There are lots of stories to this game, but i'm going to focus on Joe Torre actually using his bullpen correctly for once. He brought in his best reliever (Jonathan Broxton) when it mattered most, and it paid off, even after Matt Kemp completely botched a play in right field. Not clutch? Ha.Charlie Haeger looks more and more like a legit option. Yes, he's going to get shelled on some days when that knuckler isn't dancing, but that's the same for any pitcher really. If he continues to roll along and Hiroki Kuroda gets back to health, I truly hope he doesn't get sent back down in favor of Vicente Padilla.
Mark Loretta is useless. He is the Mark Sweeney of 2009.
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Before the game, Broxton mentioned that he is tiring a bit.
Jonathan Broxton acknowledged that the wear and tear of the season is taking its toll on his mind and body.I still think his toe is a factor, but I guess fatigue could be an issue as well.
"We've played 120 games already," Broxton said. "You travel around. You pitch three nights in a row. You pitch four out of six days. It starts wearing on you."
Broxton had a similar midseason slowdown last season, when he posted a 5.11 ERA in August. He lowered that figure to 0.79 in September.
"It's always July and August," Broxton said. "That's why they call it the dog days. It's just going out there and battling through it. September comes and you're in the hunt and you get a boost."
The 56 innings that Broxton had pitched entering Friday trailed only the 57 1/3 tossed by Kevin Gregg of the Cubs among National League closers.
Broxton said that the big toe on his right foot, which caused him problems last month, isn't bothering him.
Manager Joe Torre said he believes Broxton, even though he had to basically force him to admit that he was hurt in July.
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Not to make excuses for him, but i've thought for a few weeks now that Russell Martin's weight loss before the season might be affecting him.
Martin said his offseason conditioning program that brought his weight down to 206 pounds for the start of Spring Training hasn't exactly worked. So he's picked up 16 pounds and said he believes there will be a payoff the rest of the season.
"I was stronger and lighter early in the year but had a completely different feel in my body," he said. "Now I feel I can get more behind my swing. I'm starting to get that feeling back."
Original Story:
http://www.memoriesofkevinmalone.com/...
