Infamous LA journalist resurfaces with Roki Sasaki take Dodgers fans can actually agree with

Veteran sportswriter Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times has annoyed Los Angeles Dodgers fans on more than one occasion. Whether he's jinxing the Dodgers during a World Series or offending fans' sensibilities with another cringey take, Plaschke's stock has taken plenty of hits in recent memory. But his latest take on Roki Sasaki? Spot on.

Plaschke asserted that the Dodgers need to move Sasaki back to the bullpen, and he's right, especially now that Edwin Díaz is set to miss multiple months.

Dodgers should move Roki Sasaki to the bullpen (like, right now)

But regardless of Díaz's status (the Dodgers have other late-inning options outside of Sasaki, after all), Sasaki simply works better as a reliever. It's not just Sasaki's 6.11 ERA through 17 2/3 innings this year as a starter — or his struggles last season as a starter — that make Plaschke's recommendation sound. It's that Sasaki's profile as a two-pitch demon who's found his greatest success out of the 'pen strongly suggests that the Dodgers should have just stuck with what was working, rather than stubbornly adhering to their original vision for Sasaki.

Sasaki's electric fastball and splitter make him an ideal late-inning weapon, and Plaschke pointed out a striking stat that illustrates Sasaki's tendency to thrive in short bursts (and falter the longer his outings last): Sasaki didn't allow an earned run in the first two innings of each of his first three starts this season. He did, however, allow nine earned runs in the other combined seven innings of those starts.

Roki Sasaki might be the modern Eric Gagné for Dodgers

Plaschke also compared Sasaki to former Dodgers closer Eric Gagné, who made 48 starts for LA before the Dodgers' staff decided that he was better suited for a bullpen role. While Gagné's Dodgers legacy is tainted by HGH, there's still his 84-straight converted save chances and Cy Young 2003 National League Cy Young trophy to consider — the Dodgers made the right move to move Gagné to the 'pen, wouldn't you say?

Despite Plaschke's recommendation, and overwhelming logic pointing to the benefits of sending Sasaki to the bullpen, it doesn't appear the Dodgers are on board with the idea. The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya reported on Tuesday that Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes shut down the idea of Sasaki moving to the 'pen even with Díaz headed to the IL.

One argument (perhaps the only argument?) for keeping Sasaki in the rotation is his youth. At 24 years old, Sasaki still has plenty of years to figure out his true calling as an MLB pitcher, and the Dodgers seem to think that calling is as a starting pitcher. Fair enough.

The thing is, the Dodgers are also in the most now of win-now modes possible as they look to three-peat this season. Do Sasaki's developmental concerns take precedent over that goal? Of course not. Gomes and the Dodgers are sticking to their guns on starter Sasaki for now, but we'll see if that holds when the games really matter in October.

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