Bounce Back Year

The Dodgers always have at least one player for me to never trust.  A player that can't perform at a high level on a consistent basis.  I usually get most frustrated at the type of player that has great talent and shows it on occasion, only to falter during his next game.

Chad Billingsley is that type of player.  He has had some really good seasons in the past.  Billingsley had an ERA+ of 135 in 147 innings during the 2007 season.  He was only 22 at the time.  In 2008, Billingsley was able to strike out a batter per inning over his first and only 200 inning season.

Billingsley even had a really solid year in 2010.  He posted the lowest WHIP of his career at 1.27.  The he faltered in 2011.  A lot of Billingsley's numbers turned bad.  His ERA was 4.21, his WHIP was an ugly 1.45 and his K/9 was a middling 7.3

He can't put up his 2011 numbers again this season.  The Dodgers would have no chance at the postseason.

I have officially stopped making fun of Billingsley.  I have berated him for much of his career due to his playoff failures, his inconsistencies, and the "one bad inning" that he seems to have every game.

All Dodger fans know about the "one bad inning" he puts up in his starts.  Billingsley may be cruising through 5 innings of work then will start walking guys in the 6th and giving up hits to weak hitting shortstops.

This is the year where Billingsley bounces back and reclaims the form he had in 2008 or 2010.  The 2011 Billingsley will not return.  He is going to pitch well and I hope my new found encouragement for him will help.

I am currently stocking up on his baseball cards right now. Especially focusing on his autos and game used cards.  The price is low on Chad Billingsley because even some Dodger fans think he's a stiff and not worth collecting. His prices will begin to go up when he starts blowing away hitters this season.

Billingsley is a stiff no more.