Dodger bullpen status heading into Yankee series

Pitch counts for the Dodger bullpen since the team’s last off day:

It’s not dire, but the use of the Dodger bullpen Thursday might compel the Dodgers to look for a reinforcement before tonight’s Yankee game. Ramon Troncoso, Hong-Chih Kuo and Jonathan Broxton are borderline at best for tonight.

Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. didn’t like Joe Torre’s use of Broxton with a four-run lead Thursday, and normally I wouldn’t have either, but I defended Torre in the comments:

That stopped being the night for working out struggles after Sherrill gave up the hit. It was worthwhile for the Dodgers just to put that game away rather than hang on. The only other option after Sherrill was Belisario. If he gives up one hit, it’s 10-7, the tying run is on deck and the whole world is asking for Broxton.

If Broxton can’t pitch three games in a row, then he has to miss one Yankee game no matter what. Why not the Padilla game?

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I don’t think Sherrill could be trusted (on this night) to get three outs with a four-run lead and one guy on base. He’s on the team because the Dodgers aren’t ready to cut bait on him yet.

They could have brought in Belisario, though I’d say he lowers your 95.1% win expectancy too. And if Belisario gives up but two baserunners – and that’s with Hunter, Matsui and Napoli due up – your tying run is at the plate and you’ve burned both pitchers.

If you think Belisario can do a good job, then let him do that job for two innings Friday. Thursday’s game, if only for subjective reasons, was a special case.

Anyway, whether Stephen’s right or I’m right, we look ahead.

Though I’m ready to designate Charlie Haeger for assignment, sending him back to Albuquerque if he clears waivers or wishing him well if he doesn’t, the Dodgers might hold onto him at least until Chad Billingsley is activated Monday. If that’s the case, another option is to put the shaky Ramon Troncoso on the disabled list with a sore shoulder. This is purely a hunch, but it really seems like he could use the break. That would also allow the premature recall of Travis Schlichting inside the 10-day waiting period.

I thought Jon Link might be called up today, but he pitched 1 1/3 innings Thursday for the Isotopes. A bold move would be to take a look at Kenley Jansen, who in 17 1/3 AA innings has allowed nine hits and 12 walks while striking out 28.

Keep in mind that the Dodgers’ main use for a pitcher tonight is for long relief in case Vicente Padilla’s outing is short. That’s why a Troncoso-for-Schlichting exchange might be the best at this point. I think Schlichting could do Troncoso’s job for a couple weeks.