John Ely was one of those players who actually caught my eye, and I’m a bit saddened to see him go. Albeit, it may be better for him in the long run in Houston since he will be vying for a starting spot out of Spring Training and very well could make their Opening Day roster. Yet I still wonder what could have been…

I wrote about John Ely-The Man, The Myth, The Legend  back in February, and I brought up his

I Wonder if Matthew McConaughey Can Pitch?

uncertain future with the Dodgers organization. It seemed like that brief period of “Elymania” when he was first called up in 2010 was beginning to fade as his subsequent call-ups after that promising debut fell short of expectations. The Illinois native never rebounded like we had hoped, and here we are bidding the Matthew McConaughey look-alike farewell. John Ely was very fun to watch pitch, and his jerky delivery and quirky superstitious routines on the field are entertaining at the least. I saw Ely pitch live on May 22, 2010 at Dodger Stadium versus the Detroit Tigers. The Dodgers and Ely picked up the win by defeating Detroit 6-4. This was smack in the middle of Elymania, which spiraled disappointingly downhill after the glowing start. Ely made his MLB debut with the Dodgers on April 28, 2010, starting his first game against the New York Mets. He allowed five runs in 6 innings during his debut. On May 6, his second start, he allowed just 4 hits and one run in 6 2/3 innings vs. the Brewers. Ely went on to win his first game on May 11, 2010 when he allowed only two runs, 6 hits, and no walks while striking out six batter in six innings against the D-backs. On May 22, Ely picked up his third straight victory, but Elymania came to a fast grinding halt. After winning 3 of his first 4 decisions, he then lost 9 of 10 during the remainder of the season. He finished the 2010 season with a 4-10 record and an ERA of 5.49 in 18 games started and 100 innings pitched. He allowed 12 homeruns while striking out 76 and walking 40 batters. He began to pitch wildly and walked 14 batters during his final three starts of the season. This decline was a stark contrast to his amazing start. He was the first pitcher to have three starts of at least 6 innings with no walks out of his first four of his career since Ross Grimsley in 1971. Ely went 89 consecutive batters without a walk. 

My John Ely autograph. Photo: Stacie Wheeler

In 2011, Ely only pitched 12 2/3 innings for the Dodgers making one lone start when Jon Garland was forced to pitch a rehab game. He didn’t fare very well in AAA that year either. With a 7-8 record and 5.99 ERA over 25 starts as an Isotope, it looked like Ely had really took a step backwards. Then last season, John Ely created a little Elymania for himself over in Albuquerque. In his 27 starts, he went 14-7 with a 3.20 ERA over 168 2/3 innings pitched. He struck out 165 batters while walking only 36. Those numbers gave Ely the pitching triple crown and Pitcher of the Year honors for the Pacific League. In 2012, Ely played in just 2 fateful games for the Dodgers. He wound up with a 0-2 record and an ERA of 20.25 in those ugly 2.2 innings.

John Ely’s inconsistencies eventually held him back from breaking through to the big club. The

Thanks for the memories, John Ely. Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Astros will get a viable starting pitcher with Ely who excelled in AAA last season and has pitched in 25 Major League games over the past three seasons with the Dodgers. The Dodgers will receive a young left-handed starter with Rasmussen, and the trade will also open up a spot on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.

Good luck, John Ely.

OFFICIAL: The #Dodgers have acquired left-handed Minor League pitcher Robert Rasmussen from the #Astros for John Ely.

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) December 19, 2012

Now I know Ely had an option remaining, so the Dodgers didn’t have to trade him. However his time with the Dodgers had pretty much come to pass. He did have a great season with the Isotopes last year, and it’s more of a loss for the Topes than it is for the Dodgers. If you remember, Ely was acquired from the Chicago White Sox, along with Jon Link in the Juan Pierre trade back in 2010. Link is long gone now, and Ely was the last piece of that trade still with the club.

So long Elymania!-Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Ely is 26 years old, and from Florida. Ely (who looks like Mathew Mcconaughey) was forced into the rotation for the Dodgers back in 2010, and had one good month before the league figured him out, and he began to suck. Before that he was a gift. His manager and teammates praised him. This began a three week period in Dodger land called Elymania, in which the bushy haired right hander was trending on twitter, and everyone thought he was pretty good. Then he got lit up like a Christmas tree from then on. The right hander pitched in 18 games for the Dodgers in 2010, posting a 4-10 record, and an ERA of 5.49. he won all four games in that one good month of May, and then never won again. He still managed a decent 6.8 whiff per nine rate, and whiffed 76 and walked 40 that season. The following season in 2011, Ely only started one game for the Dodgers and pitched in only five before being optioned back down to Albuquerque, where he would stay for the rest of the year. In 2012, Ely only pitched in two games for the big club, but was the minor league pitcher of the year in the Pacific coast league. Ely won the pitching triple crown, and was an all-star for the Isotopes. As a major leaguer, Ely has a 4-13 record, 5.70 ERA, 7.2 K/9, and 4.0 BB/9, in 19 starts over parts of two plus seasons with the Dodgers.

Rasmussen is 23 years old, left handed, and played Baseball for USC. The local boy is originally from Pasadena, but is a native of Arcadia. And you might be interested to know he was drafted by the Dodgers, in 2007. Rasmussen chose to stay in school and attend UCLA instead. In 2010 he was drafted by the Marlins in the second round. Apparently Rasmussen was an elite high school prospect for Polytechnic school in Pasadena. He was a four year starter for the varsity team and posted a 38-2 record, 1.04 ERA, and 492 whiffs in 248 innings pitched. He posted a 17-0 record in the Babe Ruth League, and attracted the attention of many scouts, before the Dodgers drafted him. He eventually pitched in the college World Series for UCLA in 2010. In the College World Series he posted a 11-3 record, 2.72 ERA, and 128 whiffs. He was eventually traded to the Astros along with Matt Dominguez for Carlos Lee.

Feb 27 2012, Jupiter, FL, USA: Miami Marlins pitcher Rob Rasmussen (81) during photo day at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports.

Rasmussen split the 2012 season between the Houston Astros double A affiliate Corpus Christi Hooks of the Texas league, and the single A Jupiter Hammerheads of the Florida State league. He was 8-11 with a 4.25 ERA, 119 whiffs and 54 walks. The young lefty has only been pitching professionally for two seasons. During his short minor league career, he has a 3.88 ERA, 7.2 K/9 rate, a 3.8 BB/9, and 1.394 WHIP. Rasmussen is 5’9 and 160 pounds according to reports. Supposedly he has four pitches, which he mixes well keeping hitters off balance. That’s all I could find on him.

I’m not sure there is much difference between Ely and Rasmussen, other than maybe Rasmussen is a few years younger, and has a tad more upside. We know Ely isn’t very good, but had a great season in Albuquerque. Rasmussen’s numbers don’t look all that great. And you have to wonder about any player traded away from the Astros, no matter how young they are. Ely I believe was on the 40 man roster, so that does open a spot. Maybe that was the reason for the move? I guess we’ll see.

Either way, it’s basically a non move for more minor league fodder. It’s kind of sad though looking back on it. I guess you could say the hourglass of time ran out on Elymania. I’ll always miss Elymania. Oh well, those three weeks were fun while they lasted.