Dodgers @ Cubs June 22, 2015: The Endless Bullpen

Sometimes, it’s pretty hard to keep track of who is even in the Dodgers bullpen, and that’s even with the invaluable contributions of “ABsmilebunch,” who maintains the bullpen chart you see at the bottom of every game thread.

Dodgers
Cubs
5:05 p.m.
Chicago, Ill.
RF
Puig
CF
Fowler
CF
Pederson
1B
Rizzo
3B
Turner
3B
Bryant
1B
Gonzalez
SS
Castro
2B
Kendrick
RF
Denorfia
LF
Van Slyke
LF
Szczur
SS
Hernandez
C
Ross
C
Ellis
P
Wada
P
Kershaw
2B
Russell

I mean, I know Kenley Jansen‘s there. J.P. Howell, too. And… Guillermo Mota, right? Rudy Seanez? I assume Scott Proctor‘s kicking around, and Takashi Saito. Ronald Belisario, probably. Remember that one year where Jamey Wright was the only pitcher to stay on the active roster wire-to-wire? If that all sounds hyperbolic, well, it is, but only by a little.

Today’s latest bullpen moves — Joel Peralta, out since April 23, is in along with Ian Thomas, and Daniel Coulombe and Matt West are out — continue the endless shuffling at the back of the pen, as the Dodgers extend the roster by optioning out recently-used arms — and it’s not going to stop when Pedro Baez, who has pitched two scoreless rehab innings, comes back soon.

Not that this is a bad thing; it’s a perfectly clever way to turn the 25-man roster into a 28-ish-man one. It’s just hard to keep track of sometimes. Especially because it was an open question whether Thomas would even be available since he had to travel to Chicago today, though he did reportedly arrive just before game time. And it’s also worth noting, well… Carlos Frias hasn’t looked so great, has he? And Zach Lee hasn’t returned from his finger issue yet, and Thomas has been a decent enough starter (not a reliever) for Oklahoma City. Conspiracy theories abound, right?

Anyway, the Cubs! Kris Bryant! Anthony Rizzo! Addison Russell! Not Kyle Schwarber, who was sent back to Triple-A today! And.. uh… oh.

So far, the game is expected to begin on time. But I think I’d be pretty surprised if we get through this one without any delays. Can’t even blame Brett Anderson this time.

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About Mike Petriello

Mike Petriello writes about lots of baseball in lots of places, and right now that place is MLB.com.