What's Eating Chad Billingsley?

It's no secret Chad Billingsley isn't himself these days. He didn't look good this afternoon against the Giants, and he hasn't looked all that great, really, since August 1st.

His ERA since August 1st isn't all that bad, and he'd actually gone six innings in five of his previous six starts prior to today. But even so, you can just tell from watching him pitch that something isn't quite right with him. This isn't the same Billingsley we saw in the second half last season, and it's not the same we saw in the first half of this year.

Billingsley says he's fine, and that's all we have to go on: his word. But there are still plenty of people who think something isn't right with him. Something is attributing to his recent struggles.

Some suggest he's still bothered by his hamstring tightness from his start in Atlanta at the beginning of last month. Others think it's mental, that it's all in his head. I'm one who think it might just be the rigors of a long season. I think it's fatigue that's eating at him.

Whatever the problem is for Billingsley, I think the overwhelming verdict is to give him a little rest. I've had numerous conversations with other Dodger fans and most of us agree that he needs a day off. The team has two days off in the next week, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to skip one of his next starts. And they have the luxury to do that because of the surplus of starting pitching with the recent acquisitions of Vicente Padilla and Jon Garland.

With Hiroki Kuroda back from his freak incident of taking a comeback liner to the head, and with Randy Wolf returning tonight after missing a start, the Dodgers can afford to go into a four-man rotation over the next week to give Billingsley, and Clayton Kershaw, a little extra rest. (Kershaw is apparently still bothered by that sore right shoulder after crashing into the Dodger Stadium outfield wall two Sundays ago while shagging fly balls during batting practice.)

Do the right thing, Torre. Give the guy a little rest. It might be the best thing that happens for him and the team come October.