Dodgers Key Reliever Admits He Almost Retired Before Joining LA
Anthony Banda wasn’t always a star reliever in the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen. He was previously a Major League Baseball journeyman, spending time with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, and Washington Nationals.
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Though Banda made his MLB debut in 2017, he had only made one Opening Day roster prior to his time with the Dodgers.
In 2023 with the Nationals, Banda spent just 10 games with the team accruing a 6.43 ERA. At Triple-A Columbus, the veteran’s mark ballooned into a 7.58 ERA.
Banda’s struggles throughout the 2023 season provoked the left-hander to consider walking away from baseball.
“At one point I was already getting ready to hang him up,” Banda told Dodger Insider. “(But) it was just that little guy inside was like, ‘Hey, let’s keep going. Keep going.’ That’s a good way to put it — I was just trying to survive.”
Once Banda was traded to the Dodgers in exchange for cash considerations, his career took off.
The 2024 season was by far Banda’s best performances as he produced a 3.08 ERA with 50 strikeouts, 18 walks, and two saves. He was arguably one of the best high-leverage relievers in baseball as he finished the postseason with a 1.23 ERA in 7.1 innings.
This is a familiar tale within the Dodgers organization. The franchise has earned a reputation for having premier pitching development, helping pitchers become the best version of themselves.
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Banda’s arrival to L.A. sparked a career revival, but it also did much more.
“I feel like I found a home,” Banda said in November. “I think, regardless of where I end up, I’m always going to have a special place of L.A. in my heart as far as because of the fans and the support and love that I’ve gotten from them.
“Without this community, I believe that this organization isn’t where they’re at now. I believe we have the best community, the best fans, the best supporters. You know how much they really, really buy into each event, how much they’re in the seats, they’re filling up the stands. I think it really pushed us forward as an organization, as human beings as well.”
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Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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The D’s pitching coaching staff seems to often be able to take players up to another level. Without a doubt, they are good at what they do. On the other hand, it seems like Dodgers pitchers have an even higher rate than the rest of the league on injuries. While I haven’t done a full statistically analysis, on the surface I see a relationship.
Pitch better, get better, be more effective. Then get hurt. It’s a bittersweet bargain, I don’t know what I’d choose if I was making the call. Not really a criticism to either the pitchers or the coaching staff, more an observation of today’s game. Sometimes it’s bad to be good at something.
Amen, Dodgers have money, therefore they have the best of everything. EXCEPT ownership. They are a bunch of pussies. Just think, what would coca cola do, if Pepsi stole their formula? What would FORD do, if Chevy hacked them and stole their designs? These companies would spend billions, finding the leaks, n prosecuting them, and then suing the parent companies for billions!. Now what would the Yankees do, if the illegal immigrants on the Houston Astros, cheated in the world series, n devalued their brand by billions, n violated the C B A on every page. Steinbeenner would declare war, sue the Astros for breach of contract, n make sure every Astro was convicted of fraud, and those illegals like Altuve and Correa, convicted , jailed, stripped of their work visas and deported. BUT if you cheat the Dodgers, they will send Roberts to your dugout to suck u off, shake your hand and management will pretend like nothing ever happened and go back to the glory hole n bend over. Pathetic ownership, even worse legal representation. Pushovers at every level.