The Los Angeles Dodgers made headlines yesterday after securing Chase Utley, who many have proclaimed as the last desirable player left in Philadelphia post trade deadline. At the expense of giving up right-hander John Richy and infielder/outfielder Darnell Sweeney, the Dodgers found an answer to the void left at second base by currently injured veteran Howie Kendrick.
Unfortunately, that’s not what the Dodgers needed. The Dodgers have been a sinking ship in the standings since they ran into the Pittsburgh Pirates two weeks ago, and the Dodgers bullpen is making the hole in their ship bigger.
Just the night before the Utley trade, the Dodgers bullpen blew a shortly held three run lead to the Oakland A’s using Pedro Baez and JP Howell. Ultimately, the game was lost in the 10th.
To add insult to injury, the next day the Dodgers were held to two hits and two runs allowing the A’s to sweep the two game series.
Let’s not forget that the Dodgers didn’t leave the state of California to begin the road trip, were playing the Oakland A’s who were on a seven game losing streak, and that Clayton Kershaw was on the mound in game one.
It’s hard to not look at the Dodgers and feel that they’re aren’t in the same spot as they were at this time last year. The team had depth at almost every position, maybe even more this year within the infield, but the bullpen is again nowhere to be found.
Many Dodgers fans can remember the 2014 post season run that was ended too short after the St. Louis Cardinals ran through the door into the bullpen that should have been Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw had plenty to do with losing, too, but what if he could have pitched without the pressure of not having a solid bullpen behind him?
It’s not all doom and gloom for the Dodgers, yet. They have plenty of games on schedule left against the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres. Even better, they only have seven left against the San Francisco Giants, who they’ve struggled against all year.
However, expect the Giants, if at all close in the standings to the Dodgers as they are now, to continue to have an upper hand. Forget that it’s an odd numbered year. The San Francisco Giants thrive in this environment. October starts early for San Francisco, and Bruce Bochy has his team playing every game like it’s a game seven.
The Dodgers bullpen will need to pick up its slack, and Don Mattingly will need to find a way to keep his team batting around it when he doesn’t have Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw on the mound, as Alex Wood and Mat Latos haven’t lived up to expectations in their short time with the Dodgers.
With three teams in the NL Central that are close to or better than the Dodgers record wise, it goes without saying that if the Dodgers do make the post season, the Dodgers need be better at beating teams that aren’t the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres, and without a bullpen, their chances of a deep playoff run are looking as good as the St. Louis Cardinals chances of not making the playoffs.
