Editorials

Dodgers’ Recent Skid Isn’t Cause for Panic — Yet

In fact, if there’s really any area for concern, it’s within the bullpen.

I mean, there’s a reason most relievers don’t pitch 80 times in a season — they get tired, which is exactly what the Dodger bullpen seems to be doing.



Paco Rodriguez, the once-reliable lefty, has given up three runs, five walks and six hits in his last 3.2 innings.

Ronald Belisario has given up eight hits and four runs in his last seven appearances.

Then again, you probably wouldn’t be surprised to find out that Rodriguez and Bellisario are tied for fourth in appearances this season.

Then there’s Kenley Jansen, who blew his first save since June on Thursday night and has given up two runs and six hits in his last four innings of work.

Oh right and he’s tied for ninth in appearances on the season.

The good news for the bullpen is that reinforcements have arrived.

I wouldn’t qualify Peter Moylan, Onelki Garcia and Stephen Fife as quality reinforcements, but reinforcements none the less.

Finally, there’s the injuries.

The good news: none of the injuries to Hanley Ramirez, Yasiel Puig, Andre Ethier or Carl Crawford appear to be serious.

With 13 games left, I expect that all three of those guys will get all the rest and recovery time they need so that the team is at full strength for the playoffs.

We all knew the magic of the Dodgers would end eventually — it simply wasn’t sustainable.

Now, with reality setting in, it’s time for the Dodgers to adjust and respond.

The talent is still there, the fight is still there and the support will always be there.

The question is, do those three things add up to a championship for LA this season?

Guess we’re about to find out.

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Staff Writer

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

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