Dodgers Making Big Change in Attempt to Combat Injury Problem
In recent years, the Los Angeles Dodgers have dealt with a number of injuries to their pitching staff. Last season, a total of 12 Dodgers pitchers landed on the injured list at some point in 2024.
The myriad injuries left the Dodgers with only three starting pitchers and an overworked bullpen once October rolled around. Although it all worked out and the Dodgers ultimately won the World Series, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said a short-term solution to the pitching staff’s injury issues was their aggressive pursuits this winter.
“I’m sure some of [our past injury problems] created some of the mindset this offseason,” Friedman said, via Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times. “Just to be as prepared as we possibly could be.”
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As for the long-term solution, veteran southpaw Clayton Kershaw revealed what the Dodgers will do differently with their pitchers in 2025.
“I think the Dodgers are going to change that a little bit,” Kershaw said on Foul Territory. “I think the guys are going to start throwing more in the minor leagues.
“There might be something to be said about just throwing more, some endurance-based throwing. Maybe just building up your strength without throwing as hard as you can, just throwing more pitches, more throws in between starts. We’ve tried the less approach, maybe we need to do the more approach. Which it seems pretty oversimplified, and I know there’s a lot more to it, but it’s probably worth a shot.”
While the Dodgers have made it clear they don’t have a simple solution to the problem, they’re going to test out different things to try to keep their pitchers healthier in 2025 and beyond.
Kershaw seems to like this specific idea.
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Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
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I have always felt that in recent years the Dodgers may have unintentionally put too much emphasis on throwing hard and high velocity rather than throwing effectively, really learning to pitch. Hitters will always be able to hit high velocity if it is not moving. And rushing guys to the majors doesn’t do them any favors if their arms are not mechanically sound. In the minors, volume is always a better teacher than velocity which can sometimes hide the inferiority of minor league hitting compared to major league hitting. Spending a few years in Triple A means that a pitcher that finally makes it to the majors in his mid 20’s has had all the experience and benefit from all the teaching that the organization can offer, and they will have had time to mechanically worked out all the kinks in their delivery. In essence, they will have learned to be an effective pitcher and not just a “flame thrower” whose next pitch could be his last, the so called candle in the wind. That is how the Dodgers used to develop pitchers in the past and they always led the league in Team ERA and innings pitched. That seems like a more durable way to develop pitchers. Kersh is right.
The focus on velocity has been an ongoing discussion in MLB. I think the Dodgers are still trying to navigate how to combat injuries, and like you said Vincent, Kershaw has a point!
This is a mistake. I predict that it will eventually be proven that the major cause of all these injuries is too many pitches per game. The increased velocity and spin and more complex pitches in today’s game puts more strain on arms and shoulders. As muscles tire out during the game, the tendons and ligaments are under greater stress to make up the difference. I believe it is no coincidence that Yamamoto and Glasnow both went on the IL last year within a week or two of pitching their longest games of the year. Same with all the rookie injuries. We need to give up on the goal of complete games, that is a relic of the past. Start working starters for 5 innings and keep long relievers in the bullpen.
There is no goal of pitching complete games. That was abandoned many years ago. If you’ve been watching, the starters already barely average 6 innings per start. Rarely do they throw even 100 pitches anymore. So i think you are off a bit.
That is a very interesting point, Michael! Kershaw did say the Dodgers tried to have their pitchers throw less in years past, which didn’t work. Now, they are trying the opposite. So we’ll see what happens this season, but hopefully less injuries transpire.
What took the Dodgers so long to realize that their approach to pitching does not work? Many of us have stated through the years that the pitching injuries are an organizational problem! Did they finally come to their senses? Again, what took so long?