With the injury to Dodger's closer Takashi Saito, the Dodgers must go with a different option in the ninth inning for around six weeks. Saito was diagnosed with an elbow sprain and will be out for at least six weeks before he is re-examined. In the meanwhile, Joe Torre has already revealed that the replacement closer will be 24-year-old righty Jonathan Broxton, the current set-up man.
While Broxton has shown promise as a set-up man, some wonder how well the rookie will transition from the eighth to the ninth.
Broxton said that he is very excited with the decision and he can't wait until he can start. He also said that he would treat the ninth just like the eighth and he is just there to get the outs.
Others wonder if a changing of the guard is in progress in the San Fernando Valley. The 38-year-old Saito has shown some signs of aging. Saito is 3-3 with a 2.18 ERA and 17 saves in 20 chances. The hard throwing Broxton is still a youthful pitcher with a lot of energy and many years before him.
Broxton will probably get at least one chance for a save in the Dodgers' upcoming series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Dodgers are within striking distance in the NL West, one game behind the D-Backs. If they sweep the hitting-challenged Diamondbacks, they would take the lead in the West by two games.
Although the Dodgers are also having troubles with hitting, the bat of Russell Martin and the return of Nomar Garciaparra may jumpstart the Dodgers' bats.
Also, the Dodgers may try and trade for a big bat, although they would probably have to give up a big name prospect from their talent-rich farm system. The Dodgers, however, have had no objection to trading possible future stars, as they traded AL All-Star catcher to the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays for former closer Danny Baez.
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