Dodgers: Analyzing the Panic Meter for Disappointing Players

Pedro Baez

Oh Pedro Baez, so we meet again. It wasn’t that long ago that Saeed Villanueva wrote an article about you potentially being a closer for some team in a few years. Boy how far we have come from that point.

Baez was dominant in his setup role with the Dodgers during the first four months of the season, posting an ERA of 1.40 through July. However, once the calendar turned over to August, the dominant Baez that we thought we knew was long gone.

In August, Baez really struggled with an ERA of 3.38 and allowed two home runs in 10 2/3 innings pitched. In his first three appearances so far in September, it has been more of an extension of August. Baez has allowed five earned runs, including three home runs and has failed to pitch a complete inning.

Baez was supposed to be our setup man in the postseason, but it looks like his inability to locate his fastball has resulted in his home run issue to resurfacing late in the season. This year he has only allowed 11.1% of his inherited runners to score when entering a game, which is not bad. That is a far better number than his 44% last season and 16.7 % in the postseason.

Pedro has electric stuff to become a dominant pitcher. Where he loses the trust of Dave Roberts, and Dodger fans is when he allows the long balls in high leverage situations. Unfortauntely for Baez the postseason is all high leverage, and Dave Roberts needs to consider how he uses him come October. Baez is one of the most talented relievers in our bullpen, and a rough two months isn’t going to erase a dominant four months to start the season. Baez will undoubtedly be on the postseason roster; I just don’t think it will be late in games anymore.

Panic Meter: 8/10 – “Screaming and flailing!”