Editorials

Dodgers News: Joe Wieland Frustrated With Lack Of Routine

Jon Soo Hoo-Los Angeles Dodgers
Jon Soo Hoo-Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers have made 56 roster moves in 28 games so far this season, the most in Major League Baseball.

The latest moves involved calling up right-handed pitcher Joe Wieland to start Wednesday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers and then optioning him back to Triple-A for outfielder Chris Heisey on Thursday.



The 25-year-old was acquired from the San Diego Padres in the deal that sent Matt Kemp and Tim Federowicz to the divison rivals. Wieland became the ninth Dodger pitcher to make a start this year. He gave up six hits and six runs in 4.2 innings pitched. He was haunted by five first inning runs, including two home runs. He then settled in and retired seven straight batters at one point, but that was not enough as the Dodgers dropped the game 6-3.

According to Zach Helfand of the LA Times, Wieland is not a fan of the Dodgers calling up and sending pitchers down at the rate they have, as it does not allow them to develop a routine:

You show up to the park when you’re supposed to be on a flight because you’re starting the next day in Oklahoma City — just kidding you’re starting today,” Wieland said. “It is, as a starter, it is frustrating because it’s all a routine.”

With injuries to starters Hyun-Jin Ryu and Brandon McCarthy, the Dodgers have needed to call up guys like Wieland to make spot starts. Other Dodger starters who have been called up to make spot starts include Scott Baker, Mike Bolsinger, David Huff and Carlos Frias.

They were all either sent back down or designated for assignment after their starts minus Frias. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said that regardless of how well they threw they were going to be sent back down, but now they are getting to the point where one of them could stick around if they throw well.

[divide]

Joc Pederson Discusses Walk-Up Song Prank

Staff Writer

Staff Writer features content written by our site editors along with our staff of contributing writers. Thank you for your readership.

6 Comments

  1. He’s right. Eventually this game of back-ad-forth to ‘assignment’ will erode moral. Everyone forgets the importance of moral in the game. This movement of players to ‘assignment’ will not only be at the pitcher level but at the position players and they too all have had enough of it.
    When it’s all about sebertrics and numbers for the day, people get lost in it.
    When players want to play and they don’t get to, they will find a place that wants them to.

    1. I agree, but this FO works on a different plan …..and just so you know ,,,it is spelled morale…..

    2. Seeing as we have a great bench, I don’t see it happening to the position players any time soon. It’s only happening to our starting pitchers because of two major injures to a lineup that lacked an extra sure-thrower.

  2. you know what? they are your employer! the nature of the business requires that you may have to perform at the major league level one game and minor leagues or another organization entirely the next day. dont make excuses after a weak performance. didnt you complain when you were told you were starting?

    1. Very true; the best players are ready to play whenever they are called up. Seems like the F.O. is filtering out everyone else.

  3. Stupid is the word to describe the F.O. handling of the rotation of pitcher after pitcher they dont know what the he_l they are doing thats quite obvious. I am a huge fan and big supporter of the club but this is rediculous to say the least come on Dodgers get your sheet together these are man with needs and responsiblities not pawns for you to play with… and bull sh_t to what they said below just bull sh_t

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button