NewsSarah's take: Dodgers need an ace
Manny's return is nice, but starting pitching is more important
By Sarah D. Morris / Special to Dodgers.com
11/09/09 3:51 PM EST
On Friday, Manny Ramirez informed the Dodgers that he will stay for the 2010 season. Although there were rumors that Ramirez would leave for the American League, the likelihood of him walking away from a guaranteed $20 million was laughable. With the Dodgers' uncertain ownership situation, the money given to Ramirez might prevent the Dodgers from getting what they need to go to the World Series in 2010. That is unnecessary.No one knows whether Ramirez's staying is a good or bad thing for the Dodgers. Only time will tell that. He should be motivated to play the best that he can because he wants another lucrative contract for 2011. However, just having him in the Dodgers' lineup makes it better. If Ramirez performs half as well as he did with the Dodgers in the second half of 2008, he will be an asset.
For the past five seasons, the Dodgers have drawn well, but they haven't been able to get an elite starting pitcher, which probably would have brought them a world championship.
Derek Lowe was a good, durable pitcher, but when the Dodgers signed him, he was coming off a bad season, except for his performance in the playoffs. The Dodgers chose not to re-sign him because he had a questionable work ethic, in their opinion.
The Dodgers hoped Brad Penny could be their star pitcher. For four years, I watched him toil with some arm problems. Although Penny sometimes showed us glimpses of being brilliant, he never reached the projected greatness.
From the beginning of being a Dodger, Jason Schmidt didn't look healthy. He couldn't pitch much of his entire three-year contract. Before the Dodgers signed him, many scouts said Schmidt's best days were behind him. The Dodgers touted Schmidt as their newly found ace, but he was not able to pitch, and the Dodgers were paid insurance money for him.
After the Schmidt signing didn't work out the way they had hoped, they seemed leery about signing anyone to a long-term contract. Baseball is a risky business. Sometimes teams must take risks to succeed.
Although I know Clayton Kershaw will probably be the desired and sought-after ace for the Dodgers, he isn't ready for that role yet. At 21 years old, Kershaw had the third most walks in the National League. I'm confident that he will reach his projected greatness, but not next year.
For many years, Chad Billingsley was projected for greatness by the Dodgers. In 2008, he was their most consistent starting pitcher in the second half, but he struggled during the playoff series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Although he broke his leg and had to deal with ridicule during the offseason, he rebounded to be the most consistent Dodgers starter in the first half of the 2009 season, earning his first All-Star selection.
After the All-Star break, Billingsley had all sorts of difficulties. Unpublicized hamstring issues might have caused Billingsley's problems. He couldn't get many people out. He lost his control, walking the fifth-most batters in the National League. He didn't make many starts after late August.
Although Billingsley has the potential to be an excellent starting pitcher, he might not reach his potential. He is eligible for arbitration for the first time. Because the Dodgers need starting pitching badly, they can't afford to let Billingsley go. However, I think that the Dodgers shouldn't count on Billingsley as their ace because he doesn't have that personality.
I want the Dodgers to re-sign Randy Wolf and Vicente Padilla. Both want multiple-year contracts. Although neither are the greatest, they are good, durable starters. Wolf led the Dodgers in innings pitched with 214 1/3. Through the second half, Wolf performed with excellence as he helped the Dodgers go to the playoffs. What Padilla did in September and the playoffs for the Dodgers should be rewarded with a good, legitimate contract. The Dodgers can't let them get away.
The Dodgers must get another quality starter. For the second straight year, the Dodgers were eliminated from the playoffs because they didn't have enough quality starting pitching. I'm tired of watching the Dodgers lose because they can't get one great starter. Yes, it takes money for a great starter. I hope the Dodgers will be willing to spend what it takes to get a quality starter.
Except for Juan Pierre, the entire Dodgers bench is full of free agents. No team can win without a good bench. It takes money to have a good bench. Most teams can't afford a good bench and think no one will notice. However, those teams don't go to the playoffs.
Many fans want to see the Dodgers sign a starting second baseman. This is one area where the Dodgers can save. Although Blake DeWitt had a lower batting average in Triple-A than we would have liked, he proved that he could play a satisfactory second base in September and in the 2008 playoffs. I would like the Dodgers to give him an opportunity to play in the Major Leagues regularly.
It has been 21 years since the Dodgers appeared in the World Series. It is time to end the drought. I think they can if they spend the money to get a top-shelf starter, re-sign Wolf and Padilla, and rebuild the bench.
Sarah D. Morris is the editor of Sarah's Dodger Place. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
