Chad Billingsley’s Earned a Playoff Start

September 30, 2009 at 8:50 am | Posted in Chad Billingsley | 10 Comments

Once again, Chad Billingsley was fantastic through five innings. And once again, he fell apart in the sixth.

But here’s the kicker: I don’t know why that is, and right now, I don’t particularly care. This is clearly going to be an issue that he’ll need to overcome if he’s going to take the next step in his career, but for right now? For helping the team win in October? It doesn’t matter to me.

Dodger Thoughts has a great look at exactly how far he’s fallen off the cliff in the sixth inning in the last few months, but what’s important to me is how good he’s been in the first five. Just look at his two starts since returning to the rotation. On September 23 against the Nationals, he had a no-hitter through five innings before giving up a homer to Ryan Zimmerman in the sixth. Last night against the Padres, he gave up one hit – granted, a solo homer – before falling apart in the sixth.

So if you take just the first five innings of those two starts, you get: 10 IP, 1 hit, 1 run, 13 K, and 5 walks. Granted, the walks are more than you’d like to see, but how is anyone possibly complaining about a guy who strikes out 13 and allows 1 hit in 10 innings?

The point is, if Billingsley’s only a five-inning pitcher right now, so be it. The Dodgers more than have enough bullpen to back him up, and in a short series with off-days, there’s no worry about exhausting the pen.

What it really comes down to is, you’ve got nine innings to get through. Do you want five great innings from Billingsley, or seven mediocre ones from Jon Garland? I know which way I’m leaning.

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100% agreed, especially now that it’s almost guaranteed the Dodgers will play the Cards in first round.

Comment by throwdeuce— September 30, 2009 #

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100% agreed, especially now that it’s almost guaranteed the Dodgers will play the Cards in first round.

Comment by throwdeuce— September 30, 2009 #

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I agree. I realize that, ideally, it would be nice to have your pitcher go 6+ innings. But, really this team is different. If he can go an awesome 5 innings, we can turn to the bullpen, which has already been pointed out to be beyond stellar. It seems stupid not to go with Bilz if he can go a great 5, not to mention the strike outs.

Comment by Gillbert— September 30, 2009 #

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so you really think joe is going to use that strategy? Bills as a 5 inning guy? what about beyond the division series then? at this point i’m still not convinced he’s gotten back to his first half self and don’t trust him as the 4th starter. HE doesn’t even seem confident in himself.

Comment by preston— September 30, 2009 #

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3 – I’m not convinced Joe WILL, but he SHOULD. As far as beyond the NLDS, worry about it when you get there.

Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— September 30, 2009 #

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It should be pointed out that most of those walks last night went to Adrian Gonzales, the Friars only “Heavy Hitter.”
Also, I’ll take Kuroda at home over Bills right now. I agree — while he may be able to put up a solid 5 innings, I’d prefer to see Kuroda go a solid 6 or even 7, then turn the ball over to Tron, Kuo, Sherrill & Johnny Brox. I expect Torre will be making a lot of trips to the mound once we hit the pen, using guys in situations, lefty on lefty, righty on righty stuff. More micromanaging than usual.

Comment by VegasBlue— September 30, 2009 #

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Hard to look on the bright side of anything when the team is going to be heading into the playoffs ice cold.

Comment by TheSleaze— September 30, 2009 #

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#6… the bright side… the Dodgers aren’t as cold as the Red Sox.

Comment by Wilson Fonasty-Foshow— September 30, 2009 #

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I was with you on this point a month ago. :o

Comment by kensai— October 1, 2009 #

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[...] to the bullpen to take a no-hitter into the 6th inning against Washington and then allowed just one hit into the 6th against San Diego, before getting hit in both [...]

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