So it sure looks like Brian Wilson and his beard will return to the majors this weekend. Per the L.A. Times:
The former Giants closer has appeared in four minor league games for the Dodgers since signing with them July 30, throwing 4 1/3 innings without allowing a run. He has not walked a batter and has given up only one hit, with two strikeouts.
Tuesday night for Albuquerque he finished one inning and then started the next. Mattingly said the Dodgers were no longer interested in his pitching in back-to-back games.
So what’s left for Wilson to accomplish in the minors? Nothing really, which is why he is likely to be brought up this weekend.
The Dodgers already have a good bullpen, and supposedly they'll have to drop either Chris Withrow or Carlos Marmol in favor of Wilson. Which seems like an easy choice, considering Withrow's strikeout-to-walk ratio is 3.4 and Marmol's is 1.2. Also, because Marmol generally. But hey, whatever. It's not my time.
Wilson's imminent return reminds me of a photo I snapped at All-Star FanFest in Kansas City last year ...
. . . I mean, it's one thing to spend $125 on a baseball signed by a relief pitcher. But $125 on a baseball the relief pitcher just initialed in a second or two? There's a sucker born every minute and I'm one of them, but this time you can include me out.