When the Dodgers signed 38-year old lefty swinging outfielder Garret Anderson they told him he was going to have greatly reduced playing time in 2010. He has always been a starting player until last season and he still got lefty side platoon at bats, which means he still played a lot. But he has really failed miserably this season and I don’t see any reason why he should even be on the roster still. He has played in 73 games for the Dodgers this year and he is 26 of 140 (.186 avg, .491 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 2 homers and 12 RBIs. I have to think that he’s going to get cut when Manny Ramirez and Reed Johnson get healthy in a couple of weeks unless he gets hot with the bat. I’m not blaming the Dodgers for signing Anderson before spring training though as he has had a solid track record in the majors. Coming into this season he played in 2,148 games in which he was 2,501 of 8,485 (.295 avg, .791 OPS) with 1,076 runs scored, 285 homers, 1,353 RBIs and 79 stolen bases. What I am blaming the Dodgers for is not cutting Anderson loose as he often looks helpless at the plate.

The Dodgers have released 35-year old righty reliever Kiko Calero from his minor league contract. Calero pitched in 15 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Dodgers and he was 0-0 with 1 save, a 3.00 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. I was kind of surprised by Calero’s release as he was pitching well in a very tough league (PCL) in the minors. I think the Dodgers should have given him a chance to show what he could do in L.A.

The Dodgers have designated 33-year old righty reliever Justin Miller for assignment. Miller pitched in 19 games (0 starts) for the Dodgers this year and he was 0-0 with a 4.44 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. He whiffed 30 batters in only 23 1/3 innings for the Dodgers this year but he also gave up 4 dingers which is way too many. The Dodgers have called up 22-year old righty reliever Kenley Jansen to replace Miller on the roster and in the bullpen. Jansen was the Dodgers’ #14 prospect coming into this season according to Baseball America. Jansen is a converted catcher just in his second season as a pitcher. He has pitched in 33 games (0 starts) in A+AA-ball this year and he is 5-1 with 8 saves, a 1.60 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He only has given up 29 hits in 45 innings while whiffing 70 batters showing just how nasty he has been. He has had some control issues that need corrected as he has walked 23 batters this year. He has now pitched in 45 games (0 starts) in two years in the minors as a pitcher and he is 5-1 with 8 saves, a 2.22 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Converting from catcher to pitcher likely saved Jansen’s career. He played six years as a catcher in the minors playing in 286 games in which he was 192 of 840 (.229 avg, .647 OPS) with 103 runs scored, 15 homers, 97 RBIs and 6 stolen bases.