Los Angeles Dodgers Team Report

This job is sadly up for grabs.  The Dodgers will start spring training with plans in place for Jonathan Broxton to be the closer, but after his failures last season, they cannot trust him at this point.  While injuries slowed Broxton down in 2010, that isn’t the whole picture.  Broxton broke down and by August 13, he was no longer the closer.  While he plans to enter 2011 fit and healthy, the Dodgers and manager Don Mattingly will tryout other possibilities, including Kenley Jansen and Hong-chih Kuo. The rookie Jansen tore onto the seen last season posting 41 strikeouts in 27 innings with a 0.67 ERA.  He also took the job from Broxton and recorded four saves. 

Now, that is only a small sample, but Jansen clearly has good stuff and if the hard throwing righty can stay healthy, he will see plenty of action in the Dodgers bullpen.  He will turn 24 this year and he will either be a one-two punch in the eigth inning qwith Broxton or be the Dodgers newest closer.

Right now my money is on Broxton to open the 2011 season as the Dodgers closer.