Dodgers Diaries

The Dodgers' success can be attributed almost precisely to the day John Ely arrived. Removing Vicente Padilla and Charlie Haeger from the rotation and replacing them with Ely and Carlos Monasterios has not only given the Dodgers a shot in the games those pitchers pitch; it has relieved the bullpen of having to eat innings. That has made the bullpen better.

In Haeger's last five starts, he pitched 3, 5.1, 4, 4, and 0 innings. That makes 28.2 innings the bullpen had to throw.

Padilla was better, throwing 4.1, 4.1, 7, and 6 innings in his four appearances this year. But he’s no John Ely, who has yet to go fewer than 6 innings in any of his six starts. The bullpen has had an easy time picking up his slack. It’s easy to go to your formula of Troncoso, Belisario, Kuo, and Broxton when you only need four pitchers for three innings. You can even mix and match and LaRussa a three-pitcher inning if necessary.

I see no reason to dislodge either of the two Dodger rookies until they falter. Even Monasterios has delivered five strong innings in each of his last two starts, despite not being a starter all year. When Padilla and Haeger return, they need to earn their way back into the rotation.

-- JOHN ROSENTHAL