Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Craig Kimbrel has been left off the National League Division Series roster for the matchup against the San Diego Padres.
It wasn’t such a surprising development considering Kimbrel’s inconsistencies in 2022, but it’s a sad fall for a pitcher who was expected to be the Dodgers’ closer heading into the season.
He fulfilled the role and got 22 saves on the season.
It was a rollercoaster ride most of the time, though.
Overall, the right-hander posted a 3.75 ERA in 60 innings, with 72 strikeouts and a 1.32 WHIP.
Those numbers aren’t so bad, but much more is expected by the closer of the powerful Dodgers.
He even lost his closer title in late September.
Dodgers Twitter Is Happy For Kimbrel’s Omission
Twitter was full of reactions after the news were made public.
Razzball notes the Dodgers’ resolve and determination to keep a guy making $16 million off the roster if they feel he won’t contribute more than another teammate.
They said the Dodgers have “ice in their veins,” meaning they were cold.
Dodgers with ice in their veins, leaving off Kimbrel https://t.co/pSVCxhkgfe
— Razzball (@Razzball) October 11, 2022
And they should be cold: a manager has to look out for the team’s best interests, and if Dave Roberts felt other pitchers are better at this point – he included recently returning guys such as Dustin May and Blake Treinen, for example – then leaving Kimbrel out shouldn’t be a problem.
Overall, Dodgers fans are mostly happy the inconsistent Kimbrel won’t be a part of the roster.
Dodgers fans seeing that Craig Kimbrel was left off of the postseason roster: pic.twitter.com/9RiAJOzH5i
— Brian Y (@byysports) October 11, 2022
NO KIMBREL https://t.co/ojDwN3G9xg pic.twitter.com/7R2KSQI3X0
— Annie O’D⚡️ (@sweetannieod) October 11, 2022
Of course, jokes and memes were abundant on Twitter, too:
Craig Kimbrel trying to get into Dodger Stadium today
— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) October 11, 2022
Kimbrel had a 1.35 ERA in his last seven games, covering 6.2 innings.
The problem, in this case, is that he isn’t trustworthy anymore: that era came with an ugly 6/8 BB/K ratio.
The Dodgers believe his control issues could be a problem in the playoffs.
NEXT: Walker Buehler Is Back In A New Role