So Long, Jonathan Broxton

The Benedicts have faced recriminations over the team's decision not to extend free agent (and now traded) reliever Jonathan Broxton this spring. Broxton entered the season as a 10C and the Dodgers closer-apparent after solid work in 2008 in that role -- Broxton was 3-5 with 14 saves in 22 opportunities in 2008 with a 3.13 ERA and 1.174 ratio last season. Rival Dodger reliever Takashi Saito's move to Boston this winter cleared the way for Broxton to post big number as the Dodger lone closer this year.

The Benedicts did not extend Broxton -- as it happens this was a mistake as Broxton has been completely brilliant in the closer's role. Broxton has allowed only 11 hits and 11 walks against 52 strikeouts over 32 innings so far in 2009. He has 16 saves in 18 opportunities and has allowed opponents to hit a microscopic .103 against him (.217 last year). Broxton has thrived in the closer's role and at age 25, has a bright future ahead of him. He would be a great fit for the Benedicts at 15D or 20D next year, but instead, he will only be available now at a great closer's premium in the auction.

Hindsight is 20/20 though and one look at the other high-profile Benedict reliever justifies the Benedict's cautious approach to Broxton. Chicago's Carlos Marmol has been one of baseball's most feared relief pitchers the last two seasons. Over those two years, Marmol fanned 210 batters in 156 innings and allowed opponents to hit just .150 against him. Like Broxton, Marmol's path to the closer's role was cleared for him in the off season -- Kerry Wood, the Cubs closer, signed with Cleveland this off-season. On draft day, Marmol was very similarly situated to Broxton.

Marmol, however, has hardly justified his $31 draft day salary. Chicago manager Lou Pinella named Kevin Gregg as his closer after the auction, a seemingly inexplicable decision at the time. Marmol, though, has not proven to be closer material, despite his prior campaigns. This year, Marmol's strikeouts are down (31 in 30 innings), his walks are way up (30 in 30 innings) and he has been so inconsistent that he has not been able to oust the moderately skilled (but more reliable) Gregg from closer duties -- despite that Gregg has been far from a dominant closer himself this season (4.18 ERA, .248 average against). Some commentators attribute Marmol's lost effectiveness to overuse the last two years, and Marmol indeed has been very busy as Chicago's set-up man. It's worth noting that Broxton, Los Angeles' set-up man over that same period, in the last two season made 12 more appearances than Marmol and pitched only 4 fewer innings. Somehow, concerns about Broxton's overuse the last two seasons are harder to come by these days.

The Benedicts will enter 2010 without a closer candidate on the roster, left hoping for better in next year's auction day closer roulette.