Los Angeles Dodgers Need Steve Ames and They Need Him Now

Face it: the Los Angeles Dodgers aren’t off to a great start.  And the problems with their bullpen is one of the main reasons why.

Josh Wall had to be demoted after an 18.00 ERA in seven frames.  Ronald Belisario has been defeated three times.  Javy Guerra has an ERA worse than 10.00.

Brandon League, who the Dodgers are paying $5.5 million this season, has a 5.40 ERA with 2 defeats and 3 homers surrendered in just 13-and-a-third frames.  Having eight saves is his sole redeeming quality.

The solution: 25-year-old right-hander Steve Ames, one of the Dodgers’ top prospects and an addition to the Dodgers’ 40-man roster at the beginning of the season.

Ames is currently the closer with the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque.  In 10 games with the Isotopes, Ames has already notched a pair of saves and a victory.

Last season, Ames was the closer for the Dodgers out at the Southern League affiliate in Chattanooga.  While there, he recorded 18 saves, finished 32 games, had an ERA of 1.56 and made the Southern League All-Star squad.

In 150 farm games across five seasons, Ames has a career 1.86 ERA with 57 saves.  He has a career 1.01 WHIP and 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings.  He blatantly doesn't give up long balls: only eight homers allowed in 186 frames..

To make room for Ames, I suggest that the Dodgers demote either the ineffectual Guerra, or perhaps J.P. Howell.  Or they could just wait a few more days until the inevitability of another injury in the bullpen.

Bottom line: The Dodgers need to call up Steve Ames.  Now.

Ames’ stats courtesy of Baseball-reference.com, other relievers’ stats courtesy of ESPN.com.