You Never Can Have Enough Pitching

Earlier in the season it seemed like the dodgers had proven this old adage untrue. They had pitching coming out of their ears. So much pitching there was talk of trading off a starter for a 'big bat'. Not anymore.

The dodgers pitching situation is getting scary. Nobody can be counted on anymore. Even Lowe and Penny both suffered minor injuries in back to back starts. Saito's health is pretty shaky and at the worst time. Kuo just had surgery and can't be counted on to come back. Brazoban went down before the season began. Tsao is on his second d/l stint. Wolf was injured but should be back in the next week or so. All these injuries not to mention the big one with Jason Schmidt's shoulder giving out on him and requiring surgery. That's eight pitchers that are iffy or out.

My predictions. Lowe will probably miss a start but not d/l'd. Not because he doesn't think he can go but because Little saw the results of Lowe pitching hurt in the start before last and it was horrible. Penny won't miss a start. When he first left the game they said groin but later corrected it to abdominal cramp. A strain would worry me. A guy getting p.m.s. doesn't. Saito is going to continue to be a hit and miss closer instead of a slammed the door closed closer with some nights handed off to Broxton. I think Kuo gets more of a shot out of spring training as a starter and doesn't get shifted between roles as happened this season. I think Brazoban is done with the dodgers and they will give up on him. He relied on overpowering people and he probably won't be able to do that for another year or so. I don't know what they'll do with Tsao. Keep him while understanding he'll have to be d/l'd 2-3 times a season or cut bait and just find another guy. I happen to think he's worth it. I think Wolf's future depends on how strong he comes back from his recent injury. If he finishes the season off strong he may get his option picked up, if he comes back and malingers and the dodgers miss the playoffs he's probably done as a dodger. Ned has to stick with his signing and keep him the man so he stays in the rotation and continues to need d/l stints for the shoulder. Maybe he retires before the end of the contract.

Now we've got Tomko and Hendrickson making starts down a close stretch. The bad news is they kinda suck. The good news is they're fresher and better than most of the other guys out there throwing innings under the same circumstances. Now they're trusting leads to Roberto Hernandez, D.J. Houlton, Eric Hull, and Eric Stults. It's strange that the rest of the season kinda rests in their hands and that ubiquitous big bat problem worked itself out.