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Chad Billingsly has been an above average pitcher for each of the past 5 years but, in 2011, the year of the (dominant) pitcher, Billingsly has struggled mightily. Billingsly was selected in the first round of the 2003 draft as an 18 year old out of Defiance, Ohio. Don’t worry I looked up Defiance Ohio for a bit of a better understanding of Mr. Chad and the booming metropolis has a population just north of 16,000 and judging from google Earth has about 4 stoplights. Since Billingsly’s arrival on the big club 2006, he’s proven a good, not great starter. He’s struck out over 170 in each of the past 3 years but has won more than 12 games just once. It’s time for Chad Billingsly to get Better.
Coming into 2011, Chad and fellow Los Angeles Dodger Clayton Kershaw were supposed to anchor the front end of the Dodger rotation. Kershaw has held up his end of the bargain posting an ERA of 1.77 with a 0.96 WHIP and 46 strikeouts in May. Billingsly? Not as awesome but still pretty good (2.63 ERA). Since the calendar switched to June, Billingsly has been bad. His 11.20 ERA and 2.78 WHIP over the last 3 are head turning for all the wrong reasons.
Billingsly’s struggles have become a major headache for the Dodgers as if yesterday’s news about Selig’s rejection of the TV deal weren’t enough. Manager Don Mattingly came out after Chad’s last start 
and said: “I don’t have any magic words. You’ve got to get yourself ready to play and to pitch to each guy.” He sounds a little fed up with Billingsly’s attitude, consistency, and focus. I tend to agree with that sentiment.
Billingsly clearly has the talent. He’s struck out 8.2/9 IP through his career and he’s been an all-star in the past. The problem is serious. A 4.65 ERA on the season and 38 base runners allowed over his last 3 starts is not acceptable from someone who is supposed to be an ace. Its time for Billingsly to either get it together and become that top flight starting pitcher the Dodgers thought they could get in 2003, or settle for talented mediocrity. His situation reminds me a bit of Josh Beckett’s attitude and focus problems. When Beckett is not focused, or on top of his game he’s an overpaid league average pitcher. When he focuses, Beckett’s league leading 1.86 ERA speaks for itself.
Billingsly starts tonight against the Detroit Tigers and Miguel Cabrera and it’s time he turns things around to turn his career around. I hope he doesn’t get complacent with the $38 MM due to him and instead keeps the drive to be mentioned among the League’s Best 
as his talent should dictate.
Stat of the Day: According to the 1990 Census, James is the most common first name. Chad is the 161st and Chad’s wife, Tiffany’s name comes in at 110.
-Sean Morash
