Broxton heads up solid Dodgers bullpen

LOS ANGELES -- A year ago at this time, the Dodgers had a question mark at the back of their bullpen. This October, they have an exclamation point.

But best of all, the Los Angeles relief corps doesn't start and finish with big Jonathan Broxton, who seized ninth-inning duties this season. It's a deep and potent corps, with pitchers for every occasion. If manager Joe Torre needs a lefty-killer, he has options. If he needs someone to get a key right-hander or two, he has options. If he needs a full inning, be it right- or left-handed-dominated, he's fine. And if he needs multiple innings, he has choices.

Dodgers at a glance 2009 record: 95-67 2008 record: 84-78 NL West champs NL best record NLCS matchup: Phillies at Dodgers Postseason tix: Buy now WHO ARE THESE GUYS? • Loney: Taking good swings • Kuo: Long road back • Thome: Back in Philly • Loney: Building resume • Bullpen: Led by Broxton • Torre: Rep precedes him • Blake: Chemistry guy • Kershaw: Game 1 nod? • Dodgers: Eyes on prize • Kemp: Path of the pros • Furcal: Back healthy • Kershaw: Like Koufax • Hudson: Keeping head up • Billingsley: Unknown role • Ethier: Slump over • Torre: Tough decisions • Kershaw: Elite comparisons • Kemp: Nearly elite • Kershaw: Path to the pros • Billingsley: Fate in balance • Ethier: Aims to improve • Torre: Back to playoffs • Kershaw: Ready to rock • Rotation: Plenty of options • Kemp: Chasing LA history • Bullpen: Dominant pair • Honeycutt: Pitching guru • Kemp: Tools to match talent • Ethier: Walk-off wonder • Billingsley: Vying for spot • Ethier/Kemp: Dynamic duo • Torre: Another pennant race • Pierre: Receives high praise • Kershaw: Beyond his years More Dodgers coverage • Dodgers, Broxton stung by Phils in ninth Game 4 remains unkind to Broxton Phillies have Dodgers in tight spot Dodgers attempt to shake off heartbreaker With season on line, LA turns to Padilla Dodgers overwhelmed in Game 3 Wolf to put fond memories aside Kuroda makes no excuses for performance Runs hard to come by for Dodgers Beyond Game 4, rotation a question Dodgers ready to weather chill in Philly Kuroda gets ball for Game 3 Temperatures will be a challenge Rally revives Dodgers, evens NLCS Dodgers can't recover from Phils' homers Sherrill's rough inning costly Kershaw unravels quickly in Gm. 1 For starters, Dodgers have options October continues to be Torre's time After sweep, Dodgers reload rotation Sweep deal: Dodgers return to NLCS Dodgers hope party isn't last of 2009 Manny's big game a great sign Sweep leaves LA waiting on Rox, Phils Padilla silences critics with gem Dodgers excited, but keep eye on prize Affable Padilla on top of his game Torre, the person, leads way Dodgers stun Cardinals in ninth From walk to walk-off, Blake set stage Kershaw comes of age in Game 2 start Holliday takes place in long line of 'goats' Padilla grateful for 'second life' in LA Cards focused, but history against them Kemp, bullpen pull through in Game 1 Kershaw ready to grow up on big stage Short turnaround awaits NLDS foes Dodgers, Cardinals break left-on-base mark Middle of defense turns tables fast Billingsley gets call for Game 4 No surprises as Dodgers set roster Call to Wolf is easy decision One win nets Dodgers division, home-field Dodgers end drama, wrap up NL West Dodgers' division lead whittled to one Dodgers leave SD without division title LA drops chance to clinch NL West Ohman undergoes shoulder surgery Bucs keep Dodgers' celebration on ice Dodgers stunned; West party on hold Dodgers clinch postseason berth Playoffs await after win over Bucs Dodgers denied in playoff clinch attempt Wolf rolling as postseason beckons Blake playing it careful with hamstring Dodgers trim playoff magic number to one Billingsley sharp, LA not in loss to Nats Postseason magic number down to two Dodgers beat Giants' ace to stay on track Kershaw says he's ready to go Ethier blossoms into prime-time player Billingsley confident turnaround is coming Kershaw pitching beyond his years Ethier helps Dodgers pad West lead Dodgers shut down by former ace Penny Dodgers leave Giants reeling in NL West Dodgers protect lead with Kuroda's help Bauman: Pitching will carry Dodgers Messy ninth inning costs Dodgers

A bit of a rough night for one reliever Thursday doesn't change the fact that the bullpen is one of the great strengths of the '09 Dodgers. The greatest strength of that unit, meanwhile, is Broxton, who pitched a shutout ninth Thursday to give his team one last shot at a comeback win. When Torre gets to the ninth, he turns to the man sometimes called the "Ox," the 6-foot-4, 240-pound, gas-throwing Broxton. He heads the best bullpen remaining in these playoffs.

"We've been picking up a lot of big innings, and we've just got to keep it going," Broxton said.

The Dodgers' three playoff wins so far have shown the versatility of the Broxton-led 'pen. In Game 1 of the Division Series, Torre moved quickly to relieve a scuffling Randy Wolf, using five relievers to get through the last 5 1/3 innings. In Game 2, he turned to righty-killer Ronald Belisario in the seventh, Broxton against the Cardinals' heavy-hitting right-handers in the eighth and George Sherrill in the ninth.

And in Saturday's clincher, he did it in classic style. Starter Vicente Padilla went seven innings, Sherrill set up in the eighth and Broxton brought it home by getting the last four outs. It's hard for Torre to make a misstep with a crew like this, and it will be hard for the Phillies to overcome any late-inning deficits.

"That's a big challenge. ... Their left-handed pitchers are big-stuff pitchers," said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel. "They're very good. And then they've got Broxton at the end. Yeah, I mean, that's a concern. Basically once they get to those guys, that gives them a big, big chance."

It's the lefties that may be the biggest challenge for the Phillies. Manuel typically writes out a very heavily left-handed lineup, with Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez in the heart of the order. With new acquisition Sherrill and Hong-Chih Kuo available for matchup duty, Torre has two serious weapons to counter the Phils' sluggers, though he hesitated to go to either one in the fifth inning Thursday.

Moreover, neither Sherrill nor Kuo is the typical lefty specialist, hopeless against right-handed hitters. Torre can use either man for a full inning, even if it means a right-handed batter or two coming to the plate.

If the Phillies' lefty stars come up in the ninth, though, it will be Broxton's job to get them out. The mix-and-match strategy that Torre used against St. Louis won't be in play against Philadelphia.

"I don't see their lineup makeup as needing to flip-flop them," Torre said.

Broxton certainly held his own against the teeth of the Phillies on Thursday. He got a flyout from leadoff man Jimmy Rollins, allowed a single to Shane Victorino and then got out of it against the two most dangerous Phillies, Utley and Howard. He has the stuff, the command and the demeanor to take on anyone.

Now the Dodgers just need to get him another lead to bring home.