How Sick To Your Stomach Does Brian Wilson (Blackbeard) Becoming A Dodger Make You?

The trade deadline is approaching, and the rumors are flying. The Dodgers are rumored to be in on a few guys, but as we have discussed before, it’s unlikely the Dodgers make a trade unless they are blown away with an offer they can’t refuse. With the team on a historic hot streak, and the weak trade market the Dodgers are more than likely to stand pat. However the Dodgers are targeting a certain player to sign, not trade for. It’s a pitcher. A relief pitcher, of the bearded variety. Oh lord, please tell me it’s not Brian Wilson……Doh! I guess I have to address this sooner or later.

According to a tweet from Bob Nightengale, the Dodgers are the front-runners to sign Brain Wilson, also known to us as Blackbeard. I can feel my stomach churning already.

*Update* According to a tweet from Yahoo’s Tim Brown, the deal is official. Wilson is a Dodger. The deal is of the Major League variety. The Dodgers will stash him in the minors until they decide they want to use him. And they wouldn’t need to bump anyone from the roster. I guess I can live with it. Pretty gross though. *According to Brown, Wilson will report to Rancho and pitch with the Quakes for two weeks before joining the Dodgers* Double Yikes! it is a big league deal. By the time he does join the Dodgers rosters will be close to expanding anyways.

Now we already knew the Dodgers had been scouting him over the last few weeks, but now it appears the Dodgers may actually sign him. Kind of makes me sick to my stomach. As a matter of fact, it really did make Stacie sick. She was too sick to write this article, so I had to do it. That’s how ill the thought of Blackbeard in a Dodger uniform makes us.

Would You really want this nutjob pitching for the Dodgers?-Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Could Wilson help the Dodgers? Possibly I guess. The 31 year old right hander was originally drafted by the Giants in the 24th round of the 2003 draft. Wilson made his MLB debut with the Giants in 2006, and has been a three time all-star accross seven seasons, all in San Francisco. Wilson has saved 171 career games, has an ERA of 3.21, and a whiff per nine rate of 9.6. But the former closer is coming off of Tommy John surgery. It remains to be seen how effective he would be.

His best season came in 2010, when he saved 48 games, posted an ERA of 1.81 and whiffed 93 in 74 innings pitched. After he appeared in 57 games in 2011, in which he recorded 36 saves, and posted a 1.4 WHIP, Wilson pitched in just two games in 2012, before blowing out his arm in April of that season. He had to undergo Tommy John surgery. he hasn’t pitched since.

According to reports, scouts have said that Wilson looks almost fully recovered from the surgery. The reports indicate his velocity is basically back to normal. Wilson throws four pitches mainly, a hard four-seam fastball, a cut-fastball, a two-seamer, and a slider. He throws the fastballs the majority of the time. Wilson is a power pitcher, but has a propensity for wildness. He has a little over 2-1 strikeout to walk ratio in his career.

We all know that Blackbeard has been very flamboyant over the years. According to reports, he wants to pitch in Los Angeles. Lord help us all. He had also been still in discussions with the Giants about returning to the Bay. Several other teams were also looking at him, including the Dbacks. No kidding. Despite being an utter nutjob, he was pretty dominant for about three seasons. Could he regain some of that form?

The Dodgers are trying to improve their bullpen any way that they can. There’s nothing wrong with exploring all available options, but do we really need Blackbeard?

I suppose if he is fully recovered and could be effective and if he can help the Dodgers, I would be able to live with it I guess. Carlos Marmol was one thing. At least he didn’t have complete reconstructive surgery on his arm, and he’s not an ex-Giant who acted like a tool for years.

The Dodgers may even want to ink him on a minor league deal, that way they can force him to make several minor league rehab outings to determine how ready he is to come back and pitch in the majors. After all it has been over a year since he’s pitched.

One thing is certain. If Wilson really does want to pitch for the Dodgers, then he is going to have to, and I mean have to chop off that god awful disgusting scraggily moonshiner’s beard. Seriously, bic that thing until it is no more. We’ll keep you posted on this.