Which one of these guys is the relief pitcher?

♦ June 6, 2017 ♦ 6 Comments

If you start with the premise that Clayton Kershaw is still the ace, That the NL May Pitcher of the Month Alex Wood is the number two, and Brandon McCarthy  is the 3rd part of the rotation you are still left with four pitchers fighting over two rotation spots.

The decision to send Ryu to the bullpen on May 25th seemed reasonable at the time. However since that time Ryu has pitched three times, once in relief and has been extremely effective. His start last night showed him getting stronger as the game went on and able to get great hitters out even as they faced him for the 3rd/4th time in the order. Ryu has made nine starts and has been able to get more than 15 outs six times. Rich Hill has made six starts and not once has been able to get more than 15 outs. Kenta Maeda has made ten starts and only twice has gotten more than 15 outs.  Urias is back in AAA and still struggling to find the stuff that allowed him to plow through AAA in 2016 and make his major league debut at age 19 in May of 2016.

Last night it looked like Ryu was throwing as hard as he ever had, and Brooksbaseball backed that up. In June of 2014 Ryu was throwing his four seamer at 91.49 MPH, last night he averaged 91.35 MPH. This is a step up from his 90.03 in April of 2017.  I liked everything I saw of Ryu last night against a potent offense.

When Wood comes off the DL this weekend, which starting pitcher hits the DL or bullpen? It shouldn’t be Ryu.

 

Rk         Player       Date Opp   Rslt  IP H ER BB SO HR GSc
30   Hyun-Jin Ryu 2017-04-24 SFG  L 1-2 6.0 5  1  1  3  0  60
31   Hyun-Jin Ryu 2017-05-18 MIA  W 7-2 5.1 7  2  1  3  2  48
32   Hyun-Jin Ryu 2017-05-11 COL L 7-10 4.0 8  5  6  4  0  14
33   Hyun-Jin Ryu 2017-05-31 STL  L 1-2 6.0 3  1  1  4  0  65
34   Hyun-Jin Ryu 2017-06-05 WSN  L 2-4 7.0 7  4  0  4  1  51
35   Hyun-Jin Ryu 2017-04-07 COL  L 1-2 4.2 6  2  1  5  1  48
36   Hyun-Jin Ryu 2017-04-13 CHC  L 0-4 4.2 6  4  2  5  2  39
37   Hyun-Jin Ryu 2017-04-18 COL  L 3-4 6.0 7  4  1  7  3  48
38   Hyun-Jin Ryu 2017-04-30 PHI  W 5-3 5.1 3  1  3  9  0  64
44    Kenta Maeda 2017-05-30 STL  W 9-4 4.0 4  3  3  2  0  41
45    Kenta Maeda 2017-04-04 SDP  L 0-4 5.0 6  3  2  4  1  45
46    Kenta Maeda 2017-05-25 STL  W 7-3 5.0 7  3  2  4  0  43
47    Kenta Maeda 2017-04-09 COL W 10-6 5.0 5  4  1  5  1  45
48    Kenta Maeda 2017-04-15 ARI  W 8-4 4.0 4  4  1  5  1  42
49    Kenta Maeda 2017-04-22 ARI L 5-11 5.0 9  6  1  5  4  29
50    Kenta Maeda 2017-05-10 PIT  W 5-2 8.1 5  2  0  5  1  70
51    Kenta Maeda 2017-06-04 MIL  L 0-3 4.0 2  2  3  7  1  54
52    Kenta Maeda 2017-04-28 PHI  W 5-3 7.0 5  2  1  8  0  66
53    Kenta Maeda 2017-05-05 SDP  W 8-2 5.0 3  1  3  8  0  60
54      Rich Hill 2017-04-16 ARI  L 1-3 3.0 5  2  2  2  1  41
55      Rich Hill 2017-05-24 STL  L 1-6 4.0 4  5  7  4  0  31
56      Rich Hill 2017-05-29 STL  W 5-1 5.0 2  1  2  4  0  61
57      Rich Hill 2017-04-05 SDP  W 3-1 5.0 2  1  3  5  1  61
58      Rich Hill 2017-06-03 MIL W 10-8 4.0 3  2  4  5  1  47
59      Rich Hill 2017-05-16 SFG  L 1-2 5.0 6  1  0  6  1  57

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 6/6/2017.

6 Comments

  1. 68elcamino427
    June 6, 2017 – 12:37 pm

    If Hill has options
    Send him to OKC to figure things out.

    He hasn’t been effective in 2017.
    Without the three year contract, likely the Dodgers would DFA Hill if he were not able to correct things at OKC.

    Two more years remain on the contract.

    Maeda is performing more like a #5 starter.
    At least he answers the call and takes the baseball.

    Urias and Stewart will appear.
    Urias will put the pressure on Hill and Maeda.

    Stewart can work from the pen or start.

    What I saw from Ryu last night is good enough for a #4 starter.
    He looks strong.

    McCarthy is doing good, I just will not be surprised if he hits the DL for real.
    We have heard about the right knee tendonitis, this is his landing leg.
    We have heard about the dislocated right shoulder.

    IP
    200 2014
    23 2015
    40 2016
    50.2 2017 to date

    Maybe McCarthy could last the season working out of the pen?

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  2. Phil Gurnee
    June 6, 2017 – 12:47 pm

    Among the options, I think McCarthy would be best suited for the pen compared to Ryu/Hill/Kenta but I’m not sure that would be the best place to utilize him. Yeah, a DL stint for Brandon would not be shocking.
    I can’t see the Dodgers sending Hill to AAA but this contract is looking worse than Kazmir’s right now. It could all change quickly, he’s a quirky pitcher, would not shock me if he was the 2nd best pitcher on the team in June or the worst.
    As you noted still have Urias/Stewart. Plus the rehabbing Kazmir. And Oaks.
    and when all that fails, Masterson.

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    • 68elcamino427
      June 6, 2017 – 1:01 pm

      If the remaining choice is Oaks
      I think the Dodgers will need to make a trade.
      If Hill flames out, they will still probably need to trade for a SP.

      I feel that Kazmir is done and gone bye-bye, now just a name on the DL list.

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      • Phil Gurnee
        June 6, 2017 – 1:07 pm

        I wouldn’t rule Kazmir out yet. Last I heard the velocity had ticked up and now was working on command. I’d bet on him pitching again, but probably not with the Dodgers.
        I think they make a trade anyway. They simply have too many assets but not the big arm they still need. Wood still seems to fragile to me to expect him to be the guy he was in May for October. Also even as good as the bullpen has been, I’m expecting a new arm before the trade deadline.
        Can you imagine what Chris Taylor is worth right now compared to April 1st? Team control for a long time.

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        • 68elcamino427
          June 6, 2017 – 1:25 pm

          Yeah, I love Taylor.
          At the game last night I was struck by how thin his physique looks from the back compared to some of the other players. Too bad Taylor wasn’t an early 90s player.
          Those supplements!
          Viewing him this way just caused me to wonder if long term endurance might become a factor for Taylor as the season wears on.
          Vin said many, many times, “To be a big leauge player, you need to be plenty strong.”

          I hope this does not become an issue for Taylor.
          I love watching him play.
          He is keeping the place that I have for Toles warm.

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  3. Mike Sacha
    June 8, 2017 – 7:25 pm

    D…none of the above. We need to start thinking about making room for Brock and Julio.

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