True Blue LA - Dodgers 2012 exit interviewsWhere The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2012-10-19T13:00:20-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/32744532012-10-19T13:00:20-07:002012-10-19T13:00:20-07:002012 Dodgers exit interviews: The outfield
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<figcaption>Rob Carr</figcaption>
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<p>The final look back at the 2012 Dodgers focuses on the outfield.</p> <p>Our final look back at the 2012 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> looks at the outfield, which was decimated by the best player on the team missing a third of the season. Dodgers' outfielders hit .265/.331/.412, 11th in the National League with a 97 OPS+ and tied for 10th with 52 home runs.</p>
<p>Here is a look back at the nine players who were primarily outfielders for the Dodgers in 2012.</p>
<h3><span>Andre Ethier</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Ethier hit 36 doubles, joining Jackie Robinson as the only Dodgers to hit 30 or more doubles in six seasons, and Ethier is the only one to do so in six straight years. He posted a 123 OPS+, his fifth straight season with an OPS+ of 120 or higher.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Ethier continued to struggle against left-handed pitchers, hitting .222/.276/.350, his fourth straight sub-.300 on-base percentage against southpaws and his fifth straight sub-.700 OPS against lefties. He went 30 games and 129 plate appearances without a home run, from July 15 to Aug. 16, part of a span that saw Ethier his two home runs in 65 games.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Ethier <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2010/11/30/1840626/dodgers-payroll-worksheet#ethier">will make $13.5 million in the first season of a five-year, $85 million contract extension</a> signed in May.</p>
<h3><span>Matt Kemp</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Kemp was the best player in baseball in April, as he hit .417/.490/.893 with a franchise record 12 home runs in 23 games, with 24 runs scored and 25 runs batted in. Kemp also shook off several injuries in a five-game hot streak in the final week of the season, hitting .550 (11-for-20) four home runs and three doubles.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Injuries derailed a potential MVP campaign. Kemp had two left hamstring strains in May that caused him to miss 51 games before the All-Star break. Then he ran into the center field wall in Colorado on Aug. 28 and suffered a right knee contusion and a labrum tear in his left shoulder that required surgery after the season. Kemp played through the pain but hit .214/.267/.420 after running into the wall, including his hot streak.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Kemp <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2010/11/30/1840626/dodgers-payroll-worksheet#bison">will make $22 million in the second season of his eight-year contract</a>, which includes a $20 million salary and $2 million deferred from 2012. After surgery, Kemp will not be able to swing until January, and while the Dodgers say he should be ready for opening day that might be optimistic.</p>
<h3><span>Shane Victorino</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Victorino had a nine-game hitting streak from Aug. 6-15, and hit .375/.432/.550 during that span. Victorino provided a defensive upgrade over <span>Juan Rivera</span> and <span>Bobby Abreu</span> in left field. He stole 15 bases in 17 attempts in his 53 games as a Dodger. Victorino was able to keep the same nickname many Dodgers fans had for him when he was with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a>.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: He did not provide the spark at the top of the lineup, hitting just .245 with a .316 on-base percentage.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Victorino is a free agent.</p>
<h3><span>Elian Herrera</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Herrera was a great story, <span>Luis Cruz</span> before Luis Cruz. The 27-year old career minor leaguer made his major league debut and hit .305/.407/.390 in his first 31 games. Herrera had game-winning hits in back-to-back games against the Phillies in Philadelphia on June 4-5. He provided great versatility, starting games at third base, second base, left field, center field, and right field, and also played two games at shortstop. Herrera had a pinch-hit, walk-off single to beat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> on Oct. 1, that kept the Dodgers alive for one more day. He played 207⅓ innings in the outfield and 200 innings in the infield, which for our classification purposes puts Herrera in the outfield.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: After his hot start, Herrera hit .183/.247/.256 with 23 strikeouts in 90 plate appearances, including a 9-for-64 (.141) stretch that got him optioned to Triple A at the All-Star break.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Herrera has 89 days of service time and two options remaining.</p>
<h3>Bobby Abreu</h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: The 38-year old wasn't quite done, as he gave the Dodgers a .361 on-base percentage in 92 games after getting released by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a> in April. Abreu hit .326/.444/.461 in his first 33 games as a Dodger. After accepting a minor league assignment in August, Abreu returned in September and was exclusively a pinch-hitter, hitting .188/.381/.375 in 22 games.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Abreu followed that hot start up with a 16-for-90 (.178/.267/.222) slump and was designated for assignment on July 31 to make room on the 40-man roster for Victorino.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Abreu is a free agent.</p>
<h3><span>Scott Van Slyke</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: He hit a pinch-hit, three-run home run to beat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> on May 20, his first major league home run.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: In two stints with the Dodgers, Van Slyke hit .167/.196/.315 (9-for-54) and was not recalled from Triple A Albuquerque when rosters expanded.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Van Slyke has 41 days of service time, and two options remaining.</p>
<h3><span>Alex Castellanos</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: He tripled, singled, and drove in two runs in his second major league game, on June 1 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a>. Castellanos hit his first major league home run on Oct. 3 against the Giants, in his final game of the season.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Castellanos hit just .174/.200/.391 (4-for-23) in his limited time with the Dodgers.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Castellanos has 39 days of service time, and two options remaining.</p>
<h3><span>Tony Gwynn Jr.</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: He hit .298 with a .347 on-base percentage in his first 41 games of the season.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Gwynn was exposed a bit while playing nearly every day in place of Kemp in center field in May and June, and hit .194/.236/.242 in 62 games after his hot start. Gwynn was designated for assignment on Aug. 6 after his role as a defensive replacement all but disappeared with the Victorino trade.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Gwynn is under contract for $1.15 million next year, but it is not guaranteed. He is still not on the 40-man roster.</p>
<h3><span>Jerry Sands</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Sands was red hot with Triple A Albuquerque, hitting .426 (40-for-94) with 12 home runs in a 23-game stretch from July 20 to Aug. 15, including a double header with 10 runs batted in and two grand slams in one game on July 29.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Sands came to spring training with a new swing, and played his way out of a likely spot on the opening day roster. He hit .174/.208/.261 (4-for-23) in his brief stints with the Dodgers.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Sands went to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a> in the <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span> deal as a player to be named later, officially joining Boston on Oct. 4.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2012/10/19/3525108/2012-dodgers-exit-interviews-outfieldEric Stephen2012-10-18T14:00:05-07:002012-10-18T14:00:05-07:002012 Dodgers exit interviews: The infield
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<img alt=""Really? 46 home runs combined. For the whole season?"" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9CXcS5QE4d0tlVu99qJT1FTYsLw=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1519655/20120909_jel_se9_335.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>"Really? 46 home runs combined. For the whole season?" | Cary Edmondson-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>A look back at the Dodgers infield, which was markedly different at the end of the season than the one that came out of spring training.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> infield saw much change in 2012, as three quarters of the opening day starting infield were either traded or benched by the end of the year. The Dodgers got just 46 home runs out of their first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, and shortstops in 2012, 29th in baseball. Only the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> had fewer home runs out of their infield, with 37.</p>
<p>Here is a look back at the 13 players who primarily played infield for the Dodgers in 2012.</p>
<h3><span>Mark Ellis</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Despite missing nearly seven weeks with a left leg injury, and getting regular rest throughout the season, the 35-year old led all Dodgers infielders with 464 plate appearances. His on-base percentage was .371 as late as July 20, and he ended the season hitting .258/.333/.364, right in line with his .265/.331/.394 career line. Ellis was a rock defensively, as he made just three errors in 110 games, and was at or near the top of MLB in both <a target="_blank" href="http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=2b&stats=fld&lg=all&qual=y&type=1&season=2012&month=0&season1=2012&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=23,d">Ultimate Zone Rating</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/2012-specialpos_2b-fielding.shtml#players_standard_fielding::14">Total Zone Rating</a>.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Ellis took a hard slide at second base on May 18 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> and had to have an emergency fasciotomy to relieve pressure in his left leg. After coming reasonably close to losing his left leg -- a few hours, had his condition not been properly recognized by team trainer Sue Falsone -- Ellis missed 43 games. While the middle of the lineup took the brunt of the blame for the Dodgers' offense struggles after their trade with Boston, and rightfully so, Ellis didn't do much from the leadoff spot, hitting .243/.277/.355 in September, including a 13-for-74 (.176) skid to end the season.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Ellis <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2010/11/30/1840626/dodgers-payroll-worksheet#markellis">will make $5.25 million in the second season of a two-year contract</a>. Ellis also has $5.75 million club option for 2014, with a $1 million buyout.</p>
<h3><span>Luis Cruz</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Everything. Cruz emerged from obscurity, and Albuquerque, on July 2, and hit his way into a permanent lineup spot. He started 73 of 81 games, and became such a fan favorite that Dodger Stadium by year's end had Cruuuuuz shirt-jerseys in both the stands and the clubhouse. Cruz drove in a run in each of his first four games as a Dodger, the first Dodger to do so since Jimmy Wynn in 1974. Cruz hit .331/.346/.461 over his final 48 games of the season.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Cruz went 0-for-15 from July 7-16, and 3-for-23 from July 30 - Aug. 11.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Cruz <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2012/10/7/3466064/dodgers-roster-breakdown">has one year, 76 days of service time, and is out of options</a>. He heads into the offseason as the starter at third base, pending any moves, or decisions, made by the Dodgers this winter.</p>
<h3><span>Dee Gordon</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Gordon had a .385 on-base percentage in July.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: His July lasted all of 14 plate appearances, thanks to tearing a ligament in his right thumb. Gordon missed over two months with that injury and when he came back his .280 on-base percentage no longer had a spot to play.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Gordon has one year, 89 days of service time, and two options remaining. As it stands now, he is the odd man out on the right side of the Dodgers infield.</p>
<h3><span>Hanley Ramirez</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Ramirez gave the Dodgers a legitimate third bat in their lineup with his acquisition on July 25, and he led the team with 10 home runs during his time with the Dodgers. Ramirez hit .271/.324/.450 with 44 RBI in 64 games, and he played 573 of a possible 576 innings with Los Angeles.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: His last home run came on Sept. 3, and Ramirez hit .252/.287/.301 over his final 108 homerless plate appearances of the season.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Ramirez <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2010/11/30/1840626/dodgers-payroll-worksheet#hanley">will make $15.5 million next year</a>, and another $16 million in 2014.</p>
<h3><span>Adam Kennedy</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Kennedy proved to be a useful reserve for the Dodgers, hitting .262/.345/.357 in 86 games while starting 25 games at third base and 15 games at second. Kennedy hit .339/.394/.500 from July 1 to the end of the season, and homered against <span>Tim Lincecum</span> in his final at-bat of the season, on Sept. 7.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Kennedy struggled mightily in the first half, hitting .217/.317/.274 through the end of June. He was also limited by a right groin injury. Kennedy missed 14 games on the disabled from late July to August, then had his final month cut short and missed the final 23 games of the season.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Kennedy is a free agent</p>
<h3><span>Juan Uribe</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: The third baseman hit 1.000 over the final 36 games of the season. Uribe homered against likely National League Cy Young winner <span>R.A. Dickey</span> on July 21. Uribe was singled out by manager Don Mattingly for being a great teammate.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Those final 36 games, when Uribe was fully healthy, featured all of two plate appearances by Uribe, who was banished to the bench. Uribe followed up a putrid .204/.264/.293 in 2011 with a worse season across the board in 2012, hitting .191/.258/.284 with two home runs in 66 games. In two seasons as a Dodger, in 474 plate appearances (nearly enough to qualify for the batting title in a normal season), Uribe has hit .199/.262/.289 with six home runs and 45 runs batted in. Uribe has provided a worthy challenger to the <span>Andruw Jones</span> throne of worst signing of the Ned Colletti era (non-<span>Jason Schmidt</span> division). Even with that final 2-for-2 push, Uribe ended his season with six hits in his final 60 at-bats. Uribe started just once in the final 66 games of the season, with 18 plate appearances during that span.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Uribe <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2010/11/30/1840626/dodgers-payroll-worksheet#uribe">has one more season left on his three-year, $21 million deal</a>, and will make $7 million next year. The only question is whether or not the Dodgers will send his checks elsewhere.</p>
<h3><span>Adrian Gonzalez</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Gonzalez ended the year with a 15-game hitting streak, the longest by a Dodger during this season, and hit .390/.429/.542 during that span. He continued his assault on <span>Homer Bailey</span>, hitting two home runs against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> hurler on Sept. 23 (in his career, Gonzalez is 8-for-15 with five home runs against Bailey).</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: He hit one home run as a Dodger against pitchers not named Homer Bailey. That home run came on Aug. 25 in Gonzalez's first at-bat as a Dodger, then he followed it with 115 plate appearances of .238/.296/.333 and 25 full games without a home run.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Gonzalez is around for the long haul, as <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2010/11/30/1840626/dodgers-payroll-worksheet#adrian">he is signed through 2018</a>. He will make $21 million next year.</p>
<h3><span>Juan Rivera</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: He hit a game-winning, three-run home run to beat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a> on June 12. Rivera hit a walk-off single to beat the Cardinals on Sept. 15 that brought the Dodgers into a tie for the second National League wild card spot with 16 games remaining. Rivera played 327 innings at first base and 301 innings in the outfield, so he qualifies as an infielder for our purposes here.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Rivera hit .244/.286/.375, an 81 OPS+, one year after hitting .243/.305/.360, an 80 OPS+, before getting designated for assignment by Toronto. The lefty masher hit .260/.312/.433 against southpaws in 2012.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Rivera <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2010/11/30/1840626/dodgers-payroll-worksheet#rivera">has a $4 million club option for next season</a>, but a $500,000 buyout is far more likely to be in his future.</p>
<h3><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/players/103/jerry-hairston-jr#stories_tab">Jerry Hairston Jr.</a></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Hairston thrived early in the season, transitioning from super-sub to near regular at multiple positions. Hairston started 49 games in the infield and 13 games in left field. He came into the season having never started in the major leagues batting third or fourth, and did both with the Dodgers (six times batting third, four times at cleanup). Hairston tied a career high with five hits, while batting third, on May 27 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Astros</a>. Hairston homered and drove in a season-high five runs on June 9 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a> in Seattle, and was hitting .366/.435/.525 on the season at that point.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: After that June 9 game in Seattle, Hairston hit just .204/.272/.285 in 44 games for the rest of the season. He missed 16 games with a left hamstring strain in May, then was sidelined by left hip inflammation and didn't play after Aug. 11. Hairston had arthroscopic hip surgery on Sept. 10, and his readiness for spring training is in question.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Hairston <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2010/11/30/1840626/dodgers-payroll-worksheet#hairston">will make $3.75 million in the final season of a two-year contract</a>.</p>
<h3><span>Nick Punto</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Punto hit .286 with a .390 on-base percentage in 22 games as a Dodger after coming over from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a> in the Gonzalez deal. He had three hits and scored four runs on Sept. 26, more runs scored in a game by any Dodger all season.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Decimated the Dodgers' uniform supply with his 'Shredder' persona, ripping the jerseys off the hero of a walk-off win.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Punto <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2010/11/30/1840626/dodgers-payroll-worksheet#punto">will make $1.5 million next year in the final season of a two-year deal</a>.</p>
<h3><span>Justin Sellers</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Sellers made his first opening day roster, and the defensive specialist <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2012/5/25/3044245/justin-sellers-disabled-list-bulging-disc">made a highlight play on May 14</a> when he dove into the stands after tracking down a pop-up down the left field line.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Unfortunately Sellers hurt his back on that play, and ended up not playing after May 22. He underwent season-ending back surgery to repair a bulging disc in his lower back on Aug. 23.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Sellers has one year, 48 days of service time, and has three options remaining.</p>
<h3><span>Ivan De Jesus</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: After getting passed over for a September call-up in two straight years, De Jesus briefly carved out a niche for himself as a primary pinch-hitter for Mattingly in May and June, hitting .231 (3-for-13) with two walks and s sacrifice fly as a pinch-hitter. His highlight of the year was a two-out, two-run double to give the Dodgers an 8-7 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> at Chase Field on May 22.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: His final major league hit of the season came on June 15. He was 0-for-13 after that, including 0-for-8 with six strikeouts after his trade to Boston.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Under team control in Beantown.</p>
<h3><span>James Loney</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: He hit .368/.429/.509 over a 17-game span from May 8-26.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Loney had the worst season of his career, was reduced to a platoon player, and eventually traded to the Red Sox in the Adrian Gonzalez deal. His high in runs batted in for a month was 10, in May, and his best month with the Dodgers, July, produced a .702 OPS despite a .318 batting average.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: After hitting .230/.264/.310 with two home runs in 30 games in Boston to end his season, Loney is a free agent.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2012/10/18/3514756/2012-dodgers-exit-interviews-infieldEric Stephen2012-10-17T12:45:27-07:002012-10-17T12:45:27-07:002012 Dodgers exit interviews: Catchers
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<figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>A look back at the three catchers for the 2012 Dodgers.</p> <p>Our next look back at 2012 is a review of the backstops, which had just two players start the first 161 games of the season behind the plate. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> catchers hit .250/.354/.385 on the season, with a 108 OPS+ that was sixth in the National League, and led the circuit with 79 walks.</p>
<p>Here is a look back at the trio of catchers for the 2012 Dodgers.</p>
<h3><span>A.J. Ellis</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Ellis came into his age-31 season full of questions, having started just 62 major league games. But he answered every one in the affirmative. Not only did Ellis prove to be durable behind the plate, finishing fourth in baseball in games caught, starts and innings behind the plate, but his offense was a plus, too. Ellis led the team with a .373 on-base percentage and 65 walks, and established a personal career high with 13 home runs. Ellis drove in a run in six straight games from Sept. 23-30, the longest streak of the season by a Dodger.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Ellis had 11 passed balls, third most in the major leagues. Though just two of those came after the All-Star break. "It's just concentration level and focus. We always talk about catchers and first basemen always expecting a bad throw," Ellis said. "You get comfortable and spoiled by these major league guys who throw the ball to the right spot, but they're going to make mistakes and you have to always be on alert and be ready for it."</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Ellis will be eligible for arbitration as a Super Two player, in line for a raise over his $490,000 salary in 2012.</p>
<h3><span>Matt Treanor</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: With Ellis starting so many games, Treanor didn't get much playing time but proved to be a capable backup in the first half. He was hitting .295/.353/.523 with two home runs and seven RBI in 14 games through June 17, which included a six-game hitting streak and hits in nine of his last 10 starts. Treanor's wife, Misty May-Treanor, won her third straight Olympic gold medal in Beach volleyball in London. <span>Chris Capuano</span> was 7-7 with a 3.20 ERA i 17 starts with Treanor as his catcher, with a 4-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and 5-5 with a 4.36 ERA and a 2.07 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 16 starts with Ellis.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Had two stints of over a month without a hit after his hot start, from June 17 to July 21 and from July 26 to Sept. 19. Treanor finished his season in a 5-for-61 slump, and hit .175/.281/.282 on the season.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Treanor <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=treanma01&t=b&year=2012">has a $950,000 club option for next year, with a $150,000 buyout</a>.</p>
<h3><span>Tim Federowicz</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Federowicz was named an All-Star in Triple A Albuquerque and made the all Pacific Coast League first team after hitting .294/.371/.461 with 34 doubles and 52 walks in 115 games with the Isotopes, his first full year in Triple A.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Federowicz may have gotten bored in September, as he accumulated all of four plate appearances and 10 innings caught in 29 games after getting called up.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Federowicz has 56 days of service time, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2012/10/7/3466064/dodgers-roster-breakdown">and two option years lef</a>t. General manager Ned Colletti said Federowicz, who turned 25 in August, would have a shot at the backup catcher job in spring training, with any veteran backups brought in likely signed to a minor-league deal. "I think Tim had a real good year. From where he was a year ago to what he became this year," Colletti said. "Again, you have to compete for the time and compete for the place in February. But we have much more confidence in him than we did a year ago."</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2012/10/17/3517656/2012-dodgers-exit-interviews-catchersEric Stephen2012-10-16T12:57:41-07:002012-10-16T12:57:41-07:002012 Dodgers exit interviews: The bullpen
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<figcaption>Jennifer Hilderbrand-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>A review of the 2012 Dodgers bullpen, which saw 16 different relievers pitch for the Dodgers.</p> <p>Our second of five in a series of 2012 reviews, we look at the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> bullpen, which had numerous characters, three pitchers who at one point definitively held the role of closer.</p>
<p>The relief corps for the Dodgers finished fourth in the National League with a 3.23 ERA and fifth in the league with a 23.3% strikeout rate, though they were just 13th in the NL with a 2.14 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Here is a look at all 16 pitchers who pitched in relief for the Dodgers in 2012, plus one who didn't.</p>
<h3><span>Kenley Jansen</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Jansen began spring training as the setup man but by the first week of May he claimed the closer role that he was destined for. He had another great year out of the back end of the bullpen, with a 2.22 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 65 innings to go along with 25 saves. One year after setting a major league record with 16.1 strikeouts per nine innings, Jansen struck out <i>only</i> 13.7 per nine innings in 2012. But considering his walk rate declined dramatically from 11.9% of batters faced and 4.36 per nine innings to 8.7% and 3.05, Jansen's trade-off was well worth it, as he set a new career high with an 0.846 WHIP.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: For the second straight season Jansen was sidelined for an extended period of time with an irregular heartbeat, as he missed just over three weeks from the end of August into September. Luckily for Jansen the condition was treatable and he will have a cardiac ablation procedure this offseason, designed to correct the problem. The procedure isn't expected to affect his readiness for spring training. On the field, Jansen's average fastball declined from 93.3 mph in 2011 to 91.9 mph in 2012, though that <a target="_blank" href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=3096&position=P#pitchtype">Fangraphs shows Jansen as having thrown his fastball 94.5% of the time</a> suggests a lack of recognition of his cutter.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: With two years, 73 days of major league service time, Jansen has one more year under team control before he is eligible for salary arbitration.</p>
<h3><span>Ronald Belisario</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: For those of us wondering before the season why the Dodgers would continue to put up with Belisario's crap, his 2012 campaign provided quite an answer. Belisario put up 69 strikeouts in 71 innings and a 2.54 ERA, with numbers across the board eerily similar to his stellar 2009 campaign. Despite missing the first 25 games of the season while serving a suspension for testing positive for cocaine, Belisario led the team with 68 games pitched and was an indispensable weapon for manager Don Mattingly all season. Random note: in each of Belisario's three major league seasons he has exactly 13 games finished.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Belisario had a bad stretch from July 8-30, when he gave up runs in seven of 11 outings, putting up a 9.00 ERA during that span, but considering that Belisario allowed just 11 runs in his other 60 innings the bad stretch was nothing more than a blip on the radar.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Belisario <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2012/10/7/3466064/dodgers-roster-breakdown">will be eligible for salary arbitration as a Super Two player this offseason</a>, in line for a raise over the minimum $480,000 he earned in 2012.</p>
<h3><span>Jamey Wright</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: For seventh consecutive season Wright bet on himself and won, making a team out of spring training as a non-roster invitee. Wright made the Dodgers in spring training, just as he did with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Indians</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> (twice), and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>. The 37-year old proved to be dependable out of the bullpen, and was the only reliever on the active roster and available to pitch for the entire season. He was especially stingy in the final two months of the season, with just three unintentional walks and 17 strikeouts in his his final 29 games, including a stretch of 13 straight scoreless appearances.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Before those final two months, Wright was Walkie McWalkerson, issuing a free pass to 12.5% of his batters face and 5.31 walks per nine innings, though 20% of those walks were intentional.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Wright is a free agent and general manager Ned Colletti expressed an interest in bringing him back, though with a seemingly crowded Dodgers bullpen that might prove difficult. Wright has done enough to earn a major league deal from somewhere, but maybe his annual spring battles are part of some ritual he uses to prepare him for the season.</p>
<h3><span>Scott Elbert</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: The left-hander was a valuable piece out of the bullpen for the second straight year, putting up similar numbers to his previous season.</p>
<p>In 2011, Elbert faced 139 batters, allowed 27 hits, walked 14, struck out 34, and put up a 2.43 ERA.</p>
<p>In 2012, Elbert faced 133 batters, allowed 27 hits, walked 13, struck out 29, and put up a 2.20 ERA.</p>
<p>Elbert was actually more effective against <i>right</i>-handed batters this season, holding them to a .170/.259/.255 line (8-for-47) with 18 strikeouts and six walks.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Elbert simply couldn't stay on the mound, as his elbow quit on him. He spent 22 games on the disabled list from July 26 to Aug. 19, and after a brief comeback was placed on the DL again on Aug. 29. Elbert had arthroscopic surgery to clean up scar tissue his left elbow on Sept. 19.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: The Dodgers said Elbert could resume throwing within six to eight weeks after his surgery, and the southpaw is expected to be ready by spring training. Elbert has two years, 69 days of service time and under team control for one more season before salary arbitration eligibility. He is out of options.</p>
<h3><span>Javy Guerra</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Guerra ended his season with 10 consecutive scoreless appearances, a run that included 13 strikeouts and five walks in 12⅓ innings. In the end, his 2012 season in many ways looked like his 2011:</p>
<p>In 2011, Guerra faced 195 batters, allowed 12 runs, two home runs, had 17 unintentional walks, and 38 strikeouts.</p>
<p>In 2012, Guerra faced 196 batters, allowed 13 runs, one home run, had 18 unintentional walks, and 37 strikeouts.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: After blowing three saves, suffering another loss, and allowing the go-ahead run in the ninth inning in an 18-game span, Guerra lost his job as closer on May 6. He also took a line drive off his face on Apr. 25 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a>, one that caused him to contort while trying to get out of the way and led to a right knee injury. Guerra missed a month from June 3 to July 5 after arthroscopic knee surgery. After walking two batters against the Braves on Aug. 18, Guerra was optioned to Triple A three days later. After returning on Sept. 1 when rosters expanded, Guerra pitched in just one game before getting shut down with a left oblique strain.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Guerra has one year, 137 days of major league service time and is under team control for at least one more season, possibly two unless he qualifies for Super Two status after 2013. Because Guerra was optioned for less than 20 days in 2012 (from Aug. 21-31, a total of 11 days), his option doesn't count. He has one option remaining.</p>
<h3><span>Randy Choate</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Choate was a true LOOGY for the Dodgers, and held opposing left-handed batters to a .171/.300/.268 line (7-for-40) after coming to the Dodgers with <span>Hanley Ramirez</span> from Miami on July 25. Choate was ready to pitch nearly every day, and for a while he did. Choate appeared in seven consecutive games from Sept. 9-16 and pitched 15 times in a 17-game stretch during the season's final month. Choate pitched in 36 of 64 games with the Dodgers, a 91-game pace over a full season. Though he was trailed closely during that span by full-inning artists Wright (33 games) and Belisario (32 games) during that span.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: It's nearly impossible to completely avoid having a lefty specialist face right-handed batters, and the 13 righties that Choate faced made him pay to the tune of 6-for-10 with three walks.</p>
<p><b>2013 staus</b>: Choate is a free agent.</p>
<h3><span>Brandon League</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: League allowed just one run in his final 21 games, with 22 strikeouts and eight unintentional walks during that span in 22⅓ innings. League took over closer in September when Jansen was on the shelf, and allowed two hits, two walks, and no runs in his six save chances, all successful.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Right after his July 30 acquisition from the Mariners, League pitched for the Dodgers like he did while losing the closer's role earlier in the season in Seattle. He allowed runs in four of his first seven appearances, with five runs on nine hits in six innings, with a .462 opponent's on-base percentage.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: League is the one of the Dodgers' seven free agents most coveted by Colletti, though things could get expensive with League's strong end to the season. League made $5 million in 2012, his final year of salary arbitration.</p>
<h3><span>Shawn Tolleson</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Tolleson, who began the 2011 season at low Class A Great Lakes, continued his meteoric rise through the Dodgers farm system, which culminated in him striking out nearly a quarter of the batters he faced in the major leagues in 2012 (39 of 160, 24.4%).</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Tolleson also walked 12.5% of the hitters he faced, 4.78 per nine innings, but nothing out of line for a first taste of the major leagues. Things went wrong for other players, as each of the three times Tolleson was optioned he was back within a couple of days due to an injury to another player:</p>
<p>On July 2, Tolleson was optioned to make room for Luis Cruz. The next day, <span>Todd Coffey</span> went on the disabled list with a torn ulnar collateral ligament and Tolleson was back.</p>
<p>On July 25, Tolleson was optioned to make room for Choate. The next day, Tolleson was back after <span>Adam Kennedy</span> went on the DL with a right groin strain.</p>
<p>On Aug. 27, Tolleson was optioned to make room for <span>Josh Wall</span>. Two days later, Elbert hit the DL with left elbow inflammation and Tolleson was back again.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Tolleson has 122 days of service time, meaning he likely has three more years of team control left before salary arbitration eligibility. He has three option years remaining.</p>
<h3>Todd Coffey</h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: The burly right-hander pitched a scoreless June, as he allowed just two hits and two walks in 8⅔ innings during the month, with seven strikeouts.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Coffey was sidelined with right knee inflammation in April, though at the time it was an injury of convenience as he allowed six of his first nine hitters faced to reach base, and four runs to score in his first three games. Then, after finally finding his groove in June, Coffey tore a ligament in his right elbow in his first outing of July, which required Tommy John surgery. Also, <a target="_blank" href="http://deadspin.com/5951465/todd-coffey-has-a-14+year+old-friend-who-has-a-kid-and-that-kid-has-some-interesting-views-on-obama">maybe Coffey should be more careful about sharing his phone</a>, or something.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Coffey <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2010/11/30/1840626/dodgers-payroll-worksheet#coffey">has a $2.5 million club option for 2013</a> that will almost certainly be declined, as he won't be available to pitch until July or August. His buyout is $300,000.</p>
<h3><span>Matt Guerrier</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Guerrier began his season with five straight scoreless appearances and ended it by allowing one run in his final six games. He put up a 1.071 WHIP that was the third best of his career, albeit in limited action. He had a Doc Brown quote on the whiteboard above his locker ("Where we're going, we don't need roads.") for most of the season.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Guerrier allowed three home runs in just 14 innings after he allowed only four in 66⅓ innings in 2011. He was sidelined for 4½ months and missed 133 games with right elbow tendinitis. After pitching in 70 games for five straight seasons, Guerrier pitched in just 16 games for the Dodgers in 2012, and nine different relievers on the team threw more innings.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Guerrier will make $4.75 million next year in the final season of a three-year deal, which includes a $3.75 million salary and $1 million of his signing bonus that was deferred.</p>
<h3><span>Paco Rodriguez</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Rodriguez was the first 2012 draftee to make the majors, as the Dodgers' second rounder made his MLB debut on Sept. 9 against the Giants in San Francisco. With Elbert sidelined, Rodriguez gave the Dodgers a second southpaw in the pen and held left-handed batters to just two singles and a walk in 15 plate appearances. Rodriguez stranded 11 of his 12 inherited runners.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: He walked four of the 26 batters he faced, though one was intentional. He suffered the loss, his only major league decision, on Sept. 13 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a>, though that was the only run he allowed in 11 appearances.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Rodriguez, who has 29 days of major league service time, has at least three more years of team control, as well as three options remaining.</p>
<h3>Josh Wall</h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Two years after getting demoted to low Class A Great Lakes as a starter, Wall continued his transformation into relief, and made his major league debut on July 22 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a>. Wall earned the win in that game by pitching a scoreless 11th inning. Wall also saved 28 games in Triple A Albuquerque.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Allowed three runs in mop-up relief in Colorado on Aug. 27.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Wall has 47 days of service time, and two options remaining.</p>
<h3><span>John Ely</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: In Triple A, just about everything went right for Ely, who was named the Pacific Coast League pitcher of the year after winning the pitching triple crown for Albuquerque, going 14-7 with a 3.20 ERA and 165 strikeouts.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: The 26-year old was called up for depth on Sept. 1, but only pitched in two games, both in relief. Ely allowed three runs in each game, giving him an 0-2 major league record and 20.25 ERA on the season. Since opening his major league career 3-2 with a 2.54 ERA in his first seven starts, Ely is 1-11 with a 7.79 ERA, with 43 walks, 55 strikeouts, and 14 home runs allowed in 69⅓ innings.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Ely has 168 days of service time and one option year remaining. But depending on whom the Dodgers might add this winter, Ely's time on the 40-man might be short lived.</p>
<h3><span>Michael Antonini</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: The left-handed Antonini got called up to the big leagues for the first time on Apr. 24, one of two major league stints for Antonini in 2012.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Despite accruing all of four days of service time, Antonini didn't get to pitch in any of the four games that he suited up for the Dodgers. He was designated for assignment on July 31 to make room on the 40-man roster for <span>Shane Victorino</span>. Antonini, who turned 27 in August, was outrighted to Triple A Albuquerque on Aug. 4, and allowed 12 runs and 18 hits in 9⅓ innings in five games with the Isotopes.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Antonini was drafted in 2007 so he should have one more year before being eligible for minor league free agency. Unless he is added back to the 40-man roster in November, Antonini will be eligible to be taken in the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings in December.</p>
<h3><span>Josh Lindblom</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Lindblom was shaping up to be one of the great stories of the Dodgers' season, as he built on his 2011 debut with a solid spring training in 2012. Lindblom made the opening day roster thanks to <span>Ted Lilly</span> starting the season on the disabled list, but Lindblom kept pitching his way into bigger roles on the team. He went from pitching two scoreless innings in relief of a sick <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> on opening day to the eighth inning setting up Jansen by early May.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Through the end of July the Dodgers bullpen had allowed 23 home runs, and Lindblom allowed nine of them. He suffered losses in consecutive outings over a four-day span from June 21-24, allowing five runs during that span.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: City of brotherly love; Lindblom was traded along with <span>Ethan Martin</span> and player to be named later Stefan Jarrin on July 31 to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> for Shane Victorino.</p>
<h3><span>Rubby De La Rosa</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: De La Rosa made it back to the majors in just over a year after his Tommy John surgery, pitching for the Dodgers on Aug. 22.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: De La Rosa walked two batters in that outing, his only major league appearance in 2012.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Beantown; De La Rosa was a player to be named later in the nine-player, Aug. 25 deal with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a> that netted the Dodgers a <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span>, <span>Josh Beckett</span>, <span>Carl Crawford</span>, and Nick Punto. De La Rosa officially went to Boston on Oct. 4.</p>
<h3><span>Mike MacDougal</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: MacDougal provided a perfect lesson in sunk cost, as he was designated for assignment on May 3 after just seven games pitched.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: He allowed 15 baserunners (nine hits, six walks) and five runs while recording just 17 outs with the Dodgers, then put up a 6.52 ERA with 24 walks in 29 innings in Triple A in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a> systems.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Free agent; the Dodgers ate the remainder of his $650,000 salary and his $350,000 2013 option buyout.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2012/10/16/3509926/2012-dodgers-exit-interviews-bullpenEric Stephen2012-10-15T13:53:52-07:002012-10-15T13:53:52-07:002012 Dodgers exit interviews: Starting pitchers
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1lN7DWmEkEkWyTMxKyjuozgFPYA=/0x75:2715x1885/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1440945/20120925_kkt_ah2_609.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Christopher Hanewinckel-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>A look back at what went right and wrong for the starting pitchers for the Dodgers in 2012.</p> <p>Our look back at the 2012 season for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> begins with a review of the starting pitchers. The group wasn't as stable as 2011, when the top four starters made 130 starts (this year's foursome made 122 starts), but despite some injuries the group performed relatively well. Dodgers starting pitchers were tied for sixth in the National League with 93 starts, they were fifth in the circuit with an average of 6.1 innings per start, and led the NL with a 123 ERA+.</p>
<p>Here is a look back at the nine pitchers that started a game for the Dodgers in 2012.</p>
<h3><span>Clayton Kershaw</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Kershaw was nearly as dominant as he was in 2011 when he won the NL Cy Young Award. The 24-year old added to his excellent resume in 2012 by leading the major leagues in ERA for the second straight year, making him the first Dodger since Sandy Koufax to lead the league in ERA in consecutive seasons. Kershaw was 7-3 with a 1.55 ERA in his final 12 starts, and finished with 229 strikeouts, just one shy of the league lead. Kershaw made his second straight All-Star team.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: A right hip impingement briefly sidelined Kershaw in September, but opponents may have a hard time believing anything was wrong, as Kershaw allowed four runs in his final five starts. Kershaw also provided a case study for the value of starting pitcher wins, as despite pitching nearly as well as 2011 he ended with 14 wins, seven fewer than he had last year. Kershaw pitched in a major league high five games in which he allowed one run or less in seven innings or more with no win.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Kershaw <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2010/11/30/1840626/dodgers-payroll-worksheet#kershaw">will make $11 million next season</a> in the second season of a two-year contract, plus $2 million deferred from 2012. Kershaw will have one more season of arbitration eligibility, in 2014.</p>
<h3><span>Chris Capuano</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: With a salary of just $3 million (plus another $375,000 in earned bonuses), Capuano was one of the biggest bargains in baseball, especially when he started the season 9-3 with a 2.62 ERA in his first 17 starts, with 34 walks and 95 strikeouts. Another year removed from Tommy John surgery, Capuano led the NL with 33 games started, one of 12 pitchers who tied for the league lead (including Kershaw). It was the second time in his career that Capuano led a league in a something, to go with his 35 games started in 2005. He took a no-hitter into the seventh inning on Aug. 12 in Miami.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: After that stellar start, Capuano was just 3-9 with a 4.99 ERA in his final 16 starts, with 20 walks and 67 strikeouts in 92 innings. In Capuano's final eight starts he had more than three strikeouts just once, when he had all of four on Sept. 2. He needed to last just 4⅔ innings in his final start of the year to reach 200 innings for the first time in six years, but only pitched three innings thanks in part to a shoulder injury suffered when Capuano was hit by a batting donut during batting practice, and the Dodgers were officially eliminated from playoff contention.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Capuano <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2010/11/30/1840626/dodgers-payroll-worksheet#capuano">will make $6 million in the second season of a two-year contract</a>. He also has a mutual option for $8 million in 2014, with a $1 million buyout.</p>
<h3><span>Aaron Harang</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Harang made 31 starts and pitched in 179⅔ innings, his most since 2008. He put up a 105 ERA+, his highest mark since 2007. Like Capuano, Harang was a bargain at just $3 million in the first season of a two-year deal and put up a respectable 3.61 ERA. He set a new Dodgers franchise record with nine consecutive strikeouts, part of a 13-strikeout effort against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a> on Apr. 13.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Harang allowed 256 batters to reach base via hit, walk, or hit by pitch, and his 1.403 WHIP was fourth worst among qualified NL starters. Harang's 85 walks were 27 more than he had ever issued in one season. He had just 15 strikeouts and 17 walks in his final six starts.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Harang <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2010/11/30/1840626/dodgers-payroll-worksheet#harang">will make $7 million in the second season of a two-year contract</a>. He also has an option for between $7 million and $8 million for 2014 that will vest if Harang pitches at least 180⅓ innings in 2013.</p>
<h3><span>Chad Billingsley</span></h3>
<p><img class="photo" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1440617/20120819_pjc_sv3_028.0.jpg" align="right" hspace="10" vspace="10" width="250"><b>What went right</b>: Billingsley began to turn around what could have been a disappointing season after the All-Star break. He went 6-0 with a 1.80 ERA in seven starts after the break, including a win in six straight starts for the first time in his career. Billingsley also walked 7.1% of his hitters faced and 2.7 batters per nine innings, by far the best marks of his career. He struck out a season-high 11 in his first start of the season, on Apr. 6 against the Padres at Petco Park.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: After starting the season 2-0 with 17 strikeouts and one walk in his first three starts, Billingsley was 2-9 with a 5.02 ERA in 15 starts heading into the All-Star break, including a five-start losing streak. Billingsley went on the disabled list just after the All-Star break with elbow inflammation, then came back strong with his six-game winning streak. But his Aug. 24 start against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a> was his last of the season, as he suffered a partial tear of his ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: There is no bigger or perhaps more important question to the Dodgers than Billingsley's status for next year. He had two injections of platelet-rich plasma into his elbow in an attempt to heal the torn ligament without surgery. Billingsley will gradually increase intensity on a throwing program, and we will likely know by November whether or not he will need Tommy John surgery, which would sideline him for all of next season. Billingsley next year <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2010/11/30/1840626/dodgers-payroll-worksheet#billingsley">will make $11 million in the second season of a three-year contract</a>.</p>
<h3><span>Ted Lilly</span></h3>
<p><img class="photo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1249819/20120513_ajl_aj4_009.0_medium.jpg" align="right" hspace="10" vspace="10" width="200"><b>What went right</b>: After a slow start to his 2011 campaign, Lilly entered spring training in good shape looking to get 2012 started off on the right foot. Despite a neck injury in spring training that delayed the start to his season by about a week, Lilly did get off to a strong start. He allowed six runs in his first five starts, and was 5-0 with a 1.79 ERA in his first seven starts. Dating back to last season, Lilly had a streak of nine full starts, 68⅓ innings, and 268 batters without allowing a home run, a streak that ended May 1 against <span>Carlos Gonzalez</span> of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a>, the same man who had hit the previous home run against Lilly on Aug. 26, 2011.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Lilly got bombed on May 23 in Arizona, as he allowed eight runs on nine hits and five walks in 3⅓ innings against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a>. Unfortunately for Lilly that was his final start of the season as he went on the disabled list with left shoulder inflammation. Despite an attempt at a comeback that included four games pitched on various minor league rehab assignments with Class A Rancho Cucamonga, Lilly was shut down in September and had arthroscopic shoulder surgery on Sept. 21.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Lilly is expected to begin his normal throwing program in January and should be ready in time for spring training. He <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2010/11/30/1840626/dodgers-payroll-worksheet#lilly">will make $13.5 million in the final season of a three-year contract</a>, including $12 million in salary and $1.5 million in deferred signing bonus.</p>
<h3><span>Josh Beckett</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Beckett welcomed himself back to the National League nicely, putting up a 2.93 ERA in seven starts after his acquisition in the Aug. 25 nine-player blockbuster trade with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a>. Beckett struck out 17.2% of his batters faced with Boston this season, but after joining the Dodgers he struck out 20.8% of his batters faced, much more in line with his 22.2% career mark.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: The Dodgers scored just 20 runs in Beckett's seven starts, including two runs or less five times. In one of the games Beckett actually got run support, the bullpen blew a 6-3 lead (and what was a 6-0 lead) on Sept. 19 in Washington D.C., giving Beckett a no-decision in a game the Dodgers eventually won. The poor run support gave Beckett just a 2-3 record despite pitching well with Los Angeles.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Beckett <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2010/11/30/1840626/dodgers-payroll-worksheet#beckett">will make $15.75 million in each of the next two seasons</a>.</p>
<h3><span>Joe Blanton</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: Blanton had a 2.08 ERA and 18 strikeouts against just one unintentional walk in his final three starts, including just one run allowed in his final two starts. Blanton had just six unintentional walks, and 39 strikeouts, in his final seven starts, including just one start with more than one unintentional free pass.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: After issuing more than two walks just once in 21 starts with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a>, Blanton walked three and four batters in his first and third starts, respectively, after his July 31 acquisition. He walked 18 in 21 starts with Philadelphia, and walked 16 in 10 starts with Los Angeles. Blanton allowed four or more runs four times in a six-start stretch from Aug. 11 to Sept. 9, putting up a 6.82 ERA during that span.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Blanton is <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2012/10/7/3466064/dodgers-roster-breakdown">one of seven Dodgers free agents</a>.</p>
<h3><span>Stephen Fife</span></h3>
<p><img class="photo" src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1440835/20120801_gav_sv5_015.0.jpg" align="right" hspace="10" vspace="10" width="200"><b>What went right</b>: Fife did just about everything that was asked of him in his spot starts, especially in September when he struck out 13 and walked three in his two starts. Fife allowed two runs or less in each of his five starts, the first Dodgers pitcher to do so in his first five career starts since <span>Edwin Jackson</span> did so in <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?t=p&id=jacksed01&year=2003#1,2,4,5,6,7,sum">his first six career starts in 2003-2004</a>.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: He tiptoed through a minefield, especially in his first three starts, as he allowed 25 baserunners in just 16⅔ innings, including nine walks and just seven strikeouts.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Fife has 41 days of service time, and has two option years remaining.</p>
<h3><span>Nathan Eovaldi</span></h3>
<p><b>What went right</b>: He filled in nicely for Lilly at first, allowing just six runs (five earned) in his first four starts of the year. He had five quality starts in his first eight outings, and was able, along with minor league pitcher and 2011 fifth round draft pick Scott McGough, to net the Dodgers <span>Hanley Ramirez</span> in a July 25 trade with the Marlins.</p>
<p><b>What went wrong</b>: Eovaldi had a 6.59 ERA in a five-start stretch from June 20 to July 16, including just nine strikeouts and 10 walks during that span. The Dodgers lost his first seven starts, thanks in large part to scoring five runs during those games, including more than one run just once, when they score two runs on June 3 against the Rockies. The Dodgers were finally able to win a game at Dodger Stadium started by Eovaldi on Aug. 24 ... when he was with Miami and allowed three home runs and six runs in just three innings.</p>
<p><b>2013 status</b>: Eovaldi, who turns 23 in February, has two more years of team control left with the Marlins before hitting arbitration.</p>
<p><i>Billingsley photo courtesy of Daniel Shirey-US PRESSWIRE; Lilly photo courtesy of Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE; Fife photo courtesy of Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE</i></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2012/10/15/3507374/2012-dodgers-exit-interviews-starting-pitchersEric Stephen