The Dodgers moved quickly to replace the injured Brad Penny from their rotation, reportedly acquiring Greg Maddux for the second time in three years. Maddux is a fringe-average pitcher at best right now, having posted a below-average ERA (3.99) in one of the best pitchers' parks in baseball.
He works in the low-80s with a changeup just a few mph below his fastball, and gets ground balls by working at the knees, especially low and away, as much as he possibly can. When he leaves the ball up, however, he's increasingly prone to giving up hard hit balls. Moving from Petco Park (terrible home run park) to Dodger Stadium (actually a decent home run park, despite its reputation) might make him more homer-prone. Still, the difference between him and
Eric Stults over eight starts could easily be a win, especially considering the potential for bullpen problems if Stults were to average fewer than five innings a start.
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Keith Law
