Broxton's Last Stand? Dodgers Fall To Cubs, 4-1
by Eric Stephen on May 3, 2011 10:59 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Recaps
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PrintThe Dodgers lost tonight's game 4-1 to the Cubs, but it may be worse for closer Jonathan Broxton, or for the remnants of a bullpen lacking a true solution to their growing woes. Broxton retired Aramis Ramirez on a popup to open the top of the ninth inning, but walked the next two batters on eight pitches. Broxton threw 10 fastballs in the ninth inning, per MLB Gameday, at an average of 91.2 mph (not counting one pitch at 87, classified as a changeup), topping out at 93 twice.
Broxton was removed by Don Mattingly after the second walk, in favor of Blake Hawksworth. After getting Alfonso Soriano to flyout to center for the second out, Hawksworth gave up a double to the right center field gap, scoring two runs. Old friend Blake DeWitt added an RBI single to give the Cubs a 4-1 lead, more than enough for Carlos Marmol to hold.
Regarding Broxton, this may have been the final straw in terms of keeping his closer spot. After the game, Mattingly told reporters that Broxton was still his closer, but didn't sound convincing. "When guys tell you they're fine, you believe that. The inconsistency in velocity concerns me. You don't know if you're getting the whole story. We need to figure this thing out," Mattingly said (as relayed on DodgerTalk on KABC).
Whether he is hurt -- his average fastball Monday night, for instance, was 94.3 mph, much better than tonight -- or whether the club decides to pick another of many flawed options, I don't imagine we will see Broxton in the ninth inning anytime soon.
Lost in the poor bullpen performance tonight were several things:
- The Dodgers offense managed just one run against the normally good Ryan Dempster, who had entered tonight with the worst ERA in MLB (9.58)
- Chad Billingsley pitched a great game in his own right, allowing just one run in seven innings, with eight strikeouts. Unfortunately, that one run came in the seventh inning with a 1-0 lead, as Carlos Peña slugged his first home run of the season for Chicago. The $10 million man was hitting .157/.286/.171 before tonight's game, with one extra-base hit (a double)
- Andre Ethier got a single, just over the outstretched glove of second baseman Darwin Barney, in the fourth inning, extending his hitting streak to 29 games. Ethier is now tied with Zack Wheat (in 1916) for the second-longest hitting streak in Dodgers history, just two games shy of Willie Davis.
- Matt Kemp, who went 16 games without a stolen base before Monday, stole a base tonight for the second straight game.
- Marcus Thames, who was placed on the DL today with a strained right quad, will be out four to six weeks. Yikes.
- Jay Gibbons, who was activated off the DL today, had his first plate appearance of the season, in the seventh inning against Dempster. Gibbons lasted long, a 10-pitch at-bat, but ultimately struck out.
Ted Lilly faces Carlos Zambrano in tomorrow afternoon's throwback series finale.
WP - Kerry Wood (1-1): 1 IP, 1 strikeout
LP - Jonathan Broxton (1-2): 1/3 IP, 2 runs, 2 walks
Sv - Carlos Marmol (8): 1 IP, 1 strikeout
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and coming into the season
I thought the bullpen was gonna be a strength. Blech.
Overqualified in an underqualified world since 2008.
Anyone think Gibbons gets some starts at first instead of Loney?
"Champions last year," he said. "Not this year." - Rubby De La Rosa after shaming the Giants in ST
Hard to say
probably won’t happen for a little while. Loney still has some rope IMO
by Eric Stephen on May 3, 2011 11:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Donnie is a really patient dude
"Champions last year," he said. "Not this year." - Rubby De La Rosa after shaming the Giants in ST
I have supported big John
longer than most and have consistently said he will be fine, but FB velo down in the low 90s is a huge issue.
I now believe there is something wrong, whether a huge problem or “dead arm” that he can work through, i do not know. but either way he needs to be removed from closing and work it out in lower leverage situations.
I hope that Yankee game last July was not the beginning of the end of Brox, but i do fear it was. I blame Joe Torre
jumping on the Jerry Sands bandwagon early, April 18th 2011.
Most of us support him, in a fan sense.
I’ve always defended him, but it’s quite clear to see from any perspective (statistically, scouting) that he’s not the same.
The sad part is that nobody else is much better in the pen.
by Chad Moriyama on May 3, 2011 11:10 PM PDT up reply actions
“We’re at the threshold of hell! How can this possibly get any worse?”
-Clark Griswold
[in comes the SWAT team]
by Eric Stephen on May 3, 2011 11:11 PM PDT up reply actions
At least fans get to experience what it’s truly like to have no confidence in the bullpen for good reason.
by Chad Moriyama on May 3, 2011 11:13 PM PDT up reply actions
We can have this to show people…“see this, now this is a real shit bullpen!” :)
by Eric Stephen on May 3, 2011 11:14 PM PDT up reply actions
i am not sure that most support him
we obviously want him to do well, but there has been a lot of negative said about him since last Aug (and maybe deservingly so). I have seen many closers come and go it just seems we have had the heir apparent ready whne the inevitable decline of the current holder of that title happens this time I agree there are no good options, I guess we go to Padilla first and hope,
jumping on the Jerry Sands bandwagon early, April 18th 2011.
by MammothDodger on May 3, 2011 11:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Padilla kicked ass in his last appearence
he had some yips in his first couple bullpen outings, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he totally kicked ass going forwards. Gurrier has been pretty good other then his 2 shit tastic outings, and has a track record of success, fips be damned.
You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.
did anyone else feel the 2 run double by soto was a ball that kemp should have dove for? from my vantage point it looked like it was within the realm of possibility
I didn’t think he had a chance at it, but was more dismayed that the ball got to the wall.
by Eric Stephen on May 3, 2011 11:09 PM PDT up reply actions
I didn't think he had a chance at it.
The mistake was him and Ethier both taking the same route and letting it get to the wall.
by Chad Moriyama on May 3, 2011 11:10 PM PDT up reply actions
i also bring up another point. we traded the garbage that was theRIOT and got a halfway decent arm in hawksworth. any way we can spin brox in a similar fashion? its obvious we need a bat.
Broxton’s trade value has to be next to nothing right now.
by Eric Stephen on May 3, 2011 11:12 PM PDT up reply actions
The universe would implode, like Ron Silver in Timecop.
by Eric Stephen on May 3, 2011 11:17 PM PDT up reply actions
loney closing, brox at first. shit give it a shot.
jumping on the Jerry Sands bandwagon early, April 18th 2011.
by MammothDodger on May 3, 2011 11:18 PM PDT up reply actions
that’s my point. if we can get something for the weak hitting theriot, cant brox be turned for something as well. i cant imagine theriot’s value was much higher than brox right now. i mean ned can spin it as dead arm right? im sure everyone here wouldn’t mind getting phil hughes if the price we right.
Does Phil Hughes play 1B?
Damaged goods can’t be traded. Theriot sucks but he’s a known quantity and can still do his job of being shit. Brox can’t do his job.
Overqualified in an underqualified world since 2008.
we got Hawksworth
from the Cardinals who is out of options. Could that have been a reason they were willing to part ways? Maybe he really didn’t have much of a shot at making the 25 man? i dunno what the Cards bullpen is like.
by Dodgerblue8188 on May 4, 2011 9:19 AM PDT up reply actions
Loney
used to pitch..wonder if he still could?
by Dodgerblue8188 on May 4, 2011 9:19 AM PDT up reply actions
Is there a point to trading him?
At best we get some utility bat for him now.
Might as well keep him and see if there’s an injury to fix or if his arm is just dead.
Unless they can swindle some GM, but I don’t trust Uncle Ned to do anything of the sort.
by Chad Moriyama on May 3, 2011 11:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Haha
Somebody asked me on Twitter if that guy in the pic was really Bobby Bottleservice (Nick Kroll).
Well, that was disheartening
I tune in just in time to see Big Jon get the dude who gave him the most trouble out in three pitches, and then proceed to throw 8 straight balls. Here’s hoping his problems are purely physical, which are much easier to diagnose and properly fix, than mental ones. I’m still firmly in Broxton’s corner, and the cheering I heard upon his removal, unless it was a sincere show of gratitude for his effort (which I sincerely doubt), was utterly tasteless and bush league.
"Scissors cuts paper, paper covers rock, rock crushes lizard, lizard poisons Spock, Spock smashes scissors, scissors decapitates lizard, lizard eats paper, paper disproves Spock, Spock vaporizes rock, and as it always has, rock crushes scissors." -- Dr. Sheldon Cooper
Bullpen, the coin flop that ultimately decides seasons, even the Red Sox were getting burned a lot.
by DodgersKings323 on May 3, 2011 11:18 PM PDT reply actions
I am assuming this was tonight but per Dodger Talk
Broxton insists he is fine and he is ready to pitch tomorrow. I guess if a guy making $24M and guaranteed to make more than that for another 3 years can refuse to get an MRI even at the club’s request (Kobe) then the Dodgers cannot force Broxton to do anything and that can’t DL, the only thing they can do is just not pitch him.
you do not need an MRI to DL him
they could put him there with General Soreness
jumping on the Jerry Sands bandwagon early, April 18th 2011.
by MammothDodger on May 3, 2011 11:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, I believe that sound was from after the game.
by Eric Stephen on May 3, 2011 11:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Fans
please, there is no magic bullet to solve the Dodgers’ problems, not a trade, not a callup, nothing. If the entire bullpen stinks and half the team (at least) can’t get on base, then we are what we are. We can hope guys in the pen rebound, but that’s about all the growth potential I see.
Get used to an up and down season.
Overqualified in an underqualified world since 2008.
I agree to an extent. Just gotta ride out this ugly bit and hope we are still in a position to be relevant. When i look at all the injuries we have sustained, my jaw drops. And the fact that we are anywhere near .500 amazes me.
"Champions last year," he said. "Not this year." - Rubby De La Rosa after shaming the Giants in ST
and all the injuries seem to be of the 4-6 week type. Very frustrating.
by Eric Stephen on May 3, 2011 11:31 PM PDT up reply actions
I agree there is no quick fix. The Dodgers are very average. Considering Blake and Furcals injuries, Loney not hitting and Broxton/the pen in general. Im rather surprised there only one game under 500
by rat, el rat, mr. rat, the rat on May 3, 2011 11:41 PM PDT up reply actions
I cant listen in. What did he say? Honey sucks or something creative like that?
"Champions last year," he said. "Not this year." - Rubby De La Rosa after shaming the Giants in ST
It was a long and rambling comment, but I’ll summarize…
This year and last year, Broxton is/was a mess. Kuo is a mess. Elbert was a mess. Billingsley was a mess. What’s the common trend? Rick Honeycutt! We have a staff full of Rick Honeycutts, a man who lost 40% more than he won, and pitched with fear on the mound. He couldn’t throw a strike, and when he did it was deposited into the seats.
by Eric Stephen on May 3, 2011 11:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Right
lets forget years and years of success our pitchers have had under him. Can I call that guy a douche or will Phil descend upon me with the fury of a thousand suns?
You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.
Maybe mix it up. Call him a tool
"Champions last year," he said. "Not this year." - Rubby De La Rosa after shaming the Giants in ST
I was thinking jackhole maybe
You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.
his PSYCHE is BROKEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Overqualified in an underqualified world since 2008.
Broxton
could rescue a houseful of kids from a burning fire and someone would comment on that news story how he screwed up by giving up that home run to Stairs.
that homerun was not a product of “a bad head on his shoulders” but the product of being brad penny and only throwing fastballs. at some point hitters zero in on it and if you don’t have a reliable 2 pitch you’re done. i think brox is at the end of his rope.
More that 1/4 of Broxton's major-league pitches
have been sliders. And at one time, he had a pretty good one. When he could throw the fastball at 97 and the slider at 88-89, he was tough. Clearly he doesn’t have that velocity anymore.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
so
Is tomorrow the first time we see Russ Mitchell at 3rd? I figure Carroll or Uribe will need the day off. Maybe IDJ at 2nd Mictchell at 3rd, Uribe/Caroll at SS?
"Champions last year," he said. "Not this year." - Rubby De La Rosa after shaming the Giants in ST
I’m prepared for pretty much anything. All we know for sure is Either will hit third and Kemp cleanup. :)
They face a LHP (Niese) on Friday in NY, so maybe Mitchell starts then. Who knows?
by Eric Stephen on May 3, 2011 11:52 PM PDT up reply actions
He does
Overqualified in an underqualified world since 2008.
by Pure Azure on May 4, 2011 12:01 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
HOly crap!
That is awesome!
"Champions last year," he said. "Not this year." - Rubby De La Rosa after shaming the Giants in ST
I gotta say
I’m drinkin the Frank McCourt sizzurp
No Rafael Furcals were hurt in the making of this video.
howzzat?
"Champions last year," he said. "Not this year." - Rubby De La Rosa after shaming the Giants in ST
I was at the game. It was brutal. By “it,” I mean fan support of Broxton. I’m pretty sure I’m now in the Anyone-else-for-closer category for the simple reason that JB is the lightning rod. Fans weren’t frustrated with Miles or Loney or Booribe or any of the other underperformers, but good gravy did they let Broxton have it. There was a louder cheer for Mattingly pulling him (WITHOUT HAVING GIVEN UP ANY RUNS YET) than there was for Ethier’s hit.
I have no doubt that 80% of the fans there are convinced that he was wholly responsible for all 3 runs that scored in the inning, even though he only allowed two base runners. On that note, Hawk reminded us that he is not the answer. The only logical choice now is Padilla. Fans will give him a fair amount of rope, and so will D2X.
"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great."
Same thing happened when Sherrill would come in in the second half of last year, even though by that point he was pitching better and being used properly. Chicken and the egg on that one though.
No Rafael Furcals were hurt in the making of this video.
The chicken/egg is when you can't tell which came first
Pretty sure sherrill’s reception was due to his pathetic performances. Not really a chicken and egg at all.
by lchristmas on May 4, 2011 1:00 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Hawk was throwing 94-96 with movement and his pitch chart didn't look like a blind mans results at the range
Soto went out and got a very good pitch or else maybe we are still playing.
I’m not sure why the emphasis on HE HADNT GIVEN UP ANY RUNS YET. are you the one person in the world who saw something in those 89 mph nothingballs that suggested he had any possibility of getting somebody out?
I like Jon personally and I felt bad for him walking off. But in my opinion the paying customers have every right to cheer\boo his performance. And yes it is time for Padilla.
by lchristmas on May 4, 2011 6:47 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I still like Hawk. He should be Padilla’s backup.
by Rihanna's Ex-Boyfriend on May 4, 2011 7:08 AM PDT up reply actions
Broxton was not good. That is certainly true. But he was coming off a 1-2-3 save and overmatched Aramis Ramirez (with pitches in the mid-90’s). But the first ball he threw to Byrd was met with an audible eyeroll. One ball, after three good pitches. After ball two, the grumbling was significant. If you’re going to use the “no confidence” argument, the fans should intend to build his confidence back up, not kick him while he’s down.
And also, you’ve raised my number one frustration with fans as a whole. Buying a ticket does not excuse anyone from human decency. There is no amount of money an individual can spend that makes it okay to berate another individual. I know they get paid lots of money. I know athletes have to know it comes with the territory. But just because a guy pays $6 or $50 or $1000, it is not appropriate to insult other people.
"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great."
first, I wasnt there so I doUuuuun't know what insults or berating you are referring to
I was talking about the loud cheers when he was removed. IMO that doesn’t violate “human decency” and I don’t have a problem with it.
Saying nasty things about someone personally (unless they play for the giants), cheering an injury, are different matters.
And as far as the grumbling and stirring starting sooner than youd like – he has earned the fans’ skepticism. He isn’t making it any easier to root for him with his “everything is fine” mantra either.
by lchristmas on May 4, 2011 8:41 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
How much money would it take for me to come to your job and boo you?
"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great."
absurd comparison
Nobody pays to come watch me do my job
But if you want to pay me the major league minimum ill build the bleachers in my office and you can come on down
by lchristmas on May 4, 2011 12:57 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Not about the observee but the observer. Maybe I should ask how much you expect to pay me to boo me at my job? Correct answer: There is no amount. Paying for a ticket doesn’t justify any kind of dickery.
"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great."
If you think its "dickery" to boo no matter what then we can agree to disagree
I don’t think most people would agree with you, but it doesn’t matter.
Go Dodgers
by lchristmas on May 4, 2011 1:24 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
If you came into my classroom and started booing me, you’d be a dick. And everyone would agree with me.
I’m not saying fans can’t boo. But the Broxton treatment last night was unacceptable.
"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great."
I'm quite sure everyone would agree with you. But we aren't talking about your classroom.
And your last several statements did indeed imply that fans can’t even boo or else they are guilty of “dickery.”
And on that, I’d say that 95% of sports fans would disagree with you.
Frank can't make the 2nd part of the May payroll
LA Times story…Frank can’t make the payroll in the second part of May. MLB will probably fully seize the team at that point and Frank will go to court.
Let's all just pray that the big fella can get it back
But it legitimately distresses me that his velocity has dropped. I think he’s done. Padilla for closer.
Part of Pech's Posse since 2007.
by OleksiyPecherovsHomeboy on May 4, 2011 7:08 AM PDT reply actions
Is part of the problem that he’s not really able to pitch on back-to-back nights at this point?
Looking at his game log this season for his appearances in consecutive games:
He pitched an inning on April 8th (16 pitches) and then got the save on April 9th, but he only needed 1 out. He gave up a walk and threw 11 pitches.
He pitched April 17th and 18th. Pitched an inning on the 17th, threw 20 pitches and gave up a run on 2 hits and a walk. Then gave up 3 hits and 2 runs the next night on 25 pitches.
April 24th he threw a scoreless inning, giving up just a walk on 19 pitches, but the next night he got the loss after giving up 2 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks in 2/3 of an inning. He threw 27 pitches, and the runs were unearned because of an error, but he still gave up 2 runs and 2 walks.
May 1st: First clean frame since April 1st. Only threw 8 pitches, but no hits, no walks, and a strikeout for the save.
May 2nd: You know the story. 11 pitches, 2 walks, 1 out.
California Golden Bears: 2nd place is nothing to sneeze at!
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