Report Cards: Pitchers

Chad Billingsley: Dude went out on one Lulu of a train wreck, the two starts against Philly not only abysmal, they didn't even combine as enough innings for a "quality" start, good or bad.  But that doesn't negate Bills' 2008 as the Dodgers' best pitcher. His sixteen wins (7th-NL) were the Blue tops, just like his K total (201, 5th-NL) and a 3.14 ERA among Blue starters.  Viewed as an ace in the making since his rookie season and this season, he made good on those hopes in his first full season as a starter.  Fans have worried about his psyche after such an awful NLCS (and the blame game he played), but I suspect he'll be fine with the slate cleaned.  Even if he's not, that only affects next season's eval.  For the time being, he grades out pretty well.  Final Grade: A-

Hiroki Kuroda: I don't know how popular "Forrest Gump" was in Japan, but Hiroki Kuroda's inaugural season often reflected the title's character's view on chocolate boxes: You never know what you're going to get.  Between a 9-10 record that didn't jive with a solid 3.73 ERA and a penchant for following brilliance with stinkers, predicting a Kuroda result was like trying to guess "The Chinese Democracy's" release date.  Your guess is as good as Axl's.  But all in all, Kuroda performed well and came through when it mattered the most, racking two solid playoff starts and becoming a local icon after buzzing Shane Victorino.  With a year of adjustment to the MLB rigors out of the way, Kuroda appears both a quality addition to the rotation and one of Ned Colletti's few free agent acquisitions that should elicit no complaints: Final Grade: B+

Brad Penny: If you're a believer in "the butterfly effect" (the concept, not the crap Ashton Kucher flick), the NLCS Game 4 collapse falls on Penny's shoulders.  After all, he put contract status limbo ahead of the Dodgers' well being by pitching ineffectively with a bum shoulder.  Once a shutdown couldn't be avoided, there wasn't enough time to heal, leading to a shortened rotation, Derek Lowe pitching on short rest, Joe Torre cautiously pulling him for Clayton Kershaw, etc.  That cause/effect view might be a bit extreme, but the fact remains that Penny made a selfish decision which may have torched both his market value (irony alert!) and, after a poor reaction to pen duty, his relationship with the team.  I'm fairly certain the righty will get bought out for two mil and a handshake.  It's no fun seeing the twice Blue All-Star go out on such a crummy note (6-9, a honking 6.82 ERA, only two wins after April), but in many ways, he brought it on himself.  Final Grade: D-

Clayton Kershaw: Oodles of potential, not to mention a fair amount of tangible results. Three of the kid's five wins came during a 3-0 September, with all major stats improving and success achieved in a particularly crucial outing.  The expected bumps and bruises surfaced (including an "ouch" sixth inning during the NLCS Game 4), but more often than not, the Claw didn't come off like a wide-eyed 20-year old rook.  That valuable experience now pocketed, optimism brews over his impending first full big league campaign.  Final Grade: B

Greg Maddux: Reunited and it feels so... average.  "Maddux in Blue: Part Deux" didn't coax 2006's spark, with age and bats catching up with the H.O.F. lock's pitches.  Largely "meh" as a last minute rental, Joe Torre ended up excluding him from the playoff rotation he was theoretically brought in to enhance.  But the classy rep that's followed Maddux's entire career was shown by his lack of pout upon his pen banishment.  The gig didn't match his stature, but he took it like a pro, setting an example as always.  Final Grade: C

Jonathon Broxton: Evaluating Broxton's success as a closer could be a matter of perspective.  Upon taking over for an injured Takashi Saito in mid-July, Brox converted the majority of his save attempts and just missed tying a career-best ERA.  But between a bumpy August (three losses, two blown rescues) and success often requiring a roller coaster ride (his walk total went up from last year despite a drop in frames), it's no surprise "Does Big Jon have a closer's mentality?" articles frequently popped up in the papers.  When he's in the zone, good luck chasing his smoke.  But as an ill-fated toss to Matt Stairs demonstrated, relying too much on "fast" can be a problem.  Final Grade: B

Takashi Saito: As the Broxton report card hints, the Dodgers got by without Sammy, but that doesn't mean he wasn't missed.  He may be missed next season, too, since it's unclear if the 39-year old will be back next season.  Injury curtailing the second half of perhaps the final campaign for an important and popular Dodger would be a bummer, but sometimes that's how the fist pumps.  Final Grade: B+/Inc.

Joe Beimel: On paper,a 5-1 record and 2.02 ERA look like another stellar season. In reality, that clip is mostly due to a strong first half.  Beimel surrendered seven earned runs over fourteen July/August innings, allowed many an inherited runner to score and bumped his 2007 walk total despite a decrease in frames.  In my opinion, the innings drop may have accounted for the production following suit.  Joe Torre often shifted Beimel's role from "seventh inning mainstay" to "one batter-and-out lefty," a transition I think Beimel never adjusted to, and was often a waste of his services.  Troy from West Virginia's obsession is a free agent and I get the sense he'd like to return.  If so, maybe he and Skip can iron out a job description closer to his first two seasons in L.A.  Final grade: C+

Cory Wade: Kid went from Jacksonville mop up call up to Joe Torre's trustiest middle relief horse.  At times- like, say, the NLCS Game 4- it felt like Torre might be riding him too often, reminiscent of his arm-shredding reliance on Scott Proctor in New York.  But given the unflappable attitude, 2.27 ERA and scant 0.93 WHIP, it's easy to understand why Torre typically tapped his right arm while heading to the mound in the seventh or eighth.  Wade's spot on the roster will surprise nobody in 2009.  Hopefully, the same ultra-consistent results will follow.  A debate could be waged whether Wade or Blake DeWitt provided the season's biggest surprise, but as I harped on during many occasions, nobody was a bigger unsung hero. Final Grade: A-

Hong-Chih Kuo: In an effort to preserve the lefty's heath, BK vowed to stop talking up the Taiwanese Tornado.  Nice work, brother.  While Kuo didn't spend his entire 2008 in the pink, he did manage a career-high 41 games.  An absolutely killer campaign came down to Earth a bit after the All-Star break, but he still found consistent success regardless of which side of the plate his opponent stood.  As always, his stuff is never in question.  It's about being able to play.  Final grade: B+

Chan Ho Park: What began as the biggest resurfacing since Elvis sightings were the rage eventually evolved into the lowly expectations upon a return from the scrap heap.  After notching a 2.63 ERA before the All-Star break, Park more than doubled it during  August and September, 24.2 innings that produced 17 earned runs and countless cringes each time his number was called.  Great story while it lasted, but Park's a free agent, and I don't expect the Blue gambling on a third time charm. Final Grade: C

Scott Proctor: He wasn't flat out awful upon returning in September from a two month D.L. stint, but he was hardly great and didn't make the playoff roster.  Hopefully, the offseason will strengthen his arm- and if not, he'll maybe be more honest about it- allowing him to come off like more than a "poor man's Cory Wade."  Final Grade: D

Jason Johnson: One terrific comeback start and a whole bunch of nada.  Final grade: D- 

Ramon Troncoso: A decent enough rookie season and a fairly good August, but nothing to necessarily email home about.  Final Grade: C

Thanks for playing: James McDonald (can't wait to see him as a starter), Brian Falkenborg, Eric Stults, Estaban!!!, Tanyon Sturze.

AK