http://www.yardbarker.com/rss/player/858 Recent articles about Jonathan Broxton en-us More photos » by David J. Phillip - AP 20 days ago: Los Angeles Dodgers' Russell Martin hits an RBI single during the fourth inning of Game 4 of the National League Championship baseball series against the Philadelphia Phillies Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Browse more photos » In his Sunday morning blog, ESPN's Buster Olney suggests the Dodgers will trad... Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:00:30 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/MLB_Trade_Rumors_Dodgers_To_Trade_One_of_Their_Core/1530098 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/MLB_Trade_Rumors_Dodgers_To_Trade_One_of_Their_Core/1530098 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/MLB_Trade_Rumors_Dodgers_To_Trade_One_of_Their_Core/1530098 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/5/45481a335dbc8c1d8a78ce95ca73213eb32ef573/small/NLCS_Game_1_12ac.jpg All things considered, this is one heck of a way to take the heat off Jonathan Broxton. A week after divorce proceedings between Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and wife Jamie (above) were announced, the former has fired the latter as LA’s chief execuctive, the Times’ Bill Shaikin reports. “Jamie is disappointed and saddened by her termination,” [...] Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:22:17 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/McCourt_To_Wife_You_8217re_Fired/1423330 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/McCourt_To_Wife_You_8217re_Fired/1423330 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/McCourt_To_Wife_You_8217re_Fired/1423330 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/5/c/5c2c9593546ffb37f55bf844dc3a4d08e7430e49/small/NLCS_Game_2_92b0.jpg I've had my problems with Jonathan Broxton as the Dodgers closer, but usually think he does a fine job. But this ought to be enough to get him permanently demoted from the job: His first pitch to Stairs was about 100 mph. But it was also outside the strike zone. Said Stairs: "I thought, 'Oh Lord.' " Said Broxton: "I never want to give it up to a guy off the bench." The next pitch was a ball. Then another ball. Then another ball. Said Stairs: "He just ... Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:02:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Broxtons_Stairs_Way_To_Heaving_Phillies_5_Dodgers_4/1404144 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Broxtons_Stairs_Way_To_Heaving_Phillies_5_Dodgers_4/1404144 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Broxtons_Stairs_Way_To_Heaving_Phillies_5_Dodgers_4/1404144 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/9/89262d561b9367a9a7806a7c8174147fc960facd/small/MLB_MAY_18_b809.jpg PHILADELPHIA -- Part of being a closer, the most mentally taxing job in baseball and perhaps all of sports, is knowing that eventually it will be your turn to fail. Sooner or later, a ball is hit where they ain't, or an outfielder loses a ball in the lights, or a hitter who knew exactly what you were about to do rips a game-winning double into the gap, and then you lose. And when that happens, you look very much like Jonathan Broxton did at just before midnight on Monday: head down, shoul... Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:35:23 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Broxton_unable_to_deliver/1400821 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Broxton_unable_to_deliver/1400821 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Broxton_unable_to_deliver/1400821 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/d/cd140683f62c1933660a4e2ad958ca4ee034015d/small/MLB_MAY_18_1897.jpg PHILADELPHIA -- Part of being a closer, the most mentally taxing job in baseball and perhaps all of sports, is knowing that eventually it will be your turn to fail. Sooner or later, a ball is hit where they ain't, or an outfielder loses a ball in the lights, or a hitter who knew exactly what you were about to do rips a game-winning double into the gap, and then you lose. And when that happens, you look very much like Jonathan Broxton did at just before midnight on Monday: head down, shoul... Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:25:54 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Broxton_lets_a_big_one_slip_away_for_Dodgers/1400807 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Broxton_lets_a_big_one_slip_away_for_Dodgers/1400807 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Broxton_lets_a_big_one_slip_away_for_Dodgers/1400807 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/d/cd140683f62c1933660a4e2ad958ca4ee034015d/small/MLB_MAY_18_1897.jpg Matt Stairs seems to be Jonathan Broxton's kryptonite. Down to their final three outs heading into the bottom half of the ninth, the Phillies chances looked bleak. Broxton got Ibanez to ground out but then quickly walked Matt Stars and hit Carlos Ruiz. This team, never one to give up, had a fightin' chance in the bottom of the ninth with two on but Greg Dobbs lined out to put the game in the hands of Jimmy Rollins.Rollins stepped up to the plate with two on, two down, with Jonathan Br... Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:18:02 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jimmy/1400514 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jimmy/1400514 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jimmy/1400514 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/f/bfda522fa742e6e653f90ece1f786c0990e35042/small/PicImg_Stairs_at_the_152b.jpg Jonathan Broxton gives up a hit but no runs. The Phillies take an 8-6 lead into the bottom of the ninth with Kemp, Blake and Loney due up. Kemp and Blake are a combined 1 for 8, but Loney has three hits, including a rare Dodger Stadium home run. Update: Lidge is on for [...] Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:00:17 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Dodgers_in_the_Ninth/1377894 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Dodgers_in_the_Ninth/1377894 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Dodgers_in_the_Ninth/1377894 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/d/cd140683f62c1933660a4e2ad958ca4ee034015d/small/MLB_MAY_18_1897.jpg ESPN's Steve Berthiaume, in reviewing the porous bullpens of the postseason contenders, isn't very confident about the Dodgers' pen (last night's Jonathan Broxton meltdown only added fuel to the fire of what would have otherwise been likely a non-issue). Says Stevie: As far as the Dodgers go, they won't win. In fact, they won't survive the division series. I'll go you one better: Put me down as the Dodgers going three-and-out in the first round. That's my bold... Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:00:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/ESPNs_Steve_Berthiaume_Pimpsocks_The_Dodgers_For_The_Record/1259332 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/ESPNs_Steve_Berthiaume_Pimpsocks_The_Dodgers_For_The_Record/1259332 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/ESPNs_Steve_Berthiaume_Pimpsocks_The_Dodgers_For_The_Record/1259332 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/d/cd140683f62c1933660a4e2ad958ca4ee034015d/small/MLB_MAY_18_1897.jpg Chris Moore over at Baseball Analysts did some crazy statistical and graphical analyses to determine that the Dodgers have two pitchers in the top five of players with the best fastballs, according to their weighted x-scores: #3 Ronald Belisario 4-Seam Fastball If you don't know who Ronald Belisario is, you're not alone. His fastball averages 95 mph, and crosses the plate in the zone 56% of the time. He has a 1.92 ERA in 65 innings, though with a somewhat low BABIP. We only have 319... Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:15:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Belisario_Broxton_Boast_Best_Baseball_Fastballs/1218423 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Belisario_Broxton_Boast_Best_Baseball_Fastballs/1218423 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Belisario_Broxton_Boast_Best_Baseball_Fastballs/1218423 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/e/be5c37deffa4eab688be01f679a99af04b8d6125/small/MLB_MAY_20_f2a4.jpg As you may have heard, Joe Torre pitched Jonathan Broxton in the eighth inning and George Sherrill in the ninth of yesterday's game. What was Broxton's reaction? From the AP recap at ESPN.com: The manager said he didn't think Broxton had a problem with his decision, but the closer's body language indicated he wasn't thrilled. "You still got three outs," Broxton said curtly. And from Ken Gurnick at Dodgers.com: Broxton said he had no problem with the early ... Sun, 23 Aug 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Is_Jonathan_Broxton_Gruntled_or_Disgruntled/1031461 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Is_Jonathan_Broxton_Gruntled_or_Disgruntled/1031461 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Is_Jonathan_Broxton_Gruntled_or_Disgruntled/1031461 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/9/89262d561b9367a9a7806a7c8174147fc960facd/small/MLB_MAY_18_b809.jpg I was largely inspired to write about this topic by Mark Timmons' latest post over at L.A. Dodger Talk. In it, he doubts the Dodgers' ability to win with Jonathan Broxton in the closer role.How would you like to have the five wins that Broxton blew back right about now? The Dodgers would be looking pretty good with those 5 more wins. We’d be looking at a 9-1/2 gme lead instead of a 4-1/2 game lead!Here’s the bottom line: Jon Broxton has a career 65% save percentage and George Sherrill... Sun, 16 Aug 2009 17:00:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jonathan_Broxton_And_The_Importance_Of_Roles/996223 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jonathan_Broxton_And_The_Importance_Of_Roles/996223 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jonathan_Broxton_And_The_Importance_Of_Roles/996223 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/9/89262d561b9367a9a7806a7c8174147fc960facd/small/MLB_MAY_18_b809.jpg Big Jonathan Broxton holds little Jonathan Broxton prior to last night's game. Matt Kemp shows Casey Blake his best facehugger imitation after Blake's walkoff single. first photo by Jon SooHoo/Dodgers; second photo by Danny Moloshok/AP Sun, 26 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Beginnings_amp_Endings/875327 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Beginnings_amp_Endings/875327 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Beginnings_amp_Endings/875327 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/9/89262d561b9367a9a7806a7c8174147fc960facd/small/MLB_MAY_18_b809.jpg It may not talk, but it still says a lot.Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton will not pitch in the team's final two games before the All-Star break and will "probably" miss the All-Star Game, manager Joe Torre said Saturday.Torre said he and third base coach Larry Bowa noticed Broxton limping off the field after the Dodgers beat the Brewers, 12-8, in extra innings on Friday."We interrogated him [Friday] night and finally got it out of him," Torre said. "It's been ... Sun, 12 Jul 2009 01:44:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jonathan_Broxtons_Toe_Explains_A_Lot/795893 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jonathan_Broxtons_Toe_Explains_A_Lot/795893 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jonathan_Broxtons_Toe_Explains_A_Lot/795893 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/9/89262d561b9367a9a7806a7c8174147fc960facd/small/MLB_MAY_18_b809.jpg Alireza, a frequent commenter on this site, wanted to give his thoughts on how good Jonathan Broxton has been this year. His article may seem ill-timed now, but in all fairness to him, he submitted it to me on Saturday, and I was the one that wanted to delay its publication.While some might say that Jonathan Broxton's latest outing negates the point of Alireza's article, I disagree. In my opinion, this is as good a time as any to remind all the Dodger fans out there exactly how spoile... Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:45:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jonathan_Broxton_Is_A_Robot/776167 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jonathan_Broxton_Is_A_Robot/776167 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jonathan_Broxton_Is_A_Robot/776167 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/9/89262d561b9367a9a7806a7c8174147fc960facd/small/MLB_MAY_18_b809.jpg