Broxton has Competition for Closer’s Role

David Golebiewski took a good look at Jonathan Broxton on Dec. 18, shortly after former closer Takashi Saito was non-tendered by the Dodgers. David concluded – and rightfully so – that Broxton was a no-brainer option to fill the closer’s shoes.

That said, there may be another option in Los Angeles – one who is equally qualified statistically speaking – if he can stay healthy. Hong-Chih Kuo was just as dominating as Broxton in 2008, but he missed more time due to injuries (an on-going theme in his career), including a sore elbow and possible (but unconfirmed) blood clots.

In 2008, Broxton allowed 54 hits in 69 innings, as well as rates of 3.52 BB/9 and 11.48 K/9. He allowed just two home runs, for a measly 0.26 HR/9 rate and stranded 67.7% of base runners. His GB% on batted balls was 44.5%, while his line-drive rate was 23.2.

When facing batters, Broxton pumped in first-pitch strikes 59.7% of the time. When hitters took a swing, they made contact with his pitches at a rate of 71.2%. The right-hander’s biggest nemesis was the left-handed batter. Against left-handers, Broxton allowed a .270 batting average, compared to .181 against right-handers.

Interestingly, in save situations, Broxton had a 4.25 ERA, and allowed batters to hit .234. In non-save situations, he had a 1.91 ERA and had a batting-average-allowed of .196. With runners in scoring position in all situations, Broxton allowed a line of .316/.402/.395.

In 2008, he featured a fastball that averaged out around 96 mph, as well as a slider, and a change-up that he used less than 3% of the time. Kuo, on the other hand, did not throw quite as hard at an average of 93 mph but he used it more than 80 percent of the time. He also showed a slider, curveball and occasional change-up.

Kuo allowed 60 hits in 80 innings pitched in 2008. He also posted rates of 2.36 BB/9 and 10.80 K/9. Kuo allowed just four home runs, good for a rate of 0.45 HR/9. He stranded runners at an impressive rate of 80.4%. He induced ground balls at a rate of 46.4% and gave up line drives at a rate of 19.9%.

While Kuo has better control than Broxton, the command is not always there and the Taiwanese lefty pumped in first-pitch strikes at a rate of 57.6%. Overall, batters managed to make contact against Kuo 74.4% of the time. He was equally successful against both left-handed and right-handed batters with averages-allowed of .202 and .205, respectively.

In save situations, Kuo had a 1.66 ERA and allowed a batting average of .177. In non-save situtions, batters hit .201 against him, while he posted an ERA of 1.70. With runners in scoring position, Kuo posted a line of .179/.247/.298.

Kuo’s season may have been even more impressive if he had stayed healthy. In the first half of the year, he allowed 38 hits in 53.1 innings of work and struck out 63 with 13 walks. In his injury-riddled second half, Kuo allowed 22 hits in 26.2 innings and struck out 33 with eight walks.

If Kuo can remain healthy in 2009 – and that is a big if – the Dodgers organization has a pair of dominating late-game relievers to choose from in save situations. Also on the plus side, the two pitchers can be used for lefty-righty match-ups if the situation warrants such a ploy. Without a doubt, though, opponents are going to have a rough time in 2009 when trailing the Dodgers by three runs or less in the eighth and ninth innings.