Los Angeles Dodgers Sign Brian Wilson
By Joe Wedra
Oct 24, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Brian Wilson on the field prior to game one of the 2012 World Series against the Detroit Tigers at AT
“Fear The Beard Mania” has entered Los Angeles to join “Puig Mania”.
Many multiple media outlets have confirmed that the Los Angeles Dodgers have signed relief pitcher Brian Wilson. Wilson, a former member of the San Francisco Giants, was not offered a contract to return to San Francisco after having Tommy John Surgery in April of 2012. The former closer hasn’t thrown a pitch in a major league game in about 15 months.
Los Angeles plans to start Wilson in their minor league system for about two weeks starting with him reporting to the Spring Training facility in Arizona, according to reports. In ESPN-LA’s report on the deal, they report: “If all goes well, he will continue on to Class A Rancho Cucamonga, then report to the Dodgers.”
The 31-year old Wilson owns a career ERA of 3.21 and a career 171 saves. He has held opponents to a mere .238 batting average and has a 1.34 WHIP. Wilson strikes out over a batter per inning, and has given up just 17 home runs in 320 innings, six of them ironically hit by the Dodgers.
Signing Wilson is just another reason for you not to count out Los Angeles. They have some surging players lighting up the stat sheets, the starting pitching is thriving, and their bullpen just got a whole lot better. They do have Kenley Jansen closing games, but a set-up man has been needed, and Wilson might be the guy that fills the void down the stretch.
Soon enough, it might be the Giants that are going to “Fear The Beard”.