Ranking the Arms in the Los Angeles Dodgers' Bullpen

The Los Angeles Dodgers, once the home of Cy Young Award-winning reliever Eric Gagne and imposing flamethrowers like Jonathan Broxton, may now fall victim to a wayward corps of unproven relievers.

Even as they win game after game very early in the season, the Dodgers have already gone through one closer in Javy Guerra and are now testing another in Kenley Jansen.

The remainder of the corps is made up of a combination of reconstructed vets like Ronald Belisario, Todd Coffey and Jamey Wright and idealistic newbies like Josh Lindblom.  Their combined ERA is a mediocre 5.64.

Yet, when it comes to close-out situations, they have secured 10 saves in 15 potential save appearances.

The Dodgers have a couple of solid relievers in Jansen and Belisario and then it drops off precipitously.

Still, somehow the Dodgers are winning with the best record in the majors.

And the bullpen has to receive some of the credit.

In an era where a team may only be as good as its relief corps, the Dodgers have to get their bullpen settled as they head into the meat of the season and try to protect their lead.

What follows is a ranking of the bullpen as it stands today.  Read fast as it may change quickly.

Number One: Kenley Jansen

It is too early to say whether Kenley Jansen is the best closer for the Dodgers, but he may just be the best strikeout pitcher on the team...if not the majors.

The former catcher, who once shared time with Cleveland Indians catcher Carlos Santana on the Great Lakes Loons, is already 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings.

Last year he set a Major League season record striking out 96 batters with16.10 strikeouts per nine innings.

Jansen has a mean fastball and the guts to throw it which makes him the No. 1 ranked pitcher in the Dodgers bullpen.

Number Two: Ronald Belisario

In his first three appearances with the Dodgers, Ronald Belisario has been just about perfect allowing zero runs and two hits in three innings.

It has to be a big "relief" to the Dodgers to have the hard-throwing Venezuelan back in the bullpen rather than serving suspensions for drug issues , having visa problems and being arrested for driving under the influence.

For now he has been handling middle innings, but with his power and trademark 95mph sinking fastball, he will definitely get a look as the set-up guy.

Number Three: Josh Lindblom

Depending upon when you have tuned in, Dodger newcomer Josh Lindblom has looked like the next great stopper or the next big sieve.

Considering he has already appeared in 16 games and has an ERA of only 1.96, Lindblom will probably end up being the Dodgers workhorse, logging a lot of middle inning relief during the season.

At only 25, the 6'4" 240 lb. youngster can probably handle the workload.

The Dodgers will rely on his 90mph fastball, mid-80s slider as well as his cut fastball, curve and change-up to throw opponents off-guard.

Number Four: Scott Elbert

Scott Elbert seems to be manager Don Mattingly's first choice as a middle-to-long reliever. 

The lefty does not have the kind of stuff that would win him a closer's role and he has gotten off to a pretty slow start with an ERA of 5.24 overall (9.00 in May alone).

But, being a southpaw gives a pitcher an edge and it looks like Elbert will have plenty of time to show his stuff and try to keep the Dodgers in games and out of trouble.

Number Five: Jamey Wright

If you have followed baseball in the last 10 years, you have probably heard of Jamey Wright.  He has played on 10 teams during that time.

At the very least, he brings a veteran's presence to the Dodgers bullpen. At 37 years old, he still has something on his fastball, striking out 17 in 14 innings so far with a sub-4.00 ERA.

Don't look beyond long relief or clean-up duties in lopsided games for Wright who is a necessary cog in the Dodgers' pitching wheel.

Number Six: Javy Guerra

Oh, how things have changed for Javy Guerra.

He was handed the ball at the beginning of the season to be the closer at the end of the game.

Now, he is close to being handed the door.

Guerra started the year with a bang and recorded eight saves during his short tenure. 

But, he just couldn't figure out how to shut down opponents consistently and with flamethrower Kenley Jansen waiting in the wings it was only a matter of time before Guerra was pushed down the ranks.

Now the question is how long will he last?  Is there even a place for him on the staff?

Number Seven: Todd Coffey

Todd Coffey looks like a red-bearded pirate, has an awful nickname ("Big Pot") and may be an afterthought when it comes to the Dodger bullpen.

The oft-traveled big right-hander has played with the Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals in his seven-year major league career.

It's hard to tell how good or bad he will be for the Dodgers.  His ERA after three games was 36.00 and then he hurt his knee.  He has lowered it to 16.00 in the last few outings.

Look for Coffey to be a long, long reliever.