return. However, with his health problems the last two seasons and the fact that he has an expensive club option for next season that will be hard for the Dodgers to justify exercising based on his recent injury woes, it will be interesting to see who the Dodgers give the job to if Gagne were to be hurt again. While Baez followed by Saito would be the obvious option, neither would be long term solutions. Jon "The Bull" Broxton, however, could be the guy come September if Gagne is hurt again and could be the front runner going into next season.

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Scott Ehrlich

Scott Ehrlich has been involved with sports for the last four years. He spent parts of three seasons working with various minor league baseball teams and internet sports sites. In 2004 he hosted his own sports talk show on 790AM in South Florida, featuring guests from all four major sports. Scott currently resides in Ft. Lauderdale, FL but will be attending law school at the University of Florida in August, where he hopes to one day be the guy responsible for holding your favorite player out of training camp.

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