When Dodgers left-hander Scott Kazmir was pulled after his first warm-up toss in the second inning of his second “meaningless spring training game” (as they are often called … ad nauseam) on Monday, it brought into focus several extremely crucial things:

• First and foremost, it raised the question as to whether or not the 33-year-old Houston, Texas native would yet again spend considerable time on the disabled list for what was called “hip tightness” that forced him to undergo an MRI, which reportedly “…did not reveal any structural damage.”
• Secondly, it left Dodger fans once again wondering if trading away top pitching prospects Jose De Leon and Chase De Jong were wise moves by the Dodgers brass.
• Thirdly, it made the seemingly impossible but hopeful return of left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu and right-hander Brandon McCarthy all the more… well… hopeful. And while there is little doubt that soon-to-be 30-year-old (on March 25) Ryu will probably begin the 2017 season on the DL for some sort of elbow or shoulder ailment, McCarthy has shown signs that he has possibly… possibly recovered from his 2016 season-ending right hip stiffness and a serious bout of the yips … and not a moment too soon.

As most fans know, the Dodgers signed McCarthy to a four-year / $48 million contract on December 16, 2014 that will take the (now) 33-year-old Glendale, California native through the 2018 season. Unfortunately, they also know that he has spent much of his time as a Dodger on the disabled list. In fact, during his time in a Dodger uniform he has made a grand total of 13 starts (and one relief appearance) through two full seasons in Los Angeles. That’s not a typo, that’s a fact.

McCarthy’s efforts at a comeback last season did not end well. He and the Dodgers are hoping that this will change in 2017. (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

Since joining the Dodgers, McCarthy has posted a 5-3 record and a rather dismal 5.26 ERA. And while these numbers seem to contradict one another, they bring into question the worthiness of whether or not McCarthy even belongs in the Dodgers 2017 starting rotation. They also make it blatantly clear that the Dodgers will most likely be unable to get out from under (i.e. trade away) the $10 million that they owe him for each of the next two seasons.

Putting all of this ugliness aside, when healthy, McCarthy can be very effective. In fact, prior to signing with the Dodgers, he had a career ERA of 4.09 – not top-of-the-rotation stuff but certainly back-of-the-rotation stuff – which is exactly what the Dodgers need right now.

Although McCarthy wasn’t particularly sharp in his 2017 spring training debut on March 3, the mere fact that he even made his 2017 spring training debut is a positive step in the right direction. In that two-inning debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, McCarthy allowed two runs on two hits (including the seemingly requisite home run to Dbacks slugger Paul Goldschmidt). And even though he did not strike out a batter in his two innings of work, he didn’t walk anyone either, with 18 of his 33 pitches being strikes.

The point to all of this is that with Kazmir’s health once again in question – at least for the time being – McCarthy’s effectiveness becomes all that much more important for the Dodgers. And with the likelihood that Mac is probably slated to go at least three innings in tonight’s 6:05 pm PT game against the Texas Rangers at Camelback Ranch (opposite Rangers lefty Cole Hamels), you can bet that what some may consider yet another “meaningless spring training game” will be anything but for Brandon McCarthy and for the Dodgers.

Play Ball!