Dodgers of the Decade: Left-Handed Reliever
January 6, 2010 at 7:14 am | Posted in Hong-Chih Kuo, Joe Beimel, Tom Martin | 20 CommentsKevin Brown, eh? In what was by far the most hotly-contested race (until we get to closer, I imagine) Brown wins the righty starter role narrowly over Derek Lowe, 42% to 35%. Brown’s also the only player so far to not win at least half the votes, so clearly fans were split on this one. Lots of good arguments in that thread. So let’s put him on the team…
Dodgers of the Decade team:
C: Russell Martin (68%)
1B: James Loney (62%)
2B: Jeff Kent (88%)
3B: Adrian Beltre (80%)
SS: Rafael Furcal (87%)
LF: Gary Sheffield (62%)
CF: Matt Kemp (94%)
RF: Shawn Green (79%)
LH starter: Clayton Kershaw (56%)
RH starter: Kevin Brown (42%)
…and move on to the bullpen. Only three lefty relievers fit our standards, and this should be interesting, I think. Tom Martin’s got no chance, but do you go with Joe Beimel, a fan favorite who put up the best numbers? Or Hong-Chih Kuo, who was definitely more dominating when he was available?
Left-Handed Reliever
Joe Beimel (216 games, 2006-08)
Dodger stats: 11-4, 3.04 ERA, 144 ERA+, .684 OPS against
WAR: 3.6
Tom Martin (127 games, 2003-04)
Dodger stats: 1-3, 3.74 ERA, 108 ERA+, .704 OPS against
WAR: 2.0
Hong-Chih Kuo (122 games, 2005-09)
Dodger stats: 9-13, 3.77 ERA, 113 ERA+, .656 OPS against
WAR: 2.6
Top three seasons
2.3 WAR Kuo, 2008
1.5 WAR Beimel, 2008
1.3 WAR Beimel, 2006
Fun fact about Tom Martin; even though he appeared in 127 games over those two seasons, he notched only 79.1 innings.
Steady and reliable, or excellent but inconsistent? Vote now!
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Kuo in my book. He was just too much fun to watch. #lazyanalysis
Comment by Stephen— January 6, 2010 #
Beimel was just never as good as his ERA suggested.
Comment by Daniel— January 6, 2010 #
The only LH guy the Dodgers had close to Kuo was Radinsky. I never felt comfortable with Martin or Beimel.
Comment by Steve Dimig— January 6, 2010 #
JJJJJJ JOE BEEEEIMEL
Comment by TFWV FAN— January 6, 2010 #
Kuo wins my vote b/c he’s been a regular presence on my fantasy team (when healthy) and put up some of the best relief numbers I’ve seen in a long time. Also, I was at Dodger Stadium May 6, 2008 where he came in with 1 out in the 4th and proceeded to strike out 8 of the 13 batters he faced. That was also the game that DeWitt hit an inside the park HR. Biemel was great, I loved the bathrobe from the ’08 post season celebrations, but its Kuo all the way.
Comment by Wes— January 6, 2010 #
Batflip all the way! Kuo’s stuff is overwhelming.
Comment by Casey— January 6, 2010 #
I really could have gone with Kuo or Beimel. I chose Beimel
Comment by Kevin— January 6, 2010 #
54%-45% as of this writing, for Kuo. Another tight one!
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— January 6, 2010 #
Kuo, cause when healthy, nobody could hit him! health was/is his Achilles heal
Comment by bluetrain— January 6, 2010 #
Kuo never cut his hand in a bar the night before a playoff game. Hong Chi gets my vote.
Comment by Mike Sharperson Lives!— January 6, 2010 #
I still remember that game against the Cardinals last year. Kuo is told to intentionally walk Pujols and Holliday to load the bases with two outs, and then proceeds to strike out Rick Ankiel on three straight pitches, all swung at and missed.
Kuo forever.
Comment by Dre— January 6, 2010 #
Joe Beimel gets my vote. I loved watching him face Barry Bonds. I wish Ned would have brought him back last season.
Comment by Penos Cabell— January 6, 2010 #
[...] RF: Shawn Green (79%) LH starter: Clayton Kershaw (56%) RH starter: Kevin Brown (42%) LH reliever: Hong-Chih Kuo [...]
Pingback by Dodgers of the Decade: Right-Handed Reliever « Mike Scioscia’s tragic illness— January 7, 2010 #
[...] RF: Shawn Green (79%) LH starter: Clayton Kershaw (56%) RH starter: Kevin Brown (42%) LH reliever: Hong-Chih Kuo (57%) RH reliever: Paul Quantrill [...]
Pingback by Dodgers of the Decade: Closer « Mike Scioscia’s tragic illness— January 8, 2010 #
[...] RF: Shawn Green (79%) LH starter: Clayton Kershaw (56%) RH starter: Kevin Brown (42%) LH reliever: Hong-Chih Kuo (57%) RH reliever: Paul [...]
Pingback by Just Killin’ Time… | LADodgerTalk.com - Get Your Daily Dodger Juice, Dodger News and Dodger Rumors— January 10, 2010 #
[...] RF: Shawn Green (79%) LH starter: Clayton Kershaw (56%) RH starter: Kevin Brown (42%) LH reliever: Hong-Chih Kuo (57%) RH reliever: Paul Quantrill (33%) Closer: Eric Gagne [...]
Pingback by Dodgers of the Decade: General Manager « Mike Scioscia’s tragic illness— January 11, 2010 #
[...] RF: Shawn Green (79%) LH starter: Clayton Kershaw (56%) RH starter: Kevin Brown (42%) LH reliever: Hong-Chih Kuo (57%) RH reliever: Paul Quantrill (33%) Closer: Eric Gagne (71%) General Manager: Dan Evans [...]
Pingback by Dodgers of the Decade: Manager « Mike Scioscia’s tragic illness— January 13, 2010 #
[...] RF: Shawn Green (79%) LH starter: Clayton Kershaw (56%) RH starter: Kevin Brown (42%) LH reliever: Hong-Chih Kuo (57%) RH reliever: Paul Quantrill (33%) Closer: Eric Gagne (71%) General Manager: Dan Evans [...]
Pingback by Your Dodgers of the Decade Team « Mike Scioscia’s tragic illness— January 14, 2010 #
Hong Chih Kuo all the way he is unhittable when healthy. DAMN the injuries. best luck to Kuo hope he doesnt get injured in the rest of his career!
Comment by Cflow— March 15, 2010 #
[...] started the year off by winning the MSTI fan balloting for best lefty reliever of the decade, but started the season in the place that terrifies us the most: on the disabled list with soreness [...]
Pingback by MSTI’s 2010 in Review: Relievers, Part 2 « Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— November 10, 2010 #