Tony La Russa gets the credit, or the blame, for the invention of the modern bullpen — the closer, the setup men, the matchups against left-handers and right-handers.
But, as a new generation of baseball minds reinvents bullpen use, La Russa also should be remembered for a maxim the Dodgers are using in their perfect postseason run: Don’t use your closer on some days in the summer, so you can use him every day in October.
What took hold with Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley in Oakland has been happily inherited by Kenley Jansen in Los Angeles.
The Dodgers’ closer has appeared in all five of his team’s playoff games. Brandon Morrow, who has emerged as the setup man, has pitched in all five games too.
The Dodgers are two victories away from their first World Series appearance since 1988, in which the Dodgers slayed Eckersley and the mighty Athletics.
In winning the first two games of the National League championship series against the Chicago Cubs, the Dodgers have leaned on a bullpen that has pitched eight innings without giving up a hit.
In the Dodgers’ five postseason games, the relievers have combined for a 1.37 earned-run average, walking one and striking out 19, and holding opponents to an on-base-plus-slugging percentage of .334. (That is not a misprint.)
Results so fine cannot be by design, but the foundation that made those results possible absolutely was. The Dodgers start with October and work backward, assuming they will make the playoffs and planning how best to succeed when they get there. They won their fifth consecutive division championship this year, with Jansen and a revolving door of supporting relievers.
“The organizational philosophy is not to expend guys too much,” Dodger manager Dave Roberts said. “We understand we still have an extra month to play.”
The Dodgers’ bullpen had the lowest ERA in the major leagues. Their relievers threw the most innings of any bullpen in the major leagues.
However, none of their relievers ranked among the top 10 in the NL in appearances. Jansen ranked tied for 30th. Tony Watson, the only one among the top 25, compiled most of his appearances for the Pittsburgh Pirates, before the Dodgers acquired him July 31.
“It’s a long season,” Roberts said. “The way you execute … is when you have good players and you have depth in the ’pen.”
The Dodgers are scrutinized for the use of the 10-day disabled list as something of a taxi squad, mocked for the revolving door between Los Angeles and their triple-A Oklahoma City affiliate, criticized for the league-leading payroll that makes it all possible. The Dodgers had 14 pitchers make at least 10 relief appearances for them this season.
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Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner celebrates after hiting a game-winning, three-run home run off Cubs pitcher John Lackey (41).
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Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner fist-bumps a fan as he heads to the clubhouse after hitting a three-run, game-winning homer off Cubs pitcher John Lackey with two outs in the ninth inning.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 3/29
A jubilant Justin Turner celebrates with Dodgers teammate Yasiel Puig after hitting a walk-off, three-run homer.
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Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner celebrates with teammate Yasiel Puig (66) after after hitting a walk-off, three-run homer to beat the Cubs 4-1.
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Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner celebrates his game-winning, three-run home run as he heads down the third-base line to home plate.
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Dodgers Justin Turner hits a game-winning three-run home run against the Cubs.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 7/29
Dodger players go crazy after Justin Turner hit a game-winning home run with two outs in the ninth inning against the Cubs.
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As Cubs pitcher John Lackey (41) walks off the filed, Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner (10) is swarmed by teammates at home plate after hitting a walk-off home run.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 9/29
Justin Turner watches the ball sail over the fence for a walk-off, three-run homer to beat the Cubs 4-1.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 10/29
Justin Turner heads up the first-base line as he watches his game-winning, three-run homer in Game 2.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 11/29
Dodgers slugger Justin Turner reacts after his walk-off homer clears the center-field fence.
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Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig uncoils after fouling off a pitch by Cubs reliver Carl Edwards Jr. during the sixth inning.
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Cubs reliever Brian Duensing drops the ball for an error while covering first base, allowing the Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger to reach safely in the eighth inning.
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Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner releases his bat after flying out with a runner on base in the seventh inning.
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Dodgers shortstop Charlie Culberson celebrates after hitting a double during the fifth inning.
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Dodgers shortstop Charlie Culberson is congratulated by Yasiel Puig after scoring on a single by Justin Turner during the fifth inning.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 17/29
Dodgers pitcher Rich Hill can’t watch as Cubs shortstop Addison Russell rounds third base after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning.
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Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger dives to tag first base for the put out against Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward during the fifth inning.
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Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig is tagged out by Cubs second baseman Javier Baez during a steal attempt in the fourth inning.
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Cubs second baseman Javier Baez makes a leaning catch on a foul pop up by Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes during the fourth inning.
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Dodgers shortstop Charlie Culberson takes the throw from catcher Austin Barnes as Cubs second baseman Javier Baez steals second base.
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Cubs pitcher Jon Lester gets a high-inside pitch from Dodgers pitcher RIch Hill during the third inning.
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Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig licks his bat in between pitches as he faces Cubs starter Jon Lester in the second inning.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 24/29
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill (44) looks skyward after Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) hits a deep fly ball to right center field in the first inning.
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Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig, right, makes a catch on a fly ball hit by the Cubs’ Kris Byrant in front of center fielder Chris Taylor during the first inning.
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Cubs center fielder Albert Almora makes a leaping catch to steal a hit away from Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner during the first inning.
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Dodgers pitcher Rich Hill delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Cubs in Game 2.
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Dodgers outfielder Curtis Granderson takes batting practice before Game 2.
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Fans file out of the club level toward field level seating to watch the Dodgers and Cubs in Game 2 of the NLCS.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) “There are times you look back in the season, and Kenley was down,” Roberts said. “As a manager, that’s not a good feeling, essentially to make that decision prior to the game that your closer is not going to pitch, even in a save situation.
“But, taking the long view, that’s something we believe in as an organization.”
The results are what they are. And, if the Cubs cannot win four of their next five games, the Dodgers are in the World Series.
Jansen has pitched more than one inning three times in his five appearances this October.
He also would have pitched more than one inning on Sunday, if Watson had not retired both of the batters he faced.
By managing his workload all summer, the Dodgers can maximize their use of Jansen in October. There are more off days in the postseason than in the regular season, and the Dodgers earned additional days off by winning their division and then sweeping the division series.
Jansen has pitched in all five postseason games — but those five appearances have come in a span of 14 days.
“We know that this moment is going to come,” Jansen said, “and we know that I’m going to throw multiple innings, so I was ready for it.”
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